Massdrop x Noble X Universal IEMs Discussions | Drop

Massdrop x Noble X Universal IEMs

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LEWayne

Mar 24, 2017

Northern California area. Shipment arrived today. All smiles.

Freezky

Mar 25, 2017

LEWayneImpressions so far?

Mar 25, 2017

LEWayneMORE PHOTOS PLZ! <3

Mar 25, 2017

Freezky

Visually they are really very nice. I like the way the light plays on the outside, and the intricacies of the machining of them is just stunning. Nice ovals intersecting one another overlaid with the embedded Noble logo is great. The diamond texture on the sides offers a nice contrast, and reflection of light from the sides.
Sound is exceptional or the price. Extremely detailed and revealing of the source you use. That isn't to say they don't still sound very good on my Galaxy S7 Edge, but they are certainly scale-able with a good amplifier. I enjoyed watching Rogue One using my tablet via USB to my Xduoo XD-05 and it was very moving. Music is also a great match with this as a wonderful portable combo. I had recently watched the movie on my home system in DTS-MA with full 7.1 channels (I have a full set of Golden Ear Titan II's with centers and surrounds with Outlaw Audio ampification), and it's a remarkable sounding movie, but with the Noble Massdrop's it was far more engaging. I felt fully enveloped in the movie. I've seen the movie a few times, and couldn't help but watch the whole thing over again including the full credits at the end! Even with my wife watching the tv in the background I didn't feel that there was any noise coming into my experience, which speaks to the great isolation they provide. I'm using the memory foam (larger of the two) right now, and they really do a perfect job of making sure you really hear only what you are listening to. Sound detail for effects was spot on. I feel that the attack on these are about the best I've heard in an IEM. Very articulate, which is probably why they reveal so much of the source amplifier. They have a bit of sparkle in my opinion, and while not overly so, they do make it easy to hear the small amounts of hiss on recordings, and subsequently the background quietness (or lack thereof) from your amplifier. Plugged into my Schitt Jotunheim they are just fricken great. Makes me want to purchase another cable to put a four pin XLR on the jack end to see what they are like via the balanced audio output. I've also found that they definitely benefit from burn-in, and I'm only in the tens of hours listening so far. They have evened out a bit, and I also found myself often turning the volume down as I listened since you really don't have to be very loud to hear absolutely every detail. It's also very possible they are just getting louder as they are being broken in. Anyway, just a few thoughts for now since I know there are other users out there that may want to comment, but since I think they will take some time to really peak into their abilities, I'll hold back on offering all my thoughts until then! Also, an up-close photo with my Sennheiser HD6XX's to show how close the color is with the Massdrop branding between manufacturers for Kitty!

Mar 25, 2017

KITTYA bit hard to take pictures after you plug them into your head (don't think you want to see a close-up of them stuffed in our ears!), but here you go! If taking a picture at 6am on a Saturday is any indication of just how addictive they are.... :P

cahtisroo

Mar 25, 2017

Nosaj1969nice set up! im running the modi2 uber as well. what tube amp is that?

Vote

Mar 25, 2017

Nosaj1969Quick question, did you connect your Noble X to Jotunheim directly wiith 3.5mm plug or do you have 1/4 adapter for your Noble X?

Vote

Mar 25, 2017

KITTYI did have a 3.5 to 1/4 adapter handy, so yes that is how I connected it. Not sure why one isn't supplied, but I have some from other phones. I can tell you that the 1/4 inch adapter that comes with the Sennheiser Massdrop HD6XX doesn't work with it even though it looked like it should since the barrel is small enough for the 3.5 end to fit inside (it has more of a socket to it), and only one side would work. Too bad because it would have looked cool if it had fit since it's black on the outside. If that's the only gripe, that isn't so bad!

Vote

Mar 26, 2017

cahtisrooThanks! I have a Schiit Vali 2, and I also have the PA1501A APPJ tube amp running my Paradigm Monitors that you can't really see in the photo. I think you were referring to the Vali 2 anyway? I love both of the Schiit amplifiers really. They sound different, and good to go back and fourth with. Also I have the output of the Modi 2 (mine is the Multibit not an Uber) coming off RCA to XLR on the Jotunheim. Both it and the dual mono DAC in the Jotunheim are outstanding (just a shame that there isn't balanced out on the multibit!), but mostly I listen to just the Jot. Again, they sound different, and I enjoy them both.

Mr.Ipaytoomuchforheadphones

Mar 26, 2017

Nosaj1969I guess i should go find an adapter if i want to connect it with my desktop amp/dac. Thank you for your valuable information!

Mar 27, 2017

Nosaj1969How would you describe the sound?

Vote

Mar 27, 2017

Mr.IpaytoomuchforheadphonesI wrote about it in a post up above this thread....I love em though!

Mar 27, 2017

Nosaj1969Sorry to bother you again lol, I just have one more question. I was planning to get Jotunheim in the near future and then I stumbled with the module choice from their site.
There's a Balanced DAC and Passive Phono version. What is a Passive Phono? What's the difference between the Balance DAC and Passive Phono??

