OVERHYPED? Is this amp really worth all the fuss?
Vložit
- čas přidán 27. 07. 2024
- Schiit Mjolnir 3 review
Get your free 14-day trial with my sponsor, Aura: aura.com/passionforsound
Say thank you to Aaron for sharing his Mjolnir 3 (before he'd ever heard it!) so we could have a review: paypal.me/lachfen (be sure to include "Aaron" in the reference)
Buy Mjolnir 3 here: www.schiit.com/products/mjoln...
A review of the Schiit Audio Mjolnir 3 headphone amp and preamp including comparisons with the Aune S17 Pro, HiFiMan Prelude, fully upgraded Burson Soloist 3X GT 2023 version, and references to the Linear Tube Audio MZ3 and Enleum AMP-23R. Is this the best amp on the market right now? What about the best value?
My top recommended HEADPHONES (prices in USD)
HarmonicDyne Athena - $179 - bit.ly/3QvQdlq
Moondrop Para - $299 - bit.ly/3QvQdlq
Sivga SV023 - $449 - amzn.to/3UKXsZ5
Meze 109 Pro - $799 - amzn.to/3y6l6qi
ZMF Atrium - $2,499 - www.zmfheadphones.com/
Meze Elite - $4,000 - bit.ly/3UMIDWb
Focal Utopia (2022) - $4,999 - amzn.to/44xEHvx
My top recommended IEMS (prices in USD)
KZ ESX - $30 - amzn.to/4bpMyxC
Tangzu FUDU - $89 - amzn.to/3UvOrlk
Simgot EM6L - $129 - amzn.to/4a3SLy1
Thieaudio Elixir - $209 - amzn.to/3ULd9zr
7Hz Timeless - $220 - amzn.to/3QslVA8
Yanyin Canon II - $379 - bit.ly/YanCanII
Xenns Mangird Top - $530 - bit.ly/XENNSTopLin
Sennheiser IE600 - $700 - amzn.to/44AxcUQ
Sennheiser IE900 - $849 - amzn.to/4b66wxy
Westone Mach 70 - $1,400 - amzn.to/3ULUK5P
My top recommended TRANSPORTS (prices in USD)
WiiM Pro - $168 - amzn.to/4bpTDOw
SMSL PL200 CD - $669 - amzn.to/3Wsd0lJ
Eversolo DMP-A6 (Master Edition) - $1,299 - amzn.to/44sBMUR
Eversolo DMP-A8 - $1,980 - amzn.to/3QxRU1B
My top recommended DACS (prices in USD)
Topping E30 II - $149 - amzn.to/3JQyGkd
Topping E50 - $199 - amzn.to/3WucWSO
SMSL DO200 Mk2 - $469 - amzn.to/4a5Di0C
Topping D70 Pro OCTO - $599 - amzn.to/4a8bubZ
Geshelli J2S AK4499EX - $680 - bit.ly/J2SAKM
Schiit Bifrost 2/64 - $799 - www.schiit.com/products/bifro...
Gustard R26 - $1,650 - amzn.to/3QyZ0mB
Schiit Yggdrasil - $2,299 - www.schiit.com/products/yggdr...
Chord TT2 - $5,295 - chordelectronics.co.uk/produc...
My top recommended HEADPHONE AMPS (prices in USD)
Schiit Magni - $119 - www.schiit.com/products/magni...
xDuoo MT-604 - $169 - amzn.to/4bpNYrW
xDuoo TA-26S - $319 - amzn.to/3UJbfzx
Geshelli A3 Pro - $499 - bit.ly/GLA3Pro
Aune S17 Pro - $699 - amzn.to/4a75v7b
Schiit Mjolnir - $1199 - www.schiit.com/products/mjoln...
Burson Audio Voyager - $5,300+ - bit.ly/4a8Mwcq
My top recommended DONGLE DACS (prices in USD)
Moondrop Dawn Pro - $50 - amzn.to/3y2dd57
Simgot DEW4X - $80 - amzn.to/4b68rlK
Questyle M15i - $349 - amzn.to/4doMSyp
My top recommended WIRELESS 'PHONES (prices in USD)
Soundpeats Air3 Deluxe - $40 - amzn.to/3UIXQr4
Soundpeats Air4 Pro - $79 - amzn.to/3Wyj4tj
Edifier Neobuds Pro 2 - $130 - amzn.to/3WwMpEf
Sennheiser Momentum 4 - $379.95 - amzn.to/3WrEqZ0
HiFiMan Svanar Wireless - $499 - amzn.to/4amOhmx
Join the Passion for Sound community on Patreon: / passionforsound
or here on CZcams: / @passionforsound
Join the public Discord server: / discord
SUPPORT THE CHANNEL
Join my Patreon: / passionforsound
One-off donations: paypal.me/lachfen
Buy some merchandise: passion-for-sound.myspreadsho...
Or put one of these links in your bookmarks for all of your future purchases of ANYTHING:
🌏 Linsoul: tinyurl.com/PfSLinsoul
🇺🇸 & 🇨🇦 Apos: tinyurl.com/Apos-P4S
🌏 Geshelli Labs: geshelli.com?ref=10
🌏 Sparkos Labs: shrsl.com/3t7rp
🌏 HiFiGo: bit.ly/3og89Tn
🌏 Aoshida: bit.ly/Aoshida
🇺🇸 Amazon: amzn.to/3dtyiWQ
🇨🇦 Amazon: amzn.to/3xUl1Rc
🇦🇺 Amazon: amzn.to/2U7lqOp
🇬🇧 Amazon: amzn.to/3xaUMo
🌏 Hidizs: bit.ly/HidizsP4S
🌏 Meze Audio: bit.ly/MezeAudioP4S
🌏 Ikko: bit.ly/IkkoP4S
(Affiliate links help to support the channel - thank you!)
