Flagship IEM with 19 Drivers and Precision Bass System
The THIEAUDIO Valhalla sets a new standard with its 19-driver configuration per side, featuring four Sonion subwoofers, ten low-midrange drivers, four Knowles mid-treble drivers, and one ultra-treble tweeter. With a 4-way crossover and multi-tubing system, it delivers a 10dB bass shelf with sharp decay at 200Hz, warm midrange, and extended treble up to 40kHz. Powered by the Precision Bass System, the Valhalla ensures subwoofer-level impact with reduced ear fatigue, offering unmatched clarity and tonal balance for professionals and enthusiasts.
Pros: The ultimate THIEAUDIO model
Technical and accurate tonality
Very impressive BA bass performance
Clean and open midrange
Airy and well extended highs
Spherical stage and accurate imaging
Premium ergonomic Titanium shells
Unique and cool design
19 Branded quality drivers from Sonion and Knowles
Cons: On the larger side
Could have had a more premium box experience
Stock cable is a little thick
THIEAUDIO Valhalla - The hall of warriors
Disclaimer
I bought the Valhalla with a discount, and I can say whatever I want without any guidelines from Thieaudio or Linsoul.
All impressions are my own subjective thoughts after having used them for a good time. These are my thoughts at this moment, and as time moves I might change my opinion.
This is also a very subjective hobby where everything from experience, anatomy or age will affect what we hear. Also keep in mind that it is easy to use bold words when talking about differences, while it may be perceived as a small change for you.
While I can perceive something as natural sounding, I do believe we can never get a perfect performance similar to what is achieved live.
Ranking System:
1 Very bad or unlistenable
2 Listenable but not good
3 Average
4 Very good
5 Exceptional or having a special sauce
My rating system highly values what is musical for me, so my rating will always be a subjective opinion.
My audio preference is neutral with some warmth, I can also like forward midrange and treble if not excessive. I am a believer in having different tuned gears for different genres or moods instead of chasing the single perfect one.
Main music genres I listen to are metal, electronica, jazz and pop. I am a music lover, and can also listen to most genres and enjoy it.
I have been into music gear since the mid 90s, gifted some big speakers at an early age. Then moved more and more into headphones with my entry being Koss Porta Pro and a Sony Discman.
I have tried playing many instruments over the years from piano to saxophone without getting far, this due to not having the biggest patience in learning to play.
My current favorites in Headphones are ZMF Verite Open and HFA Dahlia.
My current favorites in IEMs are LETSHUOER Cadenza 12 and THIEAUDIO Origin.
My current favorites in Earbuds are FranQL Caelum and Venture Electronics Zen 3.0.
Gear used in the main rig is Denafrips Ares 12th-1 DAC together with the AUNE S17 Pro EVO headphone amplifier. I also use tube amplification with Cayin HA-2A, perfect to change up the sound.
Portable gear being Shanling M8T and iBasso DX180, with some dongles like HIBY FC6 and ifi GO pod Kensei.
Thieaudio was created by Linsoul in 2019, with the goal to have some of the best engineers to make new IEMs as their best brand. Linsoul is today one of leading brands from the east, the well known Monarch and Oracle series had lots of praise and is well known. They have also had a less talked about model called Divinity that had 16BA and was their flagship, the Valhalla follows in this models footsteps and is their new model using a total of 19 Balanced Armatures per side.
The Valhalla is the Flagship model now, it is a statement piece crafted with 19 branded drivers from Sonion and Knowles. And is put together in a luxurious titanium shell, with a vibrant unique faceplate.
The tuning follows the Thieaudio signature that many enjoy, balancing musicality and technicality. The Valhalla has a 4 way passive crossover combined with 4 acoustic tubes, this is made quite advanced to ensure coherence and clarity. They also have a PBS bass system to enhance the low end quality, can look more on the flier below for the details about this technology.
Valhalla is delivered in the normal THIEAUDIO box, a black box with a printed sleeve around. Opening up the lid you are presented by the items that have their own inserts in the foam, clean and simple.
While the box and unboxing is okay, it may not be what some could expect for a flagship of this price.
Personally I don't care, as I buy IEMs for the sound and not the box. But some have a different opinion than me, and I understand their opinion about it.
The stock accessories of Valhalla are okay, you get the same new cable that was used on Origin. EliteNoir Cable, THIEAUDIO’s best audio cable with 5N and 4N silver plated LCOFC.
The cable is modular and is delivered with 3.5mm single ended and 4.4mm balanced hardware, it is also made so it is easy to change out while also staying secure.
