Schiit Valhalla Tube Rolling thread.

[Billheiser]

On Head-Fi (For Sale forums), they're mostly in  http://www.head-fi.org/f/6553/cables-speakers-tweaks-accessories-for-sale-trade

 

[lekoross]

Got it. Thanks Billheiser.

 

[lekoross]

Anyone have any recommendations and/or insight into changing the output tubes?

 

[Billheiser]

Anyone have any recommendations and/or insight into changing the output tubes?

 
 
Schiit website FAQ says:
"Is Valhalla rollable?
Yes! The standard 6N1P input tubes can be subbed out for any 6DJ8/6922/ECC88/ECC85/6BZ7 types, including NOS, cryo-treated, voodoo-blessed, hand-assembled by elves, etc. "
 
Notice they don't mention changing the output tubes.

 

[notsimar]

   
 
Schiit website FAQ says:
"Is Valhalla rollable?
Yes! The standard 6N1P input tubes can be subbed out for any 6DJ8/6922/ECC88/ECC85/6BZ7 types, including NOS, cryo-treated, voodoo-blessed, hand-assembled by elves, etc. "
 
Notice they don't mention changing the output tubes.

If you read the owners manual, it does state that the output tubes are rollable to 6H30N's and thats about it

 

[Guidostrunk]

I bought some 68 Russian NEVZ 6n6p's for $50 on ebay. Definitely added more bass impact and slam and more gain to my volume. Mid 60's to mid 70's from NEVZ plant , are the ones to look for.
Cheers.

Anyone have any recommendations and/or insight into changing the output tubes?

 

[Nic Rhodes]

Nevz are the common make found and are consistent over the years (mid 70s are cheap, available and good value), you will also find Foton tubes also that are are often older / cheaper if you want to try an alternative. The 6N6P-I  and 6N6P-IR are better sounding variants to the basic 6N6P but are more money. What ever you buy I suggest you stick to stuff before 1983 and preferable before 1980 for all of these tubes. The IR is better than the I and the previously mentioned 6H30N is the best but VERY expensive now, especially the DR variant and I don't think really appropriate for this little amp.

 

[Guidostrunk]

So the 6n6p does come from the foton plant? I got a little confused with these because I didn't really go crazy rolling them. I did however, buy 68 6n6p Novoibirsk(same tubes Tom bought at the beginning of this thread)which I was certain was from the foton plant. I thought the foton tube was the 6n1p input tube. My mistake.

Nevz are the common make found and are consistent over the years (mid 70s are cheap, available and good value), you will also find Foton tubes also that are are often older / cheaper if you want to try an alternative. The 6N6P-I  and 6N6P-IR are better sounding variants to the basic 6N6P but are more money. What ever you buy I suggest you stick to stuff before 1983 and preferable before 1980 for all of these tubes. The IR is better than the I and the previously mentioned 6H30N is the best but VERY expensive now, especially the DR variant and I don't think really appropriate for this little amp.

 

[Guidostrunk]

What is it about the 6H30N ,that you find inappropriate , for the Valhalla? Just curious on your thoughts. If they're the best, I may grab a pair.

Nevz are the common make found and are consistent over the years (mid 70s are cheap, available and good value), you will also find Foton tubes also that are are often older / cheaper if you want to try an alternative. The 6N6P-I  and 6N6P-IR are better sounding variants to the basic 6N6P but are more money. What ever you buy I suggest you stick to stuff before 1983 and preferable before 1980 for all of these tubes. The IR is better than the I and the previously mentioned 6H30N is the best but VERY expensive now, especially the DR variant and I don't think really appropriate for this little amp.

 

[Nic Rhodes]

The Nerv plant is in Russia in Novosibirsk. The Foton plant is in Tashkent city. So two separate plants in Russia both making 6N6Ns.
 
These two plants are just 2 of about 12 or 13 major valve manufacturers in USSR. They each had their own logo / symbol and specialised in different types of tubes. Some names you will recognise, others perhaps are less well known.
 