00:00 Introduction
01:32 Pricing & basic specs
02:32 Sound quality
03:22 Transparency vs TT2 headphone output
05:30 Operating modes
06:10 Push-Pull vs Single Ended
08:41 Feedback on / off
12:47 Pre-amp quality
13:39 XLR vs 6.3mm output
16:02 But how good is it?
17:11 Mjolnir 3 vs Burson Soloist 3X GT
25:08 Mjolnir 3 vs HiFiMan Prelude
25:56 What's actually better?
27:55 Features and functions
31:52 Hum & vibration
33:07 Wrap-up
#audiophile #audioreview #headphoneamp - Věda a technologie
Got my MJ3 this week and it’s running my DCA E3s beautifully. Absolutely love it. Fair warning, wait times are very long right now and I almost went with Aune so thanks for letting me know I made the right choice. It’s worth the wait.
The Aune is lovely, but the MJ3 is next, next level. Enjoy!
Great review! I also really liked how you listed out your chain including cables. That helps!
No problems. I'm finally setup to do that in all future videos without a massive increase in production time 🙂
What a great video again, covered everything you might think of. That was really good of both Aaron for sending the amplifier, and also of Lachlan for offering to collect donations. So between the two of you, managed to bring us this review, so thank you.
I'm glad you liked it!
Lachlan, Mjolnir 3 handles both versions of Tungsten quite well. I sent Ryan mine directly from Schiit last year for a few weeks and then we compared it to his OG Mjolnir, both were great with it. If you have a TON of negative EQ applied and really need to boost volume then maybe you might need something else, but in a typical setup with XLR in from the Bifroggy 64 I sit at around 1-2 o'clock on high gain, no feedback, SE Class A mode and it gets plenty loud.
sounds like a great amp... a headfi review scared me away from the MJ3 with the Tungsten
It drives my he:6 so I was thinking it would drive the tungsten’s
That's great news, Moose - thank you!
I wasn't sure, Kurb, because the Tungsten specs are even trickier than the HE6.
Excellent and very well-thought-out review! Thanks for posting!
My pleasure! I'm glad you liked it.
Excellent Review. I've considered the MJ3 but I just don't have the space for bigger units like it. I recently got the Nitsch Pietus Maximus which is a collaboration with Schiit and it is also an excellent amp that punches above its price tag ala the MJ3. Schiit products are a very good value
Yes, it's a chunky beast. Glad you're enjoying your Pietus Maximus!
I really enjoy your reviews, they're always thorough, informative, and well-grounded. Thanks for making them!
My pleasure! Thanks for letting me know that you enjoy them. 🙂
Another fantastic review! Its so refreshing to hear how your understanding of audio is evolving as you learn.
I'm glad you liked the review!
It's been a long journey getting to the bottom of why some gear is more enjoyable than others. Still lots to learn too because the designers of this stuff don't always know the answers either - they just know what sounds good. (I.e. they know the "what" but not the "why")
@@PassionforSound Audio gear, especially combinations of gear, really seems like alchemy.
I don't buy into the hype with gear like I have in the past but this place seems to back it up with many positive reviews so far. Unfortunately I just added a centrance hifim8 v2 to go along with my centrance ampersand amp. Finally able to drive my hard to drive lcd 4 to a level I'm happy with. The dac and Bluetooth implementation are great. No ldac support but that's ok. I will still be keeping my eye on this amp and expect to it to have a waiting list with the number if positive reviews so far. Thank you for the review !
I'm rarely inspired by hype - quite the opposite, but this is the real deal. There's a long back order though, as you assumed, so waiting a while is wise.
Great review. I agree with your assessment and description of the sound. I have had a MJ3 since shortly after it came out. Regarding the use of feedback, for modern well recorded material, definitely leave it off. However, for older recordings (I have a bunch from the 1960's), I find turning on feedback makes them a bit more pleasant to listen to. Those recordings have a higher level of distortion than modern ones. I suspect that that distortion is exacerbated by the no feedback mode so that it makes it more noticeable.
I'm glad you liked the review and thanks for sharing your experience!
As for the feedback, it can't have any influence on the original recorded material because it only removes distortion created within the amp. That's not to say you can't prefer it on for some recordings - I just wanted to clarify what it's doing.
Nice job. So good to know there is still amazing values out there.
Yes, there aren't regular examples of this type of value, but they do exist!
I got my mj3 the moment it drop back beginning of November ly. It arrived very quick back then but know all the hype and reviews have long waits. That being said it’s great it powers my hd800 well. Also in high gain can drive my he:6 too which I was not expecting tbh. What is cool is the power it can deliver is ready to go with no dips so a constant flow. That’s what pure class a can deliver along with the choke lps it deploys. I’m currently in the moment replacing all my cables to triode wire labs for everything in my chain. I also run the Yggdrasil mib which is a good pairing with the mj3 imo.
Thanks for sharing your experiences with the MJ3!
The fact that the schiit is punching directly with the GT is quite fantastic especially for the price difference.
I agree!
@@PassionforSound do you think it can beat the voyager or is that about the point where the mj3 runs out of steam?
The MJ3 has a sense of naturalness that's probably at or slightly beyond the Voyager's level, but the Voyager pulls ahead in authority, resolution, etc.
