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Is the shiit jotunheim multibit a good DAC?
I am looking forward to buying a new DAC/AMP for less then 600. So far my options are the shiit jotunheim multibit or either the Monolith by Monoprice Desktop Headphone Amplifier and DAC with THX AAA Technology (Dual AKM 4493 DACs & Dual AAA-788 Modules) which I would have to wait as it still has not been released. Thing is I have searched online and people say that the jotunheim for its price point is good as an AMP because it can obviously have alot of power but when it comes to the DAC I was told is "acceptable" but it would be better to get a different DAC. If so, what DAC would best be paired with the jotunheim?
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keyboard_arrow_downlalilulelo8
0
Dec 21, 2019
I bought two Jotunheims. A silver one with multi and a black with 4490.
Multibit has an audible noise floor but not the 4490. Sold the multibit. Fantastic balanced amp. Trying to A-B them and pick out which i like was moot. Decided the extremely quiet 4490 is better.
psuKinger
110
Mar 6, 2019
I don't know, as I don't own a Jotunheim with the multi-bit DAC. But what I can tell you is that I bought a Jotunheim with the AKG D/S DAC rather than spending the $100 extra on the multi-bit (and being willing to do so) at the advice/guidance of the SBAF community, which near-universally indicated to me that the built-in MB DAC on the Jot wasn't particularly good... some went so far as to say that the "new" AKG D/S DAC that Schiit is now using (and I got) was, in there opinions, BETTER than (and $100 less than) the multi-bit option.
TIFWIW.
lalilulelo8
0
Nov 19, 2019
psuKingerWhat is the akg DS dac. I see on schiit site the 4490 or multibit option only
nidus123
77
Mar 6, 2019
The DAC on the jottunheim is passable, unfortunately the when amp is just passable due to the dynamic compression it has... Some people like that of course, but if at all possible - avoid.
Get yourself a 789+ SMSL su8 or just a Klipsch heritage amp.
Azeendeen
67
Mar 7, 2019
nidus123this is a really old post, I got the 789 + SMSL SU 8 :D. Bloody amazing. Might get the klipsch because why not. I should add a DAC/AMP all in one unit to my collection
nidus123
77
Mar 7, 2019
Azeendeenright, post kept popping up in my feed for some reason :) Anyway, glad you got that, i'm rocking the same + a topping D10 for a signal splitter infront of that
rastus
1391
Nov 11, 2018
I now have a Denafrips Ares R-2R DAC. I do know that I have never heard anything as alive, as what this DAC helps produce, @<$1K, new off the bay @ $700 shipped. I did a crap load of reading, everything,,, too much;) Native DSD capability was a must for me; why it’s not an MD/Arist or Soekris etc. If I had more coin to blow, I would get the next up in the line, or totaldac, now that I have tasted R-2R... F'n rabbit hole...
Ares: https://www.vinshineaudio.com/product-page/denafrips-ares-r2r-dac
Current rig w/Ares: https://www.massdrop.com/buy/massdrop-x-focal-elex-headphones/reviews/2225726
My alternate DAC is a Korg DS-DAC-100 / Audiogate (paired player software), all else same.
The_Jniac
322
Mar 8, 2019
I have several albums from Yarlung. Neither I nor a couple of guys from the music production program at my school could pass an ABX test comparing the original Direct to DSD recordings to the redbook downsample.
rastus
1391
Mar 8, 2019
The_JniacWhat was the entire,, reproduction chain comprised of?
Seeing more of this:
https://www.audiomediainternational.com/recording/new-nashville-studio-uses-merging-for-dsd-recording-capabilities
(Edited)
GiantHeadphoneSquid
639
Nov 11, 2018
I am considering the exact same pair. The recent excellent measured performance of the MD THX AAA amp, paired with manufacturer measurements on Monoprice site (https://downloads.monoprice.com/files/specsheets/24459_Specifications_181029.zip, obviously take with a grain of salt), makes me think that Monoprice may very well deliver.
