Schiit Folkvangr Review - Measures like shit, but sounds GRRREAT

Yup. I'm surprised they are still available. I figured folks would snatch them up on credit and than resale with a price hike after they are removed from the Schiit site. We will see!

 

If FV had been released during the Covid stimulus packages I think that scenario would have been more likely. Given everyone is poor now I'm not as certain that there's a ton of money out there to pay premiums for audio gear.

 

Sounds too general to be accurate. Lots of poor people, but still lots of deep pockets and even the poors will buy stuff they can't afford. FV will sell out at some point and I can see a price hike happening because we live in a satire now.

 

Entirely possible. Hard to say and certainly a lot of variables with this one.

At any rate, mine just shipped.

I will say Covid stimulus absolutely did drive up prices on guns and ammunition and the end of the stimulus caused a dip in demand lol

 

I vote yes. Not like it's going to depreciate.

 

Any chance one of these might go out on a loaner tour after the Schiit Show?

 

That’s pretty impressively low background noise. My house seems pretty quiet right at or slightly above 30 dBA. I designed the mechanical systems for a concert hall once with a noise criteria of 15 (somewhere around 25 dBA). That was actually kind of challenging to do.

 

The lowest noise levels in my space are at night with appliances and HVAC off.
Designing a space with HVAC running and still achieving a low NC is quite challenging and expensive.
Calibrated measurements of my listening environment:
https://www.superbestaudiofriends.o...oise-floor-discussion.8589/page-2#post-280107
https://www.superbestaudiofriends.o...oise-floor-discussion.8589/page-4#post-283038

 

Ranking lists such as this are interesting, but are subject to so many variables, as you mention. A+ level components (of which I own a few) can produce magic, however it doesn't stop me from enjoying greatly modi 3E + Vali 2+ and ETA mini closed for reasonably long listening sessions.

Understood. It would have been useful to see D2, D3 and 4+HD+N sweeps over levels at 500 Hz, 1KHz and 5 KHz.

Based on schiit's measurements it would infer a D2 sweet spot for 300R high gain between 15 and 250 mV. Headphones with approximately 100 dB SPL at 0 dBu will be around 65 to 90 dB SPL at those levels. A great place for a distortion sweet spot.

 

they are not as diseased as the keyboard community yet

 

Since it’s low current and high output impedance, can this do preamp duty?

Nice high H2 preamp

 

I just ordered one.

TBH, $2k right now in disposable cash not common. Add to that the sparse reviews, I’m not surprised. Once more reviews hit the interwebs, things probably will heat up.

 

Are the low-impedance figures measured with or without the impedance multiplier circuit turned on? The amp seems much happier driving those loads with the circuit added according to the Schiit measurements. Would be interesting to see overall impressions with less sensitive lower impedance headphones too.

 

Interesting first take on Head-fi saying they felt Focals were muddy but big thumbs up on planar. Doesn't seem like they had high ohm Senns on hand to test. My FV should be here tomorrow (after it missed Saturday delivery on a long weekend fml), so we shall see.

 

I have my copy in hand. It's very attractive. My coworker was hypnotized by staring at it.

The early reports of people hearing very different things on different headphones and chains agrees with what I'm hearing. Folkvangr is a chimera that's headphone sensitive, source sensitive, and driver tube sensitive.

Mjolnir 2 has been my main headamp since 2017 so all comments relative to that.

Yggdrasil GS (SE) > Folkvangr (Amperex Orange Globes, High Gain, Impedence IC off) > HD800 SDR
Yggdrasil GS (BAL) > Mjolnir 2 (EH6922) > HD800 SDR

Both have a similar aggressive presentation, FV is more even and natural, MJ2 has extra Photoshop sharpening.

FV treble quality is excellent. MJ2 has splashy metallic wackness in the highs. This is the biggest difference.

FV has superior depth and clarity, half to 2/3 step difference. This does come across.

FV has more forward mids and leans darker but is more "correct" sounding and cohesive. MJ2 has more air.

MJ2 has additional focus & control while FV is more energetic. What you'd expect with hybrid vs. pure toob

Bass is close. MJ2 slams a little harder and is slightly tighter.

MJ2 stages wider due to the extra treble emphasis. The FV stage is taller.

FV has better blackground. Call it 10pm vs. 11pm.

Based on memory, DNA Starlett's headstage is wider, taller, and deeper than both the Schiit amps, and it can match or beat FV on most if not all technicals. Personally, I prefer the FV presentation as it's a bit cozier and doesn't stage as crazy wide. At any rate, they're certainly same tier.

This is Schiit's best headamp for high ohm headphones.

So, if you have Mjolnir 2 is it warranted spending $1800-2000 on Folkvangr? That depends on your chain and what things are worth to you. Does MJ2's dry treble really annoy you? Do you actually prefer some of the solid-statey-ness that MJ2 has? Do you want to deal with 10 tubes instead of just 2? I'm still answering these questions for myself.

Immaterial side note: The power button is a black rocker, not traditional Schiit mini-missile switch. I prefer the traditional.

 

Why test it with the impedence IC off? Hope you can add some comments about how it sounds when on!