Thanks Lachlan. Enjoy your work greatly, and I also absolutely love my MJ3. It is end-game for me, as $1200 was a stretch. Between it and the Cayin C9, my hp amp needs are more than met, until one of them quits totally. Keep up the good work, and thanks for your efforts.
Glad you liked the review. You've got yourself a brilliant setup there and really don't need to think about any further upgrades of your amps by the sound of it. Enjoy!
This beautiful behemoth of an amp is definitely on the very top of my wishlist! Great thorough review. Thanks.
It's an amazing amp! Glad you liked the review.
Thank you Aaron for sending this to Lachlan! The MJ3 in silver looks great too. Great review, thank you!
Glad you liked the review!
Yes exactly! Negative feedback loops flattens the sound. I’m sensitive to this. It’s why topping stuff sounds so dull and muddy to me.
I agree. There's a little more to it, it seems because some feedback based designs don't have the same degree of issues, but I'm still gaining clarity on that.
What an opportunity to hear your comparison between the best vs the best. Thanks man.
My pleasure! The Burson Voyager has arrived now too so I'll share some thoughts on that in the coming weeks.
had this ordered but went a different route to power the Tungsten,,, sounds like this is an absolutely Gorgeous listen 👉 choke input 👉 no feedback, single ended mode with the power of the balanced connection as well - great review thx
Glad you liked the review. I'm keen to try a Tungsten and get a proper sense of its power requirements 🙂
my order on this headphone is probably 20 weeks out...@@PassionforSound
Yes, the demand is astonishing!
Same conclusion here. Your findings are on the mark! I ordered a Mjolnir 3 the day it was released. Got it 5 days later and let it break in for a week before any critical listening. After an hour or 2 of listening with various HPs (HE6V2, HE1000SE, HD600 and HD650), it was immediately obvious that I prefered the Mjolnir 3 to my Burson Soloist 3X GT... After a few weeks, I found I was always drawn to the Schiit and never listened to the Burson anymore, which I ended up selling!
Wow that might have sold me. Seems like a great value (relatively speaking since it’s still expensive).
It's definitely crazy good value!
Thanks for sharing your experiences, Daniel. 🙂
In my experience, it is often capacitors that are slightly grainy in the treble at first - burn-in time varies. It can change rapidly after a few days or a week, and then it can continue to smooth/get cleaner at a slower rate for another week or two.
I may have missed it if you mentioned it, but this is a choke input unit, similar to the Tyr monoblock power amps. And it has dual linear power supplies.
Another detail - they don't say this in the spec (maybe you can ask?) is the volume pot looks like an Alps Blue Velvet; which is a conductive plastic wiper pot.
Yes, that was my thought too about the caps. I know it's a four gang pot and it would be unusual to find a quality pot in a device like this that's not an Alps Blue Velvet so I suspect you're right.
@@PassionforSoundare you able to burn it is for a while?
It's gone on the to Aaron now. It seemed to improve a bit while it was with me though.
Nice review as usual ! How would you compare the MJ3 to the Denafrips Artemis ?
It's been a long time since I tried the Artemis so it's hard to compare. I think the Artemis was probably more coloured than the MJ3, but beyond that, I'd have to hear them closer together.
Thank you for this review! I was considering getting the prelude, but i might get the mjolnir instead now. It being cheaper is a nice bonus! I have a question though, how does it synergize with the focal utopia?
It's great with the Utopia (2022 version). A lot of my listening was with the Utopia. If you're happy with the Utopias from another neutral amp, the MJ3 will be great.
What you said about the feedback made me think of a thing I heard in my teens about speakers and amps. Bad sounding speakers and amps can measure good, but good sounding can not measure bad.
That makes sense I think
Just got mine in yesterday, spent 3 hrs listening last night. Got better as it got hot!
Glad you're enjoying it!
Thank you, Lachlan. I know going forward that this is an amplifier for me. I’ve already unloaded one amp to make space on my rack. It is gonna happen. I’ll be joining the Mjölnir 3 family very shortly. ❤. I’ve been waiting for an amp like this for such a long time.
That's great news! This is one of those products that I know almost everyone will be happy with. Enjoy!
@@PassionforSound thank you so much. It wasn’t an easy decision to come to, but as you know very well, sometimes changes must be made, especially in the name of system synergy. Great video, Lachlan! Love the ground you are covering. Well done.
Pop Rock and Electronica sounds better in push pull mode when using the HE1000se IMO. My favorite part about this amp is that no matter where you have the volume the tonality always has the same lack of harshness. This is a good and bad thing because you can turn up the volume a little higher than you normally would and possibly listen louder than needed. I personally love the depth and layering compared to my THX789.
That's an interesting perspective on preferring the push-pull mode by genre. It is definitely a BIG step up from the THX789!
Thank you very much again for another exeptional review - one I've been looking forward to for a while.
My reference headphones are Sennheiser HD 800S and I mostly listen to Jazz and Classical. I prefer a warm, smooth and holographic sound and am considering the MJ3. In you're opinion, do you think this amp would be suitable for these headphones, with these styles of music, producing that sort of sound? If it doesn't quite get there, do you think the addition of a Freya+ preamp would then add the tube warmth to fit that description?
Alternatively, I've been looking at the Woo Audio WA2 - the OTL which could provide the sound profile I'm searching for. I also know Schiit will be releasing the updated Valhalla 3 in a few more months, which could be a mini Fólkvangr (i.e. OTL/ OCL).
Just after your thoughts and opions.
Cheers 👍
For what it's worth, I love this amp for the HD800S, prefer it over my V280 amp..
