Schiit Mjolnir 3 Impressions

Just wanted to report back that Atrium Open also sounds excellent on MJ3.

Better control over Atrium's sometimes tubby bass is a nice change compared to some tube amps. Also really good slam and macrodynamics that really play to Atrium as it is already exceptional in this area.

Treble is as good or better than Stratus (no etch or sibilance at all...zilch, zero...super clean up top). Just missing that last bit of air that Stratus presents.

Also doesn't have the wrap around 3D effect that Stratus can pull off, or quite the same amount of depth. However, it certainly doesn't sound flat and has more depth and width than I've heard out of any other Schiit amp so far. I've owned Piety, Vali 1, Vali 2, Magni, Lyr 1, Lyr 2 and Lyr 3. As others mention it does layering very well.

This amp won't replace tubes for me, but I've yet to hear a SS amp that I can live with and MJ3 is a keeper. It's great to not have tube nervosa while enjoying this thing.

 

Just tried my AO on MJ3 (low gain) and it was meh, soft and rounded, although with deeper stage, compared with Caldera (high gain). I have to play more -- not soon as my schedule for the next month is nuts -- but at first hearing, I'll keep AO for Stellaris, and Caldera as before for solid-state (MJ3 or Oor, a battle still much to be decided).

 

I could definitely see you hearing Atrium Open as soft and rounded compared to Caldera on MJ3.

 

Having spent a week of listening to Mjolnir3 in my lab system after each day's lab measurements, I can safely say this is one of the few amps that I look forward to enjoying music renders. Similar to how I feel about Studio B with Elrogs and DSHA-3FN.
@purr1n 's enthusiasm and comments are warranted.

The amp sounds congested during the first 20 minutes of warmup. After 30 minutes the full expanse of performance will be experienced. Mine reaches approximately 145 °F on the heat sinks.



Mjolnir 3 is one incredible amp, period.

 

Given that the DSHA-3FN and Mjolnir 3 seem to both be incredible amps, what would be the differences in how they sound? I am very much intrigued by both, but can only afford to buy one due to space constraints. My headphones that get the most time are the OG Utopias, but I also have a Susvara here. I guess we are spoiled by choice, but I'm currently debating between these amps and the Holo Bliss.

 

Hi Jason,
Just curious: if the run sells out and the next one too, why wouldn't make it a regular production product? Is there a certain threshold of sales velocity you would have to meet to think it's worth bringing into regular production or is there something about the MJ3 specifically that makes you not want to keep making it?

And, just to be clear, are you offering a loaner to anyone on the forum? Realized duh you're talking about a single loaner unit for the forum to pass around

Thanks!

 

I think the 3F is only "solid state" so far as the UX is concerned. It's actually transformer gain and also really low gain (1.5 vs 8 on Mjolnir 3). Focals are guaranteed synergy due to their high efficiency but the Mjolnir 3 will probably be more versatile as it should be for the size and heat output.

 

FWIW, in about a month (if the property gods so will it), I should have my other amps and HPs and can try both the OG Utopia and Sus on the Enleum, Ferrum stack, and BHA-1.

I've not heard the DSHA, though based on reports here, I'd surely like to. Nor the MJ3. (If there's ever a loan program that could get the new Schiit over to the UK, I'd be all over it.)

For now I can say that I'm impressed by both the Ferrum and the Enleum. (I'll AB them at some point and likely sell one or the other.) Ferrum doesn't add much of its own character. Enleum maybe injects an ever so slight amount of smoothness. I also, thus far, hear it as very clear.

I've listened to the more sensitive Verité Closed on both amps, and it also works well with them. No complaints, save a touch of muddiness here and there that might be down to the closed-back nature of the VC?

Have not heard the Bliss. I did briefly hear the Zahl with Caldera and Final D8000 Pro Ltd, and it sounded like... a good solid-state amp. So I don't know if I'd expect a ton of tonal variation among any of the above. But that's just me and what I've heard so far. Maybe if I'd listened longer with the Zahl it would've revealed more. I'd like to hear it again.

I should also add, plenty of Ferrum stacks and Enleums on the used market. Don't know what that signifies. Maybe a lot of amp rolling from Susvara folks. Both are good amps to my ears, so far.

 

Just received my Mjolnir 3 several hours ago, and wanted to address some concerns folks might have about power.

I am coming from the Topping A70 Pro (which I just returned), and was hoping that the Mjolnir 3 would be be able to properly power my HE6Se V2s, since the A70 Pro does 12.6 watts at 32 ohms, and the Mjolnir 3 does just 2 watts.

Well, the Mjolnir 3, in single-ended and in low gain, gets maybe a little louder than the A70 Pro's maximum balanced high gain loudness. When the Mjolnir's in balanced and high gain, I typically can't get past 12 o'clock with the HE6SE V2s; whereas I had to go up -5 db with Topping's 12.6 watt amp to get the same loudness.

 

That's really just a matter of a difference in gain, not a sign of MOAR or less powah baby.

 

Has anyone tried the mj3 with the LCD-R? I know the amp is supposed to deal very well with hard to drive headphones but 2ohms is an extreme kind of difficult.

 

I had a chance to demo my coworker's MJ3 today at home and work and will focus on comparing to MJ2, which is my main setup.

Yggdrasil GS (BAL) > Mjolnir 3 (SE, NF, High Gain) > HD800 SDR / HD6XX
Modius (BAL) > Mjolnir 3 (SE, NF, High Gain) > HD600

TLDR; MJ3 is a superior amp to MJ2 in all technical aspects. Thanks for coming. However, there's some stuff not to my taste.

