Schiit Valhalla 2

Discussion in 'Headphone Amplifiers and Combo (DAC/Amp) Units' started by Cspirou, Oct 8, 2015.

  1. Hands

    Hands Overzealous Auto Flusher - Measurbator

    Staff Member Pyrate MZR
    Joined:
    Sep 27, 2015
    Likes Received:
    12,285
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Location:
    Colorado
    Home Page:
    Solid state sounding tube amp doesn't necessarily mean it sounds like actual solid state. Relative comparison point. Nor do tubey sounding SS amps really capture that tube sound. There are particular characteristics with each. Plus a lot of people mix up "tube sound" with overly bloomy, overly lush, overly euphonic, rolled, smooth but not precise, etc. That isn't necessarily the case.
     
  2. purr1n

    purr1n Desire for betterer is endless.

    Staff Member Pyrate BWC
    Joined:
    Sep 24, 2015
    Likes Received:
    89,778
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Location:
    Padre Island CC TX
    Properly implemented tube amps are more resolving, have more plankton, better gradation of volumes, deeper more expansive and open stage, more natural timbre and sometimes more slam.

    Warmth, bloom, a "wetter" sound, richer harmonics, or rolled high end may or may not be part of the equation.
     
  3. purr1n

    purr1n Desire for betterer is endless.

    Staff Member Pyrate BWC
    Joined:
    Sep 24, 2015
    Likes Received:
    89,778
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Location:
    Padre Island CC TX
    Depends on what solid state amps. Valhalla 2 sounds a lot closer to Magni 2U, O2, Jotunheim than to Woo WA2, Leben, Chi-Fi tube specials, etc.
     
  4. synthwavefan

    synthwavefan Cluelessly Misogynistic - MOT - LH Labs

    Banned
    Joined:
    Jun 30, 2016
    Likes Received:
    38
    Trophy Points:
    28
    I currently have a Vali. I am thinking about upgrading to a Valhalla 2 to use with my Senn 600s. I also hear they work good on V-Moda M-100s. I really like the Vali but since it looks like I'm going towards more of a headphone setup more and more, I'd like to upgrade.
     
  5. ColtMrFire

    ColtMrFire Writes better fan fics than you

    Pyrate
    Joined:
    Jun 16, 2016
    Likes Received:
    6,226
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Location:
    Austin, TX
    For my future buying purposes, what are some tube amps you think fall into these categories?
     
  6. philipmorgan

    philipmorgan Member of the month

    Pyrate BWC
    Joined:
    Sep 28, 2015
    Likes Received:
    3,790
    Trophy Points:
    93
    Location:
    In the wind, so to speak
    Home Page:
  7. ColtMrFire

    ColtMrFire Writes better fan fics than you

    Pyrate
    Joined:
    Jun 16, 2016
    Likes Received:
    6,226
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Location:
    Austin, TX
    So I ended up selling Valhalla 2. I will use the money toward a HD650. Jotunheim is on the way.

    Ultimately Val2 is an awesome amp, and I enjoyed my time with it. But I could never get rid of the nagging feeling that it did not hit hard enough for me. I am used to the dynamics and slam of SS.

    I am not at all writing off tubes. Still wanna hear the EC/DNA stuff. And some Cavali tube stuff. But I am fairly positive I prefer the light tube magic over the wet/syrupy stuff. Val2 was great at not overwhelming with tube mush.
     
  8. Hands

    Hands Overzealous Auto Flusher - Measurbator

    Staff Member Pyrate MZR
    Joined:
    Sep 27, 2015
    Likes Received:
    12,285
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Location:
    Colorado
    Home Page:
    Let us know what you think of the Jotun when you get that in, and if you eventually want something different, let us know what you liked and disliked about both it and the Valhalla 2 specifically. Should be able to triangulate the right amp for you after that, if it does not end up being the Jotun.
     
  9. Pyruvate

    Pyruvate Friend

    Pyrate Contributor
    Joined:
    Sep 29, 2015
    Likes Received:
    1,425
    Trophy Points:
    93
    Location:
    Here
    I hope his wallet is ready. As in $1-2k ready.
     
