Schiit Valhalla Tube Rolling thread.

[Guidostrunk]

These Clear tops I bought don't sound very good.

I don't think those tubes were meant to be clear tops. They look like spent tubes.

 

[Wes S]

These Clear tops I bought don't sound very good.

I amazed the sound at all! Seriously though, did you buy them like that?

 

[Ripper2860]

The top flashing should be silver/chrome. The fact that they are white means that the vacuum in the tube has been compromised. Those need to to back to the seller or into the trash bin.

 

[regaet]

These Clear tops I bought don't sound very good.

They had chrome tops when I first got them and sounded great but within 24 hrs they both died. If you look at the base you can see they both cracked and lost vacuum. I've never seen that happen before and the seller gave me a very quick refund. Just thought maybe you guys hadn't seen a clear top 6n6p before and I was kidding about the sound as there is none. It was late, and it brought a smile to my face in an otherwise pain in the ass process of getting some square getter Fotons. Which I did finally get and they do sound great Wes.

 

[Lvivske]

Hey guys, was just hearing a strange sound in my right ear - like a static that rippled away. I thought it was a glitch on the track or USB signal interference of some sort, but unplugged my DAC while it was still happening so it wasnt from the source

it was like a pop that echoed away lasting like 2 seconds per pulse; dont think volume affected it, it wasnt very loud

it went away, cant repeat it at the moment

but is that a tube, or....the amp...or...?

 

[Wes S]

Hey guys, was just hearing a strange sound in my right ear - like a static that rippled away. I thought it was a glitch on the track or USB signal interference of some sort, but unplugged my DAC while it was still happening so it wasnt from the source

it was like a pop that echoed away lasting like 2 seconds per pulse; dont think volume affected it, it wasnt very loud

it went away, cant repeat it at the moment

but is that a tube, or....the amp...or...?

A good way to tell, is to continue to isolate the issue. You did great by unplugging the DAC, and next I would try swapping tubes with left and right and see if the issue changes sides, if so it's the tube. If after swapping tubes from and left to right, you still hear the sound in the same channel then it might be the amp. That's what I would do. Also, sometimes tubes just make random noises and then it never happens again, so if the sound doesn't come back, I wouldn't worry about it. That's my 2 cents.

 

[Lvivske]

Thanks, if it happens again I'll reverse them to take note on a 3rd event, might have been a one-off

 

[aviationwiz]

Hello all - I've been lurking for a while, though it's my first time posting - I'm new to tube amps, and just ordered my Valhalla 2 which will be here next week.

Having spent a considerable amount of time (though admittedly I haven't looked through all 111 pages), I was looking at the Brimar CV4033 or Brimar CV455... I understand I would need to order the adapter from tubemonger/pulsetubestore to use these - although it occurred to me I don't know if people are using these for all 4 tubes or just 2? If for 2 - are there suggestions for what to replace the other 2 stock tubes with?

Thanks in advance!

 

[Lvivske]

Hello all - I've been lurking for a while, though it's my first time posting - I'm new to tube amps, and just ordered my Valhalla 2 which will be here next week.

Having spent a considerable amount of time (though admittedly I haven't looked through all 111 pages), I was looking at the Brimar CV4033 or Brimar CV455... I understand I would need to order the adapter from tubemonger/pulsetubestore to use these - although it occurred to me I don't know if people are using these for all 4 tubes or just 2? If for 2 - are there suggestions for what to replace the other 2 stock tubes with?

Thanks in advance!

The adapters are just for the (English) Brimars since they are replacing the Soviet 6N1Ps

The power tubes, the 6N6Ps, are factory recommended to just swap for the same model, so most recommendations in this thread are on which factory to year to buy for. The two mostly preffered are the Foton factory (diamond logo) or Nevz (pentagon logo)

 

[Wes S]

Hello all - I've been lurking for a while, though it's my first time posting - I'm new to tube amps, and just ordered my Valhalla 2 which will be here next week.

Having spent a considerable amount of time (though admittedly I haven't looked through all 111 pages), I was looking at the Brimar CV4033 or Brimar CV455... I understand I would need to order the adapter from tubemonger/pulsetubestore to use these - although it occurred to me I don't know if people are using these for all 4 tubes or just 2? If for 2 - are there suggestions for what to replace the other 2 stock tubes with?

Thanks in advance!

Hey there,

The front 2 tubes would be where the CV4033 or CV455 with adapters would go. As for the power tubes in the back, there is not another tube other than the 6N6P. However, there are several versions (made in different plants) of the 6N6P, and the one's made in the Foton factory are the best. I would just start with the 2 front driver tubes, as that will make the biggest difference. Also, once you put the adapters and CV455 or CV4033 in the amp the front tubes will be about the same height or a bit taller than the back tubes, which does no harm sonically but looks funny, so most just use a socket saver made to raise the height and put things back to normal looking.

 

[Wes S]

Looks like @Lvivske beat me to it, while I was typing my post.

 

[Lvivske]

Looks like @Lvivske beat me to it, while I was typing my post.

...this is my life now

edit: and I agree with Wes' about the 6N6P making a much smaller difference so if the tubes are new there's not a huge reason to change them out IMO. I've gone back n forth from the Fotons to the mis-matched stock whatevers and been happy with both, whereas I couldn't imagine switch my JJs back for the stock tubes (and I'm sure the 455s will be a similar revolution)

 

[Wes S]

"...this is my life now" - I love it man, and feel the same way.

 

[aviationwiz]

Thanks! My next question, leading off that... tubemongers has unpaired CV4033's with imperfect test scores for $30, and also matched pairs for $45/each - is the extra cost for the matched pairs a must? Similarly - any issues with the CV455's from Langrex as they appear to be unpaired?

 

[Wes S]

Thanks! My next question, leading off that... tubemongers has unpaired CV4033's with imperfect test scores for $30, and also matched pairs for $45/each - is the extra cost for the matched pairs a must? Similarly - any issues with the CV455's from Langrex as they appear to be unpaired?

Personally, I would try to get matched pairs, to avoid any kind of possible channel imbalance. However that being said, as long as the tubes test "good or NOS", you most likely would not hear a difference. So, usually you can get away with tubes like the CV455 as they are said to all test close or around NOS. However, speaking of the CV455 and Langrex, there has been a discovery today from another member with a tube tester, and the chances of getting an unmatched pair is possible, as that is what happend to him. Those CV455 from Langrex all tested OK, but were definitely not a matched pair based off his test results. So, the safe bet is the matched pair of CV4033, and the more risky but possibly more rewarding is the pair of CV455 (these are the best).