The Aegis looks good, and we are all forever falling deeper down that rabbit hole! I am interested in it as well, but I am leaning towards upgrading my DAC next year vs buying a Tube amp. Also, the Aegis' weight might require me to buy a equipment rack to put beside my desk.I do love my MJ3 amp. But the Aegis tube amp seems to be calling my name. LOL Am I headed deep down a rabbit hole here? Very possible. I think my audio disease is going terminal.
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Schiit Mjolnir 3 - Impressions Thread
- Thread starter XERO1
- Start date
I am still hopeful that Jason will figure out a power solution for the Valhalla 3 though. It would be interesting to see how that turns out, and at what price point it starts at. Depending on price, I might order one along with a Yggdrasil next year. I just feel the need to have a bigger pile of Schiit on my desk.
Plenty of breathing room now, and stays on 24/7. My new interconnects arrive later today as well.
IMO the Cyan 2 is a class above the other two DACs. The Ares has large images and nice R2R tone, but compared to the Cyan 2 it sounds diffuse and too smooth, unrefined. The Cyan 2 dials up clarity, dynamics and focus to next level. It also improves on soundstage depth and overall separation/clarity. All of this with the same natural R2R sound. It is an immediately obvious improvement which promptly made me sell my Pegasus.
I have not heard of the Cyan 2 DAC but it looks very interesting. Just got the Gungnir so I think I'm good for a while though. Given all the hype I'd love to find a Mjolnir 3 someday.
I hope you enjoy your new Gungnir! That is the DAC I originally wanted, but I was unable to purchase it while it was still in production. Hence my Bifrost 2/64 purchase (got it at a slight discount under B-stock). I am not a 2nd hand market enthusiast otherwise I would have snagged one . How do you like it over your Bifrost 2?I have not heard of the Cyan 2 DAC but it looks very interesting. Just got the Gungnir so I think I'm good for a while though. Given all the hype I'd love to find a Mjolnir 3 someday.
I just got a response from another member who’s owned both mentor and mj3 and here’s what he had to say. It’s really rare to hear from people who’ve owned both so i decided to share.
I too think the complaints of the mentor lacking in bass is due to its design. It’s really hard to design an amp that has good kick and a stage as wide as the mentors. Hence the MJ3 having a smaller stage. I for one need my bass and wont have it any other way lol it’s weird because before burn in, i was skeptical about the MJ3’s bass. Now after burn-in is a completely different story, is impactful and reaches down as deep as necessary. That and the treble has become super smooth, some recordings can get a bit hot at times but I’m now certain that it’s the nature of the recording and not the MJ3. I am now more content than ever with my MJ3.
I too think the complaints of the mentor lacking in bass is due to its design. It’s really hard to design an amp that has good kick and a stage as wide as the mentors. Hence the MJ3 having a smaller stage. I for one need my bass and wont have it any other way lol it’s weird because before burn in, i was skeptical about the MJ3’s bass. Now after burn-in is a completely different story, is impactful and reaches down as deep as necessary. That and the treble has become super smooth, some recordings can get a bit hot at times but I’m now certain that it’s the nature of the recording and not the MJ3. I am now more content than ever with my MJ3.
I wonder what DAC he was using. With the Cyan 2 Mentor combo I actually hear a pretty nice reach down to sub-bass. Bass in general is not as punchy as the MJ3, but sure it extends down low effortlessly.I just got a response from another member who’s owned both mentor and mj3 and here’s what he had to say. It’s really rare to hear from people who’ve owned both so i decided to share.
I too think the complaints of the mentor lacking in bass is due to its design. It’s really hard to design an amp that has good kick and a stage as wide as the mentors. Hence the MJ3 having a smaller stage. I for one need my bass and wont have it any other way lol it’s weird because before burn in, i was skeptical about the MJ3’s bass. Now after burn-in is a completely different story, is impactful and reaches down as deep as necessary. That and the treble has become super smooth, some recordings can get a bit hot at times but I’m now certain that it’s the nature of the recording and not the MJ3. I am now more content than ever with my MJ3.
