The Mjolnir 2 thread

I have a pair of HD800S being driven by a $250 Asgard 2 and they sound terrific. I also have a Mapletree Ear+ HD SET tube amp with auricaps and blackgate capacitor upgrades which is about the same price as the MJO2 and I actually prefer the Asgard 2 over the Mapletree overall with the HD800S. Yes the Asgard 2 is flatter sounding when it comes to soundstage but ironically while the Mapletree has more stage depth, the Asgard 2 still sounds more open due to better delineation of ambient cues. With the Asgard 2 it is like being closer to the musicians but you can still hear the hall they are in dimensionally. The Maple tree with more depth has the draw back of making the stage seem more narrow and less open. On certain recordings the Asgard 2's soundstage sounds huge so I think the recording has as much to do with it as anything. I have compared the Asgard 2 with higher end amps and I am aware of short comings but they are not major. After you listen to the Asgard 2 again for a while you forget about that and realize that it has good merits and start loving the music again.

I say all that to say this. The MJO2 should sound significantly better than the Asgard 2 especially balanced. I do plan on upgrading eventually but if I needed to stay with the Asgard 2 I would still be very happy and loving my HD800S. So if you can afford the MJO2 you are very fortunate and you will be blessed to have it IMHO. It should not only make the HD800 sound great but any other headphones you add later due to its power and versatility. And it is tweakable with different tubes. Yes if you pay more money you can get something better perhaps. However that will vary from person to person as personal taste is a huge factor. So if you want the MJO2 then get it. You may love it. If not send it back to Schiit within 15 days.

 

Thank you @SnowPuppy

Right now I am running JRiver 22 (Soon to be 23) -> Schiit Wyrd ->Schiit Bifrost MB->Schiit Lyr 2 (LISST Tubes)->HD800 (Z28 Mod) / HD700 / HD650

Cant you tell I love @schiit ? I would just love to own a MJO 2 - at least a loaner to check it out.

 

I also have a Bifrost Multibit and love it. I am thinking about getting a Gungnir Multibit and a MJO2. If so my Bifrost Multibit and Asgard 2 would be part of a second system in a nook in our living room or perhaps at work. Even if I get a Gungnir Multibit I still plan on continuing to upgrade the Bifrost Multibit with Mike Moffet's latest. My vintage RS1s were retired until I got the Bifrost Multibit and Asgard. They made my RS1s sound sublime with small ensemble acoustic strings. Still listen to the HD800S 90% of the time though.

I have JRiver 22 but do not feed the Bifrost Multibit with it as my Bifrost Multibit does not have USB which I will remedy next time I send it to Schiit for an upgrade. I go from the coax out on my FiiO X5 into the Bifrost Multibit. Really sounds good that way. I also have fat Shunyata power cables going into my Bifrost Multibit and Asgard 2. I got a PS Audio Dectet for power conditioning when it was on sale for $300. That was a nice improvement in sound with better dynamics, quieter background, and a more open sound. Not a huge difference but noticeable right away and well worth it to me.

 

@SnowPuppy - I had the original Bifrost and ordered the USB upgrade and I have to tell you, that getting the USB upgrade made a HUGE difference. IMO USB is the way to go with Schiit DACs. I also have my DAC and AMp connected to an Emotiva CMX-2 Precision AC Line Restoration & Common Mode Filter System, it really quiets down my system.

 

Appreciate the recommendation. I think my Dad would be interested in that for his headphone system as he has nothing. He does not want to get a PS Audio dectet due to the price and not needing 10 outlets just 2.

 

I ended up installing the USB upgrade to the Bifrost myself, it is relatively easy if you know about electronics.

 

First round of listening ... I moved my Telefunken Black Diamond 6922's from the Lyr 2 to Mojo 2, still fed off the Bifrost Multibit, HifIMan X V2, Single Ended (waiting on a balanced cable). This is the smallest change I could make for now, effectively swapping the Lyr 2 for the Mojo 2, no other changes. Note that the Telefunken tubes are modern tubes (made by JJ), relatively inexpensive, neutral, even somewhat clinical, but they paired well with the Lyr 2, an amp that is somewhat on the soft side.

Anyway first impressions are that the Mojo 2 is a brighter sounding amp, more clinical than the Lyr 2, but also clearer. I'll definitely be on the search for some more romantic tubes, and I still have the LISST cans to be tested (but another day). Today though I've left everything as is, but swapped in the HifIMan HE-500's, balanced cable. Again the same impression, this is a brighter clearer amp, but still there a plenty of magic, ambience.

More impressions to come as I swap tubes and the LISST in over time.

 

Mike Moffat has said that SPDIF is better than USB on the Schiit DACs and AES/EBU is best on the Yggdrasil. I have a Modi Multibit and an Yggdrasil and I can say that based on what I hear, SPDIF (from a Singxer F-1) is better than straight USB on both of those Schiit DACs. I find the clarity and detail to be better and the noise floor is lower. There is less of a difference with Yggdrasil, but the difference is there. Have you tried SPDIF coax on your Schiit DAC?

For power filtering, I went with a Topaz Isolation Transformer and that made a huge difference in sound quality. That acts as a noise suppressor and surge protector. I suspect my AC mains have a lot of noise in them as I live in a agricultural area far away from the power source. Not to mention all the crap I have plugged into receptacles using SMPS's.