Recently I upgraded to a HE100SE headphone, so I do not use my Sennheiser much anymore, although I always loved this headphone, the Hifiman is much better
and it pairs also great with the Mjolnir3
Seconding what Quinto said, it should be great with the HD800S thanks to the smooth sound of it.
It's hard to say if you will prefer an OTL sound over the solid state as that's very personal, but the MJ3 is about as good as it gets for a solid state amp to pair with the HD800S, I think.
Another really great and detailed review Lachlan. As a 3XGT 2023 upgrade owner I am somewhat downcast, having made that upgrade just last summer. What to do? I had noticed the somewhat constricted sound stage depth on the Burson- Should i sell the Burson and buy an MJ3? That seems premature for me, given that the option of op amp swapping is still possible for the 3XGT - but I don’t think that’s what Lachlan is suggesting. Rather, what I am understanding is that it is the topology of this amp - with its choke input and optional no feedback output - that may be producing good effects on staging and imaging -which ample wattage output in other topologies may not produce- after all the Burson has ~8W into 32 ohms balanced. Food for thought!
I'm keen to try the new V7 op-amps in the 3X GT (I've got them here now) because I'm hopefully they'll improve the tonality of the GT.
I'll share some further thoughts on that soon...
Thanks for the review Lachlan! I'm curious how your Atriums sound on these, I know you like them paired with the folkvangaar but was wondering about solid state options you have enjoyed or would an OTL be a better bet? Btw the "ruff" gag at 6:35 was great but unexpected, thought a dog somehow got into my hotel room lol
I wondered if anyone would know why I did the "ruff". Glad you got it. 😁
I actually commented to my patrons on the last Q&A call that the MJ3 has some of the Folkvangr character and is therefore very good with the Atriums. Not quite as magical, but more versatile and a touch more resolving perhaps.
Ah gotcha thanks! I actually am a patreon member as well in the enthusiast tier, guess the calls are one level up or I missed it, not sure how I can join the discord but I'll figure it out. Thanks for responding!
I think the Q&A calls are for Audiophile and above, but I can't remember 100%. It's also possible that you joined right after we did that call.
If you'd like to message me via Patreon, I can help you get into the Discord. It should be as simple as signing into Discord with the same email you used for Patreon, but sometimes needs some help. 🙂
I agree with your push pull description, but with the feed back. Not the single ended vs push pull. It really took an edge off vs pure detail and a little harsh. (That is Feedback took some edge off, but no feedback was fantastic; my comparison track was David Bowie - Fame. I also checked with Bjork, If you know you know)
The "hum" is the chokes on the input transformers!
Are you saying you didn't hear push-pull the same as I did?
@@PassionforSound ;) its crazy i know. I'd describe it the way John Darko does with his "lean forward" and "lean back" type of presentation when feed back is off and on respectively. I was driving 300 ohm cans in the VC so I didn't really notice much of a difference with Push-Pull vs SE. I imagine planars would be more revealing of that!
Good point. It was with planars (I think) that I specifically tested it.
Awesome review. How does it sounds on the Atrium?
It's a great combo. Not quite as good as the Folkvangr with the Atriums, but still excellent!
I would like to see a review of the MJ3 and the Violectric V222. They are priced pretty much the same.
I'd love to do that, but I can't currently access the Violectric gear easily unless it comes up on the secondhand market.
Thanks once again!
Always a pleasure!
My thoughts with one week of ownership of my silver Mjolnir 3. It will sound even better after 5-7 days. It really starts to deliver much better smoothness at the top, and the mid bass bump it had, has mellowed out. At first use, I thought the push-pull and feedback switches were kinda whatever, but I'm using them quite a bit now. For low level listening, they really help get that right sound with different music material or your current HP. Tons of control and instrument separation with this amp, at all volumes, and completely absolute blackness in the noise floor, even with really sensitive headphones. The soundstage is extremely wide and accurate. Bifrost 2/64 is great with it, but the Yggdrasil OG is the perfect synergistic match. Highly recommended.
Awesome. How much better is it from other amps you’ve tried or different ?
@@Ray-dl5mp I've had the Head Amp GSX mini for the last 3 years, and that amp is a great and gets along with most dacs and headphones. It is a similar discrete, pure class A amp with decent dynamics, power, and has a slight warmth to it, but with very good timbre. It is a great amp, a lot of fun.
MJ3 differentiates itself for its presentation and stage. It's not crazy better than the GSX, and depending what you're listening to, the GSX could be more engaging and more realistic sounding sometimes. I think the separate, choke power supplies really help to separate the MJ3 from the GSX. It handles complicated sections of music with ease. It doesn't get congested as easily. Vocals and instruments are clearly spaced, with good depth. MJ's noise floor is really good too.
Fresh out of the box this amp sounded a little thin to me, and with some odd peakiness in certain frequency ranges. I was going back forth between the Mini and MJ a lot, and I wasn't too sure about the MJ at the first and consecutive listens. It took about a week for the MJ to even out and really settle in. I started to relate to what other reviewers were talking about. It is really impressive for the money. I'm still keeping both amps though.
On a side note, you definitely want a high end dac with either one of these amps to take full advantage of what they can present musically.
@@brianthomas3354 thanks for taking the time to share your thoughts. That sounds great overall and a very grounded response where there are trade offs in audio a lot of the time. A lot of people just automatically assume one product is better at everything or a clear upgrade. But your review sounds right to me in that it is but it’s depending.
Thanks for sharing such excellent, first hand experience and comparison!
@@PassionforSound Your welcome, and thank you also for your excellent , thorough, and comprehensive review.
