Schiit Mjolnir 3 Impressions

iPhone evidence of silver UFO attempting to abduct Yggdrasil

 

Question for folks with an MJ3 - are you hearing any kind of power supply noise or hum in push pull mode?

So, early on in my impressions, I remarked that I found myself listening at a higher level than normal. Usually, I'd assume it's "new toy syndrome" and not make that remark, but, something in the back of my mind said "Yeah, but this is unusually loud". It was almost like there was a bit of a "haze" if I listened too quietly, but, no problems at higher levels.

Fast forward a few months ago as the weather cooled, and I've been using MJ3 as a preamp in my speaker system. While I am able to listen at higher levels with headphones without bothering others, I have to keep my loudspeakers at about a strict 70dB listening level or lower (usually I'm happy right around 65db), lest I bother my wife or neighbors.

In the speaker system, at these levels, the "haze" was more apparent. I just kept turning it up to around 75dB to get the clarity I was looking for in PP mode. That wasn't tenable, so I ended up becoming a convert to the SE mode, because it had no haze, and I could listen happily at lower levels.

Now, in the last few weeks, I've been using the single ended output with headphones, and that's when I ended up hearing a hum in push pull mode. Sounds like a power supply hum, but, I'm not really sure. I don't want to say it's loud, but, it's also not exactly not loud. It's one of those "now that I hear it, I can't unhear it" things.

To try and diagnose it - it appears when the input is both single ended and balanced, is still there even when no source is plugged in, and doesn't get louder or softer with changes to the volume control, so, I'm fairly certain it's not something upstream of the Mjolnir 3.

I also only can hear it in push pull mode, but I can hear it in all outputs - single ended and balanced, headphone and speaker out. The single ended headphone out is, by far, the worst, though - loud enough that I can still hear it when listening to music - admittedly at my preferred lower levels.

Anyway, partly asking to see if it's normal for others or something I should contact Schiit support about. I know the measurements of the MJ3 done here showed some power supply noise in push pull mode, but I don't want to rush to ascribe what I'm hearing to those measurements, if it's possible it's something else.

 

I forgot how badass TOTL silver Schiit looks. I'm going to have to upgrade my Yggdrasil GS to a Yggdrasil+ and pay the premium.

 

MJ3 kills on well-recorded string instruments, brings out fine-grained texture, overtones, decays so well.

"The Wind" by Kayhan Kalhor and Erdal Erzincan (ECM) 44.1/16 PCM > HQPlayer DSD256 > May KTE > MJ3 > Caldera.

I was planning to work a bit after dinner, but this is too good.

 

I needed to turn the pot on my Bose bookshelf speakers all the way up and listen to the MJ3 pre out in PP Mode but yup, undeniably there. The noise floor on PP mode is higher than SE and there's a power hum loud enough my iPhone leaning on front of my bookshelf speaker can hear it and record it. The power hum actually pulses pretty loud momentarily when you throw the PP mode on. SE is quiet and I can't hear the hum or it's buried in the lower noisefloor. Can't hear any of it in the HD800's, silent.

Howdya like that silver?

Noticed some small differences in the new MJ3 silver case over my older 10+ year old Yggdrasil A1 / MJ2 cases (which seem the same cosmetically). None of this really means anything.

1) MJ3 brushed texture is cut some microns deeper. You can run your finger over it and it makes a louder shhh sound. The two older silver cases have a more subtle texture and smoother feel.

2) MJ3 steel color leans slightly warmer, with a bit more yellow. (see picture below)

3) MJ3 corners have an additional chamfer. Less cut fingers.

4) MJ3 top cover is screwless, both older cases have more screws than a cheap bordello.

5) MJ3 front panel icons and MJOLNIR / Schiit logos are printed in a darker grey for higher contrast but have some rougher edges. I actually messaged Jason about this because the XLR headphone icon looks kinda crappy. You can't see it unless you're 5 inches away staring so it's not a big deal but still, usually knife edges on everything in this department.

Photo with flash showing the slightly warmer color of the MJ3 steel

 

For anyone on the fence about getting this (assuming budget allows and all that), doooo iiit. I hemmed and hawed a long while because I already have a BW2. I try to keep my amps to one SS and one tube. However I'm glad I lost the impulse control battle because this thing is amazeballs. I don't need to wax poetic about it's sonic qualities. People far more eloquent than I am have done that justice. But I will say if my Studio B exploded today, I could live my life with MJ3 and only be a little sad it was gone.

