The HD600 sounded good out of the Magni 3, but curiosity got the best of me...
I was reluctant to spend $350 on an amp, but I felt safe with Schiit's 15-day return policy. After scouring forums and reading reviews, I wasn't able to find a clear answer on how the Valhalla 2 sounds with the HD600s. DarkVoice, BottleHead Crack, Little Dot Mk II & III were being name-dropped everywhere I looked. I decided I needed to make a leap of faith. I decided to go with Schiit for their design, warranty, and reputation. The Valhalla 2 arrived at my doorstep...
First impressions mean everything, and I was impressed. The fit and finish of the Valhalla 2 is beautiful; a work of art. The tubes came carefully packaged and protected. I was happy to see that this amp did not have an obnoxious wall wart. After seating the tubes, I flipped on the power switch...I was met with a beautiful orange glow reminiscent of a cozy fireplace. I let the tubes warm up a bit, and prepared myself for what was to come.
WOW. I noticed a drastic improvement in sound quality. If I can describe it in one word, I'd say "effortless". The Valhalla 2 powered my HD600s effortlessly. I noticed that I could hear details in songs that I previously missed. The sound-stage was cracked open a bit; the music was given more space and clarity. Is this the same headphone? The Valhalla 2 also injected a bit of "oomph" into the bass. The sound became smoother, yet more detailed. It's as if this amp was made for this headphone.
I was happy with the HD600s before, but now I am ecstatic. Now I see why people buy more expensive amps. This amp worth more than it's price. I'm blown away.
I couldn't take my headphones off that night. I just sank into the music. It was truly an amazing experience. It goes without saying that I am keeping the Valhalla 2.
I was reluctant to spend $350 on an amp, but I felt safe with Schiit's 15-day return policy. After scouring forums and reading reviews, I wasn't able to find a clear answer on how the Valhalla 2 sounds with the HD600s. DarkVoice, BottleHead Crack, Little Dot Mk II & III were being name-dropped everywhere I looked. I decided I needed to make a leap of faith. I decided to go with Schiit for their design, warranty, and reputation. The Valhalla 2 arrived at my doorstep...
First impressions mean everything, and I was impressed. The fit and finish of the Valhalla 2 is beautiful; a work of art. The tubes came carefully packaged and protected. I was happy to see that this amp did not have an obnoxious wall wart. After seating the tubes, I flipped on the power switch...I was met with a beautiful orange glow reminiscent of a cozy fireplace. I let the tubes warm up a bit, and prepared myself for what was to come.
WOW. I noticed a drastic improvement in sound quality. If I can describe it in one word, I'd say "effortless". The Valhalla 2 powered my HD600s effortlessly. I noticed that I could hear details in songs that I previously missed. The sound-stage was cracked open a bit; the music was given more space and clarity. Is this the same headphone? The Valhalla 2 also injected a bit of "oomph" into the bass. The sound became smoother, yet more detailed. It's as if this amp was made for this headphone.
I was happy with the HD600s before, but now I am ecstatic. Now I see why people buy more expensive amps. This amp worth more than it's price. I'm blown away.
I couldn't take my headphones off that night. I just sank into the music. It was truly an amazing experience. It goes without saying that I am keeping the Valhalla 2.
