Spent some time today comparing the Mjolnir Novem to an older-style KGSShv that I picked up.
Supposedly this one sounds more dynamic/less warm than the latest KGSShv Mjolnir offering.
Similar to my observations when comparing the Novem to the Carbon, the X9000 can display a recessed midrange on the KGSShv. Oddly, it's not apparent on every track, and varies by the mastering. The Novem in contrast never has a recessed feeling. One advantage of this "recessed-ness" is that it creates the sense of a wider, more separated soundstage but for me, this is not worth the trade given the loss of "musical-ness". The novem adds a lot of richness to the x9k, kind of like pulling the whole image in closer. For my Lambda Nova Signature and 007mk1 the KGSShv is a delight. It adds needed firmness and control to their sound.
Best:
x9000/novem - incredible soundstage, separation, detail and mids without too much of a "dry" sound. The most "shock" value for a first listener.
007mk1/kgsshv - bass centric, liquid presentation, smaller soundstage but great layering
LNS/kgsshv - excellent eq, nice bass and great highs. Lacks nothing and is the most musical of the three for me despite the smallest soundstage and least detail.
Worst:
007/novem - unlistenable, mushy and distorted
lns/novem - colored, but it works okay
x9000/kgsshv - thin, washed of any vibrance, recessed midrange... exhausting