Are sure with the output tubes?
I thought these were standard 6N6P tubes?
Or do you mean they can only be changed with other 6N6P tubes and not with other types of tubes. Sorry I am new to the tube business.
But changing with other 6N6P tubes can still make a difference/improvement?
Are sure with the output tubes?
I thought these were standard 6N6P tubes?
Or do you mean they can only be changed with other 6N6P tubes and not with other types of tubes. Sorry I am new to the tube business.
But changing with other 6N6P tubes can still make a difference/improvement?
Yes, 6N6P tubes. I meant they aren't equivalent to any other tube model. Also, as far as I know there's only one 6N6P tube out there, it's not a tube with variants, although I could be mistaken.
Increasingly I am leaning toward a Valhalla 2 as my second and better amp. People say it will run well my Massdrop 6XXs. It sounds like it will be an interesting choice that will make me quite happy.
I know, I checked a few days ago but these days with Schiit you snooze you lose. I might go the Lyr 3 route. I used to have a Bellari HA540 MK2 that uses a 12ax7. I gave it to my son but I really liked it so I might go that route. Made in Salt Lake City and a solid amp. I have a ton of various vintage 12ax7 tubes from tube receivers and amps I've owned over the years.
In fact, I just talked myself into another Bellari!
Can't speak to the WA, but I can tell you that Valhalla 2 is relatively linear - not super thick & tubey, just a bit warmer & softer around the edges than solid state, and quite holographic with the right tubes. V2's special trick is its super low impedance [on low gain], a rarity for OTL amps. This means it works with a wider variety of headphones than most OTL tube amps. Note that you can only roll the input tubes, the output tubes are not equivalent to any other tubes.
I haven't heard the darkvoice, but my understanding is that the darkvoice is on the tubier end of tube amps while Valhalla is on the linear end. Valhalla is generally considered to be a "less tubey" tube amp. I would say it gives you the texture & three-dimensionality of tubes with very little variation from the frequency response of ss. Just a tiny bit off the top and the bottom - almost unnoticeable if you're not paying attention - and vocals nicely front & center. No excess warmth or thickness to my ears. I suppose it depends on your choice of tubes, though.
I haven't heard the darkvoice, but my understanding is that the darkvoice is on the tubier end of tube amps while Valhalla is on the linear end. Valhalla is generally considered to be a "less tubey" tube amp. I would say it gives you the texture & three-dimensionality of tubes with very little variation from the frequency response of ss. Just a tiny bit off the top and the bottom - almost unnoticeable if you're not paying attention - and vocals nicely front & center. No excess warmth or thickness to my ears. I suppose it depends on your choice of tubes, though.
I was in a similar situation. I have a Magni3+/Modi 3/Loki stack for my Sundaras. I chose Darkvoice over Valhalla 2 because I wanted the most difference with 6xx cans. We’ll see how it works out (DV just arrived).
Welcome to the club!
I have been using the Valhalla 2 for a while... I love it and I don't have any plans to replace it anytime soon...
I love it even as my preamp, feeding a tube amplifier...
Tube rolling is interesting as well... I think the stock tubes are pretty good tho.
What benefit do you get running a tube Valhalla as a preamp to your speaker tube power amp? Just curious as I'll be getting a Valhalla soon as a 2nd amp, but would be interested in seeing what versatility it has as a preamp too!
What is the lowest impedance headphone (dynamic, planar, whatever) - and what model is it - that Valhalla 2 owners have used successfully? That is, without bass bloat or other frequency response aberrations.
What is the lowest impedance headphone (dynamic, planar, whatever) - and what model is it - that Valhalla 2 owners have used successfully? That is, without bass bloat or other frequency response aberrations.
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