Or even the phonitor stuff. Or might just be a random number Schiit threw out.
3 Likes
Thats interesting i actually had the j2 side by side with a SPL Phonitor that many folks just drool over for several days…
4 Likes
…and?
[oh, that’s what 20 characters means]
3 Likes
…and?
… Bueller???
Well its an apples and oranges comparison. The phonitor has a few bells and whistles that the Jot 2 doesnt have. If your looking for hey is the basic amp part better or worse as always thats something u will have to decide with your ears.
That said there is no reason I would spend $2K or so for a phonitor over a Jot 2. Take a look at the specs, the power, things like the gain switch on the bottom of the unit on one vs a switch on the front of the other,…It depends on whats important to you.
You like VU meters, the Jot2 doesnt have them. Crossfeed, Matrix, changing stuff for soundstage etc…well Jot 2 doesnt have them. You want to upgrade with a dac that handles DSD etc internally, Jot 2 doesnt have that.
But the amp part of the Jot 2 IMO is better to my ears. And I dont care about all the other “magical” stuff.
Both amps are very good…but to some cost will be a factor…for sure.
Alex
8 Likes
Thanks for the info, its an interesting cost analysis with the Jot2. I wonder how often we just pay for the add ons and forget what the basic function of this stuff is. Im sure the extras on the phonitor has some benefits here and there but never having experienced them I would not care if I didnt have them.
I am trying to swear off new equipment purchases but this is a very tempting item.
5 Likes
Ok, normally I would have read, heard, or picked up on some kind of buzz by now about if Jotunheim 2 was great or a dumpster fire. So far, extremely little info from anyone anywhere.
Very odd.
4 Likes
Well I have had the amp for a few months, but sworn to secrecy…and its been out only a few days now.
I do know in my discord one person went to the Schittr and picked one up and first impressions are good.
I used this amp on a daily basis for hours end.
Compared to several amps $1500 - $2000. Also many sub $1500.
Only comparing the amp function, the Jotenheim 2 is a beast of an amp. It can stand up to most anything I have or have had in ampsville.
I will leave it to the experts to use all those glittering generalities to explain there “experiences”.
I concur that this amp is as good as Jaston Stoddard believes it is…its “great” here.
Alex
5 Likes
Agree…I’m also following the thread on Head fi about it and not much info, but I think is too early.
Thanks to Alex( that I see writing right now!!), we have most of the info.
I’m curious about the SE performance.
he posted first
4 Likes
Thanks for your thoughts Alex. I’m thinking this is going to be my one solid state amp going forward.
3 Likes
There are subtle differences in the SE side in comparison to the Balanced side for sure.
In Jasons chapter on this he alludes to the SE side being more tubish like…and i concur with this.
The SE side has less power for sure…and the specs are lesser as well.
Maximum Power, 16 ohms: 7.5W RMS per channel
Maximum Power, 32 ohms: 6W RMS per channel
Maximum Power, 50 ohms: 4W RMS per channel
Maximum Power, 300 ohms: 1.2W RMS per channel
Maximum Power, 600 ohms: 600mW RMS per channel
THD: <0.00015%, 20Hz-20KHz, at 4V RMS, 300 ohms
IMD: <0.0002%, CCIR, at 4V RMS, 300 ohms
THD: <0.0004% 20-20kHz at 2V RMS, 32 ohms
IMD: <0.0006%, CCIR, at 2V RMS, 32 ohms
SNR: >123db, unweighted, referenced to 4V RMS
Crosstalk: >-85dB, 20 Hz-20KHz, 300 ohms
Crosstalk: >-70dB, 20 Hz-20KHz, 32 ohms
Output Impedance: Less than 0.1 ohms, at either gain setting
Single-Ended Headphone Output:
Maximum Power, 16 ohms: 2.4W RMS per channel
Maximum Power, 32 ohms: 2.0W RMS per channel
Maximum Power, 50 ohms: 1.2W RMS per channel
Maximum Power, 300 ohms: 330mW RMS per channel
Maximum Power, 600 ohms: 165mW RMS per channel
THD: <0.006%, 20Hz-20KHz, at 2V RMS, 300 ohms
IMD: <0.007%, CCIR, at 2V RMS, 300 ohms
THD: <0.03% 20-20kHz at 1V RMS, 32 ohms
IMD: <0.035%, CCIR, at 1V RMS, 32 ohms
SNR: >102db, unweighted, referenced to 2V RMS
Crosstalk: >-85dB, 20 Hz-20KHz, 300 ohms
Crosstalk: >-70dB, 20 Hz-20KHz, 32 ohms
Output Impedance: Less than 0.1 ohms, at either gain setting
Does .006% vs .00015% THD mean the SE side is any worse?
