The Mjolnir 2 thread

Discussion in 'Headphone Amplifiers and Combo (DAC/Amp) Units' started by maxedfx, Oct 11, 2015.

  1. Garns

    Garns Friend

    Pyrate
    Joined:
    Jul 9, 2016
    Likes Received:
    2,483
    Trophy Points:
    93
    Location:
    Sydney, AUS
    My take when I was trying out tubes in the MJ2: the WE396s are warm and bloomy in the bass, a bit rolled up top, a bit slow, not the clearest, but with great macro and microdynamics, plenty of colour/wetness in the mids and a somewhat deep soundstage. They aren't the be all and end all but they are good. Personally I dislike prominent bass (particularly since the MJ2 tends that way anyway) and so preferred Siemens E88CC which are not stupidly expensive on ebay, but are faster and clearer, and more neutral in the bass while still retaining some tubey wetness in the mids (tastefully done, not to excess). Headstage not as good though.

    YMMV of course. There are plenty of good, detailed impressions earlier in the thread depending on what you are after. 6922 family prices are not very sane unfortunately.
     
  2. famish99

    famish99 Friend

    Pyrate
    Joined:
    Dec 26, 2017
    Likes Received:
    1,714
    Trophy Points:
    93
    Location:
    Austin, TX
    How much better are the macro/microdynamics (particularly micro) over the Siemens E88CC? I really enjoy my pair of A-frames, but the amount of flowery prose written about the WE396a always has me curious if it's worth the splurge.
     
  3. Garns

    Garns Friend

    Pyrate
    Joined:
    Jul 9, 2016
    Likes Received:
    2,483
    Trophy Points:
    93
    Location:
    Sydney, AUS
    This was a while ago now but I think microdynamics are similar. For macrodynamics - I always found the MJ2 a bit aggressive and compressed which seemed to level different tubes out a lot in this regard. The main difference is in the soundstage (deeper and less up front) and the bass (slower and a bit bloomy).
     
  4. Eric

    Eric New

    Joined:
    Nov 2, 2017
    Likes Received:
    1
    Trophy Points:
    3
    Location:
    South Florida
    I had purchased this amp as my first "real" amp and let me tell you... I do miss it since I've sold it. The only reason I haven't purchased another one is that I am secretly hoping they will release a MJ3.
     
  5. kirayamato

    kirayamato Friend

    Pyrate
    Joined:
    Oct 18, 2015
    Likes Received:
    91
    Trophy Points:
    28
  6. jexby

    jexby Posole Prince

    Staff Member Pyrate Contributor
    Joined:
    Sep 28, 2015
    Likes Received:
    8,145
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Location:
    Exit stage left....
    yup that is the one.
    also works in a Vali 2 FWIW.
     
  7. kirayamato

    kirayamato Friend

    Pyrate
    Joined:
    Oct 18, 2015
    Likes Received:
    91
    Trophy Points:
    28
  8. Elnrik

    Elnrik Super Friendly

    Pyrate
    Joined:
    Jan 10, 2017
    Likes Received:
    8,973
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Location:
    Denver CO
    Home Page:
  9. kirayamato

    kirayamato Friend

    Pyrate
    Joined:
    Oct 18, 2015
    Likes Received:
    91
    Trophy Points:
    28
    @Elnrik the last one correct? ya that ones seems like it could work and looks a bit better actually
     
  10. kirayamato

    kirayamato Friend

    Pyrate
    Joined:
    Oct 18, 2015
    Likes Received:
    91
    Trophy Points:
    28
  11. Elnrik

    Elnrik Super Friendly

    Pyrate
    Joined:
    Jan 10, 2017
    Likes Received:
    8,973
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Location:
    Denver CO
    Home Page:
    Well, it was worth a shot.
     
  12. StandUp713

    StandUp713 Friend

    Pyrate
    Joined:
    Mar 24, 2016
    Likes Received:
    247
    Trophy Points:
    43
    Location:
    San Pedro CA
    Dropped into the Schiitr this past Saturday to fiddle and listen to some gear. Walked out with a Mjolnir 2. https://imgur.com/a/hu4L6Zn

    It took a few days to burn in, but the sound cleared up and the lower end came in.
    I can here more detail in my JBL 305s/310s.
    Look forward to start rolling.
     
  13. nachocheese70

    nachocheese70 Facebook Friend

    Contributor
    Joined:
    May 10, 2017
    Likes Received:
    112
    Trophy Points:
    43
    Location:
    US and China
    I suggest looking into 5670/396A tubes. There are some reasonable priced GE tubes available. You just need an adapter.
     
  14. StandUp713

    StandUp713 Friend

    Pyrate
    Joined:
    Mar 24, 2016
    Likes Received:
    247
    Trophy Points:
    43
    Location:
    San Pedro CA
    Thanks for the recommendation. I will also try out the LISST for reasons n stuff.
     
  15. BillOhio

    BillOhio Friend

    Pyrate
    Joined:
    Mar 3, 2017
    Likes Received:
    2,395
    Trophy Points:
    93
    Location:
    Glendale CA
    Home Page:
    I have WE396a's and adapters down here in Glendale if you want to try those. The Mjolnir 2 isn't known for being all that affected by changing tubes and I wouldn't go to crazy spending cash on rolling. I have a warmed up Gungnir Multibit also if you wanted to try that pairing, unless you already have.
     
  16. StandUp713

    StandUp713 Friend

    Pyrate
    Joined:
    Mar 24, 2016
    Likes Received:
    247
    Trophy Points:
    43
    Location:
    San Pedro CA
    I might take you up on the WE396's, also have a Gungnir Multibit on the way.

    How long do I need to leave that on to burn in/warm up? Thanks
     
  17. BillOhio

    BillOhio Friend

    Pyrate
    Joined:
    Mar 3, 2017
    Likes Received:
    2,395
    Trophy Points:
    93
    Location:
    Glendale CA
    Home Page:
    Gungnir Multibit? 2 days. And then leave it on forever
     
  18. nachocheese70

    nachocheese70 Facebook Friend

    Contributor
    Joined:
    May 10, 2017
    Likes Received:
    112
    Trophy Points:
    43
    Location:
    US and China
    I’m sure you’ll want to hear the new Gungnir Multibit ASAP, so I’d say you can start playing and listening maybe 3-4 hours. I’ve found on my Gungnir Multibit you can get close to 90-95% with just that. 8-12 hours gets you really really close.

    And like @BillOhio said just leave it on forever.
     
  19. StandUp713

    StandUp713 Friend

    Pyrate
    Joined:
    Mar 24, 2016
    Likes Received:
    247
    Trophy Points:
    43
    Location:
    San Pedro CA
    Got both the Gungnir Multibit and Mjolnir 2 up and running. Ran them for 3 days strait on stock tubes. They sound great with headphones, and made my JBL 305's brighter with more detail. I did buy the LISST tubes... do they need burn in time also?
     
  20. Diesel Mat

    Diesel Mat New

    Joined:
    Oct 4, 2017
    Likes Received:
    3
    Trophy Points:
    3
    Location:
    Singapore
    Curious to know if anyone here had tried connecting the Mjolnir 2 to a speaker amp. Ive seen some folks use the Mjolnir 2 with their active speakers.
     

Share This Page