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Schiit Mjolnir headphone amplifier - Page 140

post #2086 of 2641
12/13/12 at 7:40am

I was looking into future proofing with native DSD playback.  

 

OK - carry on..

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post #2087 of 2641
12/13/12 at 9:54pm

Just placed my order for the Mjolnir a few minutes ago... Thanks to all who contributed impressions and discussion in this thread!!!  Now my only remaining question is which inputs will sound better, balanced or SE? very_evil_smiley.gif

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post #2088 of 2641
12/13/12 at 10:24pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by pelli View Post

Just placed my order for the Mjolnir a few minutes ago... Thanks to all who contributed impressions and discussion in this thread!!!  Now my only remaining question is which inputs will sound better, balanced or SE? very_evil_smiley.gif

 

I would think balanced since the Mjolnir is a balanced amp.

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post #2089 of 2641
12/13/12 at 10:51pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by pelli View Post

Just placed my order for the Mjolnir a few minutes ago... Thanks to all who contributed impressions and discussion in this thread!!!  Now my only remaining question is which inputs will sound better, balanced or SE? very_evil_smiley.gif
The different inputs of the amp don't sound better or worse, it depends on the quality of your source...and whether or not it's balanced or single ended
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post #2090 of 2641
12/14/12 at 3:22am

Nods.  Important differentiator from the Mjolnir and damn near everything else we talk about when we say balanced... the Mjolnir is balanced, most others are bridged.  Ie Mjolnir has 2 channels that create a balanced output, most others are 4 channel ie two single ended amps bridged  to make a balanced output.  Also why the Mjolnir design is so elegant AND patented ;)

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post #2091 of 2641
12/14/12 at 5:36am
Thanks for the replies. I got my threads crossed for a minute. On the balanced/SE subject I was trying to be a bit cheeky about a recent debate that I thought was here, but now realize was in the Gungnir thread.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Solude View Post

The Mjolnir is balanced, most others are bridged.  Ie Mjolnir has 2 channels that create a balanced output, most others are 4 channel ie two single ended amps bridged  to make a balanced output.  Also why the Mjolnir design is so elegant AND patented wink.gif

This is the best I have seen this explained. Thanks!
Edited by pelli - 12/14/12 at 5:39am
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post #2092 of 2641
12/14/12 at 9:46am
Quote:
Originally Posted by Solude View Post

Nods.  Important differentiator from the Mjolnir and damn near everything else we talk about when we say balanced... the Mjolnir is balanced, most others are bridged.  Ie Mjolnir has 2 channels that create a balanced output, most others are 4 channel ie two single ended amps bridged  to make a balanced output.  Also why the Mjolnir design is so elegant AND patented ;)

 

Just to expand a bit................'cos this is Head Fi and we can................

 

The Mjolnir is a Circlotron topology.

It is a single amplifier with a balanced input and a balanced output.

Refer to this article, for example.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Circlotron

 

But this does not mean that a topology like the Bryston is NOT a balanced topology, the Bryston basically does the same thing in a different way. It may use three amplifiers, but it is a balanced topology.

 

A third way of doing this properly, Pass Labs Super Symmetry configuration.(single amplifier with a balanced input and a balanced output):

https://passlabs.com/articles/super-symmetric-amplification

 

And an exampe of a "fake".....

The Matrix Quatro topology, however is not balanced. It is, as you have correctly pointed out, two single ended amps configured to create a fake "Balanced" amp.   The description even calls it a four channel amp.

http://www.matrixelectronics.net/matrix-quattr-24192-full-balanced-headphone-amplifier-p-200.html

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post #2093 of 2641
12/14/12 at 9:58am
Quote:
Originally Posted by Chris J View Post

 

Just to expand a bit................'cos this is Head Fi and we can................

 

The Mjolnir is a Circlotron topology.

It is a single amplifier with a balanced input and a balanced output.

Refer to this article, for example.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Circlotron

 

But this does not mean that a topology like the Bryston is NOT a balanced topology, the Bryston basically does the same thing in a different way. It may use three amplifiers, but it is a balanced topology.

 

A third way of doing this properly, Pass Labs Super Symmetry configuration.(single amplifier with a balanced input and a balanced output):

https://passlabs.com/articles/super-symmetric-amplification

 

And an exampe of a "fake".....

