Schiit Mjolnir 3 - Impressions Thread

[taipan254]

I just ordered a Mjolnir 3 to use with both my openback cans and IEMs, and I just caught this part in the FAQ:

Can I run IEMs with this?
We wouldn't recommend it. Seriously, you want to run IEMs on a 16-lb desktop amp?

Can anybody explain in more detail why IEMs aren't recommended to be used with this amp? Is it just a safety thing because an amp this powerful is capable of causing hearing damage? I've seen a few dedicated headphone amps out there with alot more power than the MJ3 that have dedicated 4.4mm outputs intended for IEMs, so i'm just wondering.

My MJ3 should arrive in mid June (assuming no further delays). I have a few IEMs (Dita Project M, Mega5EST) that I plan to try with them, though the amp will be primarily used with my Calderas.

Once I get it in, I'll let you know my impressions re: noise floor, gain, and usability. On my desktop, I run IEMs using an old Schiit Vali 2, 0 db gain mode, with volume at 10 O'Clock or so with no noise floor issues. We'll see if I can do the same with MJ3.

 

[DACattack]

@billhickok From Jason's story on the origin of the Mjolnir 3, here's his direct quote...

The good news: the chokes improved noise performance significantly. Mjolnir 3 still won’t win any awards for noise floor, but it’ll be usable on pretty much every full-sized headphone. If you’re using IEMs, ah come on, just don’t. Using them with a 15-lb amp that puts out so much heat it should have a grill attachment…are you kidding?

It's basically that the noise floor may not work well with sensitive IEMs.

 

[billhickok]

Mine is coming later this week, so I'll see how it fares with IEMs. I purchased it mainly to use with openbacks, but I've been getting much more into IEMs lately and I wanted the MJ3 to be an all-in-one amp for me. Most of my IEMs are fairly efficient and I'm hoping there won't be any channel imbalances at low volumes, nor any noticeable background noise. I did originally plan on using the single-ended output for IEMs, and the XLR for my cans, as that's how my cables are set up currently. I will update this thread with my impressions, fingers crossed.

 

[Pythegu]

I've had a mjolnir 3 for about a year now and I love it. I have been scared to plug my FiiO FD7s into it. Schiit literally says not to connect IEMs on it on their website. But the FD7 has a 50 ohm resistance.

I rolled the dice today and thought between 9 and 10 o'clock was a good volume. Nothing started on fire, but I only had them on there for like 90 seconds. They sounded STUPID good. No hiss. No channel imbalance. Just super detailed, holographic sound.

Been using the Mjolnir 3 with Meze 109 Pros (which makes them insane), Focal Celestee, and Audeze LCD X. I will say I like the extra power mode for the headphones. It gives it way more low end and dynamism. And now the FiiO FD7. The beryllium and the mjolnir is just wildly amazing. Obviously with the extra power turned off.

 

[ksb643]

I've had a mjolnir 3 for about a year now and I love it. I have been scared to plug my FiiO FD7s into it. Schiit literally says not to connect IEMs on it on their website. But the FD7 has a 50 ohm resistance.

I rolled the dice today and thought between 9 and 10 o'clock was a good volume. Nothing started on fire, but I only had them on there for like 90 seconds. They sounded STUPID good. No hiss. No channel imbalance. Just super detailed, holographic sound.

Been using the Mjolnir 3 with Meze 109 Pros (which makes them insane), Focal Celestee, and Audeze LCD X. I will say I like the extra power mode for the headphones. It gives it way more low end and dynamism. And now the FiiO FD7. The beryllium and the mjolnir is just wildly amazing. Obviously with the extra power turned off.

I've listened to the KZ PR2 planars on mine lots of times. Sounded great and plenty of volume knob range. Flat head earbuds too.

 

[jinu117]

... I will say I like the extra power mode for the headphones...