The same nice storage puck that was delivered with Origin, it is smaller than their previous black case but it look more premium. It has soft fabric to protect the IEM on the inside and outside, and is big enough to store the Valhalla together with the stock cable.
The tips is one thing I feel that they could improve, and deliver some branded silicon tips and some better foamies.
Description of the cable:
THIEAUDIO EliteNoir Cable features high-grade components including a 7x7x0.08mm Silver Plated Over 5N LCOFC wire and a 16x7x0.06mm Silver Plated Over 4N LCOFC wire, meticulously crafted for optimal sound transmission. The cable’s structure includes 161 wires in a 20AWG configuration, with inner insulation and an outer layer of Smoke Black-Blue Soft PVC sourced from the USA. The EliteNoir is also equipped with a multi-plug system supporting 3.5mm and 4.4mm connectors, ensuring compatibility and versatility for various audio setups. Additionally, the cable incorporates Spiral Shielding and Litz Type 2 technology for enhanced durability and reduced signal loss.
Let's talk a little about the design, the faceplate is gorgeous and very special. It is also quite bold as not everyone wants their IEMs to be flashy, the more industrial shell and faceplate have a good contrast that make the faceplate pop.
The faceplate changes a little depending on the lighting and angle, it's a subtle effect but also very beautiful and interesting to look at. Here you can see that the resin that is at the top adds more depth to the design.
The shell is in grade 5 titanium, and is made with CNC technology. The shell has ergonomic curves that are not excessive but also enough so it elevates the comfort, with only one downside the size. It is one of the more big shells coming from Thieaudio, not that weird since it has 19BA per side. The 2 pin socket is also surrounded by the titanium, it has the recessed style socket that makes cables more secure. Only downside being you cannot use flat style cables, as the pins are often too short.
As for the titanium, the quality is excellent. The slightly brushed finish makes it more resistant to fingerprints and scratches than polished titanium, it also looks very good.
The nozzle is the same size as the other previous Thieaudio models, having a 6.2mm wide lip that works with most silicon and foam tips. The lip also helps the tips stay secure without falling off, the length is also excellent not being long or short.
The length is also good, so folks with smaller ears can have a shallow fit and still use it even if the shell is on the large side. And for some of us with large ears, the Valhalla fits excellent due to all the ergonomics that Thieaudio have perfected from previous models.
Sound impression
Most of my listening has been together with Shanling M8T in transistor mode, using the supplied Elite Noir cable. In short the sound of Valhalla is the sound signature that most Thieaudio models use, being warm and natural.
Going to use the ranges here in review:
Details and soundstage
Detail in IEMs is down mostly to quality driver and how it amplitudes the frequencies, when the drivers is faster it increases the resolution you hear.
The Valhalla does both of this, it has a tuning that lets music be open and clear. There are no big dips that take away sound, and the bass is controlled to let the mids breath. It also doesn't resort to having large peaks in the upper mids or treble to enhance detail, it manages to be super clear and resolving without that.
If one talks about flagship IEMs, the Valhalla can compete in technicalities to the best ones out there that I have heard. Just remember that this is a subjective opinion, as details/clarity is not an objective or measurable thing.
The soundstage is also great, the imaging capability is spot on with good 3D cues in both the width, height and depth. It is not the deepest or widest set I have heard, and often sets only have one axis being extra large. Instead all the axes are more or less equally large on Valhalla, making the sound spherical.
Timbre
So when I talk about timbre I think about how accurate it sounds like, Valhalla has a timbre that is very natural. It is actually the most accurate BA set I have used, and I might even prefer it to the legendary Storm.
Music is not boring and sterile, real life performances are full of warmth and energy without being harsh or metallic. Valhalla manages this for me, it is fun and engaging while sounding realistic.
The biggest con of all BA designs is the low end, since BA does not have the decay and texture of a good dynamic driver as it moves less air. Valhalla still manages to sound surprisingly good for BA design, and can rival the best BA models in quality and even sound better than many DDs. And with BA we get the benefit of having the sound being more coherent than with DD transitioning over to BA, so the thing is that I really love the BA bass from Valhalla.
Since Valhalla follows Thieaudio tuning the bass reaches deep into the sub bass without drop off, making the balance from mid bass into the sub to sound accurate and fun. It can deliver thunderous vibration for both music and films, that can be pulsating low notes or sustained vibrating parts from strings, organs or synths.
The midbass is also very tactile and fast, making drums sound realistic and powerful. It can easily handle double kick drums from metal and still sound open, and then also sound excellent with strings like bass or cello. BAs have shorter sustain than dynamic drivers for bass, but this also depends on the DD.