Vote

Mar 27, 2017

KITTYNever a bother! You have an either or choice in that if you have the phono pre-amplifier installed, the Jotunheim inputs (RCA in on the phono module) would allow you to connect a turn-table or as some people call it-a record player. The passive phono pre-amplifier simply boosts the very low signal coming from the turn-table so that the headphone pre-amp and amplifier can use it. Schiit also sells an off-board phono pre-amp for $129 if you really needed it, and could still purchase the internal DAC. This is what I would do if I needed the phono.....
The balanced DAC that is your second choice has only a USB input (probably why it's so inexpensive since it won't accept SPIDF),so that you can use a computer or phone or Digital Audio Player, and can convert the digital to analog to be used by the amplifier. I have the balanced DAC in mine. Note also that the DAC is only $100 extra if you have it installed when you purchase the Jotunheim, but $130 if you bought it later and installed it yourself. I would highly recommend that you purchase the Balanced DAC if for no other reason than the fact that it's really unbelievably cheap firstly, and secondly, it's dual mono and sounds unbelivably good! Dual mono means that each Digital to Analog conversion is performed by the Digital to Analog Converter chip independently for each stereo channel.....thus dual or two of them. Normally, the same chip employed in the Jotunheim DAC is used in other manufacturers DACs to perform the same function, but only using one chip to do both channels (stereo) at once, and is still considered an outstanding quality chip. The idea is that you get a truly separated (discreet) conversion from start to finish all the way to your headphones so as to eliminate completely any chance of cross-talk or bleed from the other channel. If you were to try to purchase an independent balanced DAC from another manufacturer on it's own, you would normally likely pay many times the $100 easily, and would require another off board unit and cabling, whereas the one inserted internally into the Jotunheim requires no additional room, and is soldered internally to the mother board of the amplifier which is ideal. It's unlikely that you have a better DAC for the money out there, and even if you did, it would really need to have balanced outputs to fully take advantage of the Jotunheim's balanced headphone output. My Modi Multibit I believe has a better sounding DAC in it, but without the balanced out, you loose a little bit of the magic that you get with having a truly balanced system. Even the Modi without balanced outputs was $249. I think only the Gungnir has the balanced outputs in the Schitt lineup of DACs, and it's $849!! And you would still need to buy some cables. The difference in separation is immediately noticeable, and you get double the output power from the amplifier using the balanced 4 pin connector since the grounds in the headphones are separated as opposed to combined in a common single ended output such as a 1/4 inch jack. It's very worth every penny is what I'm saying here. I doubt you have the use for the phono pre-amp unless you have lots of albums, and a great turntable setup.
The last option is to not get either, and just use it as a headphone amplifier. It's worth the $399 on it's own merits without the DAC or phono installed as it's an exceptionally powerful, very clean and beautiful sounding amplifier. It fills the gap essentially in their lineup of amplifiers on it's own, but worth more than twice it's price in the Schiit lineup with the DAC installed in my opinion.
Do you have the ability to solder your own cables for headphones? You will want to purchase balanced cables for whatever headphones you have. I just built a cable yesterday for my Monoprice Monolith M560 and did the same for my Sennheiser HD600 and HD6XXs. I will need to make one for the Noble unless I purchase an extra cable from Noble, cut the 3.5 jack off and solder a Neutrik 4 pin balanced connector on, which will look silly, but sound fantastic!
Since I know you like photos, here is a picture with both cables I made for my Jot, the blue one is plugged into the balanced amp output, and then going to 3.5 jacks that plug into each side of the Monoliths (I unlplugged the left one in the picture). The black cable that goes to my Sennheiser is also in the photo so you can see the connector unplugged. Both are Canare cables.....

Hope this helps!

Apr 30, 2017

Nosaj1969I apologize for the late respond!!! I appreciate it a lot for sharing your valuable information with me! It helped me a lot and cleared a lot of things out of the way (I even took a screenshot). About the dual mono, I understand what you're telling me, but is it possible or is there any products out there that has more than two installed? So does having more means better then?
Sadly, I'm not a craftsmanship like you are. I was planning to mod my Beyerdynamic and Fostex one day and I found some sites that does detachable cable moding. I had many chances of getting the Jotunheim this year, but I ended up needing the money for something else. I'm still planning to get one, but for now I'm currently saving it for Opus #1.
Once again, thank you. I hope I get to ask you more in the future about this kinds of things. Keep in touch!

Vote

Apr 30, 2017

KITTYThere are devices that have more DACs, but not really for two channel audio. Most likely you would only find more DACs in a discreet multi-channel pre-amp for home theater is all I can think of. Either way, you don't really need more than the dual mono since it helps keep the two channels of audio completely isolated from one another which is the main benefit from the Balanced audio outputs on the Jotunheim if you use that kind of connector. Most likely it means having to either buy or make your own cables since not many headphones come with that type of connector. Always here to help Kitty!

Vote

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