Schiit Valhalla 2

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

  1. Lingering Sentiment

    Lingering Sentiment Acquaintance

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    I bought this one. Don't freak out too much. If it is a ground loop issue it's easily fixed. And common enough that Schiit mentioned it in the FAQ of Valhalla 2's manual.
     
  2. SadLikeVivi

    SadLikeVivi New

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    hmmm.. i'm not around a TV though
     
  3. SadLikeVivi

    SadLikeVivi New

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  4. Lingering Sentiment

    Lingering Sentiment Acquaintance

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    Hmm. There are other types of isolators, like the one you linked and the other one I tried. Unfortunately it was a trial and error process for me. I don't have any more advice other than to do more research and try things. Sorry.
     
  5. SadLikeVivi

    SadLikeVivi New

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    I'll buy both. if the cheap one works, i'll return the hum x

    thank you!
     
  6. Merrick

    Merrick A lidless ear

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    Not sure what's unproven about it, considering the same tech is in the Bifrost Multibit.
     
  7. Thenewerguy009

    Thenewerguy009 Friend

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    Before you do that, try a few things.
    Unplug everything from the wall socket & only plug in your DAC/Amp into it directly.
    Try a 2 prong adapter on both power cords to see if it is indeed a ground loop.
     
  8. wonderbrah

    wonderbrah New

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    Do you think it's okay to put schiit on top of the Valhalla 2? Specifically a Modi 2, with the only thing between them being the rubber feet obviously. Worried about excessive temperature possibly damaging the Modi. Would be a non-issue but the PYST cables are really short.
     
  9. Mystic

    Mystic Mystique's Spiritual Advisor

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    Not enough room on top for the Modi unless you put it sideways on top. The Modi should be fine, but it might make your Valhalla run hotter. Also be careful not to knock your Modi into your tubes.
     
  10. wonderbrah

    wonderbrah New

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    Thanks, sounds good.

    It does fit, just about half an inch hangs over the side. Had to reposition the feet to make it steady.
     
  11. zonto

    zonto Friend

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    I would recommend not stacking anything on top of the Valhalla 2, even if it almost fits. The amp runs hot, and you're sticking your DAC right above the V2's transformers.

    Unrelatedly, I upgraded from the V2 last week to a Torpedo III and posted a comparison of the two here in case anyone is curious. My favorite set of tubes with the V2 was the 6N23P as input and 6N6P-IR as output, discussed in my previous posts in this thread. Sold the V2 Saturday, but saved those tubes in case there's a Valhalla 3 at some point. :D
     
  12. wonderbrah

    wonderbrah New

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    For what it's worth, i emailed tech@schiit and Nick said it was fine to stack
     
  13. rayfalkner

    rayfalkner Not to be confused with Roy Fokker - Friend

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    Huzzah!
    Rushing home from work to open the long-awaited package containing Val 2!

    [​IMG]
    [​IMG]

    Now this is really something!
    A Japanese feeding an American that drives an Austrian that plays a Swedish song to an Indonesian. This audio hobby is very multicultural indeed.
    The mismatch in the stack's dimension irks me a bit though...
     
  14. Robert777

    Robert777 Acquaintance

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    How do you like the combination?
    I have the Fostex and the Schiit but I never connected the two together.

    Cheers.
     
  15. rayfalkner

    rayfalkner Not to be confused with Roy Fokker - Friend

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    I don't have experience in pairing the HP-A8 with any desktop amps other than a WA6.

    Now, a WA6 when compared to the Val 2... the hall of the vikings wins hands down for me.
    Makes me realize how much of a different sounding amp the WA6 is, or perhaps a realization that I don't like that slow, mellow, "tubey" sound that many of those WA amps seemingly trying to deliver.
    This Val 2 sounds clean and "as is" when compared to the WA6. I like it this way.

    I really owe SBAF a big thank you for recommending this piece of schiit, and to @jowls for the trouble of sending this box of schiit across the Indian ocean.
     
  16. Robert777

    Robert777 Acquaintance

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    Thanks for the impressions.
    Did you ever listen much to the HP-A8 on its own?
    I always found it a little laid back but very smooth.

    Cheers.
     
  17. rayfalkner

    rayfalkner Not to be confused with Roy Fokker - Friend

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    With HP-A8 built in amp? I do.
    Yep I agree that HP-A8 on its own is a laid back sounding unit. Lovely silent background, but no plankton, no punch, no sizzles. Actually a really nice attribute for those long nights trying to finalize a revision for tomorrow's meeting while listening to genres such as Jazz or Blues; but by itself the unit does not provide enough oomph for songs that is supposed to fill you with awe and inspiration such as instrumental epics, rock, etc.
     
  18. Robert777

    Robert777 Acquaintance

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    Nicely put. Thank you.
    I never noticed what it was lacking until I plugged my headphones into the Valhalla 2.
    Much more alive and dynanic.
     
  19. ColtMrFire

    ColtMrFire Writes better fan fics than you

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    Went ahead and ordered this to complement my soon to arrive Modi Multibit.

    I'm new to tube rolling. Any recommendations for treble heavy cans?
     
  20. aufmerksam

    aufmerksam Friend

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    Sell the treble heavy cans and buy something else?
    I am being facetious, but still must caution you not to try and fix the FR of your headphones by tube rolling. Tubes are more like tweaks, if they change the sound enough to really "fix" or modify short comings in your headphones they are probable messing other stuff up in a major way. This is especially true with treble, because of roll off.

    All that said, what headphones are you thinking of, and when you say treble heavy, are you looking for something that enhances the treble or mitigates it?
     

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