Schiit Folkvangr Review - Measures like shit, but sounds GRRREAT

Discussion in 'Headphone Amplifiers and Combo (DAC/Amp) Units' started by purr1n, Jun 30, 2022.

  1. roshambo123

    roshambo123 Friend

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    I believe Jason said the output tubes do not need to be matching, so you'd just swap out any bad tubes is my understanding.
     
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  2. bokonon

    bokonon New

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    I have a hum at high gain, not dependant at volume or source or distance from DAC. When tubes are hotter, hum is louder. Can anybody direct me to solution? Thank you!
     
  3. RestoredSparda

    RestoredSparda Friend

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    This is the type of thing Schiit support exists for. I would reach out to them.
     
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  4. Ksaurav402

    Ksaurav402 Friend

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    Ground loop issue? Connect DAC, amp , streamer to same surge protector and check.
     
  5. likearake

    likearake Acquaintance

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    An odd question but... Is it possible schiit use much noisier 230v transformers than US transformers?

    I received a FV yesterday but the hum cannot be the same as Purrins impressions. Low gain with RS1x next to an open window in the middle of the day in a busy city area and I could hear the hum noticeably. On high gain it's unbearable. High gain with HD650 and HD800 has a noticeable amount of hum.

    Googling for schiit hum invariably brings up non-US owners complaining about hum on their Folkvangrs, Valhallas, Bifrosts, etc. My Valhalla is similarly noisy but not as bad, my old Gungir MB you could hear the transformer buzzing a few metres away. All across multiple locations in Sydney.

    Did I just get a bad unit or is there something going on here?
     
  6. Garns

    Garns Friend

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    All my Schiit gear has hummed pretty badly in Sydney, but also my EC amp and my power conditioner itself. Voltage in Sydney is normally around 240v not 230v most of the time, could be that. Or it could just be all the pole transformers are overloaded to shit and it's harmonics from that. (Don't get me started on the ripple control signalling).
     
  7. Gazny

    Gazny MOT: ETA Audio

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    Could be that the power output is higher than the predicted average for the transformer.
     
  8. likearake

    likearake Acquaintance

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    I've also had the amp going into protection mode pretty regularly when flipping the gain switch. Probably once or twice an hour on average. Is that consistent with others experience?
     
  9. ColdsnapBry

    ColdsnapBry Almost "Made"

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    I really think Schiit needs to address this and do some testing.

    Because every Schiit product I've had on 230v and I'm in New Zealand has hummed to various noise levels. I'm talking the transformers inside the unit emitting a hum itself that is noticable in the room. My Bifrost 2 was so loud I sent it back to Schiit to get looked at and it came back with the same hum. The hum was so bad I mounted the Bifrost 2 under my desk and that spaced it out enough and put a 3" piece of wood between me and it. I eventually sold it because I could still hear if my room was quiet at night. I won't really buy anything from Schiit that uses that transformer.

    It's not the 240v being in NZ / AUS that's causing it either. As I had a transformer that dropped my voltage down to a steady 230v and it still hummed.
     
  10. Priidik

    Priidik MOT: Estelon

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    Power transformers are usually designed to operate close to core saturation near or at the zone where hysteresis loop becomes nonlinear (this is maximum flux density close to core material saturation - in case of typical CK44 laminate steel this is about 1.5 T). The reason for that is twofold - the size is less, thus cheaper and safety. Under overvoltage conditions the voltage in the secondaries will not rise much.

    Noise from overloading is unlikely. Nominally loaded (max stated power) transformer (usually transformers are somewhat with a margin) will usually not hum more than one running open circuit. My reasoning is hum mostly originates from magnetrorestriction and flux transfer through airgaps in the core - both are roughly proportional to the flux density in the core (in the linear range). Flux in the core from input and output parameters perspective is only dependant on the exciting voltage (Faraday law) and the induced counterflux by secondary under load, which subtracts from the overall flux. Then, under load the flux in the core is less - magnetorestrictive forces are also lessened. Only source of added noise could come from the coil microphonics (magnetic force pulling or pushing proportional and perpendicular to current in the coil wire multiplied by turns - induction force law), but that usually is well controlled when the windings have been resin impregnated.

    Long story short - transformers hum because of overvoltage in the mains, dc bias in the mains and less often, but significant harmonics can also do that. All of these driving the core too close to saturation, the real causation.
    Then comes the mechanical construction - EI core is always louder than toroid because of the geometry and construction limitation. The construction quality matters. Resin impregnation matters. Potted transformers and coils are not a fashion statement, this technique works to silent them. Transformer coupling to the chassis matters. All that until the core gets too close to saturation.

    One could spend more and risk safety by ordering a transformer that has bigger core and operates in lower flux density.
    Some boutique high-end makers do transformers like that - they do make sound better for amplifiers.
     
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  11. Garns

    Garns Friend

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    Great info, thanks.

    You say "Noise from overloading is unlikely", but I didn't mean the transformers in the equipment was overloaded, I was thinking that the 11kV -> 415V -> 230V stepdown transformers in the street might be saturated so producing AC waveforms with significant higher harmonics, which are then making the transformers in the gear hum. Given that the hum issue is not DC (I have tried a few DC blockers) and according to @ColdsnapBry, lowering the voltage doesn't fix it, I wonder if it's that.
     
  12. ColdsnapBry

    ColdsnapBry Almost "Made"

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    That's what I've concluded as well. As I tried a DC blocket too, haha. Looks like we've both been down the same path. I ulitmately conclued it's something in my lines and something to do with the Schiit transformer they use, because I don't have the issue with other DAC / AMPs and I've had a ton pass through my place.
     
  13. Clemmaster

    Clemmaster Friend

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    In New Zealand the transformers need to be wired in the opposite direction!

    Right? :p
     
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  14. Armaegis

    Armaegis Friend

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    That's a shameful misunderstanding! The transformer itself must be installed upside down :D
     
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  15. Biodegraded

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  16. Ksaurav402

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    I used it in India at 210-220v without hum. May be anything beyond 220v causes hum?
     
  17. Paul Scandal

    Paul Scandal New

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    Depends on how many hours. Just one of 8, tend to replace one, but if they are due, with FV it's $50 for a complete swap via ebay.
     
  18. Grattle

    Grattle Friend

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    Why does Elear not count?
     
  19. Clemmaster

    Clemmaster Friend

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    Because it had a fucked up response with not upper mids. It was an experiment that later turned into the Clear.
     
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  20. Ggrunt66

    Ggrunt66 New

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    Being a new owner of the Folkvangr, Schiit will provide tube replacement for current owners. You need to provide the order number and serial number of the amp. I emailed Schiit and received a reply. Schitt will sell a complete set of tubed for the Folkvangr for $300 + tax and shipping. I am considering buying a set to have in reserve.
     

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