First thoughts on my new Stellar Gold preamp

Audio Components Preamplifiers
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Bob, I have the Jotunheim as well . . . nice headphone amp (I have it just as the amp, no preamp or DAC added). Mostly though I prefer to use my PS Audio GCHA–just a magic amplifier for the ZMF Ori I use in that system. I got the Schiit when the GCHA had an issue. . . but I found a dot of blu-tac solved the issue I was having!

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Craig,

Using the RCAs on the DAC is how I connect the Jotunheim. I also considered the possibility of connecting it via XLR on an unused input on the SG Pre.

Bob

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I’d used the headphone amp on my Stellar Gain Cell DAC, but once I traded up the Jotunheim seemed the way to go. Great performance for the price.

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I’ll definitely consider it. I asked the Schiit website’s chat bot what they recommend for an amp if I only needed single-ended input/output, listening through Focal Clears, and it suggested the next model down, the Asgard 3. But I also saw a YouTube review of the Jotunheim 2 that said it’s way worth the extra $120 over the Asgard, even if you never use the balanced inputs or outputs.

I’ve got some time to decide. The new DAC, preamp and XLRs have pretty well done in my available funds for now. :wink:

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I know you don’t need more help Craig, but if you ever get that far I can also recommend the Schiit Lyr.

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The Schiit headphone amp suggestion are all good. That said, I’m going to recommend you check out the iFi Zen CAN and the JDS Labs El Amp. I connect directly from the RCA cables on my DAC. Both amps are excellent. JDS Labs only makes SE amps.

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I appreciate all the suggestions for headphone access. After a lot of reading and viewing of various reviews, I’ve been in touch with the folks at Schiit and they’re digging up a black Asgard 3. It meets a price/performance point that’s comfortable for me.

So now that that’s settled, when I get home from our holiday travels tomorrow I’ll be getting back to listening to the Gold. It’s been playing continuously during my absence, and should be about 200 hours in by the time I get home. Then I can leave this headphone sidebar and get back to the point of this thread. :wink: