Schiit Valhalla Tube Rolling thread.

[Brad Maestas]

I just got back from guitar center

Well there's your problem right there. Nothing against the brave souls that work retail (like I used to) but GC is the last place I would go for tubes.

 

[Brad Maestas]

Tube vendors aside...
 
I just received my Valhalla 2 (and Bifrost/HD 600/Blue Dragon V3) earlier this week and have been putting some hours on them. I'm not sure what used to come with the Valhalla 2 but what I just received are mid-70s NOS Russian. Preamp tubes are Voshkod Rocket 6N1P 'XII-76' and power tubes are Novosibirsk 6N6P 'III⬠77'. I'm pretty sure I read some posts about early Valhalla 2s shipping with new modern production tubes. Did Schiit recently change to NOS Russians or have they always shipped with them? Mine are already sounding fantastic with only tens of hours of break in but I'm still interested in trying some others of course!

 

[bigro]

  Tube vendors aside...
 
I just received my Valhalla 2 (and Bifrost/HD 600/Blue Dragon V3) earlier this week and have been putting some hours on them. I'm not sure what used to come with the Valhalla 2 but what I just received are mid-70s NOS Russian. Preamp tubes are Voshkod Rocket 6N1P 'XII-76' and power tubes are Novosibirsk 6N6P 'III⬠77'. I'm pretty sure I read some posts about early Valhalla 2s shipping with new modern production tubes. Did Schiit recently change to NOS Russians or have they always shipped with them? Mine are already sounding fantastic with only tens of hours of break in but I'm still interested in trying some others of course!

Hmm I do not remember I think they were some NOS as well.  I am running those mid 70's Voshkod Rockets 6N1P's and I like them better than what Shipped with Mine. On the Power tubes I tried a few with no real difference.

 

[notfitforpublic]

  Tube vendors aside...
 
I just received my Valhalla 2 (and Bifrost/HD 600/Blue Dragon V3) earlier this week and have been putting some hours on them. I'm not sure what used to come with the Valhalla 2 but what I just received are mid-70s NOS Russian. Preamp tubes are Voshkod Rocket 6N1P 'XII-76' and power tubes are Novosibirsk 6N6P 'III⬠77'. I'm pretty sure I read some posts about early Valhalla 2s shipping with new modern production tubes. Did Schiit recently change to NOS Russians or have they always shipped with them? Mine are already sounding fantastic with only tens of hours of break in but I'm still interested in trying some others of course!

I don't think there has been a standard for what Schiit has been packaging with the Valhalla. Every time I see posts on stock tubes they tend to be different. They have usually been NOS tubes (typically russian, but i've seen all sorts) over current production I believe though.
 
You, my friend, have lucked out however. 70's tubes from both the Voshkod and Novosibirsk plants have been some of my favourites on the less expensive tube end of things. They were much warmer, with more low end and much less fatiguing than the stock tubes I received. Enjoyed them so much in the fact that I've got a few spare sets sitting around and thought I would look no further at the time... but we all know how that goes 

 

[bigro]

 
I don't think there has been a standard for what Schiit has been packaging with the Valhalla. Every time I see posts on stock tubes they tend to be different. They have usually been NOS tubes (typically russian, but i've seen all sorts) over current production I believe though.
 
You, my friend, have lucked out however. 70's tubes from both the Voshkod and Novosibirsk plants have been some of my favourites on the less expensive tube end of things. They were much warmer, with more low end and much less fatiguing than the stock tubes I received. Enjoyed them so much in the fact that I've got a few spare sets sitting around and thought I would look no further at the time... but we all know how that goes 

This.  I have had the JJ E88CC / 6922 Gold suggested which I may try but I am not in a rush. I really enjoy the Mid 70's Voshkod Rockets.

 

[KoshNaranek]

This.  I have had the JJ E88CC / 6922 Gold suggested which I may try but I am not in a rush. I really enjoy the Mid 70's Voshkod Rockets.