MJ3 makes MJ2 seem like the Mid-Fi amp it is: a congested grey blackground with metallic highs riding through a hallucinogenic fun house of sonic elements flying in, popping out, and falling ass over tits over one another. MJ3 never seems out of control; Everything is curated, conducted and proportional. It is vastly superior to MJ2 in detail, up there with the very best, an expert at guitar pick sounds, reverb, and chair legs scratching floors.

MJ3 is not any less macrodynamic or slammy than MJ2, it's just a much more regulated presentation.

MJ3 does well with many genres including classical, blues, and just crushes those 80's synth arpeggios with exceptional speed and articulation in the mids and lows.

MJ3 maintains the MJ2 characteristic warmth but it's much better controlled, tasteful, and limited. MJ3 isn't tubes, but you don't care, it has inner warmth and texture.

Layering and separation on MJ3 is vastly superior on MJ2, with a vantablack blackground and wider stage.

MJ3 seems quite tolerant of many different transducers and pairs easily with HD800 SDR, HD600/6XX and I am guessing damn near anything else.

It's far easier to listen to MJ3 for longer periods than MJ2 due to the lack of treble wackness.

Where things aren't entirely to my preference:

MJ3 highs get called "rounded" but I'm not entirely willing to buy this, they're kinda compressed. Nothing missing per se, but female vocals in particular seem less delicate than they should be and lack that last 10% involvement. Even my coworker who works in the music industry repeatedly commented that the compressed treble made most vocals sound just a bit wrong. This is somewhat compensated for with the exceptional level of detail in the mids, but you combine this with the 3rd/4th row listener position and ultimately we both felt vocals felt a bit clinical. So, the highs just aren't 100% right to my ear and they're the weakest point of this amp in terms of my preferences. Anyone reading my impressions knows I don't like treble that's dark tilted, rolled, or flat. Still, overall cohesion and placement of treble is good here.

MJ3's listener position sits a few rows back versus MJ2 or Jot 2 and I tend to like 1st row. Just keep me out of the orchestra pit, like Starlett.

Rock sounds great, but I've always somewhat disliked rock on wide systems. Just like on Starlett, I don't want to explode elements of a rock song too far apart, some smoosh and smearing is preferable.

You have to get MJ3's source right, Modius doesn't f'ing cut it. Yggdrasil GS works great, adding incisiveness to the MJ3 rounded-ness, and gets the amp what it needs. So don't skimp or you'll be gimped.

This is the best headamp Schiit has made and is a triumph. It's way better than Folkvangr.

 

Thanks for the impression! I always love to see the concisely-formatted summary table in your posts.

Could you possibly elaborate on this further? I genuinely have a fondness for the Modius (both versions), and, to me, it largely, if not perfectly, delivers what I anticipate and desire to hear from DACs. I must admit, it is as esteemed to my ears, brain, and taste as many multibits I’ve experienced. Perhaps even more in some aspects. Curious why/where Modius failed to get along with MJ3.

Additionally, if you don’t mind, could you share your insights on the plankton between the MJ3 and the J2? I hypothesized that Continuity should have no reason to be outperformed by SE-class A in the finer details. However, I acknowledge that the MJ3 does benefit from choke inputs, a feature the J2 lacks. I’m quite eager to gain some understanding of the characteristics that are perceived to differ between the two.

 

The single greatest asset I see Modius having is the blackground and MJ3 is already incredibly black, it doesn't need any help here. Modius is a bit non-authoritative and square digital-itus and that's the opposite of what I see MJ3 wanting. You got the detail sure but the total effect didn't grab you. Then it just scaled so beautifully with the GS and came alive with power and force.

The plankton situation between MJ3 and Jot 2 are different levels. Maybe two tiers. In different tracks I was hearing details I had never noticed on Jot 2, which I consider to be about as technically competent as MJ2 in this area. Even minor transition editing points between sample cuts on electronic tracks, or the orchestra players shifting in their seats on the Oppenheimer OST. The details, it has them.

 

One thing I was trying out before I switched out my Yggdrasil A2 cards feeding the MJ3 (GS cards are in and marinating now). I was going back and forth with A2 balanced and Modius E/ balanced with Cinemag DIY 1:1 SE converter. True the Modius can't hang with the A2, but the balanced/SE converter sure did make the Modius more fun and dynamic, and levels up the engagement factor noticeably compared to the Modius XLR out on it's own. I also did a brief back to back with the A2 and MM2 feeding the MJ3, and that was interesting as well. The MM2 lacked the concise reverb fading off into the background that the A2 had in spades, although the MM2 did very well with the MJ3. The A2 was only powered on for a few days, but was already pulling easily ahead with technicalities. Feed the MJ3 a steady diet of high quality source material and you will be rewarded.

Bottom line is I really like the Modius E, but it has to be with the Cinemag XLR/SE converter. I think it punched above it weight with it, is a great deal, but still can't quite hang with the heavier duty gear out there.

 

Also will follow-up to say I think Modius is a great pairing with Jot 2, the thin presentation helps out the thicc Jot. MJ2 is a different story. While I felt it was merely insufficient to bring out the very best of MJ3, Modius is a radioactive catastrophe on MJ2. Digital treble + metallic treble hellscape. A very hard pass.

 

Agree on the MJ2 treble hellscape, lol. Reason I sold the MJ2 ages ago, even though I found RFT tubes to help. Funny thing is I like RFT tubes in my SW51+ too. I think they are quality tubes that are often over looked in favor of Mullard, Amperex, WE, etc.

 

TYR mono blocks

https://www.schiit.com/products/tyr