Schiit Audio presents
Jotunheim
– Our first headphone amplifier with a modular design that gives you maximum flexibility and ensures the unit never gets obsolete. You can select the Jotunheim in a pure amplifier configuration, or add one of two modules: a completely balanced DAC on AK4490 chips, or a passive MM phono stage with DC coupling.
Jason Stoddart, co-founder of Schiit and head of analog development“We’ve essentially turned the very idea of the amp-to-chip bundle inside out. Any modern integrated DAC/amplifier is doomed to become obsolete. When new digital options become available, the owner of such a unit will have to throw it away entirely – along with the amplifier, which may have been great in every way on its own. Jotunheim’s modular architecture makes it easy to replace an old DAC board with a new one when more interesting chips and technology become available. But the most important thing is that there are no compromises in Jotunheim. At the moment it’s simply the best and most convenient amplifier we could make.”
The benefits of the Jotunheim are not limited to obsolescence. Using the phono stage module, you can build a high-end desktop analog system with a vinyl turntable as the source with this amplifier. Other modules will be available in the future, further expanding the scope of the unit.
At the heart of the Jotunheim design is the newly developed Schiit completely balanced discrete element Pivot Point circuit with current feedback that the engineers spent the last three years developing. Pivot Point gives you full use of the balanced and unbalanced connectors without phase dividers on the input and adders on the output.
Jotunheim’s unique analog topology allows optimized circuit performance even in the digital domain. It made it possible to use a balanced DAC with passive filtering on two AKM AK4490 chips, which simply eliminates a whole extra link in the signal path between the DAC and the amplifier itself. All this means that the Jotunheim opens up the full potential of both analog and digital sections, without compromising on sound quality.
The optional MM phono module provides outstanding sound quality with most existing MM heads. Pre gain level – 44dB, unloaded operation up to 53mV, fully passive RIAA curve equalization and capacitorless DC interstage coupling with servo trace circuit.
MM phono module
DAC module
Price and configurations
Jotunheim can be ordered in the following configurations:
Jotunheim without additional modules – 39,990 Dollars.
Jotunheim with DAC module – 49 990 Dollars.
Jotunheim with phono MM module – 49,990 Dollars.
Technical Specifications
| Operating frequency range: 20Hz-20kHz -0.1dB, 2Hz-700kHz, -3dB |
| Balance output |
| Maximum power at load impedance: |
| 16 ohms: 7500 mW |
| 32 Ohms: 5000 mW |
| 50 Ohm: 3000 mW |
| 300 Ohm: 900 mW |
| 600 Ohm: 500 mW |
| Unbalanced output |
| Maximum power at load impedance: |
| 16 Ohm: 2500 mW |
| 32 Ohms: 1500 mW |
| 50 ohms: 800 mW |
| 300 ohms: 350 mW |
| 600 Ohm: 175 mW |
| Nonlinear distortion coefficient: Less than 0.001% 20 Hz-20 kHz, 1 V RMS |
| Intermodulation distortion: less than 0.0015% CCIR test |
| Signal-to-noise ratio: greater than 104 dB A-weighted, relative to 1 V RMS |
| Interference: less than -75 dB 20 Hz-20 kHz |
| Total output impedance: less than 1.0 ohm balanced and unbalanced output at any gain |
| Gain: x2 6 dB or x8 14 dB , front panel switch |
| Inputs: XLR balanced jacks and unbalanced RCA jacks switched with front panel toggle switch |
| Outputs: 4-pin balanced XLR connector, mini-jack6.3 mm, a pair of 3-pin XLR outputs from the preamplifier, one pair of unbalanced RCA connectors |
| Amplifying path: proprietary Pivot Point™ discrete element differential with current feedback. |
| Power supply: 48 VA transformer with six stages of discrete or integrated regulation and filter capacitors over 70,000 μF. |
| Topology: completely passive RIAA-correction circuit, amplifier circuit on AD8599 chip, mylar capacitors installed in all stages, DC coupling with servo tracking circuit. |
| Power Consumption: 25W |
| Dimensions: 229x152x51 mm |
| Weight: 2.7 kg |
| Optional dual differential DAC module: |
| USB input stage chip: C-Media CM6631A |
| Digital-to-analog conversion chip: 2xAK4490 |
| Analog output: fully discrete, with passive adder and filter circuits. |
| Operating frequency range: 20Hz-20kHz ± 0.1dB, 2Hz-100kHz, -3dB |
| Maximum amplitude of output signal: 2.0 V RMS |
| Coefficient of non-linear distortion: less than 0,0015% 20 Hz-20 kHz |
| Intermodulation distortion: less than 0.002% CCIR test |
| Signal-to-noise ratio: greater than 106 dB unweighted, relative to 2V |
| Interfaces: asynchronous USB 2.0 |
| Phono-corrector option module: |
| Gain magnitude: 42 dB |
| Non-linear distortion coefficient: less than 0.01% A-weighted, relative to 1 V RMS |
| Signal-to-noise ratio: greater than 80 dB A-weighted with inputs shorted |
| Interference: -70dB 20Hz-20kHz |
| Sensitivity: 2.3 mV at 400 mV output |
| Overload margin: more than 20 dB |
| Input impedance: 47 kOhm |
| RIAA curve accuracy: ± 0.25dB 20Hz-20kHz |
| Interfaces: 2xRCA |
looks promising with its sleek design and high-performance features. But I’m curious about its compatibility with different headphones. Can it effectively drive both low and high impedance headphones? And does it offer any customization options to fine-tune the sound to my preferences?
Looks like Schiit Audio has released a new desktop modular headphone amplifier! I’m curious to know more about its specifications, design, and overall performance. Has anyone tried this amplifier yet? How does it compare to their previous models? Would love to hear some reviews or opinions from those who have experience with Schiit Audio products. Thanks in advance!