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A Great "Budget" Headphone System

In January 2026, I went to a headphone meet in Colorado and took my Schiit Mjolnir v3 headphone amp so as not to show up empty handed. The MJ3 is a very nice Class A analog headphone amp (no DAC). 

It was a popular item at the show and one guy who really liked it had the following amp, Schiit Asgard X. It was the $550 version with the new Mesh DAC included.

Schiit Audio: Audio Products Made in USA

I did not want to carry my MJ3 back in my suitcase, so I traded the MJ3 for the smaller Asgard X + $200. 

A few months ago, I also purchased a used Meze Audio 109 Pro headphone for $450 (new version expected soon).

Meze Audio 109 PRO - High-Fidelity Premium Open-Back Dynamic Driver Headphones

For the past couple of weeks, I have been doing a lot of reading/studying on my laptop before I sleep, and I have the Asgard X in the bedroom. Now I normally NEVER stream from a computer direct to DAC. However, I did not have high expectations to this setup, so I hooked up the laptop via USB to the DAC, USB-C to USB-A.

After a few weeks of listening, I am coming to the belief that the Asgard X is a very fine amp, and the optional Mesh DAC module is amazing given the cost. The streaming also sounds excellent which is likely is due to Schitt’s custom USB circuit, I normally stream via fibre optic, but this Mesh DAC seems to handle the laptop USB rather well.

I just wanted to post this because the cost is not that high and the sound is excellent for the cost. I have heard the very best headphones out there and this is not at that level, but I am not looking to upgrade this setup, it is very good.

yyzsantabarbara
nogaps
165 posts
 

Continuing budget headphone systems..

At a vacation home I run the Apos Gremlin Class A hybrid amp with the Ray Select tubes and the Geshelli Merlin DAC into Hifiman Ananda Nano headphones.. sounds wonderful. I use a Samsung tablet to stream through Qobuz via USB Audio Player Pro..it has a nice EQ setup. 

At home my office system is simple..another Samsung tablet, USB Player Pro, Qobuz, SMSL SU-1 DAC, an MA6100 integrated amp(bought new in mid 70’s),  playing into Hifiman HE6se phones (open box off the Hifiman site..$368 with discount..screaming deal on a great sounding set of phones).  I run the phones off the speaker taps on the MA6100 via Hifiman's Adapter(simplifies things).  VERY nice sounding system. 

bipod72
179 posts
 

My budget entry-level headphone amp was the now-discontinued Schiit HEL 2.0, connected to my MSI laptop via USB-C, that I bought during the Covid lockdown days. I have a pair of Sennheiser HD650s and I wanted something that would be a step up from using the headphone jack on my laptop. Sound was/is great for such a small and inexpensive unit. I still use it at night when I'm on the laptop. 

One day, when I get a permanent home office set-up, I may go with a better headphone stack from Schiit because they do seem to provide the most bang for the buck and I can splurge on a pair of planar headphones. 

mggartner
37 posts
 

I have the Corda Classic headphone amp and Sennheiser HD650 phones. I really like the crossfeed option. I don’t listen to headphones often, but it’s a great setup. 

buellrider97's avatar
buellrider97
943 posts
 

@yyzsantabarbara , thanks for the advise. If I may ask specifically in regards to my Audeze LC-2’s. I’m thinking in regards those particular cans to get the Jotenheim III and run a balanced cable. I can add the mesh card over an external DAC. Specifically with the Audeze cans am I better served over the less powerful MJ3 running unbalanced ? BTW I have an original Yiggy with an upgraded Gen USB but it’s in my main system . Cheers , Mike B. 

yyzsantabarbara OP
5,550 posts
 

@buellrider97 I have owned the RAAL SR1a phone specific Jotenheim R amp 2x in the past. I was just OK, but it was one of few amps that natively ran the complicated SR1a when it first came out. I still have the SR1a and it is an incredible phone; I think the best I have ever heard. 

I do not know if the regular Jotenheim is the same sonically as the JR. I cannot recommend the JR for the SR1a when other amps are much better at similar cost. This is not an apples-2-apples comparison with other amps because the SR1a is so unique.

I think the MJ3 is maybe the best or 2nd best Schiit headphone amp. The Valhalla 3 OTL/OCL is excellent and in my non-stock tube amp setup it is the best Schiit headphone amp I have heard. In stock form, I am not sure which amp is better.

The Asgard X is very similar sonically to the MJ3. With my middle of the road Meze 109 Pro, I do not think the Asgard X and MJ3 sound different. With a better phone, say the ZMF Caldera Closed the MJ3 is likely better.

 

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