[Shane D]

Starting straight off with a torture test:
IBasso SR2's with 16 Ohms of resistance! Sounds pretty good.

 

[Shane D]

Back at it today. I ended up going through my test list today with my Clears. I have a couple of pretty bassy tunes in there and I was going hmmm. So, I turned on the Little Dot MK9. I gave the tubes almost an hour to warm up while I played other stuff.
Head to Head with both amps I found that the LD MK9 seemed to have a slight edge in bass and clarity.
So, I will have to push ahead the tube rolling schedule.
Tomorrow I will put in the Amperex's and Bugle Boys and see where we go.

It is funny how you can become so conditioned to an amp sound. You are like, that is a great, all-round sound. And then you try another amp and go oh...that's what I was missing. It is the same with headphones. That happens to me all the time with my Grado's. I will love them for several days straight and then change over to say, the Clears. And my reaction is always the same:
"Oh, that's where the bass is!"

 

[Shane D]

Loving this amp with the Amperex 6DJ8/ECC88's. A nice day of listening.

 

[Runrunsmithfly]

Loving this amp with the Amperex 6DJ8/ECC88's. A nice day of listening.

I bought a pair of the Amperex orange globes I really like.

 

[Shane D]

I bought a pair of the Amperex orange globes I really like.

I can't help wondering if I should try the Bugle Boys tomorrow? I have heard good things about the orange globes.

 

[Shane D]

Sunday starts with the Bugle Boys.

 

[jonathan c]

Sunday starts with the Bugle Boys.

‘starts’? … you posted at 12:39 PM (EST) / 1:39 PM (AST) … burning daylight? … up & at ‘em !!

 

[gimmeheadroom]

Sunday starts with the Bugle Boys.

Yep, you got a wild hair

 

[Shane D]

‘starts’? … you posted at 12:39 PM (EST) / 1:39 PM (AST) … burning daylight? … up & at ‘em !!

Missed my music hunting on Friday, so I had to start there. Two plus hours to find nothing. And then off to the lazy boy. I gave my tubes an hour to warm up and hit my chair at 1:30PM, Atlantic time.

 

[Shane D]

Yesterday was lots of rock from the 70's and the 80's and nothing sounded bad. A fun day indeed. I am now settled on the the 6DJ8/ECC88 Amperex's. I also installed the socket savers in the Valhalla 2.

Today was jazz day and wow, was it good. My list of jazz greatness today was:

1) Stanley Turrentine
2) Lee Morgan
3) Wayne Shorter
4) Art Blakey & The Jazz Messengers
5) Keith Jarrett
6) Cannonball Adderley
7) Pepper Adams
8) Donald Byrd

Everything was very clear and balanced. Not very tubey, but I am loving what I'm hearing.

 

[GiacomoLaita]

In your opinion, is the Valhalla 2 in the list of OTL amp that one should try? There is a nice unit used on eBay here in the UK and I was wondering if it would be worth a try even with a stock tube configuration. Or is it "worth" a try but if you only tube roll?

 

[dpump]

Stock tubes are fine. As far as I know, Schiit always uses Russian tubes, not Chinese tubes, and they are very good tubes. The output tubes have the least effect on the sound. Driver tubes will give you the most change. If you aren't happy with the sound with the stock tubes, I don't believe rolling tubes will change your mind. And you can always resell if you aren't satisfied.

 

[Shane D]

In your opinion, is the Valhalla 2 in the list of OTL amp that one should try? There is a nice unit used on eBay here in the UK and I was wondering if it would be worth a try even with a stock tube configuration. Or is it "worth" a try but if you only tube roll?

I enjoyed it with stock tubes. It is a great value machine. I do like it better with some Amperex tubes, but it is not a night and day difference.

 

[GiacomoLaita]

Stock tubes are fine. As far as I know, Schiit always uses Russian tubes, not Chinese tubes, and they are very good tubes. The output tubes have the least effect on the sound. Driver tubes will give you the most change. If you aren't happy with the sound with the stock tubes, I don't believe rolling tubes will change your mind. And you can always resell if you aren't satisfied.

That is an interesting point about rolling. So not matter how much you tube roll, at least for the Valhalla 2, the sound signature would pretty much stay the same.

 

[Runrunsmithfly]

I definitely notice a difference between the stock tubes, Amperex orange globes, and JJ6922s.