  10. ColtMrFire

    ColtMrFire Writes better fan fics than you

    Pyrate
    Joined:
    Jun 16, 2016
    Likes Received:
    6,226
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Location:
    Austin, TX
    I am hoping Jotun is sweet spot, to save the wallet. I am fairly budget limited at the moment. But forsee being able to make more exotic purchases in a couple years.
     
  11. The Alchemist

    The Alchemist MOT: Schiit - Here to help!

    Pyrate
    Joined:
    Sep 24, 2015
    Likes Received:
    1,189
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Location:
    The SchiitR
    Home Page:
    Anyone try Schiit LISST Tubes with the Valhalla 2 and if so, how do they sound?
     
  12. SlyFox

    SlyFox New

    Joined:
    Oct 5, 2016
    Likes Received:
    17
    Trophy Points:
    3
    Location:
    Madson, WI
    I've been wanting to post here for a while now since I bought the fabled Valhalla 2 owned by many members right here. Previous owners include @Hands @zonto and of course @aufmerksam who I purchased it from locally. While buying it I promised I'd give a small write up on my thoughts. It's taken me a bit longer than I had planned but we'll get to that later.

    Since this my first post and it's in a Schiit Valhalla 2 thread, I'll leave my history short. 8 years, 7 Headphones, 3 Headphone amps, 1 DAC.

    Current Equipment: Hifimediy U2 Dac > Schiit Valhalla 2 > HD600

    Now on to the meat of the subject, which I'm sure will be shorter than my intro.

    In the three headphones amps I've purchased this is the second time owning the Valhalla. When I initially bought the amp I was using a pair of SoundMagic HP200's and boy did it make it sing. Huge soundstage, lush mids, and helped tame the treble but only slightly. There was a downfall though, the bass tightened up so much it lost all it's impact. Even with the shortfall it blew me away, I thought to myself, if this thing could be this good I need to try others. I quickly sold it and was thoroughly disappointed by my next purchase.

    My HP200's eventually broke within 2 years of owning them and I recently made the move to the HD600's. While still using the Solid State Class A amp I was previously using I was less then impressed, I would even go as far as saying, "I hated the sound."

    The move back to the Valhalla was nothing short of amazing, it really transformed the way the headphone sounded. The real winner came with the upgraded input tubes, the Amperex OG's added much need extra kick and rumble to the bass. As well as adding a bit a warmth to the mids. I felt like the mids were taken to the next level though when I matched it with the stock output tubes. Or is it the Russian matched 70s 6N6P? (The unmarked tubes came in the NOS 70's 6N6P bubble wrap and the marked 'CCCP' tubes came in the 'stock' marked bubble wrap). :confused: My guess is unmarked means stock ;). Cons included, the lost of the soundstage and rolled off highs which really didn't bother me.

    When running the full 70's input/output tubes the amp changed. The soundstage was now wider, more precise, but the mids were now lean and recessed the bottom end lost it's rumble/kick. I spent a day each with different matching tubes. I'd definitely recommend the OG's to anyone looking to 'upgrade' the sound of the their Valhalla. Keep in mind while it changes the sound, it won't change your headphones into something else entirely. No fault to the Valhalla, I honestly find the sound signature of the HD600 boring. It does everything right but doesn't excel at any one thing.
    I'm sure like many around here though, the search continues. :sail:Hopefully with the Valhalla :punk:
     
  13. zonto

    zonto Friend

    Pyrate Contributor
    Joined:
    Sep 30, 2015
    Likes Received:
    4,975
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Location:
    Boston, MA
    Glad you like it! I recall the NOS matched output set had one tube with the markings (at least the date) nearly rubbed off. Date should be 1974 for those per my records.

    Don't remember stock output tube info.
     
  14. Case

    Case Anxious Head (Formerly Wilson)

    Pyrate Contributor
    Joined:
    Jul 31, 2016
    Likes Received:
    6,040
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Location:
    Ohio, USA. Home of the eclipse
    @SlyFox, thanks for your impressions! I just purchased a Valhalla 2 from @thegunner100 after coming from the Vali 1 and have been trying to collect my thoughts on it. With an HD650, I find the soundstage when listening to rock so immersive that I sometimes need a break. As many have mentioned here, this combo is amazing with acoustic or more intimate arrangements. What kinds of music have you been listening to?
     