Great to hear as I was hoping so for OG Jotenheim upgrade/$ for my new Calderas 😅. BTW, $1,199 USD is for the black version; while that silver goes to $1,299 🤷
Thanks for the tip on the different pricing!
The only question left is, if It will drive the Tungsten. Rest is quite clear :D Great reveiw :)
Yes. That's an interesting question!
Glad you liked the review. 🙂
How would you compare this to the Bryston BHA-1? Or have you heard the Bryston?
I've not yet had a chance to try the Bryston.
Do you still have your original 3xp for comparison? Or do you only have the GT now so that's why you compared directly to the GT?
I've still got the 3XP, but the MJ3 was clearly already beyond the 3XP so I went straight past it with the comparisons. That said, the 3XP with the new V7 op-amps might have something to say about it...
I am considering the Mjolnir 3 as an upgrade to my Burson Soloist 3XP but am struggling with a technical question regarding the volume control? The Mjolnir 3 doesn't have a remote control or a Power Amp mode so what is the best way to operate the volume remotely? Would it be with a DAC with Variable volume using the remote and if so, what volume would be best to set the Mjolnir 3 at? Full volume or somewhere lower? Thanks for a great video!
That's a tricky one. There's no issue running the MJ3 with an upstream volume control, but it's often not a good idea to have too low of an input from the DAC to the amp so I'd probably recommend the following steps:
1) max out the DAC volume
2) find a comfortable listening volume via the MJ3 volume control and then turn it up until it's getting uncomfortable (maybe take the headphones off for this bit)
3) reduce the DAC volume, put your headphones back on and then adjust the DAC volume as needed via remote.
The aim is to keep the DAC volume as high as possible while allowing for plenty of adjustment range. 🙂
That is great advice, many thanks for your detailed reply! 🙏
How do the xlr inputs compare to the rca? I have a chord mojo 2. Would I have to upgrade my dac to get the most out of the mjolnir?
IMO, run this balanced all the way. In and out.
There's no benefit running balanced into the MJ3. It works equally as well from both RCA or XLR if the input quality is the same. I.e. if your current DAC is RCA only, you'll be completely fine.
Flux labs mentor is also gaining popularity, it may be a competitor for MJ3.
I'll have to reach out to them and see if I can get one in.
Would loive to know how this compares to the Violectric V222?
Me too, but I can't help with that one. Sorry.
I wonder how the Mjolnir would compare to the Parasound JC3 Plus. The Schiit sounds like a great deal for the price.
I haven't tried that one to be able to comment - sorry. The MJ3 is definitely great value for money though.
Just for interests sake, Lachlan did you end up purchasing one for yourself? Still would recommend at the $2K Aussie price point?
I'd definitely recommend it. The only reasons I didn't buy it is that I already own the Folkvangr which delivers a similar feel in the music (better in some ways) and I don't need another large footprint device on my desk. Oh, and I have the AMP-23R and Voyager. 😉
It seems like a great amplifier, but I just can't seem to see a reason to choose it over a Jotunheim 2. And at this price point you can get some seriously good tubes like the Feliks Audio Echo. You should try reviewing some Feliks amps any way you can get your hands on one. They pair fantastically with Focal and ZMF headphones.
I have a Jotunheim 2 and wanted an upgrade while keeping the same functional ergonomics from the chassis, as a user of desktop active speakers, having a preamp with a toggle switch is a preference that something like an Echo doesn't provide. That said I would love to purchase a Feliks Euforia Evo one day, but for now I'm satisfied with retaining the current versatility of my desktop while garnering a substantial sonic upgrade.
@@dar._ I’d choose an Ampsandsound Kenzie over a Euforia. It just has some much slam and weight in it. Loved that amp using the RAD-0. Favorite pairing at CanJam.
@@sleepyrhythms6668 Yeah me too, there's a slight price difference here in australia of $7400 for a Kenzie Rev 2 and $4700 for the Euforia. I can't see myself going beyond the $5k mark and surviving the wifes wrath.
The jump from the Jot 2 to the MJ3 is a BIG one (and I really like the Jot 2), but yes - tubes have their own character. I'd love to review some Ampsandsound or Feliks amps given the chance, but so far no luck.
I get noise on single-ended in my janky convoluted setup. Only on active balanced mode does my Kara eliminate the noise. I cannot use its single-ended headphone socket without hearing noise. Same with my Mjolnir 2, which produces same noise when I first turn it on and then once it fully powers up it converts signal to balanced and eliminates the noise. I am wondering if the Mjolnir 3 would likewise carry noise in single-ended mode and would therefore limit me to using it in balanced mode, which apparently is not its optimal setting. While balanced isn’t inherently better sonically, I stick with fully balanced components as they are not as susceptible to EMI/RFI/ground loop hum. (Edit: Actually, using the Kara itself as the input into the MJ3 w/ active mode engaged should mitigate any noise concern)
Do you find using Kara as the preamp reduces the detail of the MJ3 at all?
I don't know how the MJ3 will perform with noise because I don't have existing issues to test with. I'm also not sure exactly how the SE mode works in terms of taking a differential balanced input and outputting via the SE topology.
@@mikeg2491 Great question I often wonder myself though haven’t tested. I’m sure a direct connection probably is better but I haven’t personally felt wanting for more with how it sounds, at least not with active low gain mode, which I always keep it on. I love being able to switch inputs between all my different pieces of gear. That convenience alone would be worth a minor hit in performance if there even was one.
Now I wonder if a Kara on high gain into a Mjolnir 3 would be enough to drive a Tungsten. That’s one use case where having a Kara as your source could be useful in more ways than one potentially.
