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AmJosh
128
Sep 9, 2017
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Are jotunheim the best dac/Amp to go with these? I am all confused from the discussion over bunch of different dacs and amps that were dropped since. I have a budget of about $200-$300. Any suggestions are welcome.
The best gear I have currently is dragonfly black 1.5 and Audio Technica ATH M40X. Hoping to have a much nicer experience with these :).
Manchineel
70
Sep 9, 2017
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AmJoshthe jotunheim is 499 with the dac included so that may be a little bit out of your price range. From what I have read it seems most people think the magni 2 is a pretty good budget option, if you are afraid that the magni2 wont have enough power you can always get the uber version.
AmJosh
128
Sep 9, 2017
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ManchineelThanks!! I hate to see "budget" word when spending upwards of $200 :). But if I increase my budget to $500, would jot be the best no-brainer solution? To be future proof etc?
Manchineel
70
Sep 9, 2017
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AmJoshyeah if you wanna buy something great w/o having to think about jotunheim seems like the answer. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vDvGNMUwOkI is a pretty thorough review of the jotunheim using a bunch of different headphones.
PigmonkeY
1082
Sep 9, 2017
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AmJoshI'd definately look into the Audio-GD NFB 11.28 in the 200-300 price point. Much better overall build quality and QC, with oodles of power. You lose balanced output, but that's arguably not a problem, depending on who you ask. I don't know anyone who can really tell the difference.
AmJosh
128
Sep 9, 2017
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PigmonkeYWow!! It's sold out on their website and not available on Amazon. I have sent an email to them. It seems to be based on ESS Sabre chip set while Jot is based on AKM. Which one is better? Also NFB seems to supper DSD at higher rates. Don't know how much difference that would make.
PigmonkeY
1082
Sep 9, 2017
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AmJoshI have a brand new one sitting next to me now. They're wonderful amps. I bought mine for the promo price while they were out of stock, and they had one in the mail to me in 4 business days, and delivered in 3 after that. Might as well go for the TXCO upgrade, too. It's only 20 bucks.
It also has a DAC/preamp out on the back with fixed and variable, so you can run some actives with them or go into an OTL tube down the line if you like.
As far as which DAC is better, it's kind of nitpicky. There are a lot of ways you can flavor the sound inside using jumpers and dip switches, but I've not seen any need to. It delivers extremely uncolored neutral sound.
The ONLY way to buy them is to email them directly. They'll get back to you quickly with a quote including shipping. They primarily build for the chinese audiophile market, and they take a lot of pride in the product they make.
It also has a DAC/preamp out on the back with fixed and variable, so you can run some actives with them or go into an OTL tube down the line if you like.
As far as which DAC is better, it's kind of nitpicky. There are a lot of ways you can flavor the sound inside using jumpers and dip switches, but I've not seen any need to. It delivers extremely uncolored neutral sound.
The ONLY way to buy them is to email them directly. They'll get back to you quickly with a quote including shipping. They primarily build for the chinese audiophile market, and they take a lot of pride in the product they make.
Jackula
1743
Sep 9, 2017
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AmJoshDAC chips make zero difference, it's the implement that matters. The Audio-gd has a much superior implementation compared to the Jot. Audio-gd is famous for making some high-end stuff, their Master 7 DAC is a real treat! While Schiit doesn't have much experience with high-end, all their stuff sound pretty similar. I would endorse getting an Audio-gd over the Jot.
PigmonkeY
1082
Sep 10, 2017
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AmJosh366.70 inc. shipping (shipping is 35 alone). they gave me 10% off the unit cost.
PigmonkeY
1082
Sep 11, 2017
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AmJoshGood question. It can "slightly improve clarity". I just figured i'd throw it on because it was only 20 bucks.
One of those things that should probably just be included in the base price, and probably will be on the 2018 version.
One of those things that should probably just be included in the base price, and probably will be on the 2018 version.
Jackula
1743
Sep 11, 2017
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PigmonkeYI could be wrong, but it could just be a crystal to help with the accuracy of the onboard clock. Much like how quartz can keep better time than a mechanical watch.
But if you were planning on getting a reclocker, then there's not much point getting the TCXO upgrade. What I mean by reclocker is something like a Hiface or Audiophilleo.
But if you were planning on getting a reclocker, then there's not much point getting the TCXO upgrade. What I mean by reclocker is something like a Hiface or Audiophilleo.
PigmonkeY
1082
Sep 11, 2017
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JackulaI think one can assume most people aren't going to be re-clocking. I doubt you're going to notice a difference in the 300-400 dollar range for cans.
Maybe I'd run a reclocker before a stax power center, but it's probably not a really important thing in this price range.
Maybe I'd run a reclocker before a stax power center, but it's probably not a really important thing in this price range.
PigmonkeY
1082
Sep 11, 2017
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JackulaAlso, it's been a while since I looked, but doesn't the ability of the 11.28's 32 bit dac already outstrip the 24 bit offerings that audiophilleo has?
