Hello - long-time lurker, first time poster. Just got a Valhalla 2 and I am unexpectedly underwhelmed after 3 hours on the clock, so seeking wisdom .....
Pairing with HD650 and somewhat independent of the range of DACs I've tried with it thus far, the sound is sort of fluffy and rounded off at both ends. The low-mids seem swamped by the high bass with loss of definition. I've also noticed a collapse in the width of the sound stage too. The high end has developed the Senn 'veil' - which I haven't heard for quite some time with my SS amps, top end has been quite clear and defined enough when there's sufficient power. Overall the sound is of an older mid-soaked cheap amp with more bass. That can't be right?!?
Given the fervor bestowed on this amp, especially with 650s, I wonder if:
(i) I'm being impatient and I need to wait more hours for the tubes/valves to burn in? If so, how long before one could expect a better sound,
(ii) I should just jump into tube rolling to find some input tubes that restore some better definition at both ends (Amperex 6922 or 7308 for example)?
As matter of comparison I just listened to a Woo WA7 - the bass was better defined but still spilling over into the mids; the top end was so much better - even blind freddy could have spotted/heard the differences in resolution of (for example) fast hi hats. Unfortunately, on our island continent (Oz), these things are way over-priced and I wouldn't have thought that the difference was so dramatically different.
Any advice or comments for a first-time tube HFA user gratefully welcomed.
Thanks
Lumpo