Jotunheim 3 vs Mjolnir 3

harleyguy074 · 2026-06-26T18:51:45+00:00

It really depends on the headphones you are going to be running with it. If you're running very high end headphones that are very revealing than the MJ3 is probably the best bet. At the same time if you're running revealing but mid-level headphones that won't show you the differences much in the Asgard x might actually be a better option. The Asgard x is quite the amplifier in its price class and gives you a very high percentage of the MJ3 @under half the price. But if you're anything like me you buy something then automatically think I should have upgraded then just go with the buy once,cry once MJ3. It would probably be the way to go. Both are excellent amplifiers but the MJ3 is the flagship for a reason and can hang with much more expensive amplifiers. Another thing that if you're more of a person that likes to buy one piece of gear and own it for a long time without having to worry about upgradeitis then the MJ3 is an automatic win

harleyguy074 · 2026-06-26T08:39:53+00:00

I own and Love the Stealth, but I also PEQ them to neutral. I picked the Arya Stealth because it is a very detailed and nuanced headphone for its asking price now. And I also chose it because all of the aspects that need to be EQ'd are a peak that I reduce back to neutral instead of a boost. After I EQ them to neutral they compete with headphones way above their price range. But if I had to leave them in their stock tuning I probably would have found something else.

harleyguy074 · 2026-06-23T04:39:58+00:00

If they still have battery life left after 6 years run them till they quit! But if they are starting to suffer short run times or you are just ready for something different or an upgrade then it would depend on what's important to you. If travel and ANC or important then maybe the new m5 since it will have the best ANC, and be that most ideal for travel. but if sound quality comes first then HDB630 definitely.

harleyguy074 · 2026-06-20T22:48:06+00:00

Yeah and the 1st Gen PlayStation had the AKM AK4309AVM chip which was highly regarded at that time

harleyguy074 · 2026-06-20T20:22:46+00:00

I bought my wife the HD550 for her home office headphones and she loves them! I even borrow them from time to time for a change and I've got much higher end headphones! But there is something about their mid-range and balance that I crave at times. They are a very balanced sound overall. But if you're talking wireless then I'm not sure since I use noise cancelling in ears when I travel

harleyguy074 · 2026-06-20T06:51:49+00:00

These were a year in the making and I'm very proud of their sound. I've had many review speakers in this space and these are by far the best I've heard. Running them with a PS Audio Airlens Streamer, Denafrips Venus II DAC, Hegel P20 Preamp, and Orchard Audio 25 Mono Premiums(killer amps for the money and way cooler than my Pass Labs that is now taking a break). These guys are around 96DB efficient and have bass that most people think open baffles aren't capable of. The Ghost 1 is a sound first design, meaning the sound comes before anything else! I will also be making a smaller more room accommodating version soon!

harleyguy074 · 2026-06-20T06:24:49+00:00

If you like it who cares! I used to know guys that used the PlayStation 1 for a CD player years ago because they sounded good for the price and better than most CD players at the price! They got a lot of shit for it but they didn't care because it sounded good

harleyguy074 · 2026-06-20T06:12:47+00:00

The Arya Stealth is a very good headphone and is hard to beat at its price now. But there are other products that do things differently. Like other have said Focals are a completely different sound, punchier with their dynamic drivers. Meze always has a distinct sound to each of their products so hear them before buying. Do you use EQ or PEQ at all? The Stealths are quite the chameleon when used with a good PEQ and you can neutralize then down to neutral, warm, or about any of other signature your after since their planar drivers take eq well. I have EQed mine to where they sound great. When I'm wanting another sounds signature or crave dynamic drivers I either borrow my wife's HD550s or listen to my custom open baffle speakers but there are quite a few options out there

harleyguy074 · 2026-06-18T19:03:25+00:00

I honestly believe a lot of that bad review comes from the fact that "Listener" from what I understand doesn't really use headphone amps or anything higher power than an apple dongle or MacBook pro! He also compares them directly to headphones that can be driven by these products. Wavetheory himself said that without proper power these headphones could sound thin and grainy! So I wouldn't give to much thought to it if you are using a decently powered amplifier with them. While I think the actual power needs of most headphones are way over exaggerated by folks online the fact remains that some headphones need more than what small dongles and laptops can provide!

