Schiit Valhalla Tube Rolling thread.

[G0rt]

Yes sir! Glad those RFT worked out for you. The V2 is a magical amp no doubt, and just like with good tubes, it can scale with better DAC's as well. I have since sold my V2, but I did listen to it with my Sonnet Morpheus right before I sold it, and it sounded insanely good with that pairing. In fact, it's been months and I still can't get that sound out of my head. . .I can see myself owning another V2 in the future.

Valhalla2 is a magical little amp, so much so that I don't mind at all trading off Mjolnir2, Asgard3 or Lyr3 to to enjoy it.

Special tubes deliver special benefits, and I can certainly hear the difference between Bifrost 4490 and OG Gungnir Multibit, although I have to say I do enjoy both.

The RFT are very tasty this morning.

 

[jonathan c]

Yes sir! Glad those RFT worked out for you. The V2 is a magical amp no doubt, and just like with good tubes, it can scale with better DAC's as well. I have since sold my V2, but I did listen to it with my Sonnet Morpheus right before I sold it, and it sounded insanely good with that pairing. In fact, it's been months and I still can't get that sound out of my head. . .I can see myself owning another V2 in the future.

Wes, take a look at posts #1,984 and #1,996…

 

[jonathan c]

I would love to see Jason Stoddard introduce a five-tube / six-tube Valhalla: one / two rectifier tubes, two power tubes, two driver tubes…

 

[Wes S]

Wes, take a look at post #1,984…

Oh yeah, that post has also been sticking in my mind.

 

[Wes S]

I would love to see Jason Stoddard introduce a five-tube / six-tube Valhalla: one / two rectifier tubes, two power tubes, two driver tubes…

I would love to see that too, minus a driver tube, as it's so much easier sourcing singles.

 

[didxogns1]

After some burn-in, I still didn't like the brimar cv 4033.

Additionally, I wanted to experiment with the power tube, so I got ecc99.

Tldr: I think the 12ax7 is a very good place for people to experiment.

I tried the PREFERRED SERIES 7025, which is a chinese copy/ reproduction of mallards 12ax7 from the 60s.

I am very very happy with this choice.


Cv4033 is fine musically, but I think this is more suited for people who listen to slower/ jazzy songs.

The vocal is bit recessed. Things sound detailed and instruments really shines, but not lively when I listened to grunge/ hip-hop.

Which is all I listen.

PREFERERED SERIES 7025 is the way. It got vocals, it got liveliness, energy. Yasser.

I dont have much to compare this to, so I can't. But I think this is a great value proposition to anyone who wants to add fun to their sound, instead of more relaxed signature. ($50 for a pair)


In terms of the power tubes, they all sound different significantly.

Simply put:

Stock 6n6p: very lively bass, but boi this is muddy. Compare to a ss amp, you can really feel the bass boost.

Foton 6n6p: very flat fr sound. It adds airy fluff.

Ecc99: very tight, but it can be harsh. Takes longer to heat up.


With the preferered series 7025, I ended up liking the foton 6n6p the best. Ecc99 sounds too harsh with 7025. My ear hurts whenever there is cymble.

Foton 6n6p smooth things out and add that tuby goodness without adding alot of distortion. You get the liveliness of 7025 + tuby smoothness that rounds the edge.

Stock 6n6p makes the sound too funky. It just sounds bad.


With cv4033: I actually liked the ecc99 the best, then stock 6n6p, then foton 6n6p.

I really liked how detailed and clear ecc99 sounds with cv4033. It's nice, just not my style ATM.

With the stock 6n6p atleast things sound fun with added bass. Really like the instruments with this combo.

With foton 6n6p you get flat sound with not much energy. Alot of people here like this combo because of the fidelity and detail, but imo, I prefer fun sounding signature.


What I learned from this is that tube rolling really is personal. There is no best setup. That's why it's called money pit i guess.

