I have not heard the Jot 2 so I cannot be of much assistance there.
But, honestly, I am thankful that my HE6seV2 ownership pushed me to pick the FA10. I essentially bought the amp for these headphones alone. Now that I have been listening to my other phones on the FA10 I am so happy I purchased it. The high wattage and class A current output seems to make everything in the collection sound better. The Clears sound great; the HD650 has never sounded better to me; I’ve got some Argons that I haven’t listened to in over year that are just killer through the FA10.
Having experienced the FA10 now with my other phones, even if I did not own the HE6’s, I would buy this amp.
I have decided to get the Jot 2 over the FA-10, and this is primarily because I want to have something to look forward to. The FA-10 I think will be the end for me under the $1000 mark. I’m also keeping in mind that Flux Labs Acoustics is still relatively new so I’m sure they will be making huge advances in their designs over the next couple of years (crossing my fingers because I want that 10.5 W into 50 ohms powerplant but with, say, a better design coughs pre-amp function coughs).
Well, either the Jot 2 or the Monolith Liquid Platinum which I’ve heard good reviews about. If the MLP somehow goes on sale down to $500 before I place the order for Jot 2, I might jump ship to that instead. Problem with the MLP is it’s a hybrid SS/Tube amp, and the tubes are a separate rabbit hole on their own and I’m not sure I’m ready to go down it (yet).
I decided to stay away from speaker amps because of possibly blowing up my cans. And I love these so much so I’m not willing to take the risk. Yes, I’ve read it’s safe and all that but I lack any knowledge on safely hooking up headphones to power amps.
This will probably end my journey for a passable desktop setup, at least for a few years. This forum has been very helpful and I would like to thank everyone here.
I’d probably still keep lurking though lol. Until next time!
Hifiman HE6SE V2 are $649 at Adorama and testing my resolve not to buy any more headphones.
It’s more tempting since I already have very nice aftermarket cables with the required 3.5 mm earcup connectors…
The next chapter begins.
Jotunheim 2 is out for repairs. Parasound ZAMP v3 is out.
In is the Audiolab 6000A Play. It’s a new integrated amp with 50W at 8 Ohm along with Play-Fi capability, dedicated DAC (Sabre 9018K2M), and surprisingly a dedicated headphone amp section that has lowish impedance (2 ohms).
The next surprise, it is dead silent via headphones output with IEMs and speaker terminals with the Hifiman HE6SE. Not a single sound at all on either. Super shocked.
It sounds quite good to be honest. It has a well-balanced signature, that isn’t too bright and mid-range focused, and has a good low-end that isnt overly exaggerated but definitely present. It’s less warm than the ZAMP, which I thought was a bit too low-mid forward and lacking clarity and stage.
This one checks a lot of boxes for me, and it has a digital volume control by remote.
The DAC, despite being ESS Sabre 9018, is quite nice sounding to be honest. I don’t hear the infamous sterile and bright sabre glare. It’s the best 9018 implementation I’ve heard… using it with the Slow filter via Optical to my Desktop.
For the most part, the amp’s internal DAC is a touch brighter and lean than the Bifrost 2’s, which is warmer. Ok, now i’m reviewing the amp and not the headphones.
I just got the Susvara, and I will say that the SE V2 and Susvara are pretty similar if not almost identical in general tonality and balance, but you’re getting a small improvement in resolution, dynamics, small mid-range and bass performance improvements, a bit more upper treble extension, air and soundstage. It’s small but its present. The build is also a little better, and it’s lighter weight. But HE6SE V2 can stand its own very well!
