Schiit Audio Mjolnir
The Mjolnir 3 delivers smooth, high-resolution detail with the visceral authority of a true Class A design. Currawong found its microdetail natural rather than etched, while Passion for Sound praised its weighty, controlled bass, spacious imaging and transparent, true-to-source balance. Its potent balanced drive makes low-impedance headphones especially engaging.
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Nicely Roasted
Sound Quality
89/100
Build Quality
85/100
Features Usability
88/100
Value for Money
96/100
Pros
Exceptional resolution and microdetail, presented smoothly and naturally rather than sharply.
Punchy, controlled bass and lively dynamics give music real impact and authority.
Strong spatial performance with convincing depth, layering, separation and holographic imaging.
Particularly excellent with easier-to-drive, low-impedance headphones through its balanced output.
Cons
Runs very hot and requires generous ventilation; it is unsuitable for a tight rack or enclosed space.
The single-ended headphone output is less detailed, clear and forceful than the balanced connection.
Performance is less compelling with higher-impedance or exceptionally demanding headphones than with low-impedance loads.
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What Reviewers Are Saying
SOUND QUALITY PERFORMANCE 89/100
Reviewers describe a clean, highly resolving and notably lively amplifier with a neutral-to-slightly-present sound, strong bass control, and convincing spatial depth. Its best performance is consistently reported through the balanced output, while the single-ended headphone output is considered less clear, detailed and forceful by one reviewer.
Transparency Resolution
92/100
Currawong heard unusually high microdetail presented smoothly and naturally rather than with an etched or over-focused quality. Passion for Sound also calls it transparent and true to source, though notes a very slight amount of treble grain.
Tonal Balance Musicality
91/100
The presentation is widely described as neutral, natural and enjoyable, with particularly convincing instruments, vocals and midrange balance. Reviews By WaveTheory hears a mild upper-mid presence lift, but finds it helpful for clarity rather than an objectionable coloration.
Dynamics
93/100
Reviewers repeatedly praise its punch, energy, authority and snappy transient attack. Bass is said to have substantial weight, control and impact, especially through the balanced connection and with low-impedance headphones.
Noise Floor
80/100
The supplied reviews do not directly discuss hiss, hum or performance with highly sensitive IEMs. They do describe the sound as clean, but provide little specific evidence about background silence across sensitive loads.
Headphone Compatibility
88/100
Drive is described as unquestionably excellent, with especially robust, controlled performance on easier-to-drive low-impedance headphones. The balanced headphone output is strongly preferred by Reviews By WaveTheory, while the amplifier is said to move from very good to excellent depending on the headphone load.
Assessments of Build Quality, Usability, and Overall Propositions.
Build Quality
85/100
Reviews By WaveTheory calls the build solid, and the supplied specifications describe a substantial dual-mono discrete design. Currawong cautions that the heatsinks become very hot, so it needs generous ventilation rather than enclosed-rack placement.
Features Usability
88/100
The Mjolnir 3 provides both XLR and RCA inputs, balanced and single-ended headphone outputs, selectable gain, and switchable balanced and single-ended preamp outputs. The preamp facility is especially useful for integrating active speakers or a power amplifier, although it remains an analog amplifier without DAC, streaming or remote-control functionality.
Value for Money
96/100
At approximately $1,200-$1,300, reviewers consider it unusually strong value against substantially pricier amplification. Currawong calls it a screaming bargain relative to amplifiers costing $3,000-$4,000 or more, while Passion for Sound describes its performance at the price as ridiculous and close to three times its value.
Reviews & Sources
Professional reviews and sources for this product's Watt'n Potatoes analysis.
