The Mjolnir 2 thread

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

  1. Delayeed

    Delayeed Facebook Friend

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    Using Chord Mojo as DAC using SE in, also tried SE->Balanced cable adapter which sadly didn't change anything when A/B via the MJ2s input switch.
    As is, I find it unlistenable.

    The improvements with balanced out are clear in overall definition, seperation and such but I'd rather listen to compressed and smoother SE without fatigue tbh.
     
  2. a44100Hz

    a44100Hz Friend

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    Many people use the Mjo 2 with the balanced Gungnir Multibit or Yggdrasil so perhaps that's why there hasn't been much discussion on this. I will report back next week when I can use a Gungnir Multibit and balanced inputs to Mjo and let you know if that fixes the balanced out issue.
     
  3. Delayeed

    Delayeed Facebook Friend

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    Yeah, could be the case. That would be really appreciated, planning to make that upgrade too. Lets hope for the best.
     
  4. Darren G

    Darren G Friend

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    Ordered a Yggdrasil A2 to upgrade my Bifrost Multibit, and I am strongly leaning toward swapping my Lyr 2 for a Mojo 2. If anyone has upgraded Lyr 2 -> Mojo 2, your immediate and long term impressions appreciated. The Ragnorak is kind of interesting, but I'd likely miss the tube sound/option. Solid State amps have always left me feeling something is missing, electronic bland overload if you know what I mean, while the Lyr 2 has an organic liquid quality I enjoy over and over. Still, I am curious about the LISST option. For those who bought the LISST cans, do you continue to use them? or find yourself mostly going back to tubes?

    p.s. Headphones are HiFi Man Edition X V2 and HE-500s, most time spent listening through the former.
     
  5. money4me247

    money4me247 Friend

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    @Darren G, I did that upgrade path and I really like the Mojo! I am actually running it with LISST tubes now because I don't like the way the Utopia sounds with tubes. I had the old HE-1000 V1 and I really liked it with the Mojo+tubes.
     
  6. Darren G

    Darren G Friend

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    Thanks money4me,

    I read through messages on this site, and some other review sites. Looks like most Mojo2 owners find it to be a very good amp, not perfect, but enjoyable, so...

    I ended up ordering a Mojo2 with LISST, which is already on its way. The LISST option was only $60 more, and I already have tubes for the Lyr 2 I can use as well. Worst case I figure I won't use LISST, but no better way to find out how it sounds than to try it ;)
     
  7. Delayeed

    Delayeed Facebook Friend

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    I'm pretty sure I just figured out that the XLR out of the MJ2 isn't giving me any more fatigue than SE per say... I think I'm just hearing the Chord Mojo through more since it's more revealing.

    It's not the highs that bother me, it seems like it's the lower mids actually. I EQd ~250hz down by 2dB which helped quite a bit. The lower mids sounds kinda boxy and I didn't even realize it before.
     
  8. a44100Hz

    a44100Hz Friend

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    Follow-up: balanced in from Gungnir Multibit resolves the balanced out issue I was having while using single ended inputs. That said, the balanced out is still more fatiguing than the SE outs; someone else probably knows why this would be from a design standpoint. I actually prefer the SE outputs so far despite it being technically inferior, maybe there's some rolloff in the highs that I find soothing but it sounds more like the Valhalla 2 in terms of how buttery smooth it is. I'm not sure if the SE->SE issue was specific to the Bifrost Multibit, so perhaps sometime I'll grab my old AKM4396 DAC and give it a try, but not today.
     
    Last edited: May 11, 2017
  9. The Alchemist

    The Alchemist MOT: Schiit - Here to help!

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    Man I really want a Mjolnir 2 so badly!
     
  10. jexby

    jexby Posole Prince

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    look @The Alchemist we realize budgets can be tight for everyone who wants to impulse buy, we understand your personal health also.
    that being said: if your profile is up to date, you are wanting Mjolnir2 for HD800: save your $ and delay new gear lust.

    IME Mjolnir2 isn't the greatest pairing with HD800. tons of power and wider (not deeper) soundstage from mjolnir2 - don't mate with HD800 qualities, especially when HD800 already has that width. 800 needs not the massive power of Mjolnir2 either, being a hybrid amp the tubes don't make gigantasaurus humungous deltas in the presentation.

    either find a Black Widow used, or look for a full tube amp to pair with HD800 if that's your endgame headphone ok?
    Mjolnir2 is just a side step along that path, and a $ loss once you move beyond mjolnir2.
     
  11. The Alchemist

    The Alchemist MOT: Schiit - Here to help!

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    I love Schiit products though -but out of curiosity, how much do used Black Widows usually cost?
     
  12. jexby

    jexby Posole Prince

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    I love schiit products also - when they mate well with the headphone.
    used BW ($1200?) more than a new mjolnir2. recall what Marvey has said: consider the headphone and amp as a singular (well) matched functioning unit.

    loving vendor X model Y despite not matching well with can Z makes no sense.
    step back off the ledge.
     