Schiit has also annoyed me a bit on the DAC side, with the stealth firmware upgrade to Modi MB. It'll be an interesting December for sure.
verifonix
1181
Nov 10, 2018
@Azeendeen the Monolith by Monoprice Desktop Headphone Amplifier and DAC with THX AAA looks really great honestly
verifonix
1181
Nov 10, 2018
Hehe I actually own the micro idsd. It's costly but ridiculously powerful. The 3D/bass switches are really fun.
The -only- reason I would not recommend it, is if you are dead set on using balanced headphones via XLR. Otherwise the micro idsd is top of the line for me ^_^ highly recommended.
At full price the THX AAA from monoprice is cheaper than the ifi though. But yeah no reviews on that one out yet.
Azeendeen
67
Nov 10, 2018
verifonixwow. Thats good to know. I saw the micro Idsd. I plan on buying a balanced headphones cable as why not. I can feed more power which is good since in the future I may buy headphones with high ohms. I would be getting the questyle over the idsd since it gives off more power and I saw on a Hifi forum from a person that owns both questyle and idsd saying that while the questyle gives off slightly more power the DAC is better. So now I will just have to wait for the monolith dac/amp. It is eye catching as it can give off more power than the questyle. But like I said I will have to wait for it to come out. I am in no rush though .
Megazine
544
Nov 9, 2018
You could also save some money, and get great price to performance with the Massdrop Liquid Carbon X + SDAC DAC/Amp. Not sure how the two stack up with one another, but I hear they are both decent gear to start out with.
Megazine
544
Nov 11, 2018
Interesting point. You have gotten me to revaluate how I should recommend the LCX for future cases — balance (XLR) necessity or need/wants.
GiantHeadphoneSquid
639
Nov 11, 2018
MegazineJust to be clear, I'm not saying that the SE output of the LCX or any balanced amp is bad, it's just that they are almost always less powered, sometimes dramatically so. Only really an issue if you are hard wired to high impedance SE headphones. But also something to keep in mind when you compare the two outputs - we humans generally prefer louder sound.
At ~$99 the price of adding an excellent SE amp fork (Spark, Magni, MD O2) is comparable to many balanced cables that would be required to utilize the balanced out anyway. We are blessed to have many great options these days, and the LCX is one of the best :)
Sennheiser4live
9
Nov 9, 2018
I have the Schiit Jotunheim multibit, I use it with my HD 58x, HD 6xx, DT770Pro, DT990Premium 600ohm and with my Akg7xx, and I have to tell you that it sounds Great, it gives the power you need to every headphones you put it into them. Powerful, Great sound, very well build, and a great price. Recommended it.
Roaster989
2
Nov 10, 2018
Sennheiser4liveIve got a pair of the akg 712s how well does the amp power those?
Sennheiser4live
9
Nov 11, 2018
Roaster989I don't have the 712s yet, but I do have the beyerdinamic 990premium 600ohm, and it works perfectly well.
RT.1128
89
Nov 7, 2018
I have the Multibit Jotunheim. I use it from two sources 1) MacBook Pro with external SSD Flac files 2) Pioneer BluRay drive and via balanced inputs using a Pono.
I also picked up a Wyrd USB decrapifier. I don't know if I needed it or not.
I'm very happy with my purchase. It's my first DAC so I don't know how it stacks up vs the competition .
Edit to add:
I use the Jotunheim 4 Pin XLR Headphone output with HD6xx and Cardas balanced cables both purchased through Massdrop. Quite honestly it's my best audio experience I have heard.
ChrisE
13
Nov 7, 2018
Schitt audio is amazing, they make high quality products at a good price point, plus they're pretty nice to look at in addition to listening. I can't speak for the Jotunheim but the Valhalla 2 with a Modi Multibit had been driving my HD 800 S's to audio heaven. Plus... Tubes... Desk swag man
Since you mentioned it in replies to other comments, you can get a Valhalla 2 and a modi multibit for $650 full price, if you would rather have tubes,but that's not in a single unit
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