Does it really matter at all.
Does it really matter to “you” ?
There is “spec” performance and there is the “listening experience”…IMO both sides of the equation here are fantastic.
If it were me I would have put it in a box of heavy larger billet aluminum, thrown in some VU meters, yadda, yadda and charged much more!! Wonder what the world would think then!!
Its a great time to be in this hobby!
All the best
Alex
5 Likes
I don’t care about power. The SE out far exceeds what any of my headphones need, and the balanced is about twice what you would need to drive an HE6.
It’s the sound I care about. I guess I’ll post my impressions when it gets here.
@Hansel - Yeah, I saw in the head-fi Jotunheim 1 thread where some dude saying that Jason said the SE out sounded like a tube amp and had tube timbre.
For one, Jason never ever comments on how his amps sound. Ever. As Alex said, he might drop hints, but never directly comments. Second, dude was clearly misconstruing what Jason said in his Chapter about the single-ended output having a distortion profile similar to a tube. Big difference between distortion profiles and actual sound. The ECP 3F has a similar distortion profile, and no it doesn’t sound like a tube amp. (I’m still a huge fan of that amp though.) When Alex says it, great, he has the amp and I’ll take it at face value while holding on to a wee bit of skepticism.
(Considering this hf guy hadn’t heard one himself, and me not having had my early morning coffee yet after only 3 hours of sleep, I was in the perfect mood to call that BS out. So… Dear Head-Fi’ers: Don’t talk out of your butt. It doesn’t help anyone.)
That stuff is why I avoid HF. This place shoots straight. I like it. Think I’ll stick around.
Ding
Coffee is done brewing! Thank goodness. 
14 Likes
LMAO!!
…
3 Likes
Same here!! 330mw@300 is way more than what I need and honestly I don’t really care about the noise ratio , they are both (.006 and .00015) inaudibles .
4 Likes
Plus, it makes no sense that A) The bit of circuitry to create the SE out would have tubifying capabilities and B) That a manufacturer would want drastically different sound profiles on the same amp based on the headphone connection method.
2 Likes
As always YMMV and we do all hear differently…
The design of this Jot2 IMO was kind of a “super amp”…an amp with more power than most of us will ever need, but that satisfies those that have very hard to drive headphones.
Now back to playing with my Schitt Hersey!
A.
2 Likes
But if it only came out a few days ago then add time for people to become aware of it plus extended time for shipping due to season and public health anomalies then I wouldnt expect much till the new year.
We’re lucky Alex got early access. TBH Ive been waiting for a Jot2 to drop for about a year, not that I had any insider information, as I did want a solid SS amp. If this provides phonitor like performance without the bells and whistles then I have some thinking to do about whether to end my no equipment embargo. It would be a hard to beat price.
6 Likes
A friend of mine said this:
“For most acoustic, jazz, vocals, and classic rock single ended low gain is… beguiling.
Single ended low gain will likely be my default with the Eikon, and then course correct depending on the track, mood, genre.”
A.
5 Likes
@bpcarb might want to chime in on his early experience…
Alex
3 Likes
Howdy folks. Pardon the delay.
This is the TLDR version based on my 36 hours or so with the amp. It exceeds expectations. It checks all the boxes for me, as an amp to enjoy the music as opposed to house bells and whistles or tool to review other gear. The balanced and single ended sound signature is quite distinct such that it’s like having two different amps, per the wide variance of power output and distortion. Overall, it sounds more like a Magni 3+ than Heresy, more like an Asgard 3 than Magnius. I’ve listened to the Jot 1 but not owned it. My prior gear selections and comparisons led me to buy the Asgard 3 over the Jot 1 and Lyr 3, not necessarily because it’s better but for my preference and budget allocation/determination for solid state and tube chains (i.e., what is good enough versus defer and level up to the next tier). I sold my Asgard 3 earlier this week prior to knowing of the Jot 2 release given my preference for the Vali 2 and the latter’s fit for my use case and what I also own.
I view the Jot 2 as underpriced and I consider my solid state amp duties to now be covered (similar to how I view the Bifrost 2 for DAC duties). It will be interesting to see how the Jot 2 impacts the sale of other products given its high performance, versatility, and value proposition. What I am getting out of this one box is making me reconsider “if I buy other more expensive amp X, will it be that much better or different.” I currently own high sensitivity, high impedance ZMF and Senn cans. I’m now looking into adding a planar headphone (generally lower impedance and lower sensitivity) because I have the confidence that the Jot 2 has the horsepower and resolve to appropriately drive and excavate (not that my prior or other gear was or is not capable, but the Jot 2 makes me feel like I’m carrying a bigger stick) .
More detailed impressions to follow. Thus far, the Jot 2 is as advertised.
11 Likes