[Bimbleton]

Imo, I think you should consider its character and strengths/weaknesses, whether it is in line with your taste and priorities. It does a lot really surprisingly good, but it also imparts its character, which may not be in line with your taste. Also, one interesting thing about taste, just because you don't like its character now, it doesn't mean you won't like it later. It takes a while to understand it, because it is quite different than your usual SS amps. Your brain/ear may need time to adjust. I was quite surprised when I first heard it, and a lot of conflicting opinions for a while until it settled down.

Secondly and more importantly, you should consider whether it synergizes with your DAC and headphones.

I don't think it is a simple better or worse question. This is quite a polarizing amp. Direct comparison with the usual SS amps is trickier.

Very good point. After a lot of trial and error with lots of headphones and a few amps, I’ve realized a few things.

- Preference is the Harman target, minus ~2db of treble, so a touch warm
- Don’t like mid bass bloat
- Value good bass slam (something the Singxer lacked)
- Appreciate a good volume range (so not too much gain)
- Can tell resolving gear from non-resolving gear

I think the Jot 2 will be a good match for my LCD-X ‘21, except for the volume range. And I’ll aim to pair it with a Bifrost 2.

Just tried an iDsd Signature, and while it is a lovely device — warm, feature-rich, shockingly deep bass — it’s too clunky and too easy to bump the volume knob and deafen myself.

I think I’ll keep the Qudelix as my portable rig, and aim for a Bifrost2/Jot2 combo for desktop listening.

 

[omniweltall]

Very good point. After a lot of trial and error with lots of headphones and a few amps, I’ve realized a few things.

- Preference is the Harman target, minus ~2db of treble, so a touch warm
- Don’t like mid bass bloat
- Value good bass slam (something the Singxer lacked)
- Appreciate a good volume range (so not too much gain)
- Can tell resolving gear from non-resolving gear

I think the Jot 2 will be a good match for my LCD-X ‘21, except for the volume range. And I’ll aim to pair it with a Bifrost 2.

Just tried an iDsd Signature, and while it is a lovely device — warm, feature-rich, shockingly deep bass — it’s too clunky and too easy to bump the volume knob and deafen myself.

I think I’ll keep the Qudelix as my portable rig, and aim for a Bifrost2/Jot2 combo for desktop listening.

So far Bifrost 2/Jot 2 sound very good with all planars I tried. My brain loves it.

 

[Rattle]

I'm Aeolus blackwood pretty much all the time now. I've heard a lot of amps some 4-7x the cost both SS and Tube and I stopped considering more expensive amps for now. I was lucky enough to get one basically right at launch in December Christmas week. Been flawless as well with BF2.

 

[tamleo]

I think you just convinced me to buy one.

Some members on a forum named Sbaf wrote some reviews about the Jot 2. I think you should check that topics. Especially the 2 last pages, there were some reviews from members whose opinions were very similar to what I heard so I trusted them very much. They have owned many headamps as well. The reviews got throughly both Jot2's pros and cons..

 

[j0val]

So far Bifrost 2/Jot 2 sound very good with all planars I tried. My brain loves it.

Good to hear. I currently have a Bifrost 2 and waiting for a Jot 2 that I ordered 10 weeks ago. That’s the final piece to my Empyrean setup.

 

[jriems]

Great synergy with this setup. Been using it for around 2 months now. Just added a Bluesound Node 2i into the mix to replace an Andover Audio Songbird, and it sounds even better.

 

[jonathan c]

.

 

[busseysound]

Great synergy with this setup. Been using it for around 2 months now. Just added a Bluesound Node 2i into the mix to replace an Andover Audio Songbird, and it sounds even better.

I have this exact same setup. Change that headphone cable and use balanced if you aren't already. - the difference surprised me.

 

[jriems]

I have this exact same setup. Change that headphone cable and use balanced if you aren't already. - the difference surprised me.

Yep, I'm already running balanced with a Hart Audio Cables system.

 

[Alcophone]

Well my new Jotunheim 2 finally showed up at 730 tonight.

The Jotenheim 2 is sounding pretty dynamic lot of weight to the sound so far.

I recently purchased the Jottenheim 2 with the mutibit dac option.

Congratulations to your new Yottenheim 2!

 

[bboris77]

This is for people who find a slightly increased resistance of the Alps RK27114 annoying. For me it was not a huge problem, but I wanted to try a slightly longer knob (ha-ha) to make sure my fingertips would not catch the preamp switch. This Audio Note brushed chrome knob fit the bill perfectly even though it is expensive.