  15. thegunner100

    thegunner100 Hentai Master Chief

    Pyrate
    Joined:
    Sep 25, 2015
    Likes Received:
    2,461
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Location:
    NYC
    I miss the slightly laid back and hint of warmth that I was getting with the Valhalla 2. I may have to go back to tubes soon..
     
  16. SlyFox

    SlyFox New

    Joined:
    Oct 5, 2016
    Likes Received:
    17
    Trophy Points:
    3
    Location:
    Madson, WI
    Queens of the Stone Age - Songs for the Death, The Temper Trap - Conditions, and Awolnation - Megalithic Symphony to name a few albums.
     
  17. aufmerksam

    aufmerksam Friend

    Pyrate
    Joined:
    Sep 28, 2015
    Likes Received:
    1,337
    Trophy Points:
    93
    Location:
    E. Lansing, MI
    True to his word! Kudos! I did impress upon ye poor fox the importance of sharing his thoughts and contributing to our community, as we stood squinting against the sun in the far reach of a grocery store parking lot...

    As for the tubes, sorry if I messed them up, but I was pretty sure I never opened the stock grouping (though I did label them). In any event, I blame @zonto. Your impression of the sound does not surprise me though. The biggest overall change comes from use of (or non-use of) the OG's. Complete stock, and I'm guessing complete 70's NOS seems very lean by comparison. With respect to the OG's, did you find any roll off too extreme? I have read others saying it is either too rolled off in the lows and/or the highs, but for me out of the Valhalla 2 it was pretty much perfect. I would think it sounds great with the HD600. After you get settled in, let me know if you want to borrow my modded 650's for a bit.
     
  18. SlyFox

    SlyFox New

    Joined:
    Oct 5, 2016
    Likes Received:
    17
    Trophy Points:
    3
    Location:
    Madson, WI
    I was wrong! :oops: Just pulled the tubes out of the amp and they're the 1974 NOS matched output set like @zonto said above. Thanks for keeping a record of it! Sorry aufmerksam as well, you were right too. The writing is nearly gone on the one tube and the other tube's writing is easy to miss when not looking in the light.

    The low's didn't sound rolled off at all, but he highs did. It doesn't bother me though, the gains in the other area's are worth the loss. Btw I might take you up on that offer for the HD650's here in a little while when I have some more free time.
     
  19. PoochZag

    PoochZag The Shadow knows - Friend

    Pyrate
    Joined:
    Oct 7, 2015
    Likes Received:
    1,272
    Trophy Points:
    93
    Location:
    Boston
    I had the Valhalla 2 on loaner for a few days. Everything I say is high gain and in comparison with Mjolnir 2 (Gungnir Multibit for both).

    I really liked it with the HD800-SDR, even with stock tubes. It gave a very light and airy sound with a great sense of space. There was a good amount of treble energy up top, but not unbearable by any means, and I can get sensitive to that even with SDR. I did miss the bit of extra resolution and "balls" down low that Mjolnir 2 provides, but heck for $349 I was really impressed.

    I was less impressed with Elear out of Valhalla 2. That lighter, softer sound just didn't work as well for it, the bass wasn't as authoritative and the upper midrange sounded even more distant.

    Overall I would definitely consider Valhalla 2 if I ever made a secondary stationary rig, with the right headphone. I only tried the two above as they're my only high impedance dynamics, so I would be interested to hear other pairings in the future. As expected, the ZMF Blackwood Blackwoods were hilariously unimpressive and weaker sounding, although did technically get loud enough at 2-3 o'clock on high gain
     
  20. porkfriedpork

    porkfriedpork Friend

    Pyrate
    Joined:
    Oct 9, 2015
    Likes Received:
    208
    Trophy Points:
    43
    Location:
    Boston
    I really like my Val2 with HD800M but its un-listenable with my Blackwoods or Vibro.
    ZMFs sound much better on Magni 2.
     

Share This Page