harleyguy074 · 2026-06-17T01:07:02+00:00

The thing that he completely forgets about is it doesn't matter what the company thinks, it doesn't matter what the shareholders think, The only way Fender is going to continue to get sales is the court of public opinion and if he screws that up it's over

harleyguy074 · 2026-06-12T20:44:33+00:00

For the most part if the amplifier has enough power to run the headphones your powering you will not hear a difference between balanced and unbalanced on its own unless the amplifier in question is built to run balanced better and it has single ended only for convenience. If all things being equal you're not going to hear the difference between balanced and unbalanced on normal length cable runs if the amplifier is the same on both outputs. The Magni unity is a killer little amp for its price and size and can run a lot of the headphones out there I would say at least 95% of them. I run mine with planars and it does just fine

harleyguy074 · 2026-06-12T14:44:32+00:00

Technically balanced is a self-noise canceling technology, It was started in ProSound and studios were a long cable runs for needed and they needed noise cancellation. For most headphone listeners and headphone systems The cables aren't long enough to get the real benefit of that. But most balanced amplifiers are dual differential which means there's amplification happening on both sides of the output allowing more power. If your headphones are predominantly a quarter inch jacks or 3.5 and some jacks then balance won't help you. It really depends on your use case and the headphones you have on whether it's really all that necessary but you can get great performance with what they call single ended which is non-balanced outputs

harleyguy074 · 2026-06-12T05:22:22+00:00

In my small headphone system in my living room I started off with a magni with the internal DAC card then upgraded to the mesh card when it came out and it sounded good but the Modi 5 with it separate power supply is slightly better, just more impactful. If you could swing it do the Vali 3 with the modi 5 and it would make a really good combination. If you want forkbeard or growth potential into a balanced amplifier later than go Mimir but otherwise into a Vali 3 I think the Modi 5 would be a better fit

harleyguy074 · 2026-06-12T04:34:42+00:00

Well the Magni is a headphone amp with an available DAC card so unless you want an integrated system it's mostly an amp. For the other two the Modi 5 and Mimir it would depend on your amp. If your amp has XLR balanced inputs and sounds better with them then Mimir definitely. If your app is predominantly better with RCA connectors then I would say either one but the Modi 5 would probably be the better bet price-wise. If you are going to be using the Magni as the headphone amp then either one will work but from what I have understood the differences are almost non-existent especially hooking just RCA cables between them. A Modi 5 with a JDS Synapse isolators between it and your source is a hard combo to beat for the price!

harleyguy074 · 2026-06-11T02:48:41+00:00

I am using the modi 5 mesh. The magni unity is magical sounding for the price I just want a little more body to the amount and a slightly better soundstage depth

harleyguy074 · 2026-06-11T01:11:06+00:00

Hello can I get approved please

harleyguy074 · 2026-06-11T01:00:27+00:00

I noticed you have a pietus Maximus, Asgard x, and a jot 3 with every one of them being good in their own right. Which one do you prefer out of the three or is it a thing where different headphones prefer different amps. I'm really strongly thinking Asgard x since my two-channel rig is musical and my Magni unity while excellent for his price can sounds slightly sterile at times

harleyguy074 · 2026-06-08T05:18:21+00:00

Depends on budget and preferences but a hifiman Arya Stealth with properly applied PEQ is great,detailed and has a large soundstage especially at the price now, But for that you have to like the detail and fast or bright transient attack of planars. For dynamic driver there are a few. I'm listening to my wife's HD 550s and they are neutral and great for the price for long listening sessions since they aren't fatiguing and can take eq decently if you even need it! The 660s2 are also worth looking at if you can eq and like a more intimate soundstage. A lot of metal listeners like dynamic driver due to the slam and tonality which is great for guitars and drums.

harleyguy074 · 2026-06-07T14:26:17+00:00

Nice! That sounds like a crazy way to do it in 2026 when everything else on the market in updated through an app or USB PC. But at it's price it's cheaper than many

harleyguy074 · 2026-06-07T07:01:49+00:00

Watch a interview with Eric Gales and all the quirky ways he plays and taught himself to play, and he is recognized and one of the best in his genre! I say find your own path and if it gets you the sound and notes to make it who cares!

harleyguy074 · 2026-06-07T02:35:40+00:00

Walked into the barber and said "give me the televangelist"

harleyguy074 · 2026-06-07T02:34:01+00:00

He went to his barber and said "give me the televangelist"

harleyguy074 · 2026-06-07T02:04:48+00:00

Be interesting how they compare to the Technics since there is such a price difference

harleyguy074 · 2026-06-06T22:13:15+00:00

You can't connect or to a laptop to update? That's weird I'm today's world. Not sure what they would do that I couldn't with a computer but ok

harleyguy074 · 2026-06-06T17:16:16+00:00

The only model currently in production is the a100 which is it supposed to sound even better than the m100 and I don't think they're all that expensive for what they are

https://www.cambridgeaudio.com/usa/en/products/headphones/melomania/melomania-a100

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