Schiit Valhalla 2

Question: Is anyone using their Valhalla 2 with a power conditioner? If so: did it improve or degrade the sound? Or do nothing at all? I ordered a power conditioner on Amazon to try with my amp and my Marantz stereo system. I've seen mixed thoughts on using power conditioners with headphone amps.

 

I use a Pure sine power conditioner, and could not find any sound changes.

 

It took a few tries, but I did get a pair of 6CG7 that I'm satisfied with. The RCA blackplates had some hum in one channel My first Electro-Harmonix pair had metallic ringing sound in one channel. This 2nd EH pair does not appear to have any issues. While I do still think the changes in sound are relatively minor as previously noted I do think it's hard to go wrong at about $30 for an Electro-Harmonix pair.

 

Yes, I do. Some impressions here:

http://www.superbestaudiofriends.or...ctors-ups-yadayadayada.282/page-12#post-99198

Power conditioners are not all alike. I bought and still use the Furman. With amps there are are slight negative effects on things like dynamics, but the layer of fuzz that gets removed makes it worth the compromise to me. With headphone amps the negative effects are less, because current draw is lower. On the other hand I tried an ATL hifi DC blocker that completely destroyed all dynamics and rolled off the treble even with a headamp.

I am waiting on something from PI Audio to replace the Furman. This is a parallel filtering circuit, so no current restricting parts in series with the AC which should avoid impacting the dynamics like the Furman does. These are relatively pricey though (start at $400). In the US the Furman PST-8D or Emotiva CMX-2 seems to be the best budget options so long as you are aware of and can live with the tradeoffs.

Of course if your power is clean already, then no conditioner is the best option.

 

I know I am repeating myself. I’ve rolled more than a few tubes into the Valhalla 2. Even the 6CG7, which I like for the HD800’s, still doesn’t change the sound signature that much compared to other amps that use the same type tubes. The amp isn’t really for tube rollers. You can make some minor adjustments with tubes, but I would look at the Sunrise or Horizon or similar designs if you want to experiment with tubes in this amp price range. They are much more tube dependent in terms of sound signatures.

 

Tube management. The V2's a lot of fun!

 

Greetings ALL!

Not sure if this has been addressed already... but wanted to share my 2 cents as I just got the Valhalla 2 a few days ago... I love it so far and yes, I have hooked up to a solid state (old home theatre) receiver, feeding KEF Q700 floorstanders... Mainly my music comes from the Hackintosh, AIFF and flac files via toslink to Bifrost DAC.

In between I do run an oldie ADC equalizer, Sound Shaper ONE, mainly flat, but fine tuned depending on the content...

I really love the sound... yeah, it sounds "better" straight to the headphone (Grado GS1000i), but I am super happy with the sound from the speakers too...

I am sure a power tube amp would be amazing, and that might happen down the road, but for now, I am a happy puppy...

BTW I am using the russians 6N6P along with slovakians JJ E88CCs.

cheers!

 

I recently bought a set of EH 6922 gold pins....even though going into this amp I really IMO did not think rolling tubes would really bring any exceptional real world differnce...but I found a set on ebay that were relatively inexpensive and new...so money spent!

Well I am pleasantly surprised that it did make a difference to me with my high impedance cans, like the HD600s and T90 and T1's.....

More open, more natural....seems like a new amp again, and I hate to admit that! Being so analytical and objective.

I cant put the stodk tubes back in!! %^$*&%$

Find myself just listening for hours and smiling!

Life is good!
Alex

Note: Going from Jriver #24 and or Foobar 2000 to Bifrost Multibit via Gen 5 USB to Vahalla2 to cans...

 

Can anyone that's done a bit of tube rolling recommend something that will give a little more weight in the mids? I picked up a spark and while the Valhalla 2 has better technicalities, the Sparks mids with HD600 is even more enjoyable. It's almost more gooey and a tad bit more heft. I go back and forth loving both but wishing I could combine them.

 

Maybe I'll just buy a modi 3 to play with instead..

 

Owning the Vahalla2, BH Crack, and BH Mainline going back and forth with HD 600's, T1's I find that when I want a hefty more fuller less analytical sound I grab the T1's and the Vahalla2....its a more mellow fuller sound...with the HD600's its more clear and squeaky clean IMO....but there is that missing overall immersiveness to me...both are good just depending on the source music I prefer one over the other...of course that could change quickly with a beer or two!

 

Actually ended up rolling some JJ 6922 gold pins into it. Changed the stage a bit and added more weight. I really want enjoyed the pairing with 6xx.

 

Liquid platinum and HD6xx ironically cured my problem. I don't even want to look at anything for at least a year !! (Looking now....)

I must say though Valhalla 2 is the window into a lot for things that are spoken of here. Incredible amp for the money where the HD6 are concerned.

 

Valhalla 2 with some warmer NOS tubes does well. I was using adapters for 2C51 tubes with great success.

 

I got a pair of the gold pin EH 6922's and feel the same way...

Alex

 

So after using the EH 6922 tubes the Platinum came with, JJ gold pins and the gold Lions in the Valhalla 2... I like the gold lions in the Valhalla 2 the best. Actually amazed how much the Valhalla 2 kicks ass after listening to the liquid platinum for 6 weeks straight then going back. Ironically I bought the gold lions for the liquid platinum but did not like the way mids sounded. They gave the LP kind of clinical sound. Popped them in the Valhalla and with HD6xx they seem to really hone in the mids. More robust mids I didn't notice the thinness the amp has at times as much. Liked the highs better too not as grainy, not that it bothered me much. JJ gold pins I got for the Valhalla I like better in the LP go figure.

The Valhalla 2 is not going anywhere as much as I love the platinum. The Valhalla 2 with gold lions and HD6xx and Modi Multibit is just so smooth and relaxed to me. Still has decent attack and that transparent character the amp has shines through still. I mostly listen to 60s/70s rock prog blues and some jazz and classical and whatever Zappa is from 66-79 !

 

Has anyone used the Valhalla 2 as a preamp going into power amp or powered speakers? how well does it perform?

thanks!

 

Pretty badly. The preamp features on the Schiit headphone amps are basically just convenience features, and among those the Valhalla's is one of the worst. OK so maybe it will warm the sound up a bit but you will also lose staging, macrodynamics, clarity, transient response ... If you have anything better than a crappy set of multimedia PC speakers, get a Sys or a Saga instead.