@@Reeeepicheep reason I ask is I got the MJ3 and it’s absolutely phenomenal with my Chord Dave, it manages to capture all the tiny details that tend to get lost when using other external amps with the Dave but I too get a bit of a noise/humming problem. I don’t know if is DAVE’s high voltage going straight into the amp is the culprit and would just do better with a solid preamp to regulate it all.
Hey.
How many steps above the Geshelli Archel 3 Pro?
The reason I ask is because you also called that device a "$2000+" sounding device.
Thanks.
I called the A3 Pro comparable to the original Soloist 3XP so not $2000+. The MJ3 is a couple of large steps above the A3 Pro. 🙂
Thanks for the reply.
So now mj3 on list to get 😊
The hum can't be heard through the headphones?
Has that issue been fed back to Schiit?
No, it's not in the audio circuit. It's a mechanical vibration in the amp itself, I believe. I'm sure Schiit are aware of it. It's been discussed on forums they're active in.
So the Mjolnir is better than a fully upgraded soloist 3x gt right?
I think they have different strengths so some will prefer one over the other. For the money, though, the MJ3 is an easy choice. The new V7 op-amps might change things a bit though and I've got that coming up soon...
I'm having a hard time choosing between Mjolnir 3 and ifi ican signature which I can get with 30% off. I use he1000 stealth. Have you heard the iCan and are these both amps on a similar level in therms of sound quality?
I haven't heard the iCan - sorry.
what is better for hd650, ragnarok or mjolnir
I haven't tried the Ragnarok so can't say, but the Mjolnir 3 is more compact and sounds amazing.
How does it compare to the Jotunheim 2 / Bifrost 2 64 stack?
It beats the Jott 2 all day. I heard it at their store in CA with their entire line-up. literrally side by side with BF2 and all their amps. The MJ3 was fed by the Gungir. I'll add, the Jott 2 with built in DAC was NOT great. The BF2/Jott 2 much better.
I was so suprised by the Vali 2 and Valhalla that I bought the last Valhalla 2 they had on hand at the store.
My other gear is a Singxer SA-1 (i'll replace with MJ3), Mojo 2, and Nitch Piety. The Piety Maximus is phenomenal as well. So if you're between price tiers, MJ3 and Piety Max are the best you can do early 2024. Don't fall into the pitfalls of "balanced is better"
@@Maver1ck911the dac they use in the Jot is very outdated
Jot 2 is slightly more v-shaped. There is a noticeable difference down very low and up very high, but it is slight. Is it worth 800 more will depend on your wallet.
@@Streaml1neJMoose The SA-1 is better than the Jott 2. difference is, if you get a MJ3 you can forget about "upgrades". Especially with the Silver Fox/Mini Silver Fox and all its nonsense (Pushpull, balanced, common ground fake balanced, single ended via balanced)
@@humanbass I know. It's an old ESS. But that has nothing to do with anything when it comes to dac's. its all about the total implementation. When literally A/B'ing a Jott 2 with on-board and a Jott-2/BF264 the difference was obvious.
The thing is, the Modi Multibit 2 is also phenomenal. It's no joke. a Mimby 2 and Lyr2+ is a serious mini stack.
For someone who use a headphone with impedance 600ohms or less listening at an spl of 85db or less, the amount of power needed is far less than what's provided by the amplifier. So the value that goes to the unused power is kind of wasted. If that's the case, what's the justification in spending the extra money on power? The other thing is why the goodness in terms of sound signature not available in less price models? I would really appreciate if you could help me on this. Thanks.
The amount of power is in no way connected to the quality of the sound so it's more about them making an amp that will drive all different headphones and the extra power isn't wasted as such because you'd pay the same amount for the equivalent quality of sound from a less powerful amplifier.
What you're paying for in an amp of higher quality is a better selection of parts (both the combination of parts used, but also the quality is each individual component) to produce greater transparency and accuracy of the sound.
You can get the same approximate sound signature from the Jotunheim 2, but with lesser quality due it using a different (cheaper) circuit layout and probably some lower quality components (maybe it's just less overall components - I don't know).
@@PassionforSound Thanks for your detailed and helpful explanation. Much appreciated 🙏
Subscribed.
I am looking for a new amp in the $1000 mark. Looking forward to your review between this amp and the gustard h26.
I don't currently have plans for an H26 review, but will be reviewing the Aune S17 Pro soon.
But do you really NEED this Lachlan ?! 😆
Also, maybe keep the Silver Fox for now, for the incoming Tungsten.
No, I definitely don't need it, but it sounds great. I'll see if I get the urge to buy one now that I've sent this to Aaron.
I've got a Voyager here now so the Silver Fox is still not needed. Now I just need a buyer...
@@PassionforSound Good luck with the sale!
So much good gear out there. 2024 is looking good for audio.
Was super eager. Starting video now
Hope you enjoyed it!
@@PassionforSound yes. I'm not gonna buy it outta budget stuff but I'll make my friend in USA looking at 2k dollar amps buy this.
It's definitely a great recommendation in that price range.
I HAVE NOW THE JOUTINHEIM WITH HD650 AND BIFROST , WHAT CAN I DO TO UPGRADE
I'd maybe look at a better headphone next - perhaps the HD660S2 if you generally like the Sennheisers.
thank you, what about hd800s ?@@PassionforSound
The HD800S is quite a different sound, but a nice headphone. You'll need to work out the style of sound you want and go from there. 🙂
@@PassionforSound sorry , but I have some questions about sound quality and headphones, I wish I could communicate with you , please
I have a lot of conversations with channel patrons on Patreon and the Discord server for patrons so I can't offer any additional forms of contact or I'll spread myself too thin and miss messages. Sorry.