I can see why those would be deal breakers. I too use my MJ3 as a preamp for my two Gjallarhorns to power harder to drive headphones as well as a pair of Klipsch RP600m speakers.I just got a response from another member who’s owned both mentor and mj3 and here’s what he had to say. It’s really rare to hear from people who’ve owned both so i decided to share.
I too think the complaints of the mentor lacking in bass is due to its design. It’s really hard to design an amp that has good kick and a stage as wide as the mentors. Hence the MJ3 having a smaller stage. I for one need my bass and wont have it any other way lol it’s weird because before burn in, i was skeptical about the MJ3’s bass. Now after burn-in is a completely different story, is impactful and reaches down as deep as necessary. That and the treble has become super smooth, some recordings can get a bit hot at times but I’m now certain that it’s the nature of the recording and not the MJ3. I am now more content than ever with my MJ3.
Yea he also mentions it showing up in tests and measurements, i also believe your experience with the mentor. It’s just interesting to see.I wonder what DAC he was using. With the Cyan 2 Mentor combo I actually hear a pretty nice reach down to sub-bass. Bass in general is not as punchy as the MJ3, but sure it extends down low effortlessly.
I hope you enjoy your new Gungnir! That is the DAC I originally wanted, but I was unable to purchase it while it was still in production. Hence my Bifrost 2/64 purchase (got it at a slight discount under B-stock). I am not a 2nd hand market enthusiast otherwise I would have snagged one . How do you like it over your Bifrost 2?
Call me crazy but I have not hooked up the Gungnir yet. But I'm going to use the Schiit Midgard I just got to compare the BF 2 and Gungnir. Interesting to compare the Midgard with the Singxer SA-1 amp though.
Sometimes life gets in the way of dealing with new Schiit!Call me crazy but I have not hooked up the Gungnir yet. But I'm going to use the Schiit Midgard I just got to compare the BF 2 and Gungnir. Interesting to compare the Midgard with the Singxer SA-1 amp though.
Could it be you’re really used to tubes? For me, SS can be a lot drier, typically not as colored, and not as “alive” / organic sounding. Generally more detailed and clear though.I didn't use any preamp.
I'm coming from a tube amp.
I wanted an alternative to the tube sound.
I can definitely see SS sounding a bit flat if coming from a tube amp. Spend some time listening so your brain can adapt
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Slackaveli
Headphoneus Supremus
thats honestly preposterous and must be due to his DAC.I just got a response from another member who’s owned both mentor and mj3 and here’s what he had to say. It’s really rare to hear from people who’ve owned both so i decided to share.
I too think the complaints of the mentor lacking in bass is due to its design. It’s really hard to design an amp that has good kick and a stage as wide as the mentors. Hence the MJ3 having a smaller stage. I for one need my bass and wont have it any other way lol it’s weird because before burn in, i was skeptical about the MJ3’s bass. Now after burn-in is a completely different story, is impactful and reaches down as deep as necessary. That and the treble has become super smooth, some recordings can get a bit hot at times but I’m now certain that it’s the nature of the recording and not the MJ3. I am now more content than ever with my MJ3.
sigh.
Melineous
Head-Fier
I believe him, but my guess isn't that mentor is rolled off. Mj3 has a boosted sub bass that probably leaves mentor sounding thin down low in comparison. Never heard the 2 side by side, but against every amp I've compared Mj3 against the sub bass authority is usually the most noticable difference.thats honestly preposterous and must be due to his DAC.
sigh.
Slackaveli
Headphoneus Supremus
I assure you there is no bass roll off on Mentor nor is it lacking in any bass. Not saying anything about MJ3 just that is a very strange take saying Mentor has bass roll off.I believe him, but my guess isn't that mentor is rolled off. Mj3 has a boosted sub bass that probably leaves mentor sounding thin down low in comparison. Never heard the 2 side by side, but against every amp I've compared Mj3 against the sub bass authority is usually the most noticable difference.
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