If you like warm, stay with them. If you want punch, go JJ or Mullard 7308

 

[bigro]

If you like warm, stay with them. If you want punch, go JJ or Mullard 7308

I decided to Try the Valhalla 2 With With Beyerdynamic DT990 600 Ohm Headphones. From reading the Mids can be a little Recessed. I will See How these do and then Decide from there.

 

[KoshNaranek]

I decided to Try the Valhalla 2 With With Beyerdynamic DT990 600 Ohm Headphones. From reading the Mids can be a little Recessed. I will See How these do and then Decide from there.

A very nice headphone. I had a pair before giving them to my father. Very comfortable and pleasant sounding

 

[bigro]

A very nice headphone. I had a pair before giving them to my father. Very comfortable and pleasant sounding

I was Looking at the very Popular Senn HD600/650 as well, all have their strengths but from the reviews I have read the DT990 sounds more "open and airy" and have a little bit more definition in the low end. Being a 2 Channel guy first, I do miss the tight  low end that a lot headphones lack. I have a slight concern that some people complained about the highs being a bit much other said it was not. The peak in the treble seems to be a little bit lower on the spectrum that some Grados.( Grados, to my ears very fatiguing)  Did you use them with your Valhalla ?

 

[Brad Maestas]

 
I don't think there has been a standard for what Schiit has been packaging with the Valhalla. Every time I see posts on stock tubes they tend to be different. They have usually been NOS tubes (typically russian, but i've seen all sorts) over current production I believe though.
 
You, my friend, have lucked out however. 70's tubes from both the Voshkod and Novosibirsk plants have been some of my favourites on the less expensive tube end of things. They were much warmer, with more low end and much less fatiguing than the stock tubes I received. Enjoyed them so much in the fact that I've got a few spare sets sitting around and thought I would look no further at the time... but we all know how that goes 

That's what I thought! I did my due diligence researching these particular Russian tubes that I didn't know much about and here I got a decent set from them to start with. Thank you Schiit Audio. Their value is not lost on me. Still gonna get some gold JJs and some 6N23P Reflectors.

 

[Husky22]

Hi Everyone! New member here!
 
I have ordered and received a Valhalla 2 and a pair of Beyerdynamic DT 990 "Edition" 600 Ohm headphones. These are my first ever pair of headphones I've ever owned - I'M EXCITED!
 
The only thing is... ...It's a Christmas present I got for myself and I told myself that I have to wait of course...      It's been sitting unopened in my room - staring at me and begging to be opened and used! I'm being tortured by a Samsung soundbar!
 
I would like to ask what the best tubes would be if I wanted a very warm, bassy sound (I like that warm bass hum).
 
I'm new to tubes and stuff, so it's a bit confusing for me... I will be sticking with the stock tubes in my Valhalla 2 and burn them in for a while and I will only roll them if I'm not satisfied.
 
 
Thanks, Husky

 

[KoshNaranek]

I was Looking at the very Popular Senn HD600/650 as well, all have their strengths but from the reviews I have read the DT990 sounds more "open and airy" and have a little bit more definition in the low end. Being a 2 Channel guy first, I do miss the tight  low end that a lot headphones lack. I have a slight concern that some people complained about the highs being a bit much other said it was not. The peak in the treble seems to be a little bit lower on the spectrum that some Grados.( Grados, to my ears very fatiguing)  Did you use them with your Valhalla ?

I have a pair of Grado headphones that are in need of repair and have not gotten around to it. I got 250 ohm Beyerdynamic 990s for $110 at Newegg. At that price, I see no reason not to have both them and the Senheiser.

I found a big change in sound to occur with tube changes, but I would not recommend spending more than $60 per pair. I do not know what you mean by warm bass. I will give you my tube list this afternoon and we can discuss.

 

[bigro]

  Hi Everyone! New member here!
 
I have ordered and received a Valhalla 2 and a pair of Beyerdynamic DT 990 "Edition" 600 Ohm headphones. These are my first ever pair of headphones I've ever owned - I'M EXCITED!
 
The only thing is... ...It's a Christmas present I got for myself and I told myself that I have to wait of course...      It's been sitting unopened in my room - staring at me and begging to be opened and used! I'm being tortured by a Samsung soundbar!
 
