Schiit Valhalla 3 - Impressions Thread

[MindBreak]

Depending on the allowable heater current. With V3, I believe it's sufficient for a pair of 6SN7s. Not sure about the Echo


Yes. The rectifier is not saturated yet so you're more than welcome to use 6922 in place of 6SN7

Well Schiit Audio tends to design their amps to be very robust, as they know how crazy their customer base is.

 

[j0val]

I’ve been noticing that the left channel from my desktop speakers have been occasionally experiencing an issue when connected to the V3 as a pre-amp.

Every now and then, the left channel volume will sound a bit lower than the right channel, then correct itself soon after. It’s almost like when your ear becomes unplugged and you hear everything in “stereo” again. I don’t think it happens when using headphones on the V3. I also swapped RCA cables coming from the Gungnir 2, so that’s not the issue. Furthermore, it’s not happening on my MJ3 when switching to that as the pre-amp.

Going to do a bit more troubleshooting before I contact Schiit.

 

[docBliny]

I’ve been noticing that the left channel from my desktop speakers have been occasionally experiencing an issue when connected to the V3 as a pre-amp.

Every now and then, the left channel volume will sound a bit lower than the right channel, then correct itself soon after. It’s almost like when your ear becomes unplugged and you hear everything in “stereo” again. I don’t think it happens when using headphones on the V3. I also swapped RCA cables coming from the Gungnir 2, so that’s not the issue. Furthermore, it’s not happening on my MJ3 when switching to that as the pre-amp.

Going to do a bit more troubleshooting before I contact Schiit.

Maybe swap the tubes around to see if switches sides?

 

[j0val]

Maybe swap the tubes around to see if switches sides?

Great idea. I was just going to reseat, but this is much better. Thanks.

 

[robusa]

I haven't had any protection mode issues today. Maybe going right into an outlet helped? Who knows.

I busted out my old AKG K702's this morning, and they've been a lot of fun with the Valhalla 3. Forgot about how wide this soundstage is. I'm listening on high gain and have the impedance multiplier on, which I think just adds a little more weight to the sound of these headphones.

 

[NippleSauce]

I haven't had any protection mode issues today. Maybe going right into an outlet helped? Who knows.

I busted out my old AKG K702's this morning, and they've been a lot of fun with the Valhalla 3. Forgot about how wide this soundstage is. I'm listening on high gain and have the impedance multiplier on, which I think just adds a little more weight to the sound of these headphones.

Regarding the soundstage breadth, I had to have my V3 the same way for my ATH-ADX5000's to sound as good as they did on the V2 (which is understandable, as they have 420 ohms impedance). And I just received my 10ft power cord in the mail so that I can connect my V3 to a different outlet instead of my surge protector, as the protection mode issues have been driving me crazy.

 

[JanMc]

I'm experiencing the left channel fading in and out tonight. Just turned things on so hopefully this will go away once everything gets hot.

I'm listening to some mellow (non-jazz) female vocalists tonight and wow they do sound good. I really like the sound of this amp but I need to get one that is reliable. I'll still give it some more time to settle in before I start bothering Schiit though.

 

[gopre]

Valhalla 3 in the house, one week to the day after ordering. Stock tubes burning in. I have a Freya N so more than a few 6dj8 tubes to roll in at some point, Bugle Boys, Mullard Blackburn, Siemens, also some Futons on order for the power tube side. It’s been on for a couple of hours about time to gather some first impressions. All my headphones Grados so not exactly in the Valhalla wheelhouse but let the games begin.

 

[cronoux]

I do not have any VH3 friendly headphones but so many tubes i got for mjolnir 2. decisions decisions ....

 

[dasfast]

I do not have any VH3 friendly headphones but so many tubes i got for mjolnir 2. decisions decisions ....

That seems counterintuitive.
I'd think you may have something that would work with this ever expansive headphone amp.
I'm listening on a pair of 30 ohm planar headphones.

Yeah my Arya stealth registering at about 30-40 ohms are working great with the impedance multiplier!

 

[cronoux]

That seems counterintuitive.
I'd think you may have something that would work with this ever expansive headphone amp.

i am not sure how it will work with the headphones I've got (meze elite, focal stellia, dca ether 2) maybe I am better off sticking to my mjolnir 2 and headamp gsx mini.

 

[theveterans]

Marv's impressions

 

[JamminVMI]

That's no assurance on its own.

If you (or someone you know) didn’t test them after you got them, sadly it’s a crapshoot. They could have interelement leakage, and I’ve gotten supposed matched tubes that just, well weren’t even in the same zipcode, much less ‘matched’. Swear to goodness some people match on the colour of the screen printing, or if the tubes have the same number of pins.

 

[robusa]

After more listening and trying some things, the only time I seem to have protection mode kick in is when I have my Lokius output into the Valhalla. When I skip the Lokius and go straight from Saga 2 to Valhalla, no problems at all. I wonder what the issue there is. It doesn’t happen all the time, mostly if I switch headphones while the Valhalla is still on, and usually just to a higher impedance headphone. Maybe I should be doing that when the unit is off anyway?

All of this to say, these aren’t major issues at all, just learning how to use it and what it can/can’t do.

The sound is fantastic.

 

[JamminVMI]

https://www.banzaimusic.com/Tube-Extractor.html

Not the same as I have but should work.

I use a larger pair of curved hemostats. Work great on socket savers, I wouldn’t use them on tubes. But nomex oven gloves work a treat on tubes.