Can you clarify on the extra power mode? I am a little confused if you are talking about gain/push pull or feedback switch. Thanks

 

[Pythegu]

Can you clarify on the extra power mode? I am a little confused if you are talking about gain/push pull or feedback switch. Thanks

Middle switch on the right. Push/pull

 

[billhickok]

Update: I received the MJ3 and....it works beautifully with IEMs! I tried a few, all with different sensitivity ratings, and everything sounded great. No channel imbalances. With no music playing, the background is pitch black, dead silent. And of course my open back cans sound great as well. Success!

I rolled the dice today and thought between 9 and 10 o'clock was a good volume. Nothing started on fire, but I only had them on there for like 90 seconds. They sounded STUPID good. No hiss. No channel imbalance. Just super detailed, holographic sound.

I'm happy to report my experience is the same.

I have a cable adapter plugged into the SE output for IEM's, and of course the balanced out going to full sized headphones. It just so happens that both my main-listening IEM and open backs sit at essentially the same dial setting for my preferred listening level. So no need to tinker with the volume pot when switching between the 2. Overall I'm very satisfied.

EDIT:
OK something I just found out.

The signal is being sent to both the SE and balanced XLR outputs simultaneously, regardless of what the 1st dip switch is set at. I have 2 headphones connected to both outputs, and sound can be heard through both headphones at the same time.

Is this bad? Is the sound coming out of either output being negatively affected?

My setup is as follows:
SMSL D-6s DAC > Mjolnir 3

The D-6s DAC has both unbalanced RCA outputs and balanced XLR outputs. I have them both connected to the Mjolnir 3 at the same time.

Please advise!

 

[taipan254]

The signal is being sent to both the SE and balanced XLR outputs simultaneously, regardless of what the 1st dip switch is set at. I have 2 headphones connected to both outputs, and sound can be heard through both headphones at the same time.

So the DAC's single-ended and balanced outputs are feeding the Mjolnir's single-ended and balanced outputs, respectively?

Typically amps have high input impedances, so they should represent a negligible load on a DAC. My guess is there is no meaningful downside to having your DAC feed two separate amplifier inputs vs. just one. That being said - do a listening test to find out! To complicate things, I think I remember reading that folks preferred the fully balanced in and out on this amp vs. single-ended in vs. balanced or single-ended in vs. single-ended out, but I could be misremembering.

I got an email from Schiit saying units will be shipped out in approximately two more weeks. I'm looking forward to receiving my unit!

 

[jsabini1]

Update: I received the MJ3 and....it works beautifully with IEMs! I tried a few, all with different sensitivity ratings, and everything sounded great. No channel imbalances. With no music playing, the background is pitch black, dead silent. And of course my open back cans sound great as well. Success!



I'm happy to report my experience is the same.

I have a cable adapter plugged into the SE output for IEM's, and of course the balanced out going to full sized headphones. It just so happens that both my main-listening IEM and open backs sit at essentially the same dial setting for my preferred listening level. So no need to tinker with the volume pot when switching between the 2. Overall I'm very satisfied.

EDIT:
OK something I just found out.

The signal is being sent to both the SE and balanced XLR outputs simultaneously, regardless of what the 1st dip switch is set at. I have 2 headphones connected to both outputs, and sound can be heard through both headphones at the same time.

Is this bad? Is the sound coming out of either output being negatively affected?

My setup is as follows:
SMSL D-6s DAC > Mjolnir 3

The D-6s DAC has both unbalanced RCA outputs and balanced XLR outputs. I have them both connected to the Mjolnir 3 at the same time.

Please advise!

May I ask, why do you have both outputs from the same DAC connected to your MJ3?

That seems redundant, and is probably causing both outputs to play simultaneously regardless of switch position.(?) Try disconnecting the SE connection and let us know what happens.

 

[billhickok]

So the DAC's single-ended and balanced outputs are feeding the Mjolnir's single-ended and balanced outputs, respectively?

Typically amps have high input impedances, so they should represent a negligible load on a DAC. My guess is there is no meaningful downside to having your DAC feed two separate amplifier inputs vs. just one. That being said - do a listening test to find out! To complicate things, I think I remember reading that folks preferred the fully balanced in and out on this amp vs. single-ended in vs. balanced or single-ended in vs. single-ended out, but I could be misremembering.