The Matrix Quatro topology, however is not balanced. It is, as you have correctly pointed out, two single ended amps configured to create a fake "Balanced" amp.   The description even calls it a four channel amp.

http://www.matrixelectronics.net/matrix-quattr-24192-full-balanced-headphone-amplifier-p-200.html

Couldn't you easily just distinguish the difference between differential and bridged. Both are balanced,

only differential offers common mode rejection.

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post #2094 of 2641
12/14/12 at 2:37pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by paradoxper View Post

Couldn't you easily just distinguish the difference between differential and bridged. Both are balanced,
only differential offers common mode rejection.

Hey, interesting comment!

The Mjolnir Circlotron, the Bryston and the Pass Labs Super symmetry designs all reject Common Mode Noise.

The faker, the bogus, the Fugazi, meaning the Matrix Quatro, don't!

maybe they should have called it the Matrix Fugazi? just sayin'
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post #2095 of 2641
12/14/12 at 5:25pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Chris J View Post


Hey, interesting comment!
The Mjolnir Circlotron, the Bryston and the Pass Labs Super symmetry designs all reject Common Mode Noise.
The faker, the bogus, the Fugazi, meaning the Matrix Quatro, don't!
maybe they should have called it the Matrix Fugazi? just sayin'

Yep. And all are differential. I think the term "balanced" used in bridged configuration is wrong (even though they technically are balanced impedance wise) and just causes confusion.

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post #2096 of 2641
12/15/12 at 3:43pm
Just heard the lcd3's with the mjolnir and gungnir at a local meet, absolutely incredible coming from some vsonic gr07s hahahha. The he500s sounded terrible with the mjolnir though...
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post #2097 of 2641
12/15/12 at 4:23pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by zachchen1996 View Post

Just heard the lcd3's with the mjolnir and gungnir at a local meet, absolutely incredible coming from some vsonic gr07s hahahha. The he500s sounded terrible with the mjolnir though...


Geez, can't somebody please hate the LCD-3s with the Mjolnir and Gungnir?  I'm trying to be a responsible adult here and not spend all of my money on head gear... I've already plunked down close to $4K in the last 6 months...Haven't I done enough, at least for a while?

 

Okay, apparently not, since I can't stay away from this thread or the deals thread either (must... not... buy... HD650s for $360 net... only have one head... don't need 4th new pair of cans in last 6 months... ).  So repeat after me guys, the Gungnir and Mjolnir sound like Schitt with the LCD-3s, T 1s and (no, don't do it) HD-650s...

 

Thanks for your help...

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post #2098 of 2641
12/15/12 at 4:26pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Gary in MD View Post


Geez, can't somebody please hate the LCD-3s with the Mjolnir and Gungnir?  I'm trying to be a responsible adult here and not spend all of my money on head gear... I've already plunked down close to $4K in the last 6 months...Haven't I done enough, at least for a while?

Okay, apparently not, since I can't stay away from this thread or the deals thread either (must... not... buy... HD650s for $360 net... only have one head... don't need 4th new pair of cans in last 6 months... ).  So repeat after me guys, the Gungnir and Mjolnir sound like Schitt with the LCD-3s, T 1s and (no, don't do it) HD-650s...

Thanks for your help...

No it was actually the most impressive setup at the meet, It was fabulous biggrin.gif
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post #2099 of 2641
12/15/12 at 9:35pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by zachchen1996 View Post


No it was actually the most impressive setup at the meet, It was fabulous biggrin.gif


You're not helping... and neither is Amazon... the HD650s and HD600s are each now available for $350, taking the Amazon gift cards into account.  Grumble.  Everybody wants me to spend my money... grumble... including me... wait, I didn't just write that... did I?

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post #2100 of 2641
12/15/12 at 9:47pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Gary in MD View Post


Geez, can't somebody please hate the LCD-3s with the Mjolnir and Gungnir?  I'm trying to be a responsible adult here and not spend all of my money on head gear... I've already plunked down close to $4K in the last 6 months...Haven't I done enough, at least for a while?

 

Okay, apparently not, since I can't stay away from this thread or the deals thread either (must... not... buy... HD650s for $360 net... only have one head... don't need 4th new pair of cans in last 6 months... ).  So repeat after me guys, the Gungnir and Mjolnir sound like Schitt with the LCD-3s, T 1s and (no, don't do it) HD-650s...

 

Thanks for your help...

Well I've posted a bit of criticisms on this combo in the past weeks; but it's nowhere near bad. It's just that I prefer my HE-6 and HD800 of my gungnier/mjolnir combo.

 

Maybe I have too much copper interconnects and cables in my rig, which does not help the LCD3

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