The low midrange is clean and open in typical style from Thieaudio, letting both vocals and instruments have room to sound clear and nuanced. The bass is flattened out already around 150Hz, but it also declines slightly into the mids and rises again at 800Hz. This style is similar to many sets I enjoy, and lets the midrange still sound full and not sterile at the same time as not being thick.
Vocals are rich and sweet, this with both dark and more bright singers. I could also mention that folks who need their female vocals crystal clear and intense, Valhalla is not for you.
But for one like me who wants it natural and balanced this is close to perfection, since the balance of clarity and softness is perfect to let female vocalists shine without being piercing and tiresome.
The midrange also sounds very natural on instruments, the grand piano sounds coherent going from deepest octaves and up. Strings like classical guitar sound rich and nuanced, I could argue that Valhalla tends to sound the most accurate on nylon strings over metal strings. Similarly when playing brass instruments, sax or trumpet the sound is clean and nuanced with slight smoothness to it. This is a little important to consider, as there are definitely some types of drivers that suit some music better than others. BA is in a middle ground and often works well among a wide range, while planars often goes best with acoustic guitar or brass and then a softer DD work perfect with slow sustained strings like cello etc. Midrange is very complex for how we perceive the sound, but for me the Valhalla has a balanced and natural approach that works well over a wide range of music.
The highs are well extended with a good amount of air, lately I have been enjoying sets with BA for treble more than EST. Part of this is since the air is more present to me on it, so for Valhalla I hear nothing wrong and instruments and vocals sound realistic with air you actually notice.
The highs are not overly bright, so most music plays excellent without making you want to turn down the volume.
Synergies with accessories and gear
I love how Valhalla sounds together with tube amps, this can be with both desktop gear or portable devices. The tube sound often adds a richer experience with elements added to the harmonics, making for amore natural experience.
Some think about warmth when you tube, this is not always true as it depends on the device or tubes. Using a Cayin HA-2A with Ares 12th-1 R2R DAC does this, the treble is softer and the bass more enveloping and lush. My main DAP Shanling M8T is also warm, but less than the desktop amp. They both have a way of making sets more fun and less tiresome, so for a clear sounding set like Valhalla this is pure bliss for me.
But it's not always that sound we want, sometimes we want accuracy and extra transparency. Then using more neutral gear can deliver that, and Valhalla is very transparent to changes in the sourcegear. For me my transparent and more reference sounding device is the ifi GO bar Kensei, this is also a musical pairing more on the clinical side creating more of a reference sound with Valhalla.
Stock cable is too stiff for my liking, it sounds great and while you can get a tiny improvement changing to higher end cables it is not needed to njoy Valhalla to the fullest. The photo above is a Plussound Tri wire cable with Gold and SPC, soft and pliable and make a perfect pairing with Valhalla. The cable I have used the most with Valhalla is Lavricables Master Silver V4, just a transparent and perfect sounding cable.
I am lucky to have ears that work well with Thieaudio shells, so even the large models like Valhalla and Origin are easy to use. Also make me able to use almost any ear tip out there, for the favorite tips have been Divinus Velvet and also the same model in Wide. They provide a balanced and open sound, with the wide giving extra space and air over normal bore.
Comparisons
When evaluating the sets I use each of them over longer periods and also some shorter sessions swapping back and forth, it takes a long time and is not done in one sitting. The most critical comparison is done on my desktop setup that is highly capable, together with volume matching to take away loudness variance.
My comparisons often get very long, this time I will try to do it a little shorter so it is more easy to read.
The spider chart is slightly exaggerated on some points to show differences, this is a subjective evaluation and reflects what I prefer.
THIEAUDIO Oracle MKIII
This is a tribrid with 2DD, 2BA and 2EST, it retails at $589 and is a much cheaper offering than Valhalla. The shell has a similar shape as Valhalla, but is much smaller in size and is in resin.
Reason why I wanted this model in the review is because Oracle MKIII has the Thieaudio tuning with a little extra spice in the vocal range, making it one of the better sets for vocals, clarity and fun in its price.
First thing that I noticed is the sound is less clear and is more busy, the stage is also much smaller than with Valhalla. Tonality has some similarities, what is the most different is that the bass sounds softer on Oracle MK3. So the Valhalla with its BA is able to have a more impactful low end with more punch, in direct comparison the Oracle MK3 sounds a little soft and also slow in decay.
While I think Oracle Mk3 is great for vocals, it can also be more prone to sibilance that never happens on Valhalla. Both have natural shimmer to instruments like cymbals with great air, being well extended and not overly bright. Interesting is that the Valhalla seems to shimmer a little longer and stronger than Oracle MK3, from previous experience I felt this happened more with EST.
