Schiit Jotunheim and Studio Monitor Question

[Evil Paroxysm]

So I have a question about the Schiit Jotunheim. I am new to the high end audio scene and just want to get a few of my questions hammered out if possible.

So I have a Jotunheim with the Multibit DAC upgrade. The outputs are all labeled "pre-out" does this mean it bypasses the amp and is passive? In which case the amp itself would only be for the headphone jack in the front?

I'm running the Jotunheim with JBL LSR305 studio monitors and am concerned despite Schiit's site saying its safe with all powered or passive speakers.

If it does bypass the amp why am I able to increase the volume from the XLR pre-outs by toggling the low/high gain switch on the front? (6dB low, 14dB high) and is the higher gain bad for the monitors? I leave the JBL's at volume 10 on the rear of them and then just control them with the Jotunheim as is.

Final question, why doesn't Schiit include the Jotunheim in the pre-amp section if it functions as one in everyway other than for headphones on the front?

 

[shadyJ]

Why would this DAC bypass the amp? Whatever you plug into the JBL speakers, the JBL's amp will control the gain at that point.

The low/high gain thing will not damage the JBLs. The high gain setting may mean that you might be able to clip the input signal easier, but I don't think you would ever listen to them that loud while sitting at that distance. The low gain setting might give you a lower signal-to-noise ratio, but it probably is nothing to worry about in a desktop setting.

As for the way Schiit markets their equipment, I have no earthly idea. Some of the Schiit stuff is overpriced nonsense. I think you could have purchased a pro-audio interface that does everything and more than this thing does for a bit less money, although it might not look as pretty.

 

[Evil Paroxysm]

I don't plan to use the high gain unless I need to when my HD6xx arrive.

I know I could've got a professional audio receiver but didn't want to use the realestate it would take. For instance I was offered a Marantz AV8003 for less money than I spent on the Jotunheim that probably would of outperformed this. However... That was used 10 year old equipement vs brand new sleek comapct equipement that does everything I need it to. The Marantz would've been nice but had like 75 inputs I would've never even touched and it would've taken up 10x more space.

 

[shadyJ]

Not talking about an AVR, which is consumer gear, I am talking about pro-audio interfaces like these: Behringer U-Phoria, Steinburg UR242, Focusrite Scarlett 2i4. Pretty much the same size as the Schiit, less expensive, just not as pretty.

 

[Evil Paroxysm]

Gotcha, on that note I had actually originally bought a Focusrite 6i6. I needed the larger model for the inputs I was looking for.

Then was basically called an idiot for buying on as I am not recording and don't need an audio interface. As a whole the Jotunheim is serving my needs far better than the 6i6 was though twice as expensive.

 

[Evil Paroxysm]

Ah the focusrite... I dumped it because I was looking to switch between multiple inputs with ease. You had to have the PC it was running from USB on to do this and it was software based...I didn't like that. The Jotunheim fits my needs faaaar better.

 

[TLS Guy]

I have looked at that unit. It does look ideal for a desk top system. The preamp is not passive. The amp only powers headphones. The phono preamp is passive which is a very bad idea. I would not want that at all.

The preamp has two gain levels is sensible, as powered and active speakers do have different line level input requirements. Unfortunately line level was never defined, so in practice there is a 5 to 6 db spread.

 

[Evil Paroxysm]

I have looked at that unit. It does look ideal for a desk top system. The preamp is not passive. The amp only powers headphones. The phono preamp is passive which is a very bad idea. I would not want that at all.

The preamp has two gain levels is sensible, as powered and active speakers do have different line level input requirements. Unfortunately line level was never defined, so in practice there is a 5 to 6 db spread.

TLS Guy,

So you saw my original post where I initially had the Focusrite 6i6...in the above comments I mentioned the Marantz AV8003 you offered to sell me and my reasons I couldn't take that off of your hands!

Good to know you agree the Jotunheim seems like a solid selection for my desktop focused needs (currently). I will likely expand in the future but this is suitable for me for now.

I see you don't recommend a passive pre-amp, you mentioned this before with the signals getting messed up and such. I actually am running the turntable (Denon DP300F) through a Schiit Mani powered magnetic/coil preamp into the Jotunheim.

Most of my confusion in all of this was the fact that I didn't want to be amping the amps in my LSR305's, but it sounds like thats not happening at all so all should be well. Schiit did a poor job classifyin the Jotunheim in my opinion. On the user manual it claims it to be an all in one amp/pre-amp/balanced DAC but on their sites buying a pre-amp guide it isn't mentioned at all which raised concerns.

I'm new to the high end audio scene and have been trying to learn as I go, and have been hoping I don't make any catastrophic errors along the way that will ruin my equipment.

I appreciate all of your replies

 

[sholling]

The only disadvantage that I can see to using the excellent Schiit Jotunheim as a preamp for your powered studio monitors is that there is no provision for a subwoofer. Perhaps you're planning on purchasing a sub designed to work with studio monitors or perhaps you have no material that reaches lower than your studio monitors but I run a really good sub with my PC connected studio monitors. Of course I do game a bit.

 

[Evil Paroxysm]

The only disadvantage that I can see to using the excellent Schiit Jotunheim as a preamp for your powered studio monitors is that there is no provision for a subwoofer. Perhaps you're planning on purchasing a sub designed to work with studio monitors or perhaps you have no material that reaches lower than your studio monitors but I run a really good sub with my PC connected studio monitors. Of course I do game a bit.

I ordered an LSR310S but it's been on backorder.

What I would do to implement the sub is to just run the balanced outs from the Jotunheim to the sub and use the passive outs from the sub to run in to the LSR305's. They were designed to work together that way after all.

My setup is focused around gaming also