Schiit Mjolnir 3 - Impressions Thread

[MacMan31]

Pros and cons to both, and it all depends on what your priorities are with your new setup.

Just a heads up before deciding to or not to buy Valencia. Valencia is $2k while still requiring a preamp and DAC. It has also been mentioned in another forum that its sound is highly influenced by the rest of your chain. So it might be another rabbit hole for you.

Mjolnir 3 I find enjoyable, but it is quite a hefty headphone amp and puts out a lot of heat. I currently have mine paired with a Yggdrasil+ MIB (some others are using variants of the Yggdrasil or G2). Not necessarily needed, but Mjolnir 3 pairs well with those DACs.

There have been quite a few AIO solutions rolling out lately from various manufacturers in both Tube hybrid and SS varieties. Some of them have swappable DAC cards.

Lots to consider prior to making your decision, but take your time weighing the options. It will save you from regrets later on.

Good Luck, and Happy Listening!

Well the simplest I could go would be a dongle DAC/amp. I have a few now and I would have no problem with simply using one of those. My main issue I seem to have right now is my Ares II. If I have a tube and SS amp connect I only get sound from the SS amp if the tube amp is turned on. I don't seem to have this issue if two SS amps are connected to the Ares II. I want to have at least one tube and one SS amp in my setup if possible.

I mention the Valencia as so far it has very good reviews. Zeos being one of them but I believe he had a hand in the design of the Valencia.

My SS amps currently are the Rebel Amp and Musical Fidelity MX-HPA. Both are great. The "downside" of the Rebel is that it's only SE in and out. Not even XLR for convenience. I've looked at various brands like Schiit, Fiio, JDS Labs and Geshelli. Both for DACs and amps. Definitely lots to consider and choose from.

 

[MindBreak]

Well the simplest I could go would be a dongle DAC/amp. I have a few now and I would have no problem with simply using one of those. My main issue I seem to have right now is my Ares II. If I have a tube and SS amp connect I only get sound from the SS amp if the tube amp is turned on. I don't seem to have this issue if two SS amps are connected to the Ares II. I want to have at least one tube and one SS amp in my setup if possible.

I mention the Valencia as so far it has very good reviews. Zeos being one of them but I believe he had a hand in the design of the Valencia.

My SS amps currently are the Rebel Amp and Musical Fidelity MX-HPA. Both are great. The "downside" of the Rebel is that it's only SE in and out. Not even XLR for convenience. I've looked at various brands like Schiit, Fiio, JDS Labs and Geshelli. Both for DACs and amps. Definitely lots to consider and choose from.

While I don't use this solution myself, some people on the Schiit thread use a preamp to feed two amps from a single DAC. Others use their SS amp's pre out to feed their tube amp. I don't have much experience with those solutions, but some users are quite happy with them.

 

[MacMan31]

While I don't use this solution myself, some people on the Schiit thread use a preamp to feed two amps from a single DAC. Others use their SS amp's pre out to feed their tube amp. I don't have much experience with those solutions, but some users are quite happy with them.

Isn't it an issue to have two amp connected which both have preamps? If both have volume control that presents a problem doesn't it?

 

[MindBreak]

Isn't it an issue to have two amp connected which both have preamps? If both have volume control that presents a problem doesn't it?

They normally max pot the amps and use the preamp to control the volume. Like I said, I don't have much experience with using that configuration. In my setup I normally like having the shortest signal path possible. My DAC has 3 x outputs which can all be connected at once, so I don't have the need to try the preamp solution.

If you don't have an amp nor preamp handy to test it in your setup I wouldn't go purchasing anything else to attempt it. That money could go towards the new amp, or possibly a switch box (some horror stories surrounding cheaper ones though).

 

[MacMan31]

They normally max pot the amps and use the preamp to control the volume. Like I said, I don't have much experience with using that configuration. In my setup I normally like having the shortest signal path possible. My DAC has 3 x outputs which can all be connected at once, so I don't have the need to try the preamp solution.

If you don't have an amp nor preamp handy to test it in your setup I wouldn't go purchasing anything else to attempt it. That money could go towards the new amp, or possibly a switch box (some horror stories surrounding cheaper ones though).

Well I thought of getting the Schiit SYS which could split the RCA from the Ares II.

As for the MJ3 (to get back on topic of this thread). I am certainly very interested in that amp. But I'd want to pair it with perhaps the Gungnir 2 (I had an OG which I sold a while back). For those who have this pairing how do you like it? It would run me about $2,948 US ($4,218 CAD) including shipping. I think I'd still have to pay some duties/customs as well. That is a lot for me but is it really worth it?

 

[artur9]

.... That is a lot for me but is it really worth it?

That's not a question anyone can answer for you.

Maybe see if someone local has a G2/MJ3 for you to listen to with your cans?

 

[MacMan31]

That's not a question anyone can answer for you.

Maybe see if someone local has a G2/MJ3 for you to listen to with your cans?

Not sure how I would find that out. Either way I'd have to sell all my other amp and DAC gear to accommodate the purchase. I can't afford to be like some of you guys who have walls full of audio gear.

 

[artur9]

Not sure how I would find that out. Either way I'd have to sell all my other amp and DAC gear to accommodate the purchase. I can't afford to be like some of you guys who have walls full of audio gear.

First, you could ask here.
Second, https://www.head-fi.org/forums/local-regional-head-fi-meets-parties-get-togethers.24/

 

[tincanear]

Well the simplest I could go would be a dongle DAC/amp. I have a few now and I would have no problem with simply using one of those. My main issue I seem to have right now is my Ares II. If I have a tube and SS amp connect I only get sound from the SS amp if the tube amp is turned on. I don't seem to have this issue if two SS amps are connected to the Ares II. I want to have at least one tube and one SS amp in my setup if possible.

