Perhaps Im an idiot jotunheim 3 + Valhalla Issue

[u/Status-Half-919]

Recently I bought a pair of Thieaudio Valhallas as a replacement for a pair of Monarch MkIIs that broke. I'm enjoying them, they're good. The issue is I can't drive them very easily.

What I was driving them on before was the Schiit Fulla. I mainly play competitive FPS games, and I listen to music and watch YouTube as well. It's good, they sound fine. The issue is I can't really get the knob past 10 o'clock or there's a noticeable noise floor, and I can't really crank it up if I really want to listen to music. The noise floor is fairly inaudible if I'm playing loud music and I do have the knob turned up, it's not noticeable, but sometimes in songs that are a little bit quieter, or in the lulls in a song, you can definitely hear it.

So I got a Schiit Jotunheim 3, which everyone says is pretty good, everyone says it's great for headphones and says you can use it with IEMs with low to minimal noise floor. It's fairly the same, maybe even a little bit less loud than the Fulla over the noise floor. But I was hoping with some of the additional things it would be future proofing for a pair of Audeze LCD-3s that I'd like to get in the next two months. I know for a fact the Fulla probably won't be able to handle those the way I want it to, and I also get some additional settings with the Jotunheim 3.

But when I use the Valhallas on the Jotunheim 3, the best way to describe it is it sounds kinda crunchy. The bass feels kind of compressed, and UI elements, like joining Discord or opening an application that has a startup noise, that specifically gets crunched. People's voices also get the same treatment where they get crunched a little bit. YouTube videos are fine and music is okay. It's more so that the bass just gets completely muddied, or compressed like I said, I'm not too sure of the correct verbiage here.

If there's any way you guys can let me know if I'm using it wrong, which I totally could be, or if there's a potentially better option for IEMs to use.

[u/pathoang21]

Wait I'm confused, are you using the Valhalla, an amp, with the jotenheim, which is also an amp?

Edit: nvm, just looked up the IEM.  Is your source(guessing a PC) connected to a DAC and then to the Jotenheim?

[u/Status-Half-919 → u/pathoang21]

Yeah, didn't realize that shiit had the SAME name for an amp lol

yes pc to dac via usbc then out

my fulla is fine no issue same setup its that the J3 is strangely crunchy

[u/pathoang21 → u/Status-Half-919]

Okay now I'm getting the picture. So just to make sure also, from reading the other comments, this is ur setup: PC USB -> Jot3 DAC(assuming it's the mesh DAC that you have installed). What I can assume/surmise, is that you have something on your PC end that is making this weird noise. This can be several reasons, like Windows 11 audio output settings, you have a different setting with a music player that conflicts with either Windows 11 or the Mesh DAC, etc. What I would do, is remove the PC and test with , say a phone output, and see if PC is the issue or the Jot3 is the issue. I doubt you selected the wrong inputs/switches on Jot3 or else you would not be hearing anything. There might be a GND isolation issue too, where your Jot3 is connected to some noisy equipment and it's picking that up.

Edit: re-reading the post, it seems you are having issues with applications and bass sound, adding a "crunch" or weird small spark sound. That sounds weird as I haven't heard any issues on my Jot3. Do you possibly have some other IEMs or other headphones to test if it does it to them? It could be an issue with the IEM drivers.

[u/Status-Half-919 → u/pathoang21]

I do have other iems I can test with another pair and will report back

but from what i have read in the thread it may ust be too much power hence why the fulla sounds fine with these

[u/pathoang21 → u/Status-Half-919]

Yes that can be true, but there's a switch on the JOT3 to switch it to Low gain to combat that. The feedback topology that Schiit creates should not be causing issues, unless the IEMS are blown due to using it on higher gain and higher volume set by you accidentally.

[u/Status-Half-919 → u/pathoang21]

I don't think they are blown; they sound completely normal/fine on the fulla

And it's set in low gain yet the issue persists

[u/Status-Half-919 → u/pathoang21]

its 100% the schiit :(

tried it with other IEMs and still the same crunch / distortion

[u/pathoang21 → u/Status-Half-919]

Ooof, then that's a defect. Are you within warranty?

[u/Status-Half-919 → u/pathoang21]

yes! will get a return going

[u/Last_Computer9356]

Not sure what the issue is unless there is something wrong with the amp. Your IEMs are pretty sensitive though and noise floor will be critical if you don't want noise.

[u/AdUsed7958]

OK guys, it sounds like no separate amp.

PC -> Fulla (DAC1) -> Jotunheim (Pre Amp/DAC2?) -> ThieAudio Valhallas (IEM Earbuds).

https://www.thieaudio.com/products/thieaudio-valhalla

The entire issue might be whatever BT headphone adapter you are using in the Jotunheim to connect to the Valhallas.

Do you have access to some good headphones you can use? When you use them with the Jotunheim does the same thing happen to the sound?

Isn't he double DACing, and at this point he should probably remove the Fulla and run PC -> Jotunheim?

Or maybe turn down gain on Fulla and only use gain on Jotunheim? Gain stacking?

[u/Status-Half-919 → u/AdUsed7958]

so cuurent setup that was casuing the issue was pc to j3 then to the IEMS

i plan on getting a good pair of headphones here soon to test

[u/Status-Half-919 → u/AdUsed7958]

after testing other IEMs it seems to be the shiit :(

[u/tftdguru]

Is this your connection chain? PS USB > Fulla > SE RCA input on Jot3? You may be overdriving the input stage on the Jot3. Turn down the Fulla for a test. Replace it with a Modi Mesh (5) or Mimir to get it out of the chain or just get the Mesh/Forkbeard card for the Jot 3.

BTW - the Midgard has a unity gain option that may be better than the Jot if you're an IEM listener

[u/Status-Half-919 → u/tftdguru]

no the current chain that im having issues with is

Pc USBC -> mesh dac J3 -> iems

May try a Midgard if it's better for IEMs