 

[jonathan c]

What I learned from this is that tube rolling really is personal. There is no best setup. That's why it's called money pit i guess.

or…money down the tubes!……

 

[jonathan c]

~ The RFT ECC81s (w/Foton 6N6Ps) have been in Valhalla II for a few hours…CD replay at low medium volume…the curiosity had to be quelled…the headphones went on…HOLY MOLY, THE SOUNDSTAGE!…THE VOCALS!…THE ‘THERENESS’!….from $15 per tube in a $349 h/p amplifier??!!
~ Stephanie Mills & Teddy Pendergrass have never sounded better; Oscar Peterson takes it to Count Basie on the eighty-eights and the Count dishes it right back!
~ All this after a few hours; as the saying goes, “the best is yet to come”…Wes, you nailed it: there is Thor’s hammer and there is WES’ hammer…

 

[jonathan c]

While I continue my very enthusiastic listening, I cannot help but think that the foil getter in the RFT ECC81 is making its mark. The getters in the Footscrays, as wondrous (to me) as they are, have no foil……hmm…

 

[exchez]

While I continue my very enthusiastic listening, I cannot help but think that the foil getter in the RFT ECC81 is making its mark. The getters in the Footscrays, as wondrous (to me) as they are, have no foil……hmm…

When I think of getters (i.e., not the flash deposit) I don't usually associate them with providing any sonic attributes beyond maybe providing some structural stability which could lead to less microphony. What about the foil getter is different from a typical halo or square getter?

 

[jonathan c]

When I think of getters (i.e., not the flash deposit) I don't usually associate them with providing any sonic attributes beyond maybe providing some structural stability which could lead to less microphony. What about the foil getter is different from a typical halo or square getter?

I would say that the foil getter has a greater surface area than a halo or square getter. A greater surface area would allow for greater contact of getter deposits with gaseous impurities within the tube vacuum - maintaining the integrity and purity of the vacuum.

 

[regaet]

Japanese Roots / Take'Dake' John Kaizan Neptune / One Fine Thing ( especially the ending) - Irvin Mayfield, The New Orleans Jazz Orchestra / Birds - Dominique Fils-Aime' and His Daughter (Acoustic version) - Molly Kate Kestner on Tidal are amazing with the RFT ECC81's in the Valhalla.

 

[Wes S]

While I continue my very enthusiastic listening, I cannot help but think that the foil getter in the RFT ECC81 is making its mark. The getters in the Footscrays, as wondrous (to me) as they are, have no foil……hmm…

I have learned that the Foil Getters are where it's at. My top 2 tubes, after trying a bunch (seriously quite a few of them) are the RFT ECC81/ECC82 and Tungsram Black Plates ECC82 both with Foil Disc Getters. I don't know what sonics the getters actually bring, but I know they are the earliest version of the tubes, and as the saying goes. . .earlier is always better with tubes as they took more care and had more highly skilled people building them by hand in the early days.

I love the analogy of fine leather shoes made by the hands of a master craftsman (early made tubes with foil getters) vs. some mass produced "Walmart Specials" made by cheap labor with machines (later production tubes with O Getters).

 

[Wes S]

~ The RFT ECC81s (w/Foton 6N6Ps) have been in Valhalla II for a few hours…CD replay at low medium volume…the curiosity had to be quelled…the headphones went on…HOLY MOLY, THE SOUNDSTAGE!…THE VOCALS!…THE ‘THERENESS’!….from $15 per tube in a $349 h/p amplifier??!!
~ Stephanie Mills & Teddy Pendergrass have never sounded better; Oscar Peterson takes it to Count Basie on the eighty-eights and the Count dishes it right back!
~ All this after a few hours; as the saying goes, “the best is yet to come”…Wes, you nailed it: there is Thor’s hammer and there is WES’ hammer…

Yes sir! I see we have another happy camper. I have yet to hear of anyone not being blown away by this tube, and the cat is most definitely out of the bag, as I have seen the ebay listing (12 or more available) get depleted and restocked several times now.

 

[didxogns1]

I have learned that the Foil Getters are where it's at. My top 2 tubes, after trying a bunch (seriously quite a few of them) are the RFT ECC81/ECC82 and Tungsram Black Plates ECC82 both with Foil Disc Getters. I don't know what sonics the getters actually bring, but I know they are the earliest version of the tubes, and as the saying goes. . .earlier is always better with tubes as they took more care and had more highly skilled people building them by hand in the early days.

I love the analogy of fine leather shoes made by the hands of a master craftsman (early made tubes with foil getters) vs. some mass produced "Walmart Specials" made by cheap labor with machines (later production tubes with O Getters).

****kk should I try rtf ecc81.

I'm at a really good place, but they are pretty cheap......