Schitt Folkvangr Thread: speculation, impressions, questions

Discussion in 'Headphone Amplifiers and Combo (DAC/Amp) Units' started by purr1n, Jun 27, 2022.

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  1. purr1n

    purr1n Desire for betterer is endless.

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    Just different, complimentary to something like the Starlett. High-impedance cans should be good.

    I expect excellent synergy with Focals. Stuff that works with Grados also tends to work well with Focals.

    I like it quite a bit. The Folkvangr has a very energetic engaging presentation. I very much want to buy one for myself. The reason I won't is that it will end up just another piece sitting around. I have too much stuff already and at this point, I'm more a in source-first mindset.
     
  2. lagadu

    lagadu Facebook Friend

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    Can't speak for the Susvara but I have a Ferrum Oor powering my orthos, including an he6, and it sounds fantastic with them and even with my VO. I still prefer the VO from my Starlett but if I didn't already have it, I'd be perfectly content with the Oor alone.

    There's a small thread about it here, I submit that it may be worth your time investigating further.
     
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    Last edited: Jun 28, 2022
  3. pure5152

    pure5152 Friend

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    For what it's worth, it's on the back of the amp:

    upload_2022-6-28_2-2-51.png

    EDIT: It's also in the manual too included with the unit. All that said, agree it wouldn't hurt to properly spell it out clearly in the product description.
     
    Last edited: Jun 28, 2022
  4. deniall83

    deniall83 Acquaintance

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    f**k I hope they do a tube phono stage next.
     
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  5. 9suns

    9suns [insert unearned title here]

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    Is it a good choice for high impedance planars, like LCD-3 (110 ohms) or LCD-4 (200 ohms) without using the impedance multiplier feature?
     
  6. Grattle

    Grattle Friend

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    It's pretty. I wish it was a bit less expensive.

    I'd rather Schiit bought the rights to manufacture Shortest Way amps and be producing those at much lower prices. Schiit's value proposition seems to be sliding further and further down the product line to the really cheap stuff. They seem to be going the same route that headphone manufacturers are, only making uber expensive flagship type stuff that isn't any better than their older offerings. Time will tell I suppose. At least it has a full size pot. ;)

    Edit: It's nice that it has 2 inputs.
     
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  7. roshambo123

    roshambo123 Friend

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    Excluding shipping costs, I'd be reluctant to believe you could make a Shortest Way cheaper in the US than you could in Russia (before the recent unpleasantness) especially given the increasing cost of transformers and metal. Someone correct me if they know more.

    "Better" is hard, but I think it's industry stagnation and market saturation. We saw huge leaps over the past decade and it is usually a lot easier to replace shitty products with great ones than it is to replace great products with greaterer. At this point, different may have to suffice for worth talking about, most of the time.
     
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  8. ColtMrFire

    ColtMrFire Writes better fan fics than you

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    What are you basing this on? You haven't heard Folkvangr I assume.

    FWIW I don't find Modi Multibit to be at all competitive with Gungnir Multibit or Yggdrasil. BF2 (slightly compressed sounding, treble glare) is not even as good as Gungnir Multibit. I haven't heard Vali 2, but Vali 1 and Magni 3+ was not as good as Lyr 2/3, Valhalla 2 (differences aside). I didn't like MJ2, but same deal. Etc, etc.

    The value of these components becomes much more dramatic/obvious on better upstream gear btw, and I don't think Schiit falls into the ballpark of manufacturers you're referring to... their products steadily improve the further up you go... in fact, their higher end gear is severely underpriced for the performance you get.
     
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  9. SSL

    SSL Friend

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    What has Schiit released that is both "uber expensive" and also not better than their older offerings? I'm confused.

    Yggdrasil LIM is cheaper than the OG, even before the price hike.
    Loki Max is objectively better than their other EQ boxes.
    Tyr is supposed to be better than their other power amps.

    ???
     
  10. nishan99

    nishan99 Friend

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    For the last year or two I thought the Schiit 10 tubes headphones amp will be around $800-1200, I never thought it will be as close as $1800! I agree with @Grattle that I wish it was less expensive and I also wish it sounds like a $1800 amp.

    Also remember it is a limited run, so not much sales to cover the R&D.
     
  11. crenca

    crenca Friend

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    Slight tangent, but I saw that futures on metal's were down quite a bit with anticipation of a recession and labor shortage stagnation. This might mean we are at or near a peak as far as costs on such items, depending on how labor effects transformer pricing. Just speculation of course.
     
  12. dasman66

    dasman66 Self proclaimed lazy ass - friend

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    For the last year or two I thought (insert any commercial product here) would be $x. I never thought it would be close to 2x.

    Lets start a potential product list:
    used car
    plywood
    graphics cards
    bread/groceries
    gasoline
    etc, etc, etc
     
  13. HotRatSalad

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    So want one but headphones are starting to take a back seat to speakers and I need better ones.. @schiit make some killer speakers for the price of the new head amp and I'll buy those instead but I can't have both !
     
  14. roshambo123

    roshambo123 Friend

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    Here's a question for you @purr1n

    Stacking Folkvangr on Gungnir or Yggdrasil - OK assuming your house stays below 80 degrees?
     
  15. purr1n

    purr1n Desire for betterer is endless.

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    To me, it sounds like an $1800 amp, maybe a bit more, but specialized for traditional dynamic headphones.

    Here's the deal, no want seems to want in-between stuff. It's either sub $200 gear or go for broke stuff. The in-between high-value stuff still exists: Vali 2+, Lyr 3, Valhalla 2 even. The problem is that after one jumps form Magni 3+ to Lyr 3, the next jump is often a DNA, EC, ECP, etc.

    Schiit (and many other brands) have always serviced the "no-mans land" region of gear priced from $350 to $2200.
     
    Last edited: Jun 28, 2022
  16. purr1n

    purr1n Desire for betterer is endless.

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    Dealer's choice really. Folkvangr, while it has its own personality, will bring out more of the source than any other Schiit amp before it. It's going to depend upon your headphones and what you want. I'd stay with Yggdrasil if you already have one. There are three flavors available (via upgrade cards) and who knows what more they may be brewing up.
     
  17. roshambo123

    roshambo123 Friend

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    I didn't word my question correctly, I was asking about heat safety not synergy.

    I meant given Folkvangr's running temp, is it safe to stack it on top of Yggdrasil or Gungnir assuming your house isn't hot?
     
  18. Grattle

    Grattle Friend

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    I sincerely hope that this amp is underpriced for what you get. I like to see boundaries pushed. Maybe a fun one off project gets their juices flowing. This particular one is just not for me. I can say that can’t I? |\/|
     
  19. purr1n

    purr1n Desire for betterer is endless.

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    LOL probably fine to stack it on top. Heat is mostly from the tubes and it goes upward. If I get a chance, will take a wattage reading and take a photo with the FLIR.
     
  20. roshambo123

    roshambo123 Friend

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    Jason posted this on Head-fi

    [​IMG]
     
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