Schiit Mjolnir 2 Listening Impressions

[ShortBtwnHdset]

That stack looks real familiar! I ran my Mjolnir with a Gungnir for several years, quite a good sound togtether! As to tubes, look through this thread extensively for recomendations. NOS 6DJ8's have gotten pricey, and most of the premium collectables have been collected, 12at7's and other offshoots like 5670's are still available but getting rarer, so act soon or be content with new production chinese/russian tubes. Have fun!!!

 

[Blindranger]

Congrats on the new purchase. You ll love this amp. But do yourself a favor and ditch the 6922 tubes. Try a set of NOS 12AT7 / Ecc81 tubes and take this amp to the next level.

I’m totally new to tubes, and I would love any specific recommendations on which I should try.

I feel like this is opening Pandora’s box

 

[shafat777]

I’m totally new to tubes, and I would love any specific recommendations on which I should try.

I feel like this is opening Pandora’s box

Mullard, RFT, Siemens, Brimar are all legendary tube brand. 50s, 60s are the golden year for 12AT7/12au7 tubes.

 

[mystaiced]

I’m totally new to tubes, and I would love any specific recommendations on which I should try.

I feel like this is opening Pandora’s box

I'm currently running some NOS 2C51 Bendix tubes with the 5670-->6922 adapters. And they are reasonably priced at $25 a tube. They were purchased from the guys at Vacuumtubes.net But the Genelax Gold Lions are my 2nd favorite and some of the best sounding new production tubes out there.

 

[Nayyte]

Last week I was dealing with a new amp that uses the same 12at7 tubes as mjolnir. The amp is an OTL and it made the tubes glow really bright. The mjolnir tube glow is like 2/10 and this OTL was 10/10 full lamp light. I was experiencing some channel imbalance and various amounts of low level hiss on the OTL. Back to the mjolnir, it wasn't dead quiet before I swapped the tubes to the OTL but now there is about 20db of white noise that stays the same volume all the time. The OTL had my mastu/Mullard and Siemens 12at7 tubes and both have similar white noise.

I ran the Siemens in the mjolnir all weekend and "maybe" the noise died down a bit but idk really. Did my OTL "cook" my tubes?

I have some Brimar 6060s that I haven't heard yet so I will test today. It might be a grounding issue

 

[Blindranger]

Mullard, RFT, Siemens, Brimar are all legendary tube brand. 50s, 60s are the golden year for 12AT7/12au7 tubes.

Are these examples of the Mullard, RFT, Brimar, and Siemens tubes? Some of these are definitely on the pricier side (for me).

 

[Nayyte]

Are these examples of the Mullard, RFT, Brimar, and Siemens tubes? Some of these are definitely on the pricier side (for me).

Brent Jesse still has a lot of affordable match 12AT7s

Those you linked are mostly overpriced

 

[Nayyte]

Are these examples of the Mullard, RFT, Brimar, and Siemens tubes? Some of these are definitely on the pricier side (for me).

You will also need a 12A*7 to ECC88 adapter

I like this one, https://pulsetubestore.com/products...not-made-in-china?_pos=1&_sid=54de19d94&_ss=r

 

[ShortBtwnHdset]

Hey Blindranger!

The Mullard and Siemens tubes, yes, are on the more expensive side for 12at7's, and both very different from each other in terms of sound. The Brimars and RFT's you linked seem reasonable, to me. And as to Nayytes' post, definitely get adapters. Some also get socket extenders from Pulse Tubes as well, as the tubes are hard to change because they are recessed into the chassis. If you roll much, it can be a real pain. The adapters work as extenders as well, so if you stick with 12at7's you wont need extenders but will need adapters, while if you stick with 6DJ8's you won't need adapters, but will probably use extenders. I know, it's a lot to take in. For now, listen, eventually get a recommended set of NOS, roll them in, and see if the difference in SQ is worth it to you. If not, your golden!

Are these examples of the Mullard, RFT, Brimar, and Siemens tubes? Some of these are definitely on the pricier side (for me).

 

[Nayyte]

Brimar 6060 in the mj2 for ten hours or so and yeah, they are quiet like I remember the other tubes were.

I think otl did damage my other 12at7s unless there is a way to get them back in spec idk.

 

[jonathan c]

Brimar 6060 in the mj2 for ten hours or so and yeah, they are quiet like I remember the other tubes were.

I think otl did damage my other 12at7s unless there is a way to get them back in spec idk.

Did a coupling capacitor in the OTL fail?

 

[Nayyte]

Did a coupling capacitor in the OTL fail?

I dont know. The board of it is being sent back to the manufacturor

 

[ShortBtwnHdset]

Sorry to hear about the OTL troubles, Nayyte. Those sound like they were collector tubes, sheesh!

 

[Nayyte]

Sheesh is right, money down the drain.

Thankfully, the mj2 is not my endgame for everything amp wise. Im really just using it for preamp convenience. That is the most annoying part of this hobby I've found; finding your endgame headamp but you also want preamp practicality.

 

[ShortBtwnHdset]

Sheesh is right, money down the drain.

Thankfully, the mj2 is not my endgame for everything amp wise. Im really just using it for preamp convenience. That is the most annoying part of this hobby I've found; finding your endgame headamp but you also want preamp practicality.

What OTL amp, if you don't mind me asking? I recently picked up a ZMF Pendant SE, my Mjolnir will be main listening and the Pendent special weekend sessions. Already modded it (I know, it's almost a sickness!!!), but finally have full tube complement for those late night sessions. I love my Mjolnir, hope to never get rid of it, and modded it's close enough to endgame that I'm not missing much, but it's nice to occasionally do the full tube stack. What headphones are you running, and how does your OTL pair with them?