Is the Mjolnir a step up from the aune s17 pro?
Yes. I discussed it here in the video.
On your Aune s17 pro can you tell a difference from 50 to 100ma?
When I first got the s17 when I switched from 50 to 100 I could hear a click in my headphones and the amp would also make a clicking. There was a big difference in sound quality. Now the amp makes the clicking but nothing in my headphones when going from 50 to 100 and there’s no change in sound quality . I’ve seen a few reviews say they couldn’t tell a difference and a few that said it was a big difference.
If you can hear the change in your headphone your unit should be good.
My s17 never gets above 60 degrees. 3hr of listening.
Sucks because it was amazing when it worked.
I haven't done critical listening yet, but didn't notice a change on first listen. If it's just changing the bias of the circuit (I think that's what it's doing) then the differences will be subtle and might be less obvious on some tracks and headphones. I'll have a play when I'm prepping the review.
I jus got my schiit syn nd have only hooked it up as a headphone dac/amp and so far pretty underwhelmed
It's not a world beating or giant killing product in that area so that's not surprising.
Great CZcams channel and it needs grounding to the amplifier
Glad you like the channel!
The hum isn't a ground loop if that's what you're referring to. It's not in the signal path/output, just a mechanical sound from the power supply and/or chokes vibrating gently.
Have you heard the FLUX Mentor?
I haven't yet, but I hope to have one coming soon...
How is this vs the Burson Voyager, CMA 15, or gs x mini?
It's better than the GSX Mini (based on previous comparisons I've done with the full sized GSX). I've got the Voyager here now for a proper review, but the short answer is that it's better, but not by a huge margin in some ways.
@@PassionforSound Mmm, what does the Voyager do that outshines the Mjolnir 3. And how would the Conductor 3X GT perform against them?
Conductor 3X GT isn't as strong of an amp as either because it's also a DAC so there's shared space and power which is a compromise (although it's one of the best all-in-one units I've tried).
As for the Voyager vs MJ3, the Voyager has a sense of authority and control that the MJ3 can't quite match and that adds to better imaging accuracy and a slight bump in resolution too.
I can't vouch for the GSX MK2, but as for the GSX Mini from reviews, it seemed like there was a sound preference to the Mini vs the MK2. Sound signature wise, the Mini vs Mk2 has more warmth and better focus. The Mini is not as bright and gritty as its bigger brother.
I received the Mjolnir 3 last week and I have a GSX Mini. Going back and forth listening impressions, (Lcd-5, Yggy Og), I would say the Mjolnir 3 has much better control and separation. Mini is not as wide as the MJ3 on soundstage, but the Mini to me has better depth and stage placement. Timbre is slightly more pleasing and realistic on the Mini. I'm still burning in the Mjolinir. @@PassionforSound
@@PassionforSound Mmm, interesting. Thank you for the info! What DAC would you think work great with the Voyager on differnet budgets ballparks like under $1k, $1k,$2k, etc.?
So you don't use a ddc to hook up to your computer?
I also have a DDC in some chains, but the quality of the JCat output is equivalent to what I can get from the DDC with my specific DACs.
@@PassionforSound gotcha. I was just going to use a dap as a server and feed it through a ddc to my dac.
That will do great!
I wish I would have known about the Mjolnir 3 before I bought the Ferrum Hypsos/Oor. Something tells me I would prefer the MJ3 sound by the way you describe it. The Oor sounds good but that's just it, sounds good... not great.
I'm yet to try the Hypsos/Oor stack, but I often read mixed impressions about it. You could probably sell it and buy the MJ3 without being further out of pocket if you felt to do so.
How does Mjolnir 3 compare to Magni+? Anyone heard both?
You can tell they come from the same company, but they're not really comparable in any way. The MJ3 is light years ahead in performance.
@@PassionforSound Would you honestly go for MJ3 over Bliss or Oor/Hypsos?
Possibly, but I'm yet to hear either. The MJ3 IS that good though that it will be a serious consideration.
@PassionforSound I listened to the Ferrum stack at CanJam London with my own ZMF Atrium. Not sure if it was a synergy issue, but the audio was super disappointing.
It's not the first time I've heard that about the Ferrum stack. I nearly bought one at one stage, but went a different direction due to what I was reading about it.
This amp is great for anything under 100 ohms but there are better options for headphonea over that rating.
For me...I would 100% accept a limited amount of Class A power --- for a bit more max power capability in Class AB mode when you need it. I'd rather have my 100% Class A in my preamp, IMO - even if I had to buy another piece of kit.....
If the hum was in the audio output, that would be a Major problem.
I agree, but the output is pristine - no hum 🙂
@@PassionforSound Nice to know, thanks !
the smearing of sound as a fault, that was emphasized here by the presenter, is key to where an audiophile, or audiophile adjacent person, finds pleasure, it the details. .
Because, although human hearing is never picky about recognizing fact from fiction , it did evolve to do a fantastic job with direction , which it discerns by listening among a complexity of overtone harmonics ,the brain forming it's opinions from secondary reflected vibrations . After all, knowing which way to run is a much greater evolutionary advantage than the occasional false alarm, if one is serious in keeping off the old savanna menu.
And these things the ear does very well are the pleases of an audiophile style listener, where most people are not asking the ears for details beyond the regular pleasures of music. The brain is happy either way, and switches from one to the other without thought.