I would like to ask what the best tubes would be if I wanted a very warm, bassy sound (I like that warm bass hum).
 
I'm new to tubes and stuff, so it's a bit confusing for me... I will be sticking with the stock tubes in my Valhalla 2 and burn them in for a while and I will only roll them if I'm not satisfied.
 
 
Thanks, Husky

The Cliche saying around here is Welcome, Sorry about your wallet. You will figure that out when you get a case of upgradeitis. I would say get some hours on the Valhalla2 and the Beyers to let them burn in/ break in/ or brain in. whatever term you prefer. Gather the Info on the tubes but Once you spend some time with it make a decision on what signature you want from the tubes. Headphones all have their unique sound and since you have self control that borderlines torture, waiting to see what type of tube will tailor the sound to your liking witht he DT990' may be a good idea and save you some cash. I do have a question what do you mean by warm bass hum? 
   
If You Insist in inflicting Self Torture I have a Set of the DT 990 Premium 600ohm on the way. It should be here early next week. I will Give it a Run with my Valhalla 2 and give you some impressions so you can live vicariously through me.  Hopefully you luck out like Brad Maestas and get a set of the Voshkod Rockets with your Valhalla 2. They are a good starting point.

I have a pair of Grado headphones that are in need of repair and have not gotten around to it. I got 250 ohm Beyerdynamic 990s for $110 at Newegg. At that price, I see no reason not to have both them and the Senheiser.

I found a big change in sound to occur with tube changes, but I would not recommend spending more than $60 per pair. I do not know what you mean by warm bass. I will give you my tube list this afternoon and we can discuss.

I think Husky 22 Wanted Warm Bass

.
 
I found an DT 990 premium 600 ohm for 135 shipped, so I could not pass them up.  Those fostex cans that I am attempting to make the Open Alphas with will go to the Vali 2 as you recommended. My Reservation in getting the Senns down the road is I have 3 Sets of cans I do not use any more and they are sitting in a closet. They are not terribly Expensive so I may just gift them to Audio Curious friends and family. so I have more room on my closet shelf.

 

[KoshNaranek]

Here is a list of tubes I have tried in the Valhalla and their Cost:
 
1. JJ Gold pin($60)
2. NOS 7308 Mullard($200)
3. NOS Telefunken E88CC($300)
4. JJ standard pin($40)
5. NOS Sylvania($50)
6. NOS Phillips PCC88($160)
7. NOS Toshiba PCC88($40)
8. NOS Mazda ECC804($22)
9. Electro Harmonix E88CC($50)
10. Vosjkod Rocket(stock tube)
 
This list moves form more revealing to warmer except for the JJ Gold pins which I think are both revealing and warm. Someone may tell me that they actually may have a lot of harmonic distortion and I would not argue. I just think they sound like nothing else I have ever heard before and I like them a lot. I hope someone can benefit from the this and avoids the mistake I made, which was to believe some of the NOS hype. I do not think there is any reason to spend more than $60 on a pair of tubes.

 

[bigro]

  Here is a list of tubes I have tried in the Valhalla and their Cost:
 
1. JJ Gold pin($60)
2. NOS 7308 Mullard($200)
3. NOS Telefunken E88CC($300)
4. JJ standard pin($40)
5. NOS Sylvania($50)
6. NOS Phillips PCC88($160)
7. NOS Toshiba PCC88($40)
8. NOS Mazda ECC804($22)
9. Electro Harmonix E88CC($50)
10. Vosjkod Rocket(stock tube)
 
This list moves form more revealing to warmer except for the JJ Gold pins which I think are both revealing and warm. Someone may tell me that they actually may have a lot of harmonic distortion and I would not argue. I just think they sound like nothing else I have ever heard before and I like them a lot. I hope someone can benefit from the this and avoids the mistake I made, which was to believe some of the NOS hype. I do not think there is any reason to spend more than $60 on a pair of tubes.

Sweet. This is a great list. You have convinced me, there will be some JJ Gold Pins Ordered Shortly.