Online Reviews & Mentions
YouTube Reviews
Forum Mentions
No forum mentions found yet
Specifications
- Frequency Response
- 20Hz-20Khz, +/-0.01db, 2Hz-700KHz, -3dB
- Balanced Headphone Output Maximum Power
- 32 ohms: 2W RMS per channel 300 ohms: 1W RMS per channel
- Balanced Headphone Output THD
- <0.015%, 20Hz-20KHz, at 4V RMS, 300 ohms
- Balanced Headphone Output IMD
- <0.02%, CCIF, at 4V RMS, 300 ohms
- Balanced Headphone Output THD 32 ohms
- <0.05% 20-20kHz at 1V RMS, 32 ohms
- Balanced Headphone Output IMD 32 ohms
- <0.06%, CCIF, at 1V RMS, 32 ohms
- Balanced Headphone Output SNR
- >110db, A weighted, referenced to 4V RMS
- Balanced Headphone Output Crosstalk
- >-90dB, 20Hz-20kHz
- Balanced Headphone Output Impedance
- Less than 0.25 ohms
- Single-Ended Headphone Output Maximum Power
- 32 ohms: 1W RMS per channel 300 ohms: 500mW RMS per channel
- Single-Ended Headphone Output THD
- <0.025%, 20Hz-20KHz, at 2V RMS, 300 ohms
- Single-Ended Headphone Output IMD
- <0.03%, CCIF, at 4V RMS, 300 ohms
- Single-Ended Headphone Output THD 32 ohms
- <0.1% 20-20kHz at 1V RMS, 32 ohms
- Single-Ended Headphone Output IMD 32 ohms
- <0.15%, CCIF, at 2V RMS, 32 ohms
- Single-Ended Headphone Output SNR
- >98db, A weighted, referenced to 2V RMS
- Single-Ended Headphone Output Crosstalk
- >-85dB, 20 Hz-20KHz, 300 ohms
- Single-Ended Headphone Output Impedance
- Less than 0.13 ohms
- Input Impedance
- 50K ohms
- Gain (balanced input)
- 2 (6dB) or 8 (18dB)
- Gain (SE input)
- 1 (0dB) or 4 (12dB)
- Inputs
- Balanced XLR and Single-Ended RCA, relay switched
- Outputs
- Balanced headphone (4-pin XLR), single-ended headphone (1/4” TRS), switchable balanced and single-ended line preamp
- Gain Stage
- Equipoise™ fully discrete, high voltage, differential zero feedback single-ended or push-pull class A, DC in and out; selectable feedback and gain independent from feedback; 16 10A bipolar NPN output devices per channel
- Power Supply
- Full dual mono, choke input, 2 48VA transformers and 2 chokes, separate 100V front end rail for each channel, 100% discrete regulation with over 20,000uF filter capacitance per channel.
- Power Consumption
- 50W typical
- Size
- 16” x 8” x 2”
- Weight
- 16 lbs
- APx555 Report for Mjolnir 3
- Available for Download
Manufacturer's Description — Schiit Audio
Tired of compromise? Kinda crazy when it comes to sound? Then maybe you’re in the mood for Mjolnir 3, a real-deal, 100% Class-A, no-feedback, dual-mono, choke-input, fully-discrete, balanced-differential headphone amp and preamp. It’s by far the most extreme desktop product we’ve ever done.
Class A. No Kidding.
By real Class A, this is what we mean: pure single-ended Class A, as in, the Class A that defined Class A, the Class A that can’t go out of Class A, the Class A everyone wants you to think about when they’re talking Class A. We wrote a chapter on it here. And, just to prove we aren’t totally crazy, we also gave you the option to switch to push-pull Class A, for more power.
No Feedback. Or Not.
As in, Mjolnir 3 is also a no-feedback amplifier. Or, if you’re in the mood, you can switch in feedback. Because audio is about choice.
Dual Mono. Choke Input.
Dual mono means that the left and right channels on the Mjolnir 3 share nothing, except the same circuit board. Each channel has its own power supply, including discrete regulation, separate choke, and separate transformer. And the choke input itself is a super old-skool way of power supply smoothing and energy storage, unlike anything else out there.
Fully Discrete. Balanced Differential.
Mjolnir 3 employs a super-simple, complementary-pair, discrete balanced differential topology we call Equipoise™. And we mean discrete, right down to the power supply—no IC regulators here. And by balanced, we mean balanced, for real, from input to 4-gang pot to output—no conversion.
Completely Overengineered. Totally Convenient.
Mjolnir 3 is so utterly overengineered that it uses two Gjallarhorn heatsinks (as in, heatsinks usually used in a speaker amp capable of delivering 30W into 4 ohms) and 32 10A-rated output devices (yes, thirty-two, 10 amp rated devices) to drive your headphones. At the same time, it provides the convenience features you want, like switchable gain (without feedback), balanced and single-ended inputs and outputs, and switchable preamp outputs.
Designed and Built in the USABy “designed and built in the USA" this is what we mean: the vast majority of the total production cost of Mjolnir 3—chassis, boards, assembly, etc—goes to US companies manufacturing in the US. Our chassis and transformers are made in California. Our PCBs are made in California or Nevada, and it all comes together in our San Antonio facility.5-Year Warranty, Easy ReturnsMjolnir is covered by a 5-year limited warranty that covers parts and labor. And if you don’t like your Mjolnir, you can send it back for a refund, minus 5% restocking fee, within 15 days of receiving it.
Verified Dealers
Online Dealers
All Dealers
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Authorized dealers for Schiit Audio Mjolnir
- Acoustic Sounds — online and in-store — Salina, Kansas, United States (website)
- Addicted to Audio — online and in-store — Epping, Victoria, Australia (website)
- Audio Magic - EU — online and in-store — Wola, Województwo mazowieckie, Poland (website)
- Class D Audio USA — online — United States (website)
- Golden Acoustics — in-store — Athina, Greece (website)
- Schiit Audio — online and in-store — Los Angeles, California, United States (website)
- The Analog Shop — in-store — Victor, New York, United States (website)