Schiit Folkvangr - Impressions Thread

[XERO1]

Specs -

Without Impedance Multiplier
Maximum Power, 32 ohms: 300mW RMS per channel at less than 10% THD
Maximum Power, 300 ohms: 1.2W RMS per channel at less than 10% THD
With Impedance Multiplier
Maximum Power, 32 ohms: 1.4W RMS per channel at less than 10% THD
Maximum Power, 300 ohms: 1.5W RMS per channel at less than 10% THD
Frequency Response: 20Hz-20KHz, +/-0.5dB (worst case, high gain, 32 ohms, impedance multiplier off)
THD: <0.5%, 20Hz-20KHz, at 1V RMS, low gain, 300 ohms
IMD: <0.4%, CCIF at 1V RMS, low gain, 300 ohms
SNR: >100dB, unweighted, referenced to 1V RMS, low gain; >90dB, unweighted, referenced to 1V RMS, high gain
Crosstalk: <-60dB, 20Hz-20KHz
Output Impedance: 18 ohms (high gain), 7 ohms (low gain) without impedance multiplier / 8 ohms (high gain), 3.5 ohms (low gain) with impedance multiplier
Input Impedance: 100K ohms
Gain: High- 6.5 (16.3dB); Low- 1.5 (3.5dB)
Topology: Output transformerless (OTL) and output capacitorless (OCL) Class-A triode headphone amplifier with White cathode follower (WCF) output; switchable gain (high/low); switchable 8x impedance multiplier (on/off)
Protection: Analog computer style oversight for high DC with turn-on delay and muting relay
Power Supply: 400VA transformer with secondaries for discrete regulated 200V and +/-100V supplies, plus secondaries for regulated +/-12V oversight and impedance multiplier supplies, plus 6.3VAC at 7.2A for tube heaters, more than 10,000uF filter capacitance on HV supplies
Power Consumption: 100W
Size: 16 x 8 x 2.875” (total height with tubes 4.5")
Weight: 15 lbs
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https://www.schiit.com/products/folkvangr

Limited Production Run - 250 units

MSRP - $1800 ($1850 silver)

 

[XERO1]

Reserved

 

[XERO1]

Well, it's finally launched!

The first units shipped should start arriving in the next 1-2 weeks.

 

[tafens]

Ordered. Have to wait a few weeks though, as the Gungnir to go with it ships in 4-6 weeks. Would be interesting to read some impressions here while I wait though!

 

[Orange5o]

I did the same but ordered separately. Shipping was the same either way..

 

[Kapazza]

Ordered. Have to wait a few weeks though, as the Gungnir to go with it ships in 4-6 weeks. Would be interesting to read some impressions here while I wait though!

I have a Gungnir MB with Unison (I think this is likely what you ordered? Not sure if there were any incremental updates since), currently paired with MJ2 but Folkvangr should be here soon. Will be pairing with Arya Stealth.

 

[mab1376]

I'll post impressions with hd650, he-5xx, t70, and pro900 fed from my bifrost2 once received!

Also plan on swapping out my saga+ to feed my aegir with Klipsch forte

 

[bdem1]

Does anyone have any plans to swap tubes yet? If so, which ones might be a good match from the input side

 

[Orange5o]

I'm ordering some nos 6jd8/ecc88's. Want to try Telefunkens, and maybe new stock gold lions if the tubeiness needs taming. 6n6p's there is not much option on, though I may get extras.

 

[mab1376]

Does anyone have any plans to swap tubes yet? If so, which ones might be a good match from the input side

these would be great although you can probably do better in classified

https://www.ebay.com/itm/125213348815?hash=item1d274c13cf:g:n5QAAOSwlThiN3Mb

 

[tafens]

I have a Gungnir MB with Unison (I think this is likely what you ordered? Not sure if there were any incremental updates since), currently paired with MJ2 but Folkvangr should be here soon. Will be pairing with Arya Stealth.

Yep, Multibit with Unison is the only configuration available now. Not that I would have selected it any other way anyway

 

[tafens]

Does anyone have any plans to swap tubes yet? If so, which ones might be a good match from the input side

I’m toying with the idea of rolling in a pair of new production Tung-Sol 6SN7GTB:s using an adapter. Got to find a matched pair of them forst though. On the other hand, I also have a matched pair of Psvane CV181-Z that would be nice to try..

 

[JLoud]

I’m planning on using my LCD4 and Grado GS3000e. Probably try the DCA Stealth, but the neat thing about them is their low distortion. So the Folkvangr might kind of defeat their strengths.

 

[XERO1]

I've got one coming too! It will be fascinating to compare it to the other great sounding amps I currently have.

There are the amps I have listed in my signature plus a Quicksilver Headphone Amp (which is actually the one I'm most interested in comparing it to) that I haven't listed because I've been having an issue with 60Hz hum with it.

I think I know what's causing it but I haven't got around to taking it apart and inspecting it yet. It still works and sounds great, but the hum is audible enough to occasionally become a distraction.

 

[AudioGal]

I've been waiting for this amp ever since Jason first mentioned it. I love tubes in general (I collect and restore old Tektronix 500 series oscilloscopes) and tube audio in particular. And I happen to love planar headphones. Ideally driven by tubes (Incubus) or tube hybrids (Mjolnir).

Ordered the Folkvangr yesterday about 930 AM EDT. It's listed as "In Production", so hopefully I'll see it late next week.
Ordered a Gungnir last week, it shipped yesterday, arrives on Saturday. As do my in-laws. I may get as far as unboxing it and powering it up, probably won't listen to it for a few days. Schiit DACs always need time to warm up and settle in after arrival. I'm really interested to compare the sound of the Gungnir to my Bifrost 2.

Assembling a frame now using black MakerBeam components (kinda like minature 80/20 extrusions) to hold the Folkvangr, my Mjolnir 2 above the Gungnir. The Incubus will sit off to the side of the Folkvangr, my streamer will sit below it.

Tubes - I will probably swap out the 6n1p with Raytheon 6BQ7A which I've found sound the best to my ear for tonal balance and spaciousness. I've also got some Amperex 6DJ8s I can give a try as well, though so far in both my Valhalla 2 and Mjolnir 2, I've really come to like the Raytheon 6BQ7s.

Headphone choices, I have a few. HD650, DT990, HE400, LCD3, DCA Ether C. The DCA Ether C may not be compatible even with the impedance multiplier on as they are ~13 ohms. They do sound great with the Mjolnir 2 (bought expressly to drive the DCAs), so that may be their permanent pairing. Proof will be in the listening.

The Folkvangr is the first Schiit product that I've been able to buy at introduction. I'm looking forward to this adventure!