The Mjolnir 2 is a nice step up from the Lyr 2. I don't think it is brighter than the Lyr 2. I think there is more detail and less harshness up top. The bass is more powerful too but with more clarity. I am using tubes that are not considered warm in any way. Oh, I think the MJ2 is more sensitive to tube changes than the Lyr 2 as we. My HD 650 headphones sound noticeably better on the MJ2.

 

Hey winders,

That was my immediate impression, but it may not be brighter, the more I listen the more aware I am of high end detail that the Lyr 2 softened up or hid. Does it sound musical? Yes. The treble though is definitely more there though, for me. I use to think of the HE-500 as being a dark headphone. That darkness is mostly gone with the Mojo2.

I have a Yggdrasil on order, and a Toslink/SPDIF cable that I've not used yet. I think I'll switch the Bifrost Multibit to that cable before the Yggdrasil arrives; still using USB. That way I'll have some time to compare Bifrost Multibit USB vs SPDIF, and when the Yggdrasil arrives, to compare again.

 

My Dad was using a iPod with a Wadia transport that was feeding his Bryston DAC. When we compared this to the FiiO X5 coax out it was obvious that the X5 coax out was significantly better. When we compared the X5 coax out to his new Cambridge Audio dedicated CD transport they seemed to sound the same. We are thinking that the Cambridge transport may sound a little better but not sure. Never tried USB but have always read that properly implemented coax is better.

 

Yes I used to use SPDIF on my Schiit Dacs, but upgraded to USB. I am not one to argue with Mr. Moffat, however in my case with SPDIF only gave me 96kHz of sample rate while USB gives me 192kHz. I am also using Schiit Wyrd, maybe that is why I do not hear any audible noise floor.

One might wonder why one would need 192kHz sample rate, well I record my music in the highest sample rates I can, most artists and recording engineers do, of course you will down-sample the final recording to fit on CD or whatever medium used, but you can always down-sample, you can't up-sample, so it is best for recording engineers to record at the highest bit depth and sample rate as possible.

If you are listening to retail music sampled at 16/44.1 or higher rez retail audio files at 24/96 then SPDIF might be better, I can't honestly say for sure, but when it comes to recording, I personally like to record at the highest bit depth and sample rates as possible.

 

I hate to be that guy, but USB is probably the worst option. Clean relatively jitter-free S/PDIF (never S/PDIF direct from the computer) is the way to go with the Bifrost Multibit, by a country mile. Clock quality is super-important for S/PDIF, though- direct from the computer will have periodic jitter (phase noise).

There are affordable ways to get this- either a good Raspberry Pi endpoint, or a box like the Breeze U8 ($99) which stood up pretty well to being prodded and poked by @atomicbob.

(The Modi Multibit also benefits from this sort of setup, BTW, in case anyone wonders.)

Anyway, that's a sidetrack from discussion of the Mjolnir 2, sorry

 

Thanks for the reply @Kattefjaes I willl keep that in mind.

 

When I said SPDIF, I didn't mean TOSLINK. I meant SPDIF over coax (RCA or BNC). SPDIF over coax supports the same sample rates as USB on Schiit DACs.

I would not use optical because of limited sample rate issues and increased jitter.

 

Yeah, if your source isn't too electrically noisy, coax is better than optical, generally.

 

Don't forget cables. If you don't have $1000 cables, you are not spending as much as possible on equipment!

Can you post a link to the Breeze U8? Are you referring to the this one? If so, which version is recommended? So the idea is to go USB from computer to the breeze, then optical or coax into the Modi Multibit/Bifrost Multibit? How does the computer to a Wyrd, a USB Regen, or other decrapifier?

To change topics back to the Mj2 (I don't like calling it a Mojo, as I confuse that with the Chord). I've been using my Mj2 as a preamp to the Koss ESP/950 (vesper pads) and comparing with the my Utopia, balanced out out of the Mk2. Man, the Koss is really good for classical, symphony style music. So clear and detailed. main instrument separation. The Utopia is certainly better for rock. I really like getting a "free" tube preamp with the Mj2.

 

Understood. Something to try another weekend. Just need to order, and install in the computer. TOSLINK is something else to break anyway, but I guess it was popular because of the potential for long cable runs that don't pick up electrical noise; maybe. For whatever reason it has become semi-ubiquitous.

I do want to do some SE output vs balanced out testing next week as well. So far though I don't think the SE suffers much despite the summing circuit. A nice option to have if nothing else.

 

Yes, that's the one. There are lots of things like that- some cost a lot more, and are better- but that one is pretty killer bang for buck- especially helpful for inexpensive DACs like the Modi Multibit/Bifrost Multibit that PLL onto the S/PDIF. High rollers with Yggdrasil should probably use something more fancy.

It's different from something like a Wyrd in that it takes the asynchronous USB signal, clocks it relatively accurately, and then sends it out as reasonably clean S/PDIF and AES. That totally gets you away from USB at the first hop, avoiding using the USB receiver inside the DAC (which tend to cause other problems themselves, even if fed a "decrapified" USB connection).

Enough threadjacking though, sorry for derailing the Mjo talk!

 

Erm, you're not making a whole lot of sense. I never said it did. The Wyrd is just a way of cleaning the USB VBUS.