Schiit Valhalla 3 - Impressions Thread

[MindBreak]

20250604 corrections
ECC99 is series connected between pins 4 and 5 with center tap on pin 9
6n6p is parallel connected between pins 4 and 5. Pin 9 is a shield.
Valhalla 3 runs 6.3V across pins 4 and 5. Pin 9 is connected to ground.
ECC99 heater may not function properly or may incur higher AC mains noise.

Thanks for the update.

 

[Ripper2860]

Thanks for the update.

There was a later post from AtomicBob that stated that the JJ ECC99 was not wired per the ECC99 standard according to JJ's spec / tube diagram. Their variation appeared to be wired identically to the 6N6P such that it could work with VH3. AtomicBob was going to purchase the JJ tube and confirm. He stated he would post up with his findings. Same Bat Station.

 

[MindBreak]

When you are listening to an album you grew up listening to on your mother's two channel setup, and now it sounds way... different (in a good way). With the fresh NOS tubes in the Valhalla 3 powering my AO.

 

[atomicbob]

There was a later post from AtomicBob that stated that the JJ ECC99 was not wired per the ECC99 standard according to JJ's spec / tube diagram. Their variation appeared to be wired identically to the 6N6P such that it could work with VH3. AtomicBob was going to purchase the JJ tube and confirm. He stated he would post up with his findings. Same Bat Station.

I managed to confuse the JJ ECC99 with the 6h6n pinout when rapidly going between several datasheets. I was mistaken.
The JJ ECC99 is wired like all other ECC99 tubes.
I do have a set of JJ ECC99 here now, but after discussion with the designer, it is NOT a good idea to use any ECC99.
The ECC99 filaments will have only 6.3 volts applied across series connected filaments wanting 12.6 V.
Center tap connected to ground might be an issue also.

 

[Ripper2860]

I managed to confuse the JJ ECC99 with the 6h6n pinout when rapidly going between several datasheets. I was mistaken.
The JJ ECC99 is wired like all other ECC99 tubes.
I do have a set of JJ ECC99 here now, but after discussion with the designer, it is NOT a good idea to use any ECC99.
The ECC99 filaments will have only 6.3 volts applied across series connected filaments wanting 12.6 V.
Center tap connected to ground might be an issue also.

Thank you sir. Much appreciated.

 

[robusa]

So happy to have my VH3 back. I’d been using the headphone amp on my Saga 2 the last week and it’s totally fine, but putting the Valhalla back in was night and day.

Can anyone recommend some tubes to try? I like warmth and wouldn’t mind something with a great soundstage. I’ve got some 12aXX adapters I can use for anything beyond the usual. Thanks!

 

[Ripper2860]

A great and relatively inexpensive place to start is with a pair of PSVane 12AU7-AT tubes. Available via Amazon. I use them in my VH3 and Freya N and think very highly of them. So much so that they have not been removed from either.

 

[ksb643]

So happy to have my VH3 back. I’d been using the headphone amp on my Saga 2 the last week and it’s totally fine, but putting the Valhalla back in was night and day.

Can anyone recommend some tubes to try? I like warmth and wouldn’t mind something with a great soundstage. I’ve got some 12aXX adapters I can use for anything beyond the usual. Thanks!

I'll have mine back tomorrow. A pair of 6H23 from Upscale Audio should be too.

 

[adamwzl]

Although I do kind of prefer the stock knob to that one.

I love the stock one myself, but in low light sometimes its hard for my eyes to adjust quickly for the knobs position when glancing from my monitor to the amp. I had this knob on my VH2 and loved the feeling of it. To each their own you know.

..... it's more than a thing ..... remember the old saying?: "you only get one chance at making a first impression"

Oh I had to make a decent first impression with headfi legends like yourself over on the VH2 tube rolling thread! I read every page and your reviews of tubes are what set me down this path. Thank you good sir!

I did, also. I also painted the adapters with Testors model paint -- silver -- to go with Woo Audio WA3:

Here you go giving me even more ideas. I love the painted silver look, nicely done.

 

[JanMc]

Yeah, knobs are a personal thing in all phases of life. Some like big gnarled ones and some like small smooth ones. Enjoy your Valhalla.

 

[MindBreak]

So... I have tried three of my headphones thus far since rolling the 1950s Sylvania 6SN7 NOS tubes in my Valhalla 3.

Atrium Open: Spacious soundstage (yet not as wide as some other tubes), percussion instruments initial strike as well as decay are spot on, vocals are smooth/seductive (both male and female), bass is deep without sounding bloated, and is by far the best I have heard the AO thus far.

HD660s: Acquires many of the same benefits as the AO, with some differences. The soundstage is narrower still as the HD660s is limited in its staging to begin with, yet it goes a bit deeper than with my other amps/tubes. Bass is much improved even over the Mjolnir 3 (yeah HD660s is quirky to say the least). Vocals are where the HD660s normally does well, and the Sylvania tubes are accentuating that trait with great results even at low listening volumes. HD660s is the first headphone I purchased after getting the Asgard 3, so it has been with me for a while. After trying them on many iterations of my chain, this is by far the best they have sounded.

Starry Night V1: These headphones are an odd one, as they sound more open than closed as well as sounding dynamic adjacent (as well as loving a hefty amount of watts). That being said, the Sylvania tubes essentially fit them smack between the AO and HD660s in sound signature (weird I know). Starry Night won't get to super high listening levels on the Valhalla 3 by default, yet with Blues, Jazz, and 60s/70s rock it is a verry nice pairing with the Sylvania tubes.

If you have not figured it out by now, the Sylvania 6SN7s are a keeper. I still have to try them with my other headphones, yet they already sound great with the Raytheon 6SN7s I have. The only thing I would caution would be in the case of very efficient headphones/IEMs as there is a hum with the HD660s when music is not playing.

More listening to do with these tubes, as well as more tube rolling in the coming months, but it has been a blast thus far.

 

[DACattack]

Bass is much improved even over the Mjolnir 3 (yeah HD660s is quirky to say the least)

Color me shocked. Appreciate your impressions and for braving the 6SN7 waters with your V3. It's a tube-amp combo I wouldn't have considered before, honestly, until your posts about them. How would you describe the sound differences between your Sylvania and Raytheon pairs?

 

[MindBreak]

Color me shocked. Appreciate your impressions and for braving the 6SN7 waters with your V3. It's a tube-amp combo I wouldn't have considered before, honestly, until your posts about them. How would you describe the sound differences between your Sylvania and Raytheon pairs?

Raytheon sounded overly bassy with the AO, yet it gave more space and richness to headphones like the Arya Stealth and Horizon Open. The Sylvania pair has just the right amount of warmth to it that it doesn't lead to a muddy bass and unatural vocals situation when driving the AO(approached that with the Raytheon). The Sylvania tubes do not have as wide of a soundstage as the Raytheon pair, but it doesn't sound overly intimate either (small to mid sized venue would be my best shot at describing it).

Both tubes sound well extended, yet they take away any harshness in the top end one might perceive some Planar headphones to possess with some tracks.

As far as 6SN7 tubes being on my radar, we can thank the Vali 3 and ZMF threads for that.

I am not the best at describing these things, so hopefully my point got across.

 

[adamos]

Well hello there Valhalla 3. Newly arrived and only playing for an hour but so far so good! It does indeed get warm. I got socket savers to raise the tubes but I thought I’d start without to get a baseline.

 

[GabeR]

V3 arrived on Monday, unfortunately I’ve only had a couple hours to listen so far. All I can say so far is WOW! More nuanced opinions and descriptions to come as I have a nice 3 day weekend to relax and listen.