I also have the jotunheim and it is great with the Omni/Ori! This amp is probably the best all-rounder you can get. It can drive the most sensitive iems and the most power hungry cans. It's the kind of amp you will always hold onto!
I'm very interested in the Jot--because it's nearly impossible to find any other balanced output, truly powerful HP amps in this price range. But I'm concerned about comments I've seen on other threads re brightness of the Jot.
Re my amp setup for the new Ori: my listening time has been reduced by work deadlines + some annoying tinnitus & headaches. But here's what I've heard so far:
The
Audio GD SA-31SE is an extremely interesting match-up with the Ori. However, I got the SA-31SE just as the Ori was finished burning in, and most of my Ori listening has been w/it. Because both units are new to me, it's difficult to sort out which is responsible for various new sonic perceptions.
The SA-31SE has an extremely positive experience w/the Ori based on its superb soundstaging, note separation, black background, and especially its handling of delicate midrange transients (drums, percussion, keyboards), alll qualities I never heard this good w/any HP or amp. I just put in jumpers to adjust the SA-31SE to "Warm 1" setting...results not yet in. BUT (there's always a "BUT"), compared to other amps, the SA-31SE sounds a little bright, tipped up, also a bit low in absolute bass quantity & impact. Those things aren't at all what others say about this unit, so I need to do more listening, both with the Ori & other headphones, to figure it out. But in many ways, the SA-31SE is a spectacular match w/the Ori, not to mention the best amp I've ever heard. It's also an effective & versatile system preamp--the remote makes minute volume adjustments so easy.
Lake People G109-A: From the day I got this versatile, fine-sounding amp, it has been "Old Reliable," bringing out good sound in every headphone I've tried with it. The amp's basic sound never seems to change: it's relatively powerful, slightly warm, has clear but unhyped treble, and lots of dynamic impact in all parts of the frequency spectrum (real rock 'em/sock 'em bass on the G109-A). It falls short only in soundstaging, which is just average IMO. Still, the Ori sounded very good for the short period I tried it on the G109-A. And there's plenty of power, even on the lowest gain setting (I got the volume pot up to ~12:30, then cried uncle).
M Stage Matrix HPA-1: I just upgraded the opamp of this fine-sounding amp/preamp, and the results exceeded expectations. I really value this inexpensive over-achiever with the bassy, ear-friendly sound signature. Still, I didn't expect much when I tried the Ori with it, and results were mixed:
-- Even at the lowest of 4 gain settings, I got plenty of volume out of the Ori
-- But the sound never had the transparency, detail, or "ease" I can get w/the 2 other amps. It sounds somewhat forced & "shouty."
No rap on the HPA-1. It just lacks the power to handle a planar. It continues to sound very good on my easier-to-drive closed back headphones.
The amp I still haven't try w/the Ori is my
Burson Soloist amp/preamp: a powerful, versatile, handsome unit. But my past use of it was held back by a stepped volume pot w/just 22 steps--so in low-to-medium volume range, there are too few steps for fine control. The stepped pot is high quality, but less than easy to use... So I arranged to have Burson send an Alps replacement pot-- I have high hopes that will increase the useability of this unit. Unfortunately, the pot they sent was incorrect (trying to sort that out now). In the next few days I'll re-install the stepped pot & finally try it the Ori w/it. I'm very interested to hear how that combination sounds.