Svetlana Electron Devices, St. Petersburg
Ryazan Plant of Electronics, Ryazan
Reflector Corp, Saratov
Ulyanov, Ulyanovsk
Voskhod, Kaluga
Nevz, Novosibirsk
Orzep, Orel
Foton, Tashkent
October, Vinnitsa
Anode, Diatkovo
Melz, Moscow
Vostok, Novosibirsk
 
apologies if I have got spellings wrong (Cyrilic alphabet and all that) / missed any etc, Let me know if you would lie to see the corresponding symbols, they can be useful for identification (those funny line symbols on USSR tubes.

 

[Nic Rhodes]

What is it about the 6H30N ,that you find inappropriate , for the Valhalla? Just curious on your thoughts. If they're the best, I may grab a pair.

 
Just the cost of say a 6H30P DR pair is often more than the cost of the Valhalla! Especially if you get the late 70s ones you really want and the gains are way out of step with the price. There is no doubting they are better but this is a modest amp at the end of the day and an upgrade to a 6AS7G OTL may be a far better purchase for improved sound quality. You might be better off getting an adapter and trying 5687 / E182CCs instead. I haven't done that on the Valhalla but works great on LD. Just thinking aloud on that one.

 

[Nic Rhodes]

Found a nice pair
 
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/NOS-6N30P-DR-6H30P-DR-1971-and-1977-made-tubes-VERY-HARD-TO-FIND-/161327433970?pt=Vintage_Electronics_R2&hash=item258fdd48f2
 
not the same year but they look good. There is an auction on another pair but I might bid on them

 

[Guidostrunk]

Yeah. I'll bid on them in my sleep. Lol. That's an insane price on tubes. I'd definitely look at other amps, if spending cash like that. Js.

Found a nice pair

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/NOS-6N30P-DR-6H30P-DR-1971-and-1977-made-tubes-VERY-HARD-TO-FIND-/161327433970?pt=Vintage_Electronics_R2&hash=item258fdd48f2

not the same year but they look good. There is an auction on another pair but I might bid on them

 

[Oskari]

  The Nerv plant is in Russia in Novosibirsk. The Foton plant is in Tashkent city. So two separate plants in Russia both making 6N6Ns.
 
These two plants are just 2 of about 12 or 13 major valve manufacturers in USSR. They each had their own logo / symbol and specialised in different types of tubes. Some names you will recognise, others perhaps are less well known.
 
Svetlana Electron Devices, St. Petersburg
Ryazan Plant of Electronics, Ryazan
Reflector Corp, Saratov
Ulyanov, Ulyanovsk
Voskhod, Kaluga
Nevz, Novosibirsk
Orzep, Orel
Foton, Tashkent
October, Vinnitsa
Anode, Diatkovo
Melz, Moscow
Vostok, Novosibirsk
 
apologies if I have got spellings wrong (Cyrilic alphabet and all that) / missed any etc, Let me know if you would lie to see the corresponding symbols, they can be useful for identification (those funny line symbols on USSR tubes.

 
I guess that pretty much covers it. Tashkent is in Uzbekistan, not Russia. Vinnitsa is in Ukraine.
 
Some Svetlana tubes were made at the Svetlana Glass Factory in Malaya Vishera.
 
You can call the 6Н6П  6N6P and the 6Н30П  6N30P in Latin script.

 

[Guidostrunk]

Any thoughts on the 6H30N-EB(cryo-treated)?

Just the cost of say a 6H30P DR pair is often more than the cost of the Valhalla! Especially if you get the late 70s ones you really want and the gains are way out of step with the price. There is no doubting they are better but this is a modest amp at the end of the day and an upgrade to a 6AS7G OTL may be a far better purchase for improved sound quality. You might be better off getting an adapter and trying 5687 / E182CCs instead. I haven't done that on the Valhalla but works great on LD. Just thinking aloud on that one.