Hopefully. They are doing a 230v run next so Asgard3 on steroids please 
1 Like
Unfortunately Iāve never heard the Asgard 3 but I did have the jot 1 and 2, the MJ3 is hands down the better amp.
6 Likes
I shared this on the Aurorus Audio discord server for driving their Borealis headphone but think it gives a good idea of how MJ3 and Tyrs compare. Not a perfect comparison with lack of volume match and different cabling but Iām confident with what Iām hearing.
Comparing two different setups both driving the borealis. One is Meitner MA3 ā serene ā tyrs with all balanced connections. Another is MA3 ā MJ3 with single ended connections.
I used 3 different tracks off of CDs through the Urd and the AES input on my dac. Tracks were blue world - mac miller, when I grow up - fever ray, and black crow - angus and julia stone.
MJ3 Blue world
Good blam, has a bit of bloat to it. Sounds warm and thick. Vocals are full and clear. percussion sounds on left and right are a bit muddy. More width then depth. Bass more bloom and quantity by a bit, but sounds kinda sloppy.
Tyrs
Brushes in beginning more clear and separate, bass tight, no bloat. Sounds a bit bigger / taller, vocals less rich. Percussion have more air and detail.
MJ3 When I grow up
Vocals are big and full, just pleasing overall nothing really stood out as bad it was just different
Tyrs
More space and detail especially in treble and percussion effects. Bass looses a bit of bloom though which is fine, depends on track really. More perceived impact and slam.
On this track, impressed how close them seem. They have slightly different flavors with the mj3 being warm with smaller stage and the tyrs being bigger and faster but itās not a big change and both are really enjoyable.
MJ3 Black Crow
Vocals are layered are have good clarity. Nice drive in the guitar and drums. Feels detailed but never harsh. Softer presentation but more thump from the bass instruments. Decay of vocals is nice but sort of missing in drums vs Tyrs.
Tyrs
More definition in snare hits and force behind them. Male vocals feel a bit further away (more depth), can hear some of the reverb and decay in room. Decay stands out much more in drums.
11 Likes
Patiently waiting for:
The 1st batch is gone, 2nd batch (probably last) est shipping date Nov 1st.
5 Likes
Iām getting there. I really like both. Been using the D8KP most of the day. Used the Bryston the first half of the day and then decided to swap to the MJ3. Iāll get the Utopia some time soon.
MJ3 has this vividness/details on the edge of the notes. Iām sure Iāve said it here before but it comes off very raw and analog. Guitar plucks have a sharpness to them but not harsh IMO. Details can pop a little easier to my ear.
Bryston still has great detail but itās a bit smoother, but not in a bad way IMO. This will come down to what you prefer and maybe what headphones youāre using.
I think both are great in the bass department (meaning for the price and in comparison of the two). Both hit fairly hard and have solid texture.
Bryston has a bigger stage to my ear. Better depth too. MJ3 isnāt terrible in the stage but I do feel itās a little more intimate, but not a turnoff for me. This is pretty noticeable with the space around instruments.
Layering maybe goes to Bryston? Maybe the stage is helping it?
Both have a really nice black background to me. Neither is a clear winner here.
Yeah I could pick either so Iāll give this more time. Want something that will compliment my DNA and work with most of my headphones as a ss option. Both seem capable so far.
On a side note, the MJ3 is much heavier lol. Kinda wild because the footprint of the MJ3 fits inside the Bryston. Bryston feels noticeably lighter when moving it. Never noticed this until I had the MJ3 for comparison.
10 Likes
Itās only four pounds heavier, good job trying to get some comparisons down.
2 Likes
I didnāt look up the difference but I wouldnāt be surprised.
1 Like
Dense weight always feels heavier, so if smaller form factor that makes perfect sense right? Are you running the Bryston fully balanced?
Yeah, I get that but its an obvious weight difference. Iām familiar with dense weights/plates haha.
Yeah, balanced all the way. Both respond better balanced.
Edit: just looked it up. The Bryston is 11.7lbs and MJ3 is 16lbs.
2 Likes
Yeah so did I, I didnāt guess when I posted the four pounds
1 Like
Still listening, and been a bit busy with some other stuff, will get back to this in a week with some actual impressions. I do like it alot though.