In short the sound of Valhalla sounds more high end with more transparency, and is also a little more fun due to the bass.
Letshuoer Cadenza 12
This is a hybrid IEM and is the flagship model from Letshuoer, it uses 1DD and 11BA and is priced $1999. The shell is also in titanium, but it is in a chrome finish that is more prone to smudges and scratches. The shells on both are ergonomic for me, but Cadenza 12 is much smaller and should fit almost anyone out there. The Cadenza 12 is also my reference IEM, and has been one of my favorite sets around this price.
The two models are not that far off from each other in tuning, and are more down to some softness and less bass on Cadenza 12. The Cadenza 12 can often come off as brighter than Valhalla, because of less warmth but also something in the highs being more pronounced. Both are resolving sets, but with more clarity and separation on Valhalla.
Bass is a little more elastic on Cadenza 12 and blooms and lingers longer, Valhalla is instead more tactile and punchy. The sub bass has more presence on Valhalla, and I actually prefer Valhalla over Cadenza 12 for synth based electronica that often use the sub range. Midrange is great on both but is cleaner on Valhalla, but more smooth on Cadenza 12. Vocals are positioned closer to the listener on Cadenza 12, and can make it sound more intimate or beautiful if one like this. Highs are very similar, and both have top level treble and air for me.
In short the sound of both are very similar with more warmth on Valhalla, Valhalla also has more clarity since Cadenza 12 is instead more smooth on transients.
Letshuoer Mystic 8
This is also a multi BA model with 8 branded drivers per side, it cost around half of the Valhalla at $989. The shell is also in titanium, but a very different design and also a smaller shell. In a way this can for some be a direct competitor to Valhalla, as both are all BA designs and new models on the market.
The Mystic 8 is for those who want a more neutral/brighter sound than Valhalla, Mystic 8 also has more vocal focus than Valhalla. The technical level is similar, I could argue that the Valhalla is a little higher level but due to the tuning of Mystic 8 it can often sound as technical.
Bass is much lighter and lack impact on Mystic 8, the quality is actually very good on Mystic 8 and close to Valhalla and is just due to the tuning being more polite.
Miidrange is cleaner and more intense with Mystic 8, this is mostly because of the lighter bass making the mids and treble be more prominent. But also since it has more upper mids/low treble, making parts like cymbals or bright vocalists to be more intense and focused.
The highs are clear and well extended on Mystic 8 in similar fashion as Valhalla, just a tiny bit less shimmering air.
In short Mystic 8 is a technical set that is close to Valhalla in performance, but the tuning is much less warm and appears brighter. More for the neutral gang.
When comparing Thieaudio Valhalla I have used the tracks in the playlist with some extras, I will also provide a few albums I have enjoyed during the review time with Valhalla. The tonality is close to perfection for me, so I enjoy almost any music with it.
It is only with some intense metal that Valhalla can get too much, but this is also due to personal preference of darker sound for it.
When I think about flagship IEMs I think about technicality and awesome sound, that is exactly what THIEAUDIO has made with Valhalla. And as a man from the Viking lands I must say I love the name Valhalla, the hall of warriors under Odin. Only the best warriors that falled in combat came to Valhalla to feast and celebrate, a grand place only for the best.
The Valhalla is a high end IEM and retail at $1999, but for that you get one of the better IEMs out there if you value a mix of technicality and fun. Another thing making it very special, is that it uses 19 Balanced Armatures per side and all of them from Sonion and Knowles with premium quality shells in Titanium.
Even with so many drivers they have tuned Valhalla masterfully where it is coherent and sounds like a high end single driver, this is not always a given as this requires good tuners with excellent crossovers and tech. The sound is balanced but also fun with nice warmth, with an extended sound reaching deep into the lowest sub bass or bringing beautiful shimmering air.
There are only two downsides of Valhalla, first being the size of the shells as it can be troublesome for small ears. The other is the price, but this is also expected when we look at an IEM with 19 branded drivers and a premium Titanium shell.
I highly recommend you to check out Valhalla if you're looking for a high end BA IEM, it is one of the best ones out there for me. I am giving it a full 5 stars on Head-Fi with a personal score of 93/100, you can order the Valhalla from many places like Linsoul, Musicteck and more.
Great review! Apologies if I missed it in the review but I was wondering about the size compared to other thieaudio iems specifically the monarch mk3. If anyone has tried both would you say it fits similar, smaller, or larger? I saw hbb say great things about this set and it seems like it competes heavily with 3-6k sets which is amazing for the price but the mk3 for me could get a bit fatiguing after a while.
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I was positively impressed by this one, a few weeks ago.