Schiit Valhalla 3 - Impressions Thread

[dasfast]

It's not bad luck unless this turns out to be like trying to get a warranty claim through the company that made our outside garbage/recycling can sheds. They asked for a million photos and details just so that they could find something to deny the claim with. Even an idiot could see that the lids have warped due to weather, nothing else, but the "10 year warranty" looks good in the marketing material. (As a side note, I knew that was coming after having gone through their convoluted "warranty registration" process a couple of years ago when I bought them...)

I feel bad now as I just bought 2 pair of Brimar CV-455's and they are working great from Langrex.

 

[docBliny]

I feel bad now as I just bought 2 pair of Brimar CV-455's and they are working great from Langrex.

Gives me hope.

 

[jonathan c]

I have mine hooked back up with the Lokius in the circuit and have been playing it ALL day. Not one issue. So merely switching tube sides fixed everything on mine. And I gave up on comparing to the Lyr. The Lyr is gonna get sold. I am in love. Sounds so like the instruments are right in front of me. So much air and depth. I could not be happier with this as a preamp. One day I will get around to using it as a hp amp, but not today. I just keep waiting for my wife to come in and ask me to turn it down.

.... if you turn it up enough, you won't hear her ask about turning it down ....

 

[DeanoBravo]

To my non-technical brain, it seems like the VH3 protection circuit has a hair trigger setting and needs to be backed off a tad.

 

[jonathan c]

Or be very careful about the choice of 'input' tubes -- so that the maximum of 2.7A total heater current draw within Valhalla 3 is not exceeded.

Assuming that each 6N6P is at the maximum heater current draw of 810 mA, or 1620 mA for both, that leaves 1080 mA for the two input tubes, or 540 mA each. [Note that this 540 mA includes the variance. If that is +/- 30 mA, the allowable tube is 'centred' at 510 mA.]

EDIT: Do not use 6N6Pi because of its higher heater current draw.

 

[Digital Enigma]

Getting the ducks tube ammo lined up ... ... just evaluating the Valhalla 3 'protection trigger' issue ...

EDIT: Diameter & depth (in millimetres) of volume knob? You all just know that 'stock' will not do it for me .

Did they come in this packaging?

 

[jonathan c]

Did they come in this packaging?

From 'Tube Museum', yes.

 

[Ripper2860]

Is there anything more magical in HiFi than the warm glow of tubes? I think not.

 

[jonathan c]

Yup, that's them. Perhaps they still didn't have a good grasp on aerodynamics even in 1963.

.... even after sending Yuri Gagarin up into space in April of 1961? .... .... whew, am I !!

Besides, in 1963, this great album by my favourite tenor saxophonist was released on the Blue Note label:

 

[bcowen]

Is there anything more magical in HiFi than the warm glow of tubes? I think not.

While agreeing with you is most difficult, I am forced to in this case.

 

[MacMan31]

I'm interested in getting this amp. But it seems like there is issues with it. At least for some users. Maybe it's a particular batch. But I'll wait for now and see how things go.

 

[docBliny]

I'm interested in getting this amp. But it seems like there is issues with it. At least for some users. Maybe it's a particular batch. But I'll wait for now and see how things go.

There overly eager protection with rolled tubes is fixed. I listened for hours yesterday and not a single issue anymore.

 

[NippleSauce]

I'm interested in getting this amp. But it seems like there is issues with it. At least for some users. Maybe it's a particular batch. But I'll wait for now and see how things go.

Schiit is rather responsive to those whom reach out. I'll keep this thread updated with what takes place with my current discussion with them.

Whilst waiting to hear back, I decided to try rolling my 6N6Ps last night to a matched pair that I had gotten for my Valhalla 2.....and the audio drops didn't seem to occur with those paired with my Gold Lion E88CC/6922s. The amp certainly got hot though. I'll have to test this out again tonight to see if my V3's included 6N6Ps were possibly the culprit this whole time.

 

[MacMan31]

There overly eager protection with rolled tubes is fixed. I listened for hours yesterday and not a single issue anymore.

Schiit is rather responsive to those whom reach out. I'll keep this thread updated with what takes place with my current discussion with them.

Whilst waiting to hear back, I decided to try rolling my 6N6Ps last night to a matched pair that I had gotten for my Valhalla 2.....and the audio drops didn't seem to occur with those paired with my Gold Lion E88CC/6922s. The amp certainly got hot though. I'll have to test this out again tonight to see if my V3's included 6N6Ps were the culprit this whole time.

But is it early batches that are having this issue? How is the issue being resolved?

 

[bcowen]

It's not bad luck unless this turns out to be like trying to get a warranty claim through the company that made our outside garbage/recycling can sheds. They asked for a million photos and details just so that they could find something to deny the claim with. Even an idiot could see that the lids have warped due to weather, nothing else, but the "10 year warranty" looks good in the marketing material. (As a side note, I knew that was coming after having gone through their convoluted "warranty registration" process a couple of years ago when I bought them...)

I've purchased quite a few tubes from Langrex over the years, and only had two problem tubes along the way. Langrex sent a replacement in both cases quickly and without any fuss. That was one tube in each instance and not 3 like you're dealing with, but hopefully he will take care of you in the same fashion.