Schiit Wotan vs JBL SA550 Classic Detailed Comparison

Schiit Audio Schiit Wotan vs JBL SA550 Classic

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Schiit Wotan

Power Amplifier | 200 watts RMS into 8-ohms

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JBL SA550 C

Integrated Amplifier | 90 watts RMS into 8-ohms

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Schiit Wotan

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JBL SA550 C

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Schiit Wotan

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JBL SA550 C

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Schiit Wotan vs JBL SA550 C Integrated Amplifier Comparison

In this review, we will be comparing two different types of amplifiers. Schiit Wotan is a Stereo Power Amplifier speaker whereas the SA550 Classic is a Integrated Amplifier with built-in DAC speaker.

Let's have a brief look at the main features of Schiit Wotan and JBL SA550 C first before getting into our more detailed comparison.

Key Specs	Schiit Wotan	JBL SA550 C
Power	200 watts x 2 channels into 8 ohms and 400 watts x 2 channels into 4 ohms	90 watts x 2 channels into 8 ohms and 150 watts x 2 channels into 4 ohms
Amplifier class	Class A/B	Class G
Built-in DAC	No	Yes
Phono input	No	Yes
Headphone output	No	3.5mm
Bluetooth	No	Yes
Weight	24.49kg / 53.9lbs	11.22kg / 24.7lbs
Dimensions (H x W x D)	3-7/8" x 16" x 13" 98.4 x 406.4 x 330.2 mm	4-15/16" x 17-3/4" x 13-5/8" 126.0mm x 451.0mm x 347.0mm

What size room are the Schiit Wotan and JBL SA550 C Amplifiers good for?

The size of the room in which you are planning to use these amplifiers is an important decision factor. Here we have compared their suitability to various sizes of environments considering their max power parameters:

Listening Environment	Schiit Wotan	JBL SA550 C
Near-field	Are you nuts?	Poor
Small Room	Bad	Average
Mid-size Room	Poor	Good
Large Room	Good	Average
Very Large Room	Good	Poor

The sections below take each area in turn: power output, inputs and outputs, features and physical size.

**This post contains affiliate links, and we will be compensated if you make a purchase after clicking through our links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

Reasons to choose Schiit Wotan over JBL SA550 Classic

Watts into 8-ohms	200 watts vs 90 watts	Delivers higher power into 8-ohms speakers
Watts into 4-ohms	400 watts vs 150 watts	Delivers higher power into 4-ohms speakers
Signal to Noise Ratio	124 dB vs 106 dB	Higher ratings results in cleaner sound
Base Surface Area	1341.9cm²/ 208.0inch² vs 1565.0cm²/ 242.6inch²	takes less space in your room
Height	98mm vs 126mm	Easier to fit in smaller spaces

Reasons to choose JBL SA550 Classic over Schiit Wotan

Handheld Remote	Yes vs No	Control the amplifier by the included RC
Total Harmonic Distortion (THD)	0.002% vs 0.02%	Less Harmonic Distortion
Buil-in DAC	Yes vs No	Connect digital sources without an external DAC
Bluetooth	Yes vs No	Stream music via Bluetooth devices
Total Analog Inputs	3 vs 2	More options for connecting Analog sources
PhonoInput	Yes vs No	Connect a turntable directly to your amp
USB Input	Yes vs	Connect Sources via USB
Headphone Output	3.5mm vs No	Connect your headphone to the amplifier

Inputs and Outputs

The input and output selections that are offered is an important factor when comparing two amplifiers. Here you can find how the I/O selections of the Schiit Wotan and JBL SA550 C differs from each other.

Schiit Wotan Inputs

Total Number of Analog Inputs: 2
XLR Input Port

JBL SA550 C Inputs

Total Number of Analog Inputs: 3
Phono Input
1 Optical Digital Input
2 Coaxial Digital Input
USB Input:
- USB Type-A input for software updates only

Outputs

Stereo RCA Preamp Outputs
3.5mm Headphone Output

JBL SA550 C Back View (Click the image for the larger version)

What's in the Box of JBL SA550 C?

Here are the items that come with the SA550 Classic:

Integrated Amplifier
58-inch AC power cord
Remote control
2 -inchAAA-inch batteries
Quick Start Guide
Important Safety Instructions