Its dimensions are: 30mm Diameter x 25mm H; fits 6mm shaft. It is heavy as hell (140 grams), and this helps overcome any pot resistance. It feels super smooth to turn. The extra 3mm of depth/height compared to the original pot are not an issue at all because the hex screw is positioned closer to the base of the potentiometer compared to the original knob. All it does is extend a bit further away from the amplifier which I find useful.

My Jotunheim 2 came with a slotted 6mm shaft with a hex screw on the pot instead of a D-shaped flat shaft.

Finally, I like the fact that it has a volume indicator engraved on the side of the knob which is super easy to see in my setup.

I got mine at Parts Connexion in Canada. I did not post a link because I'm not sure if that's ok, but it's easy to find.


EDIT:

Further update on the Audio Note knob. It is not as great as it first seemed. Firstly, the brushed chrome is not actually either brushed or chrome. It is simply flat matte painted brass. I checked directly with the manufacturer after I could not see any brush marks on the surface.

The problem with that is that the knob has absolutely no texture on its sides, nor is it slightly sticky like the original glossy knob is. The flat matte paint on the Audio note knob ends up having almost no grip as it is very slippery. That kind of negates all the benefits of its higher weight. I realized that after my Jot 2 warmed up to its normal running temperature, as the pot becomes slightly harder to turn then. At least now I know that Schiit put some thought in selecting the original knob.

The polished chrome version or the glossy black version of Audio Note knob may actually be ergonomically superior to the flat paint "simulated chrome" version.

 

[jonathan c]

This is for people who find a slightly increased resistance of the Alps RK27114 annoying. For me it was not a huge problem, but I wanted to try a slightly longer knob (ha-ha) to make sure my fingertips would not catch the preamp switch. This Audio Note brushed chrome knob fit the bill perfectly even though it is expensive.

Its dimensions are: 30mm Diameter x 25mm H; fits 6mm shaft. It is heavy as hell (140 grams), and this helps overcome any pot resistance. It feels super smooth to turn. The extra 3mm of depth/height compared to the original pot are not an issue at all because the hex screw is positioned closer to the base of the potentiometer compared to the original knob. All it does is extend a bit further away from the amplifier which I find useful.

My Jotunheim 2 came with a slotted 6mm shaft with a hex screw on the pot instead of a D-shaped flat shaft.

Finally, I like the fact that it has a volume indicator engraved on the side of the knob which is super easy to see in my setup.

I got mine at Parts Connexion in Canada. I did not post a link because I'm not sure if that's ok, but it's easy to find.

Volume on viagra…

 

[Bimbleton]

Quick question about volume — how’s the usable volume range in the Jot 2 with a sensitive headphone like the LCD-X?

 

[bboris77]

Quick question about volume — how’s the usable volume range in the Jot 2 with a sensitive headphone like the LCD-X?

It really depends on whether you are using a balanced DAC, a balanced connection to your headphones and low/high gain mode. Worst case scenario in terms of having a very small range of volume would be feeding the Jot 2 with 4V balanced DAC, using the balanced output and the high gain mode. I find that in low gain, even with a 4V DAC and balanced output, it is possible to have a decent range of volume with full-size headphones. I don’t have the LCD-X, but my HD800S are not terribly power hungry, and I have them between 10 and 12 o’clock in low gain.

Edit: I noticed on the other thread that you are planning to use it with the Bifrost 2. I would just connect it using the RCA connection to the Jot 2. This will give you a much wider volume range and there will be no performance penalty if you use the XLR output on the Jot 2.

 

[Bimbleton]

It really depends on whether you are using a balanced DAC, a balanced connection to your headphones and low/high gain mode. Worst case scenario in terms of having a very small range of volume would be feeding the Jot 2 with 4V balanced DAC, using the balanced output and the high gain mode. I find that in low gain, even with a 4V DAC and balanced output, it is possible to have a decent range of volume with full-size headphones. I don’t have the LCD-X, but my HD800S are not terribly power hungry, and I have them between 10 and 12 o’clock in low gain.

Edit: I noticed on the other thread that you are planning to use it with the Bifrost 2. I would just connect it using the RCA connection to the Jot 2. This will give you a much wider volume range and there will be no performance penalty if you use the XLR output on the Jot 2.

10-12 o’clock would be perfect! I’m strongly considering going for the Schiit Bifrost2/Jot2 combo that so many of you adore. That, or a Bifrost 2/Singxer SA-1 combo.

Looks like the HD800S and LCDX are both around 103db/mW, although with vastly different output impedence.