jonathan c
Headphoneus Supremus
FTFY…Reg. TM; © bcowen: 2021]
Schiit Valhalla Tube Rolling thread.
- Thread starter Mr.Tom
- Start date
bcowen
Headphoneus Supremus
LOL! I vividly remember getting my first pair of CCa's, a bit longer ago than you. I was sooooooo excited, just knowing they would elevate my system into the realm of the almighty, the anticipation nearly killing me waiting for them to deliver. Then....um, uh....what? These holy grail tubes that an entire universe of audiophiles lusted over, foaming at the mouth while kneeling on one knee in their presence....they, um, uh, sound like, what? SOLID STATE?!?!? ARRGGHHH!!! My dreams dashed against the rocks, my faith shattered, my very existence brought into question. I put my Amperex PQ's back in and the world resumed spinning on its normal axis. Then....only then...did I first learn about adapters.Hell I remember being on this particular thread maybe 6 years ago all excited that I bought my first pair of 65 Siemens CCa($375)
Actually, the CCa's weren't that bad, just not what I was expecting and not worth (to me) anything close to what I paid for them. Live and learn.
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Guidostrunk
Headphoneus Supremus
I hear you bro. I think it was about a month or two later I had Valvo CCa yellow labels on the way and after a couple days of comparing. Off went the 65 Siemens and my 63 backup pairLOL! I vividly remember getting my first pair of CCa's, a bit longer ago than you. I was sooooooo excited, just knowing they would elevate my system into the realm of the almighty, the anticipation nearly killing me waiting for them to deliver. Then....um, uh....what? These holy grail tubes that an entire universe of audiophiles lusted over, foaming at the mouth while kneeling on one knee in their presence....they, um, uh, sound like, what? SOLID STATE?!?!? ARRGGHHH!!! My dreams dashed against the rocks, my faith shattered, my very existence brought into question. I put my Amperex PQ's back in and the world resumed spinning on its normal axis. Then....only then...did I first learn about adapters.
Actually, the CCa's weren't that bad, just not what I was expecting and not worth (to me) anything close to what I paid for them. Live and learn.
The Heerlens killed it for me. I was literally freaking out when I scored those first Siemens. I got the Alpha and Omegas and skipped the rest. They were so expensive at the time and I couldn't believe I got them at that price. The 63's I paid $400
but didn't care coz they were CCa's Now I have some measly rft ecc81 after all these years that require adapters that terrify people
That's why they call it the rabbit hole lol
I'm not pissed. I am upfront and strait forth. If I like something or do not like something, I will speak up. Being an electrician, I am sensitive to understanding the characteristics of a circuit. If someone smokes there $350 Valhalla, big deal. But what if someone got the smart idea to put this tube/tube adaptor in their $8K preamp or $15K amp and the circuit became unstable and damage occures.
I am only saying its not a good idea to listen to forum chatter and think you can willy nilly alter the electrical characteristics of your amp/preamp circuit with improper tubes and not be cognizant It may destroy your equipment.
Stick with tubes that were desinged to work in the circuit. If you can't find one that works and you need to insert a tube that has incorrect electrical characteristics, and that makes your equipment sound good, then I would start looking at my equipment and wondering what is wrong with it????
I myself have tried many tubes. Amprex white label bugle boys have been good. In my CJ Premier they were one of my favorite. In my First Sound or any other amps, they were a little muffled and bloated. The Telefunken are always more clean and linear. The Siemens similar but with midrange bump that is slightly rounded.
Non of the 6922 sound that good in the Valhalla. They are too clean and neutral. They sound overdriven.
I am only saying its not a good idea to listen to forum chatter and think you can willy nilly alter the electrical characteristics of your amp/preamp circuit with improper tubes and not be cognizant It may destroy your equipment.
Stick with tubes that were desinged to work in the circuit. If you can't find one that works and you need to insert a tube that has incorrect electrical characteristics, and that makes your equipment sound good, then I would start looking at my equipment and wondering what is wrong with it????
I myself have tried many tubes. Amprex white label bugle boys have been good. In my CJ Premier they were one of my favorite. In my First Sound or any other amps, they were a little muffled and bloated. The Telefunken are always more clean and linear. The Siemens similar but with midrange bump that is slightly rounded.
Non of the 6922 sound that good in the Valhalla. They are too clean and neutral. They sound overdriven.
I'm selling my Valhalla 2 with a bundle of tubes:
https://www.head-fi.org/classifieds/valhalla-2-nos-stash.21773/
https://www.head-fi.org/classifieds/valhalla-2-nos-stash.21773/
This is the most complete Valhalla thread I can find. I am thinking about a third Schiit preamp. I have a Vali 2+ and a Saga +. Considering a Valhalla. This is for a third system. I would use it for driving a low powered tube amp 95% of the time and for headphones the rest of the time. I like my Saga better than the Vali, although I am very happy with the Vali. I do not need a remote for the new system, it will be bedside. Pros for the Vali is I already have several spare tubes. Pros for the Valhalla is "I have never heard one." Pros for the Saga is "I like it."
jonathan c
Headphoneus Supremus
What about the ultimate pro: I want it
Ripper2860
Headphoneus Supremus
Keep in mind that Valhalla does dump a lot of heat, so if you're OK with a space heater on your nightstand next to your bed then Valhalla would be a very nice choice.
In that case the Valhalla would replace the Vali in the too-cold living room! How does it sound?
Valhalla is a nice piece for the money. I don't worry about the heat. But mine make a weird squeel. It's not that loud. But sitting on a nightstand next to my head would be a distraction.
Ripper2860
Headphoneus Supremus
I love mine. While it can drive a wide array of HPs, it truly excels with high impedence HPs like the HD6XX.
(I've never encountered a squeal, but then again it's not right by my head. Maybe 2.5 feet away.)
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jonathan c
Headphoneus Supremus
Valhalla II is great; Lyr III is better. One tube to ‘roll’ (6SN7) / two tubes to ‘roll’ (6J5s with adapter), better sound, less heat.
Ripper2860
Headphoneus Supremus
YMMV. I actually like the VH2 better than Lyr 3 with my HD6XX. And I've tried a multitude of tubes on each. Different strokes for different folks, I guess. Can't go wrong with either, but I'd be hard pressed to say one is better than the other - just different. 
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Want to try tube rolling in your Valhalla? Here's a bundle of tubes and TubeMonger 12Axx to 6922 adapters I'm selling.
https://www.head-fi.org/classifieds/12atubes-adapters.23782/
https://www.head-fi.org/classifieds/12atubes-adapters.23782/
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