Some more functional things, itās really just a decent bit better bal in bal out vs se, so this is one of those that youāll only want to use balanced. I also just generally like no feedback and single ended class a (not running the se jack, but se instead of push pull), you get more space (esp width), more dynamics, more richness, and more lower level information and you only really trade off a bit of intimacy and sharpness and slam. Does vibrate lol. Has a decent amount of warm up, felt it sounded best after a few days, does get hot though as expected
standouts are background blackness, surprisingly good nuance and micro for what itās priced at (both combined presentation and amount), very well done on being a bit rounded and sweeter but without compromising sharpness and edge. Not overly colored, tasteful flavor. Pretty great dynamics overall too. Organic timbre and tonality overall. I was honestly expecting more overall slam and command in the bass (esp considering what the mj2 was) but the overall dynamics and control sort of replace that desire. It really just makes things pop in a pleasing way
Itās really what I was hoping for in terms of doing what the asgard did well in a more beefed up package (if running se instead of pp and no feedback), for how it actually compares with things, I donāt really have any amps on hand for a good direct comparison tier wise but will write out my thoughts in more detail later with more listening. It has that sort of well rounded a bit warmer sweeter and more wide and rounded sense that the asgard has that just makes most things pretty enjoyable with really really solid overall technical ability for the money. It doesnāt sound compromised like the older mj or jot nor is it a poor value like the rag. Just really more long term engaging that most any other solid state amp Iāve heard at itās price point, and easily the best headphone amp schiit has by far, hope they keep making it as is
Since I was testing it as a preamp for a bit, itās whatever as a preamp, not bad but wouldnāt buy one to replace a dedicated pre
13 Likes
Much of what has been described reminds me of the EC Black Widow, think that would be an interesting comparison despite its rare status.
Is it worthy to be in the shit list or not yet?
2 Likes
Its on the Schiit list. Itās listed under products, then headphone amps. 
5 Likes
That would be pretty interesting lol, from rough memory I canāt say they sound super similar, but I think theyād fill a similar role
Absolutely, but itās hard to say where without more time and doing some side by sides, Iāve put it on there for now but will likely move around with more time and comparisons down the line (or not, never know)
lol
4 Likes
I also notice that with dac pairings, I honestly like it with more cleaner more direct or incisive leaning sources, not the biggest fan with something already pretty warm and rich or relaxed, can be a reasonable pairing if the headphones are already cleaner and more forward leaning, but I think something to really take advantage of the sort of rawness of the amp is a solid pairing. Not really something Iām liking as much with an evo pro but fantastic with a rs3, og bf2 is actually decent but I donāt really think that dac emphasizes the potential resolving power and nuance the mj3 can provide (but offers nice extra weight and slam for some pairings), really nice with the 2541 though actually and Iād rather go that route around a similar price but it can get a bit too clean with some pairings.
9 Likes
Iāve had the MJ3 for about a week now. I like it quite a bit so far with my Yggy A2 and Meze Elite. Iām coming from a Cayin iHA-6, which I still have but havenāt plugged in since the MJ3 arrived.
I sold my Quicksilver a few months back in an effort to move to a solid-state amp in my main setup. I got pretty obsessed with hunting down old/rare tubes and felt like I needed to make a clean break from the tube game, though I still have my little SW51+ just in case the mood strikes.
Since selling the Quicksilver, Iāve had a Piety, Cayin iHA-6, then a Cen.Grand 9i-806 āLittle Silver Foxā, then the iHA-6 again, and now finally the MJ3. Unfortunately, I didnāt get to use the 9i-806 with the Yggy. I was using my Bifrost 2 at the time. I still wonder if that Cen.Grand amp was capable of a lot more than I was hearing.
Staying on topic, the MJ3 seems to outclass the iHA-6 in resolution and detail retrieval. I feel like Iām hearing more microdetail in songs Iām very familiar with. Bass is very nuanced with greet texture. I think there is more treble quantity with the MJ3, though it never seems excessive. I have trouble finding anything to complain about with the amp. Itās solid and higher performing than I expected for the price.
12 Likes
Thatās really been my takeaway from it as well, pretty much nothing I can really complain about for the cost
7 Likes
This is confusing, so SE mode but xlr IC and Xlr headphone cable will work? In this mode with xlr cables it will output the balanced power numbers or SE numbers?
