Schiit Mjolnir 3 Impressions

Like blow up their Yggdrasil. I recall Jason stated something to the effect that's why such a thing isn't a thing.

 

The Gungnir was a helluva DAC at its price point. It's a shame that Schiit can no longer offer something between the Yggdrasil and Bifrost.

 

The left half of the amp barely gets warm. It's only the heatsinks on the right that get hot enough to warrant caution.

 

Haha, undoubtedly MJ3 gets really hot during extended burn-in sessions. BTW, so far I find Senn. HD800S, AKG 612 Pro, Audio-technica ATH-R70x, and Beyer. DT-880 Premium (600 ohm) all sound great on MJ3. What I didn't like was Focal Clear OG and Senn. HD650. I think I just don't like those headphones in general so time to sell.

 

Lol you're acting like were not even in the middle of the process. We are and we are just sharing whats happening is all. This process takes time.

 

For context, @keenerz is one of the people reporting an MJ3 issue on Head-fi and there is a post from them stating they did contact Schiit one day after they found the issue (and reported their problem on Head-fi.) While @purr1n is certainly describing a thing that happens on the interwebs (bitching instead of acting), my personal hot take is it doesn't apply in this particular situation. People love this amp and are just talking it through.

 

I don't have the patience for Head-fi either. Overall, I was just glad to see people received MJ3 well. Between the noise, pretty uniform positive remarks. But I do agree, (not to derail this thread anymore than I have, I will stahp here) but some of the HF noise is destructive, I can attest, based on a friend who was searching for meaning in life and fell into the Summit-Fi vortex and $20k later found himself very far from the shores of sanity and satisfaction.

 

Story time, pls! But seriously, this could be a good addition in the "bad decisions" thread that I can't seem to find right now mostly 'cause i suck at the internet.

 

@yotacowboy I think you're looking for here

 

This hobby can be an addiction. I know I struggle with controlling the impulse to acquire more when a new piece of kit reveals a little more music, or makes the music a little sweeter.

The expense and inconvenience are the adversities that make us feel like we're engaged in a heroic endeavor. It's more of a geas, really. And the grifters...

 

People think it will make them happy. At first it does, then nervosa takes hold and smothers it like a blanket. Instead of realizing what's happening, they chase the next "toy" and the cycle repeats. At the end of the day only YOU can make you happy, not toys.

I say this as someone who struggles with it myself.

 

Ok, so MJ3 didn't transform Caldera for me. Still prefer Atrium and Verite Open, even if technically less impressive. Just more cohesive, weighty and satisfying.

That being said, hot damn Verite Open with Be2 pads is an excellent pairing with MJ3. Prefer it over Atrium Open on this amp. It almost completely removes the mids dip. So fast and very satisfying impact.

 

I think some people respond to their anxiety about the complexity and chaos of the modern external world by creating simpler, more solvable problems in their own individual lives just so they can solve them (case in point: creating the "problem" of finding the perfect sound, or the ideal audio chain). This becomes the "heroic endeavor," and success produces a rush of satisfaction because it convinces the person that they can, in fact, succeed in their struggle for survival in the face of the complexities of this world.

To such a person's dismay, it turns out there are way more variables to solving this "problem" than he first thinks (i.e. it's far from just best dac + best amp + best headphones = best chain). Faced with this reality, he spends more and more money, and more and more time, and relocates more and more mental furniture in his attempt to solve the problem. Hopefully in the process he doesn't spend money that is needed for essentials, or relocate mental furniture that is needed for maintaining relationships.

At the other extreme you have a person who convinces himself that the problem of attaining perfect sound is actually rather simple. Just measure distortion, etc. etc., and throw out everything that doesn't measure up. No real need to listen to anything. Then add all the pieces together. Simple! Problem solved. See, the game of life is win-able.

Perhaps ignorance actually is bliss.

 

This analogy may mean nothing to many, but I like to analogize of headphone systems to music venues: Caldera/Atrium ~ SFJAZZ Miner auditorium/Village Vanguard. Not just the sound, the whole experience.

 

Then there's the level of pseudo-acceptance where you're not even sure if you can hear a difference anymore, but tweaking itself becomes the "fun" part.

edit: sounds like I'm talking about meth... eh, the analogy stands.

 

Maybe sometimes chasing down that next mythical beast is the adventure. Maybe we shouldn’t judge too much about people filling their voids if their actions don’t cause dissonance (no pun) or consume them.

Maybe this hobby is just something for me to do and feel connected to the folks here who have interesting views on music, gear, and other stuff.

Back to the program…. Yeah I don’t really need a MJ3. I still want to try it.

 

I gave my coworker that has been eyeing it $50 bucks to push him over the edge to buy on the condition I get to take it home for a weekend. Completely fair deal, since if he returns it his restock is effectively half because I gave him the $50, or he keeps and got a 4% discount. Cheaper for me also buying black chassis and returning, because I want to hear it before the first run is finished but I would only keep if they did silver. Timing on waiting months for a loaner doesn't seem favorable.

So I'll have some impressions.

 

To be clear, that post wasn't about those people. Those people probably understand the following:



Also, it's not so much judging, but allowing people to see what they may not be able to admit (the ones in question). No change without admitting there's a problem to begin with.

Or they can remain the way they are, and keeping chasing rainbows. Like Tyler said... "do what you like man."