This thing has played nice with both Atrium and 650K. I get some more nuance out of the Studio B with the Atriums, but MJ3 absolutely does them well. It played...shockingly well with most of my available dacs too. I still adore Yggdrasil GS over the others, but I suspect that dac just hits my happy buttons overall. It was still a treat with BF2 og and made me rethink selling my Yggdrasil A2 cards (the low end bloom wasn't excessive with A2 like it is on the Studio B and the BW2). The only one I didn't care for was Gungnir A2. For me it's a poor match. The mids were way too up in my face with Atrium, and I still had that problem with the 650k, just not as aggressive.

I threw some weird stuff at it too just to see if it would struggle bus with any particular style of music but nah. Crunchy tracks from Truckfighters and Type O Negative? No problem. Delicate piano tracks from Ludovico Einaudi? Beautiful. Funky frequency electronic shit from video game soundtracks like the WH40k: Mechanicus OST? No sweat.

Tl;dr, MJ3 is delightfully versatile.

 

Ironically, I love the MJ3 from my GMA2. But I don't have Atriums. I do have 6xx and Elex though, both of which I think sound great from that combo. To each his own I guess.

 

Thanks for this, helps me triangulate things for the future. Also meant to thank you for turning me on to trying GS with Studio B - really enjoying the pairing and is a nice change from LIM, which I still enjoy but they couldn’t be much more different.

 

- No repro on power hum for me.

More musings:

- Balanced, SE, low gain, and no feedback sounds the best to me at normal listening levels. Options are good.
- Feedback does something noticeable in the high frequencies. I suspect if I could listen to single tone notes, I'd see spikes in higher order harmonics on SE + Feedback.
- Fully subjective take: SE makes my music flow freely, PP seems to tighten it up a bit. PP seems to stretch the soundstage vertically somehow. I don't care if I'm hearing it wrong. Again, options are good.
- Balanced vs. single ended input out of Gungir: volume is different (SE comes out quieter) - no surprises. different voltage. No quality issues, use whatever cables you have.

 

I am amazed at how 2W of MJ3 choke backed goodness is lighting up my Susv. More (much more) to follow, but I did not expect this.

 

Are you listening on powered speakers cranked all the way up on the MJ3 RCA line output? I didn't test the XLR line outs.

As I mentioned on 300 ohm Senns the hum is inaudible in all cases.

 

Genelec 8010A used for testing. I believe you, thou!

 

Balanced XLR input on the Genelec then? Maybe the MJ3 Bal outs are better

 

Correct, only XLR in the chain.

 

The only Schiit black looked better than silver on was Folkvangr.

 

"Miss-information" button

Yes yes -the silver is sexier. The Schiit game of finishes is too all over to worry about matching at this point. I'm team black by circumstance. JOT-A, IEMagni, Piety, Freya N, MJ3. My shining silver star is the Vali 2+. I'd love it to all be silver and black in a harmonious combination.

Maybe someday a Loki Max in black. I'm guessing it would be a great addition between the Freya N and JOT-A / MJ3. Mostly Audeze stuff needing the most EQ work and also they also play well with tweaking.

 

Mj3 is my first Schiit product since the new silver knob. Have to say I dislike it intensely, especially compared to the old shiny knob.

That said, I know Jason said the yield was low on the old knobs, so I expect that would likely increase cost (which I appreciate not having to pay for) but still not a fan of the new one at all. Just looks/feel cheap to me, while the rest of the product feels more premium (and even more so in silver I imagine).



Vs my Freya:

 

You can buy the silver one separately.

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

I too despise the grey knob.

 

Think that Schiit link is for 15mm knobs. MJ3 uses 30mm knobs. Forgot who but someone had good luck with these as replacements.

https://partsconnexion.com/collections/knobs/products/audio-note-knob-30mm-matt-black-for-6mm-shaft
https://partsconnexion.com/products/audio-note-knob-30mm-brushed-chrome-for-6mm-shaft

I also prefer the "lathed" silver knobs. The lathe knobs also differ between my older MJ2 (fine lathe turns) and Jot 2 (coarse turns)