Schiit Valhalla 2 impressions

[feverfive]

........

 

[dishinpies]

Here's a clip from the new CanJam NY 2025 video that has a sneak peek at the upcoming Valhalla 3!

It looks like a mini Folkvangr, and it will make some pretty decent power into lower impedances. Can't wait!!

Looks like the Valhalla 3 will be a completely different beast from the 2. We're looking at going to 750mw into 32ohms and 250mw into 300ohms from 600mw into 300ohms and 340mw into 600ohms.

So it would seem that the V2 was made almost exclusively for high-impedance headphones, while the V3 was made to be more usable at lower impedances at the cost of power output at higher impedances.

This makes me feel even more justified in keeping the V2: it already seems easier to roll tubes/adapters, and I want it specifically for its higher output at high impedances. But I'm still interested to see what impressions are like when this drops, especially with those lower impedance headphones.

 

[MindBreak]

Looks like the Valhalla 3 will be a completely different beast from the 2. We're looking at going to 750mw into 32ohms and 250mw into 300ohms from 600mw into 300ohms and 340mw into 600ohms.

So it would seem that the V2 was made almost exclusively for high-impedance headphones, while the V3 was made to be more usable at lower impedances at the cost of power output at higher impedances.

This makes me feel even more justified in keeping the V2: it already seems easier to roll tubes/adapters, and I want it specifically for its higher output at high impedances. But I'm still interested to see what impressions are like when this drops, especially with those lower impedance headphones.

It was described as a min FV, so those numbers make sense. Granted that 250mw into my ZMF AO should be fine, and I run a lot of Planars so it seems like the ideal amp for me.

 

[Hankz]

I received my Valhalla 2 yesterday. I had been using my Cambridge Dacmagic200 for my power and it does ok with the ESS chips. The Valhalla seems to have really smoothed out the rough edges with the LCD2 closed . For $300, it is really impressive.

 

[bevanc]

So, experiment is in process..... 6N26P is working and working well on the Valhalla 2 with 5670 adapters. I think the tubes still need a bit of time, but with these my HD6XX actually have bass. Bonham's drums and John Paul Jones' bass are really articulate and defined. And the tube height matches the Foton 6N6P Gold Grid power tubes on the socket savers.

 

[squidman]

There is now a Valhalla3? Haven't seen on EU website..happy with Modius and Valhalla2 here and modi/magni stacks...

 

[MindBreak]

There is now a Valhalla3? Haven't seen on EU website..happy with Modius and Valhalla2 here and modi/magni stacks...

It is not released yet, but hopefully next month. It will be my first Valhalla/OTL Tube Amp.

 

[bevanc]

Valhalla 3 has landed

 

[Jimmyblues1959]

Valhalla 3 has landed

Great! Please post some listening impressions when the V3's start getting delivered!

 

[squidman]

Is Valhalla3 out? Pretty happy with modius and Valhalla2 here, can't see upgrading, think this is my end-game. And with DT -1770 finally got end-game closed-back cans. But of course listen mostly to Arya stealth and DT-880 and Senny hd600. My best cans so far.

 

[Jimmyblues1959]

Is Valhalla3 out? Pretty happy with modius and Valhalla2 here, can't see upgrading, think this is my end-game. And with DT -1770 finally got end-game closed-back cans. But of course listen mostly to Arya stealth and DT-880 and Senny hd600. My best cans so far.

Yes, Schiit started selling the Valhalla 3 about a week or two ago.

 

[1kHz]

I did not feel the Valhalla 2 had that tube warm sound I was looking for, does anyone know if the new Valhalla 3 has some warmth to the sound signature?

 

[Jimmyblues1959]

I did not feel the Valhalla 2 had that tube warm sound I was looking for, does anyone know if the new Valhalla 3 has some warmth to the sound signature?

I don't think Jason designed the Valhalla 2 to sound tubelike. Ironically, I've always found the Asgard 2 to sound more tubelike with my planars than solid state. Given its pure class A design, the A2 also makes a full watt of class A power into lower impedance headphones like the Fostex T50RP MK 3 and T60RP. Perhaps that's why it sounds more tubelike?

 

[squidman]

I bought the Beyer dt-880 specifically for the Valhalla 2 of course, a pair of 600! ohm cans to match amp. The Sennheiser hd600 are also great on it. Then again have magni modi stack with Arya Stealth, which is better? Hard to say. As a guitar player will always lean towards tubes, but that is very subjective. I think both setups sound great. One thing is it's not catastrophic with solid-state if I have a big night and forget to turn them off. Not burning down the flat. Then again have done that a few nights with Valhalla 2, and fingers crossed gone well so far. Burning them in or something. Happy listening!

 

[Jimmyblues1959]

I bought the Beyer dt-880 specifically for the Valhalla 2 of course, a pair of 600! ohm cans to match amp. The Sennheiser hd600 are also great on it. Then again have magni modi stack with Arya Stealth, which is better? Hard to say. As a guitar player will always lean towards tubes, but that is very subjective. I think both setups sound great. One thing is it's not catastrophic with solid-state if I have a big night and forget to turn them off. Not burning down the flat. Then again have done that a few nights with Valhalla 2, and fingers crossed gone well so far. Burning them in or something. Happy listening!

If you're concerned about forgetting to turn your tube amp off before you turn in, you can always plug the amp into a timer so that it turns off automatically after you are done listening to your system.