Those are my two favorite tubes for the WA6SE (though the 13FD & DE versions for my gen 2). I eventually settled on the FD, but it’s dependent on the phones of course.

Glad you’re enjoying it. As you say, it’s built like a tank and despite being around for a while it’s still a great sounding amp that can hold its own against the newer competition.

I have to admit, I thought a lot about getting a Cayin. In the end I went a different way but the Cayin tube amps are no joke. I also thought about going upscale with Woo, but the step up in price to a WA5 LE was further than I was willing to go. I also thought long and hard about getting a WA2...

I kind of followed a similar path to you. I had a Lyr3 + PSvane CV181 TII, upgraded my DAC to a Bifrost 2, upgraded my amp to a WA6 SE, upgraded my amp again to a Folkvangr, Upgraded my DAC to a Yggdrasil, bought another SS amp. IMHO the upgrade from the Lyr to the WA6SE will be clearly audible.

I have a gen 2 and it’s a really great amp. To my taste it prefers headphones with at least 80 ohms impedance, but it’s going to have some magic with the Brimar

What do you feel is lacking with the Utopia? From what I’ve read it’s a bit on the bright side and is very dynamic, which I would guess works well with the MJ3, but I’ve never actually heard the Utopia so I’m guessing. I like a little smoothing of the treble as long as it doesn’t take away the...

For those interested, I wrote up a comparison of the Mjolnir 3 to the Folkvangr. I also compare how the VC sounds on each amp. Long story short, I think the VC is a great match with either. https://www.head-fi.org/threads/schiit-folkvangr-impressions-thread.963929/post-18154939

WA6 Vs WA6SE- In my opinion, It depends on what direction interests you. If you’ve got really efficient headphones, the extra power of the WA6-SE may not matter. Sound wise they’re pretty similar if you have easy to drive headphones and the same tubes in both amps. You can plug in a wider array...

Or bite the bullet (because you know you will eventually) and spring for a Yggy.

I don’t see the 80 ohm impedance of the utopia as an issue for the MJ3. It’s a pretty efficient headphone and that’s not going to tax the MJ3 in any way. That doesn’t mean everyone should like the MJ3 / Utopia combination, but I think I might. Then again, I might like the Atrium or Caldera...

Great advice. Thanks!

You are correct- I have the OG Clear. The slightly metallic sound on SS amps was annoying until the MJ3. I’ve been thinking about getting a high end planar for the MJ3, so it’s nice to see you like the HEKSE and LCD-5 with it. I haven’t really figured out what I’m going to get, but those are...

Nice looking system. Looks like it’s grown in the last year

I was looking at the gold lion for the next replacement. Given how often I’m listening to the FV, I figure I’ll end up replacing them about every 2-3 years so I’m hoping I can find something I really like in the less than $50 range

The aluminum all came from a company called 80/20. Google it and you’ll get an idea of what’s involved.

You might be surprised. I ordered all the aluminum parts pre-cut. The whole thing went together with an Allen wrench and a screw driver. Even the wood I ordered pre-cut.

Looks like a decent streamer. Support for qobuz, tidal, etc?

For those interested, I wrote up a comparison of the Mjolnir 3 to the Folkvangr https://www.head-fi.org/threads/schiit-folkvangr-impressions-thread.963929/post-18154939

I made it. I probably have the CAD file and material take off somewhere if you’re serious.

At the suggestion of @jonathan c (who has excellent taste in tubes IME) I rolled in some Tungsram E88CCs to replace the stock 6N1P tubes. It’s a great tube for the FV. A little dryer, more holographic, and more detailed than the stock tubes. Took a little while to break in, but very good with...

It’s that sweetness combined with SS detail and resolution not to mention rock solid imaging that to my tastes puts the MJ3 in the all star league. I’ve never heard any other SS amp do that before, though I’m sure there’s probably others (at insane prices).

IIRC the LCD-X is 103 dB / mW. It doesn’t really need the impedance multiplier. I think the main reason it sounds better on the FV is I tend to lean warm on my sound preference and the LCD-X is pretty neutral which the FV helps offset. Also, the LCD-X has a dip in the upper mids and the...

I forgot to include the LCD-X. Will write up a separate comparison for that, but long story short it sounds better on the Folkvangr.

Sadly, they don’t deliver to Alaska.