Schiit Mjolnir headphone amplifier - Page 67

In case it wasn't clear... Mjolnir still equals win.  Though not to my flavour in a cost no object solution, its easily among the top three amps I've owned which means it wiped the floor with amps costing as much as $3400 retail as configured during my evaluation.  I can't think of an amp under the $750 I would rather with maybe a two channel B22 being the exception on colour alone.

If the statement uses 6SN7 varieties, I'm in.  Drop the tube that suites your taste and boom, giant killer take two :D

I was just thinking that some may view your comparison as negative, when it was just pointing out the relative strengths, weaknesses, and differences of a bunch of very good amplifiers.

You were clear, but given how glowing everybody else was, I was thinking that this equipment was so amazing that I had to at least give it a try, even though I like my LCDs with my Adcom pre-amp.  Your description of the Mjolnir's signature made me think that it was not the best match for my taste (I don't like too much sizzle or aggressiveness) or for the LCDs, which I already consider to be very "in your face," at least vs. the huge sound-stage of the HD800s.  Though I love the Audezes, an amp that makes them sound even more aggressive might not be to my liking. 

On the other hand, I am willing to keep an open mind, and maybe even an open wallet.  However, I am looking for a backup pair of cans first, not because I'm looking for better or even equal performance to the Audeze's, but because there are some nights when I want to listen to music without hot-pressing my head.  Hence the interest in the HD650s and the T1s.  The thing is, I can probably get the Senns, balanced cables and the Mjolnir for about the price of refurbished T1s... hmmm... But I really like the T1s (and have never heard the HD650s)...  Oh damn this crazy hobby!
 

Post deleted.

I apologize to all thread participants for derailing the thread.

C. J.

I think what we need after the statement gear gets released and a Schiit Stat amp. A cheap(maybe around 1500?) but solidly built, and extremely high value, and still high performance stat amp for everyone :D

Quote:

Originally Posted by .Sup 

You guys over the Atlantic are really rich. Over here 1.5k is quite a sum of money and definitely not classified as "cheap"

Haha!   

I think the reference was to the comparable high end "Stats" amplification. 

Quote:

Originally Posted by .Sup 

You guys over the Atlantic are really rich. Over here 1.5k is quite a sum of money and definitely not classified as "cheap"

Quote:

Originally Posted by elwappo99 

 

Haha!   

 

 

I think the reference was to the comparable high end "Stats" amplification. 

LOL it was definitely in reference to other stat amps....Its all about perspective .Sup 

Having enjoyed inter alia Soludes impressions - I get the feeling they are posted in a rush and really not matured. 

I have therefore bought the Mjolnir. I also own the Soloist, V200 and some others.

I can't understand people that assess a lots of amplifiers in just a number of hours. Maybe I'm slow...but that's OK.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Loevhagen 

Having enjoyed inter alia Solu. Is impressions - I get the feeling they are posted in a rush and really not matured. 

 

I have therefore bought the Mjolnir. I also own the Soloist, V200 and some others.

 

I can't understand people that assess a lots of amplifiers in just a number of hours. Maybe I'm slow...but that's OK.

You will love it.  I am sure.  It's an excellent match with the Audeze.  I've had mine for three weeks now and I'm still in awe.  

We have anymore impressions of how the Mjolnir drives HE-6? Would love to hear more things comparatively.

Maybe EF-6, Dark Star comparisons.

I got my Mjolnir and I been testing it out w/ the lcd3.  Its an impressive amplifier, but isn't without flaws.  

Spec’s wise its probably the most impressive amp I have heard.  You can really tell that 5 watts rms makes a difference.  The transient response, decay, and headroom are on par with the best I have ever heard.  It really makes anything else seem sluggish.  In this regard it slays my Concerto. Noise floor which is what usually bothers me most about amplifiers is as good as I can ask for.  Build quality is typical Schiit, flawless.

The qualms I have are more an issue of taste than objective inferiority.  It makes my LCD3 sound more like an HD800, with a very quick and responsive diaphragm, ever so slight uptilt in tonality, light and airy w/ massive soundstages.  The downside is it sounds more clinical, a bit thin and lifeless like an HD800.  I usually love this effect.  Infact I remember the pairing with the slightly darker lcd2 as what motivated me to buy the amp in the first place.  It really makes jazz, classical, a capella music and especially techno sound amazing.  On the downside, pop music, rock, hip hop sound aggressive, clinical and a bit lifeless.  Compared to my Concerto which I feel is the most neutral amp I have heard, I think the mjolnir has slightly too much treble energy.

A lot of people will read this and think this is a bad impression, but that's not really what I want to convey.  The amp's technical superiority over other amps is clear, but I think my taste preferences lie elsewhere.  I'll give it a few more days, but I will likely return this amp to get a WA22.  I have never heard the WA22, but I am hoping it has the muscle to control the diaphragm just as well w/o sacrificing body and emotional impact.  If I did not want to convert to a balanced set up, I’d probably keep my Concerto which I feel is competitively on par with this amp.

It sounds like the Mjolnir is extremely neutral and revealing which easily exposes subpar recordings and the weak links in your system. 

Interesting comments rrahman - look forward to any update you might make in a few days.

Jan Meier's goal with the Concerto was neutrality for sure. He achieved attack and blackground at the cost of some dryness (quick decay) and a touch of brightness (Btw I have his Concerto and his Classic too, a quite different amp). Interesting you find more treble energy in the Mjolnir.

Can't quite tell from your sig - what DAC are you using?

Quote:

Originally Posted by rrahman 
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J/k. It will be interesting to contrast with the WA22 though, taste-wise.