I mention the Valencia as so far it has very good reviews. Zeos being one of them but I believe he had a hand in the design of the Valencia.

My SS amps currently are the Rebel Amp and Musical Fidelity MX-HPA. Both are great. The "downside" of the Rebel is that it's only SE in and out. Not even XLR for convenience. I've looked at various brands like Schiit, Fiio, JDS Labs and Geshelli. Both for DACs and amps. Definitely lots to consider and choose from.

Some amplifiers (e.g. Feliks???) effectively short un-selected inputs or when the amplifier is powered down. Solution is to use a reverse-connected Sys to isolate and select one of the amplifiers via the Sys front panel switch (“sys OUT” to DAC, “sys IN 1” to amp 1, “sys IN 2” to amp 2, keep Sys volume control maxxed)

Changing to a different DAC may not help solve your issue with this config

 

[MacMan31]

Some amplifiers (e.g. Feliks???) effectively short un-selected inputs or when the amplifier is powered down. Solution is to use a reverse-connected Sys to isolate and select one of the amplifiers via the Sys front panel switch (“sys OUT” to DAC, “sys IN 1” to amp 1, “sys IN 2” to amp 2, keep Sys volume control maxxed)

Changing to a different DAC may not help solve your issue with this config

Yeah I've looked at the Schiit SYS as an option. Perhaps I'll get one of those.

 

[cgb3]

Well I thought of getting the Schiit SYS which could split the RCA from the Ares II.

As for the MJ3 (to get back on topic of this thread). I am certainly very interested in that amp. But I'd want to pair it with perhaps the Gungnir 2 (I had an OG which I sold a while back). For those who have this pairing how do you like it? It would run me about $2,948 US ($4,218 CAD) including shipping. I think I'd still have to pay some duties/customs as well. That is a lot for me but is it really worth it?

That's a question only you can answer. Yes, it was worth it to me. The best musical experience I've encountered. One of the best discoveries, no more sibilance in sibilance forward recording (think Norah Jones in "Come away with me", or Eva Cassidy on "Songbird".

I don't think Schiit has too many (none) listening stations on the east coast (which they should rectify). One has 15 days to send equipment back, with a 5% charge.
When I ordered mine, I was prepared to send it back. I live in a small town. If I want above consumer grade equipment, I need to drive ~60 miles or so to a larger city.

I'll pay to test equipment delivered to my front door, and enjoyed in my home.

 

[j0val]

Well I thought of getting the Schiit SYS which could split the RCA from the Ares II.

As for the MJ3 (to get back on topic of this thread). I am certainly very interested in that amp. But I'd want to pair it with perhaps the Gungnir 2 (I had an OG which I sold a while back). For those who have this pairing how do you like it? It would run me about $2,948 US ($4,218 CAD) including shipping. I think I'd still have to pay some duties/customs as well. That is a lot for me but is it really worth it?

I’ve had the MJ3/G2 stack for a couple months now. Coming from a Lyr+ and BF2 stack, it’s hard to say how much of my enjoyment is because it’s a “new toy” and how much of it is my perceived enhancement. I can say that went in blind with my purchase since I didn’t try out either one beforehand (it’s too bad the Schittr in SoCal closed) and I don’t regret it at all.

The MJ3/G2 stack sounds great with my Genelec G two speakers as well as my Atrium Open. I still feel that new sense of enjoyment every time I have the opportunity to listen to it (free time has been a rare commodity lately). Personally, I feel like there’s nothing in my setup that is preventing me from just enjoying the music.

 

[cgb3]

Not sure how I would find that out. Either way I'd have to sell all my other amp and DAC gear to accommodate the purchase. I can't afford to be like some of you guys who have walls full of audio gear.

.

 

[MindBreak]

Giving my Corpse Cable XLR interconnects a rest while I tryout WBC's Pro Quad XLR interconnects (Yggdrasil+ MIB>Mjolnir 3). I was curious as to how they did with their first inhouse cable design, and so far not bad (need more time with them). Mjolnir 3 does respond to the parts of the chain you put before it, so a pretty good test of these $40 1 foot cables. I am going to get some time in with them, and then swap back to the Corpse Cables (already noticing that mids are more forward though). I have quite a few of WBC interconnects, but they are mostly of the Mogami Cable variety (too much bass for the Mjolnir 3 IMO, and a little narrower soundstage (depends on which version though)). Yeah, I am a cables matter guy, but I do believe that they are not the main place to invest into your audio chain. So if these are good enough for most, I will be recommending them in the future for those who are considering the Mjolnir 3.

 

[quawn0418]

Giving my Corpse Cable XLR interconnects a rest while I tryout WBC's Pro Quad XLR interconnects (Yggdrasil+ MIB>Mjolnir 3). I was curious as to how they did with their first inhouse cable design, and so far not bad (need more time with them). Mjolnir 3 does respond to the parts of the chain you put before it, so a pretty good test of these $40 1 foot cables. I am going to get some time in with them, and then swap back to the Corpse Cables (already noticing that mids are more forward though). I have quite a few of WBC interconnects, but they are mostly of the Mogami Cable variety (too much bass for the Mjolnir 3 IMO, and a little narrower soundstage (depends on which version though)). Yeah, I am a cables matter guy, but I do believe that they are not the main place to invest into your audio chain. So if these are good enough for most, I will be recommending them in the future for those who are considering the Mjolnir 3.

I agree that cables matter, and that WBC Pro cables are an outstanding value. I have yet to test the quads, but the lo-cap cable is very musical and balanced, offering nice depth. I have some OCC cables that are pricier and don’t perform as well imo, although they seem to offer more detail, the sound just isn’t as balanced or as deep as with the WBC pro cable.