For, as science has informed us, the brain is incredibly lazy, to conserve energy. I was surprised to learn that a lot of what we see is just made up, with only a portion of our vision active as needed. The people looking for better musical reproduction are just seeking a different type of hearing (comprehension?) than is commonly employed.
Geez, dont send me money. Pick a charity if you want to throw money around. Lachlan classifies as a charity case so just omitting Aaron works.
I can't believe you called me a charity case! Maybe I'll buy you Passion for Sound merchandise to the value of the donations. 😂
@@PassionforSound Maybe I'll mail it back to you one unit at time, in boxes within boxes.
😂 🪆
Straight to the point, iem.. is it noisey?.. Peace!
Btw ur 'i wont complaint' songs better replace with friends is a four letter words frm cake.. Peace2!
A teensy bit of noise on my MEST2s but not bad on my setup. I personally use my THX789 or M15 dongle for IEMs for the most part.
Ha3 they need mo rNd... Peace!
@matthewhilty4209
AudiophilesIEMendgameSystem bra... Indeed i've reached.. Its only Q5S TC(dualAKM4493 which in RMEadi2 +dualTHX aaa78 as modular amps) + 4 4pentodes ClassA amps Mt604 = Heaven is it?.. While my OTG just...again Q5S TC but + FC6 yup those cutes r2r.. Peace3!
Been running the Mjolnir 3 for months now and it's quite honestly the best amp i have ever used. There's legit magic in this thing for the price.
I completely agree. So glad you're enjoying it so much!
I had one on order But they would not give me a time line when it would ship. This was the first time doing business with them. I Can't and won't do business with a company like that.
This is a bit of a unique situation due to the type of design and unknown demand that they faced initially. I know it's hard having no clarity on the order, but it's not their normal way of operating.
@@PassionforSoundThey should be able to give an approximate time line like 4 to 8 weeks. Plus they didn't respond to my email for a week. Not a good way to do business in my opinion.
Lack of communication is definitely an issue. I believe they normally provide an ETA on the order page. That was definitely the case with Aaron's unit, but it did also shift a little due to parts availability.
@nforSound I would not have canceled the order if they would have communicated better. Order page said shipping jan. 31. Oh well now I have a soloist gt. Very happy with it. Your review helped make my decision.
Absolutely. Communication is key. Glad you're enjoying the Soloist. I've got the V7 Op-amps coming up soon as a potential upgrade option too.
Seriously too much options for 1 pair of ears 😂
Not really. Just leave it in SE mode with feedback off and enjoy. 😁
For us Canukleheads and others it's just too much and the competition is fierce. With conversion, taxes, shipping etc, we are at right about $1800-$2000. I mean, it measures well, looks great and pretty much does what I would need it to do but for that amount you can get just as good for $300 to $600 less plus new cans (maybe lol) It just bites to have such a weak dollar but it's still overpriced imo. Nice unit though and great video!
I spent ~2350 CAD to get it here in Australia. The heart wants what the heart wants 😅
It also destroys my Jotenheim2 sonically, which is much cheaper. Go figure.
@@dar._ As long as you really like it, that's the biggest bottom line ✌ Tell you the truth...If I could, I probably would lol.
There's definitely not a cheaper amp that can hold a candle to the MJ3. There are definitely some lovely cheaper amps, but this one is definitely a cut (or three) above.
@@PassionforSound That good, eh? I hear ya. So now for the last amp someone intends to buy because of unmatched quality, it's no longer an expensive piece, you're right. It's an investment for eternity. In that case, no price is too much in a way.
I have a Rotel A11 MkII IA and I adore it's my long term piece for now. I sure would love to get this amp though, EVERYONE and their mailman are quite blown away by it.
4:05 you cant put you finger that a amp made to have high distortion has distortion?
I don't know what you're saying here.
After the massive disappointment that was the Freya+ I'm never buying anything from that brand again.
Sorry to hear about that. What was the issue with the Freya+?
@@PassionforSound It sounded exactly the same with tubes and solid state. I tried different tubes, cheap and expensive, and switching between tubes and passive mode made no audible difference whatsoever. I ended up returning it having to pay €30 "for the box". Disappointing product, which is something that can happen, not a big deal, but terrible people in charge of the Europe shop.
@nNickMy Mjolnir 3 got lost in the post and they handled this in a very generous and helpful manner, so my experience with their EU shop is all positive
@@quinto34 Were you returning it or were you supposed to receive it?
@nNickthe latter..as soon it was clear the courier lost the package they wanted to send me another one, but I choose to pick it up myself since it was only one hour drive for me..
2W on 32 ohm is not nearly enough for Susvara, HE-6 and 1266. 5W would be an absolute minimum.
The Susvara can reach 110dB with 500mW so if you have 1W or more on hand (MJ3 does at Susvara impedance) and if you're listening at safe levels of around 80-85dB then there is no need for any more power.
Total schiit, stay away from it.
Why do you say that?
You can amazingly hear a difference in audio quality from an audio network switch which have been debunked as snake oil so that throws your opinion on any device out of the window.
Lucky you if you dont hear the Network switch difference, the less you hear, the Shorter therabbit hole, more money saved,the better the wife acceptance factor 👍
Alpha Labs have actually measured and proved the downstream effect of better/worse network switches due to the noise they can allow through/add to/filter out of the network.
The debunking I assume is being discussed here was completed by someone who doesn't really understand what matters in audio and has a very limited set of tests to throw at every single device, regardless of its function.
@@PassionforSound Eh, erm - Cough *asr* Cough, LOL....