Jackula
1743
Sep 11, 2017
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PigmonkeYI don't really want to get into a bit depth debate, but the question is, do you actually have any 32-bit music? I don't, I hardly have anything over 16 bit. But if you already have 32-bit material, then you're right, you'll probably want to stay away from audiophilleo and get something that supports 32-bit.
PigmonkeY
1082
Sep 11, 2017
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JackulaWell, what I'm really getting at, is that for a 300 dollar dac/amp, and a 300 dollar set of headphones, i don't think a 1000 dollar reclocker is really the best place to spend your money, bang for the buck wise.
Jackula
1743
Sep 11, 2017
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PigmonkeYThat was an example. There are cheaper reclockers than the ones I've mentioned, but I don't dispute your point.
PigmonkeY
1082
Sep 11, 2017
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JackulaI would think from here, the most cost effective things you could do to get different sound profiles are either other cans, or maybe an OTL tube (bottlehead crack/darkvoice) to come off your dac out with.
PigmonkeY
1082
Sep 11, 2017
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AmJoshGuy clearly works for the company, it's his first post on the site, and it doesn't even include a DAC. That being said, he did buy a 6xx.
I smell some shilling here.
I smell some shilling here.
Bitvar
0
Sep 11, 2017
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AmJosh Get an ODAC/O2 combo. It is the best you can find for 200 bux: https://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_from=R40&_trksid=p2380057.m570.l1313.TR3.TRC0.A0.H0.XODAC+o2.TRS0&_nkw=ODAC+o2&_sacat=0
I have Sennheiser HD800s and an HDVA 800 (both are 1600US) and I also have an ODAC/O2 and honestly, the gap in performance isn't worth it. The ODAC/O2 is an incredible value.
I have Sennheiser HD800s and an HDVA 800 (both are 1600US) and I also have an ODAC/O2 and honestly, the gap in performance isn't worth it. The ODAC/O2 is an incredible value.
AmJosh
128
Sep 11, 2017
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BitvarI have heard great reviews about o2/odac but they compare with schiit magni/modi while jotenheim is supposed to be much better and this audio gd seems to be even better. Now jot is $500 deal, but audio gd is much cheaper and kinda comes in my extended budget. O2/odac is still $250.
Also, have you used jot or audio gd?
Also, have you used jot or audio gd?
littlelabs
1
Sep 11, 2017
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PigmonkeYI don't work for the company, I'm the founder, and we've been around for over 25 years. I personally designed this product with the HD-600 as my reference. We are a pro audio company with a long history, but you might not of heard of us in your circle. Sorry if I offended you by my posting.
Bitvar
0
Sep 11, 2017
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AmJoshI'd get to Jotenheim if you want balanced output, then it is worth the extra scratch. Honestly though most audio sources aren't above 24/96 though and almost no one uses DSD or that other Sony format right now. So anything above the 400 dollar segment in the amp/dac world is overkill. I have used the Jotenheim with my HD800s and HD700 though and was thoroughly impressed. It is also a much prettier to look at product.
If you have a turn table though... totally spend the extra for the Jotenheim since it can mount a passive phono module.
If you have a turn table though... totally spend the extra for the Jotenheim since it can mount a passive phono module.
FuckHead-Fi
424
Sep 11, 2017
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BitvarThere won't be any gap in performance, the ODAC/O2 is audibly transparent.
FuckHead-Fi
424
Sep 11, 2017
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AmJoshAudio-gd and Shcitt are badly designed junk so they will be worse than the ODAC/O2.
PigmonkeY
1082
Sep 11, 2017
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FuckHead-FiPlease do quantify this statement. Genuinely interested,
PigmonkeY
1082
Sep 11, 2017
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littlelabsIt's not that I haven't heard of you, It's just that your first post on the entire site is plugging your company, with no thought at all, considering the original question is asking for a dac/amp.
littlelabs
1
Sep 11, 2017
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PigmonkeYDACs come and go, a solid analog only headphone amp you'll have for life. Just enlightening the man about a quality product. He doesn't need you to censor, unless of course, you're the moderator. If you're not, you're a problem.
FuckHead-Fi
424
Sep 11, 2017
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Quimet93Any company which sells DAC's and amps that expensive are bound to be BS.
FuckHead-Fi
424
Sep 11, 2017
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PigmonkeYWell, they are fundamentally different products. The best thing you can do is read about the ODAC/O2 on the designer's blog.
BelialApollyon
43
Sep 20, 2017
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littlelabsHow many watts per channel @ 32 ohms? Also, can you run balanced with one cable for each side of the headphone connected at the same time?
littlelabs
1
Sep 20, 2017
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BelialApollyonI'm not positive of the exact wattage capable into 32 ohms, and I designed it which I admit I should know, but I haven't actually measured that. I find many confuse the importance of wattage rather than gain, and the monotor has plenty of gain (volume) even into 300-600 Ω phones. The outputs are single ended, the two jacks on the right are separately powered from the two on the left. If fed with a balanced signal the signal remains balanced up to the driver stage but the output of the driver stage itself is not balanced. Hope that helps and thanks for inquiring, now to measure..
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