The Jotunheim R has proven to be a fantastic way to drive the SR1a. Both with the production-qualifier unit that I’ve been using and also with the final production unit that is now live and available to buy!
For provenance, here is the production unit, that Schiit kindly sent me just ahead of the formal release, to ensure that it sounds and performs the same as the production qualifier I had been evaluating (and on which my review was initially written):
One of the most interesting things to me is how this little unit delivers a clearly better end result than more of the much more expensive speaker amplifiers (via the interface box) I’ve tried with the SR1a. This is, I assume, down to the active (Jot R) vs. passive (RAAL box) compensation profile, and the slightly different profile that the two approaches employ.
And the end result is a more natural signature from the Jotunheim R, without resorting to EQ, and clearly improved resolution/detail and micro-dynamics.
I should have my SR1a review, which includes comparisons with the Jotunheim R, as well as a number of other amplifiers, out later (late) today. And I expect to have a dedicated Jotunheim R review up by the end of the week (which includes the multi-bit DAC module and some Bifrost 2 pairing details).
Though you really don’t need to wait for either … unless you already have an excellent, high-end, 2-channel amp to spare, this little guy is the way to go (and even then, it may be better overall). And if you’ve been on the fence about jumping in on the SR1a (you’re missing out, by the way), this is the perfect way to do it.
I’d say I’m looking forward to getting mine, but I’m going to buy the one I have here so I can run the SR1a in more than one location. I might pick up a 2nd one too, though the Jotunheim R is compact enough that it’s a very viable transportable, one-box, solution (with the built-in DAC, or taking an external feed).
Congratulations to Jason/@schiit on an excellent, and game changing, bit of kit!