  13. Changeling

    Changeling Tube Slut

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    I think you have a good point here but at the same time Mjolnir2 can be a quite good sounding side step, since the leap to a full tube amp a la EC or DNA will set you back significantly more than the cost of say a used Mjolnir2 and a good pair of tubes. But I guess it depends on where one is coming from ampwise and where one is going, and the planned timeframe for the journey.

    This is my long term strategy. I couldn't take the full step to EC or DNA immediately. I came from the HDVA600, I wanted to keep the HD800 yet have a decent amp with a taste of tubes while saving up for an endgame and potentially custom built amp in the price range of 3-5k, within 2 years including waiting time for new amp. Mjolnir2 has (and is) served that purpose well. Sometimes the cost of a side step is what makes the wait for nirvana worth while ;)

    The comment about HD800 soundstage width is very true and is remedied, at least to a good extent, by selecting a suitable tube and also with Waves NX.

    Having said all this, I still think your post is thoughtful. I know where I'm going and when so maybe it's different...
    @The Alchemist , think and breathe buddy :)
     
    Last edited: May 13, 2017
  14. Darren G

    Darren G Friend

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    The mojo2 arrives today. I've bought various solid-state amps but between my earliest tube gear (a Dynaco ST-70), and the Lyr 2, all of that gear has left me feeling that there was something missing, exception being the two amps with tubes. Maybe those add some distortion, or coloration, but I enjoyed listening through that old tube amp, and I enjoy listening through the Lyr. I've pursued accuracy, but what I realize now is what really matters to me is that I enjoy it.

    Live music is of course the best, and no gear fully reproduces that experience, but in between live events, keeping in mind I have a very science oriented mind, I am very aware of the placebo effect, there is just something about a tube in the circuit that I connect with. There is a liquidity, space, syrup, whatever you want to call it that sounds like music vs sounding like I am listening to gear that is trying to reproduce live music.
     
  15. The Alchemist

    The Alchemist MOT: Schiit - Here to help!

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    Have you changed your opinion on the Mjolnir 2 with the HD800? WHat about the MJO2 with LISST tubes?
     
  16. jexby

    jexby Posole Prince

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    yes, after hearing Black Widow and EC Super7 amps with HD800, they paired better than Mjolnir2.
    moved mojolnir2 to HE1Kv1 where the power and slam with planers was a win.
    eventually sold mjolnir2 to nab EC Uber7, and sold HD800 to go toward HE1Kv1 and Utopia.

    your move depends if you want mjolnir2 to go up a notch. or skip moving up 1 notch, and spend more to jump up 2 notches in quality.
     
  17. The Alchemist

    The Alchemist MOT: Schiit - Here to help!

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    I sincerely appreciate your advice, and it makes a lot of sense. My only issue is after my surgery, my doctor bills (besides my regular utility and mortgage bills are through the roof. I cannot even afford a MJO2 right now anyway. I am just looking for a great amp wit a balanced output that would pair nicely with the HD800 when and if I ever get enough money to buy an amp such as those.
     
  18. jexby

    jexby Posole Prince

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    understand, you are right to not over step your means. enjoy the path that is affordable and makes wallet and life sense.
     
  19. ButtUglyJeff

    ButtUglyJeff Stunningly beautiful IRL

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    I forget who here did it, but they found a Sonnet 2 for themselves, and they own an original Sonnet. Keep an eye out for that to show up used here. Both DNA Sonnets are shocking good with the HD800. I bet it'll be close to a new Mojo2 in price. But I'm just one voice in the crowd...lol

    edit - found the post http://www.superbestaudiofriends.or...udio-—-owners-thread.2586/page-10#post-138106

    edit 2 - sorry for going "Off Mojo2" here, its a great planar amp, but the DNA stuff is just so special with the HD800
     
  20. Delayeed

    Delayeed Facebook Friend

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    edit 2 - sorry for going "Off Mojo2" here, its a great planar amp, but the DNA stuff is just so special with the HD800[/QUOTE]

    That's actually great and useful, unlike many Head-Fi thread echo chambers lol.

    To update my impressions of the Mjolnir 2: With Philips E188CC SQ tubes running Mojo -> MJ2 XLR to Ether C, there is a certain warmth to the sound yet nice, nice amount of air.
    Very realistic and the sound is smooth and flows yet with crazy dynamics and speed. Not a huge difference compared to cheap russian tubes at first listen but it just gets it to a level where things start to sound real with more easily identifiable surfaces and textures of instruments. The is some depth now which I didn't expect the Mjolnir 2 was capable of which improves seperation quite a bit.

    There is still something that bothers me a bit about the sound but I can't pin point it. Some songs it seems like it's the Ether Cs 10kHz peak, on other songs it seems like it's the Mjolnir 2s "hard" treble which isn't quite the right term but anyway... Hoping a Gungnir Multibit will bring this annoyance down. Pretty much the same story with the HD600s but I'm very treble sensitive so YMMW

    Still overall there's been few "whoah" moments on nicely recorded / produced material and it's certainly very, very capable amp.
     

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