CHANGSTAR: Audiophile Headphone Reviews and Early 90s Style BBS

Lobby => Head Amps, DACs, Sources, Portable Equipment Discussion => Topic started by: Prydz on September 19, 2015, 01:30:02 PM

Title: Mjolnir as preamp for First Watt F6
Post by: Prydz on September 19, 2015, 01:30:02 PM
Hello

Today I got a First Watt F6! I do not have a preamp yet, until I remembered that Mjolnir could be used as preamp!
However, Mjolnir is balanced design. Would something get destroyed if I use them the following way:
Mjolnir balanced pre-out <---XLR CABLE---><XLR to RCA adapter> First Watt F6 unbalanced input

Thank you for helping!
Title: Re: Mjolnir as preamp for First Watt F6
Post by: cspirou on September 19, 2015, 03:48:53 PM
Doesn't the Mjolnir have RCA outputs as well?

Edit: Just saw RCA outputs are only on the Mjolnir 2. Although what is your source?
Title: Re: Mjolnir as preamp for First Watt F6
Post by: kothganesh on September 19, 2015, 03:50:34 PM
I had a similar set up except the power amp was the Stratos. Did not like the SQ going from XLR to RCA. Having said that you should just try the RCA out of the Mojo.
Title: Re: Mjolnir as preamp for First Watt F6
Post by: DaveBSC on September 19, 2015, 04:22:44 PM
I had a similar set up except the power amp was the Stratos. Did not like the SQ going from XLR to RCA. Having said that you should just try the RCA out of the Mojo.

Outputs on V1 are XLR only. The RCA jacks on the rear are for SE input. Nothing will get destroyed, but I prefer to avoid balanced to SE or vice versa if possible. The Schiit SYS can easily provide proper SE volume control until you can add a real preamp. The Luminous Audio Axiom is a much higher quality passive that they impedance match to your gear, but its also $195 instead of $50.
Title: Re: Mjolnir as preamp for First Watt F6
Post by: Prydz on September 19, 2015, 05:24:57 PM
I got answer from Schiit! It wont work they said. Good that they bother to answer on a saturday!

Yeah I was thinking maybe the Goldpoint SA1.
DAC straight into the F6 and it plays around 98dB max, measured with a iphone 6 + decibel 10th app.
So I guess passive would be enough, unless I wanna get hearing loss.
Title: Re: Mjolnir as preamp for First Watt F6
Post by: DaveBSC on September 19, 2015, 09:39:22 PM
Yeah I was thinking maybe the Goldpoint SA1.

That would do it as well. The Goldpoint isn't the most exotic stepper in the world, but it sounds pretty good, and it doesn't have the noise problems of the DACT stepper, at least IME.
Title: Re: Mjolnir as preamp for First Watt F6
Post by: Prydz on September 19, 2015, 09:46:25 PM
And what about a First Watt B1? There's one for sale in my country, used, 370 bucks.