May I ask, why do you have both outputs from the same DAC connected to your MJ3?

That seems redundant, and is probably causing both outputs to play simultaneously regardless of switch position.(?) Try disconnecting the SE connection and let us know what happens.

I disconnected the unbalanced RCA connection from the DAC to the Mjolnir 3, so now I'm only connected via balanced XLR, and sound continues to come through both the SE and balanced headphone outputs simultaneously to 2 different headphones. The 1st switch is in the up position (balanced mode). All the other switches are in the down position.

I initially had it connected with both RCA and XLR at the same time because I mistakenly thought the MJ3's SE output would only work in this configuration.

Anyways, I listened to my HE1000 Stealths connected to the balanced output. I compared the sound, with an without an IEM connected to the SE output, and I did not personally notice any difference in sound. I was just wondering if there's any detriment, technically speaking, with sound being transmitted to 2 headphones at the same time.

In any case, I'll just have 1 headphone connected to the amp while I'm using it. No biggie.

One last thing. I have the Mjolnir 3 connected to a pure sinewave UPS (Cyberpower CP1500PFCLCD) because I have relatively frequent power outages in my area. Is that recommended against? I've always read about power amps needing to be connected directly to the wall, and not entirely sure about the merits of those claims.

 

[roderickvd]

Anyways, I listened to my HE1000 Stealths connected to the balanced output. I compared the sound, with an without an IEM connected to the SE output, and I did not personally notice any difference in sound. I was just wondering if there's any detriment, technically speaking, with sound being transmitted to 2 headphones at the same time.

The manual says both are active at the same time and does not recommend against it.
Assuming they both have their own buffer, that should be fine.

One last thing. I have the Mjolnir 3 connected to a pure sinewave UPS (Cyberpower CP1500PFCLCD) because I have relatively frequent power outages in my area. Is that recommended against? I've always read about power amps needing to be connected directly to the wall, and not entirely sure about the merits of those claims.

If it indeed is pure sine wave, then that should be fine.
Most UPSs aren't sine wave and that's where problems can arise.

 

[Smoothstereo]

I disconnected the unbalanced RCA connection from the DAC to the Mjolnir 3, so now I'm only connected via balanced XLR, and sound continues to come through both the SE and balanced headphone outputs simultaneously to 2 different headphones. The 1st switch is in the up position (balanced mode). All the other switches are in the down position.

I initially had it connected with both RCA and XLR at the same time because I mistakenly thought the MJ3's SE output would only work in this configuration.

Anyways, I listened to my HE1000 Stealths connected to the balanced output. I compared the sound, with an without an IEM connected to the SE output, and I did not personally notice any difference in sound. I was just wondering if there's any detriment, technically speaking, with sound being transmitted to 2 headphones at the same time.

In any case, I'll just have 1 headphone connected to the amp while I'm using it. No biggie.

One last thing. I have the Mjolnir 3 connected to a pure sinewave UPS (Cyberpower CP1500PFCLCD) because I have relatively frequent power outages in my area. Is that recommended against? I've always read about power amps needing to be connected directly to the wall, and not entirely sure about the merits of those claims.

The most left switch on MJ3 is the input switch, to choose which source: either SE RCA or Balance XLR. It has nothing to do with headphone output. Both headphone outputs are active and will play at the same time if both headphones are plugged in. I only use balance headphones so I never plug anything into the SE headphone output. It would be annoying to listen one headphone while the other one is playing at the same time, at least for me.

 

[artur9]

...
Most UPSs aren't sine wave and that's where problems can arise.

UPS (and surge protectors) can also be current limiting, which would adversely affect your amp's ability to provide the dynamic power that a lot of music requires.

Now, for a headphone amp that puts out max 2W I can't see that being a problem ever with any UPS the can power anything larger than an LED lamp....