Maximum Power, 32 ohms: 2W RMS per channel 

Maximum Power, 300 ohms: 1W RMS per channel

THD: <0.015%, 20Hz-20KHz, at 4V RMS, 300 ohms

IMD: <0.02%, CCIF, at 4V RMS, 300 ohms

THD: <0.05% 20-20kHz at 1V RMS, 32 ohms

IMD: <0.06%, CCIF, at 1V RMS, 32 ohms

SNR: >110db, A weighted, referenced to 4V RMS

Crosstalk: >-90dB, 20Hz-20kHz

Output Impedance: Less than 0.25 ohms

 

Maximum Power, 32 ohms: 1W RMS per channel

Maximum Power, 300 ohms: 500mW RMS per channel

THD: <0.025%, 20Hz-20KHz, at 2V RMS, 300 ohms

IMD: <0.03%, CCIF, at 4V RMS, 300 ohms

THD: <0.1% 20-20kHz at 1V RMS, 32 ohms

IMD: <0.15%, CCIF, at 2V RMS, 32 ohms

SNR: >98db, A weighted, referenced to 2V RMS

Crosstalk: >-85dB, 20 Hz-20KHz, 300 ohms

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

 

 

No. Because we know how to engineer things that run hot for a very long time. Like the original Asgard, many of which are still in service, 13 years later.

 

Sure. Mjolnir 3 is a big, hot, crazy throwback of an amp that’s our all-out shot at the most extreme headphone product we could make, and still fit on a desktop.

 

Correct. It doesn’t even have a DAC, in fact. 

 

Right. I think we used those exact words. And we’re fine with it being a big, simple amp. We intended it to be that way. Unlike some of our more advanced products, Mjolnir 3 was intended to be simple and mechanical. It doesn’t have a microprocessor or even motorized pots. It’s a big, blunt instrument…a hammer, so to speak.

 

We personally think it sounds better than a hammer.

 

Everything and nothing at once, and all in-between, with unicorns and rainbows and free shrooms; come on, you guys know by now we don’t describe our products with insanely flowery prose, right?

 

For a no-feedback topology, it measures OK. By the standards of the Measurement Uber Alles crowd, no, it doesn’t. We have other amps for that. They cost $109 and $199 and $399, take up much less room on your desk, have higher output power, are quieter, and don’t get as hot. So there you go.

 

Absolutely. 2W RMS Class A is a lot more than you think. Especially with chokes backing it up.

 

We wouldn't recommend it. Seriously, you want to run IEMs on a 16-lb desktop amp?

 

It is. It allows you to choose two different operational modes. One is single-ended Class A. As in, the output stage is biased by a fixed current source. It’s considered to be the most “pure” form of Class A. However, for higher power, you can switch to push-pull Class A, where the current source is modulated, as in a White cathode follower. But this amp is balanced and differential all the way through, which is separate from Class A.

 

Yes. You can switch in overall feedback, or leave it off.

 

Hey, you tell us. Seriously, though, there may be systems or components where it’s beneficial. Try it. It won’t kill you. You may decide you like what it does. Or you may not like it at all. Both are fine. We’re not here to judge. You can order the Boone’s Farm and we won’t laugh. Well, maybe we will.

 

We change the gain by changing the degeneration of the input stage. This isn’t part of the overall feedback.

 

Yep! We wanted to give you a lot of ways to tailor the output of Mjolnir 3 to your system.

 

It’s totally different. The previous Mjolnirs were circlotron-style topology designs, and one had tubes. Neither was dual mono, neither had choke input, neither had giant heatsinks, neither was really Class A. This is a totally different design. It retains some ideas from Mjolnir 1, in that it uses a high-voltage (100V) front end stage to increase linearity without feedback, and is super-simple in overall topology. It borrows some ideas from the Freya+ differential buffer stage as well, which is the first place we used a Equipoise-style topology.

 

Choke input power supplies were the old way of smoothing AC power on its way to DC. It was left by the wayside due to economics—a choke is a big, heavy, expensive hunk of iron and copper, whereas capacitors are relatively small and light. We went back to chokes because our experience with Tyr. At the same time, there are plenty of caps in there too. And 100V rails with discrete regulation. And each channel has its own transformer, choke, capacitors, and regulator. Bottom line: the power supply is totally nuts, over the top.

 

100% yes.

 

Yes, if you have an engineering degree or working technical knowledge of power supplies and design a completely different, much large product. Come on, this doesn’t have a wall-wart!

See above. Have fun designing your own stuff. Seriously, more people should DIY. But we understand if you don’t.

 

You know that’s BS, right? Try this chapter here.

 

In Norse mythology, Mjolnir is Thor’s hammer. Seems appropriate, doesn’t it?