Schiit Mjolnir 3 Impressions

Couple of points I’d like to make:

1. We know Holo makes products that measure well, and there should be kudos for that. However I think it’s short shrifting Holo to put Bliss anywhere near the phrase "Chinese measurement-first’ gear which hugely implies Topping, SMSL, or the other brands that ASR markets for. Holo is nothing like that crap. I see Holo foremost as a company that makes stuff that sounds good first but happens to measure well.
2. Good/decent sound amps can measure well and don’t necessarily have a similar sound, People forget that the Magni 3+ measures well, and the ancient Magni 2 Uber even better! (116db SINAD). Yet the Magni sound as different from the HPA4, THX 789, Atom, etc.
3. I think you are short shrifting this community by doubting the Bliss gets much love in this forum (unless you think it sounds flat and boring). From all descriptions, the Bliss doesn’t sound anywhere as lean, flat, and boring as the Benchmark stuff (which nobody seems to really like or if they did, they’ve sold it off already). In fact, from all descriptions, the Holo sounds like it could be similar to this;

https://nitschsound.com/products/dsha-3fn

So I really wouldn’t make any assumptions about what the forum would love or not. As a member, it’s your responsibility, your duty, to bring to the attention of this forum stuff you feel is worthy. If @MisterRogers had not pushed the DSHA 3F on me, many in SBAF and out of SBAF would have totally missed out. The point is, I not sure is there is a certain forum sound. The 3F and MJ3 sound different and I happen to love them both for what they do well.

@CEE TEE: whoa, is this really sold out?

 

That scale looks right, Although half the time in seconds for me personally. I failed the final Kwai Chiang Caine test to become a Shaolin monk. Damn that show was great, but it would be totally cancelled today. I felt the show honored East Asians (specifically aspects of classical non communist Chinese culture) even though half of the shit that Master Po said was made up. The writers did their research and didn’t conflate Japanese and Chinese, e.g. Trader Ming’s Teriyaki Chicken.

 

With respect to oomph for me, it doesn't make a huge difference because I like @Erroneous and few others remain in team dynamic. Heck, even the sole high-end planar I own, the Caldera, is arguably more dynamic than planar. I wanted to establish that is is a non-issue for me. However, I do feel the Mjolnir 3 starts to sound more effortless than the 3F as the headphones get less efficient and SPL cranked up.

Of the two amps, the Mjolnir 3 is more colored. Both amps are excellent with regards to sins of omission. With respect to micro and macro dynamics, the 3F is a bit more controlled, the MJ3 more reactive. I think this is why the 3F works so well with the Focals (Elex, Clear, Utropia). The Focals can be a bit overly dynamic and jittery like they are on caffeine. The 3F's dignified dynamics combined with the its crisp transient response enhances the Focal headphones strengths. The MJ3 is on the opposite end when it comes to these attributes. The MJ3 is more willing to let go with respect to dynamics, but the transient ends are more rounded.

Tonally there a not insignificant differences. The MJ3 sounds like what we would expect from a solid-state Folkvangr. We get the sense that the innards and approach are the same, but the tubes replaced with solid-state parts. Like somebody replaced a Corvette's OHV motor with a DOHC. The MJ3 is definitely less phat, less rolled, less slammin', it's now a high-revving mean machine, but the gist of those classic Folkvangr qualities remain**. Translated, I can take an HD800 or GS3000 from the Folkvangr with almost any source. On the Mjolnir 3, I would be a lot more careful about DAC matching with these headphones. The 3F on the other hand is neutral - in the overall universe of amps I have listened to. I prefer to match the 3F with a warm/dark DAC always.

I emphasize again that the 3F is neutral. Not neutral/bright. Not neutral/etched. Not neutral/dark. Not neutral/upper mid-forward. Not neutral/punchy. Not neutral/warm. Not neutral/tizzy. Just flat out neutral. Well OK, maybe neutral/airy. This airy aspect is another one of those really works with the Focals. (Noting that some people dislike the Focal metal timbre and that the 3F will do nothing to alleviate that.) The 3F was designed with the Focals in mind. This was made clear enough by the designer.* That the 3F works with other headphones should not be surprising. I felt the 3F worked wonderfully for Grados (whether one preferred the more neutral F sounding pads or classic L cush pads). The Grados are a headphone that I rarely like with an amp because amps just get in the way. Not so with the 3F. Like with the Focals, the 3F enhances what the Grados do well.

@atomicbob has taken quote a bit measurements of the 3F. Time permitting, I will take some Mjolnir 3 measurements to compare.

*The F was for Focal. This wasn't something opportunistically marketed by retailers at the later date, e.g Bliss was made for Susvara, Envy was made for Susvara, etc. (there are sources on the Internet that I trust more than HF, and the some felt the Bliss/Susvara combination was lacking).

**I can't tell you how many times I accidentally type in Folkvangr in place of Mjolnir 3.

 

What I am trying to say is to stop apologizing. You've been here long enough that you don't have to walk on eggshells. I know some individuals have shit on you, but next time that happens, just take off your pants and shit in that Porker's face. 99% of the people were would have approved had you done that last time.

Look, I love a lot of weird stuff myself. I mean who the f**k likes high-end Grados in 2023, and I still use the RS1X* with basically degraded pads. And ZMF, of which I think I have most of their TOTL cans, has been the poster boy by its critics for overpriced excess. Do I give a shit? Nope? However, am I always going to be honest in helpful people figure out if this is something they would like? Absolutely!

I still think you are pigeonholing or stereotyping the sound of Chinese products. Even within the sphere of the 125db SINAD amps, the L30 sounds totally different from the 789 from the Heretic/Atom (USA high SINAD amps). The new high-end TI chip (forgot its branding) sounds totally different from those as well. The universe of Chinese sound is extremely broad. It's just that ASR has popularized the ones where Amir had a financial interest in via his Pink Panther poses and Excel bar graphs. Going back not too many years, the Chinese sound could even said to be one which was diametrically opposed to the "ASR sound". Next time you say it sounds like it belongs in the the school of Topping/SMSL, I am going to ask you directly, which model exactly.

*Along with the horribad OMG this is a POS reactions in the loaner.
**And BTW, I do like the Drop implementation THX789 and have recommended this over the Jot many times over to people who I felt would be better served by it. It really goes on a individual basis.

 

The custom 4-45 I have stays. The Studio B may be going. The MJ3 doesn't have exactly the same kind of sound as the Studio B, but close enough. It checks the boxes for emotional involvement. I don't need that many tubes amps and they are starting to be a pain. Wife and I drove up to visit our daughter in Uni yesterday. Look at my new transportable rig at the hotel. I'd still take Stellaris. Heck Folkvangr on the side too. Just don't have enough room. Add @CEE TEE's Moth 2A3.


My new transportable rig while I am travelling away from home.

I'd say the MJ3 is less afraid of getting its hands dirty compared to the BW2. The BW2 has more of a elegance about it. BW2 is more EC tube-like-wet with EC organic lows (think Balancing Act). Think Luxman. BW2 is basically a Luxman headamp with better technicalities. BW2 tonality is organic with smooth mids and a bit of that EC incisiveness in the highs. The tone and timbre of the Mjolnir 3 is very consistently even from lows to highs, but overall grittier and dirtier than the EC. Also, less sins of omission from the MJ3 (it's letting more the essence of the musical come through) whereas BW hides some things.

Think BW2 as the special cask Still Austin bourbon (or other smooth bourbon) and Mjolnir 3 as the special cask Garrison Bros bourbon (rougher). https://www.superbestaudiofriends.o...-and-other-drink-and-hot-avocado-sauce.13686/