Schitt Folkvangr Thread: speculation, impressions, questions

Discussion in 'Headphone Amplifiers and Combo (DAC/Amp) Units' started by purr1n, Jun 27, 2022.

Thread Status:
Not open for further replies.
  1. purr1n

    purr1n Desire for betterer is endless.

    Staff Member Pyrate BWC
    Joined:
    Sep 24, 2015
    Likes Received:
    89,771
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Location:
    Padre Island CC TX
    Start here.

    I'll see what I can answer.
     
  2. Merrick

    Merrick A lidless ear

    Pyrate
    Joined:
    Jan 6, 2016
    Likes Received:
    12,568
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Location:
    Portland, OR
    Does this sound like a supercharged Valhalla 2, or more bloomy/warm/syrupy (or...a third thing)?
     
  3. purr1n

    purr1n Desire for betterer is endless.

    Staff Member Pyrate BWC
    Joined:
    Sep 24, 2015
    Likes Received:
    89,771
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Location:
    Padre Island CC TX
    From what I understand, it's still the same White cathode follower circuit (Valhalla 2), but with a shitload more output tubes in parallel. Instead of a big cap, it's direct coupled via servos.
     
  4. purr1n

    purr1n Desire for betterer is endless.

    Staff Member Pyrate BWC
    Joined:
    Sep 24, 2015
    Likes Received:
    89,771
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Location:
    Padre Island CC TX
    I didn't think it was bloomy or syrupy, but it was bassy like Mjolnir 2. Also slams like truck, in the same veil of the Mjolnir 2. Except getting rid of those big caps on the Valhalla 100% eliminated any of that obvious outer thickness and prickly treble. Highs are super smooth. ZMF Atrium and Grados sounded great. Grado is amusing and often a good litmus test because Grados don't necessarily sound better with an amp. Most of the time, they sound worse. Lack delicateness and finesse of SET amps, but what doesn't outside of SET.
     
  5. Merrick

    Merrick A lidless ear

    Pyrate
    Joined:
    Jan 6, 2016
    Likes Received:
    12,568
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Location:
    Portland, OR
    So the impedance multiplier sounds solid, doesn't degrade the sound meaningfully?
     
  6. purr1n

    purr1n Desire for betterer is endless.

    Staff Member Pyrate BWC
    Joined:
    Sep 24, 2015
    Likes Received:
    89,771
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Location:
    Padre Island CC TX

    Did not feel it was an ortho powerhouse. There's an impedance multiplier switch for orthos,, but it puts Schiit Magnius / Topping NCFA tech into the loop, so while orthos will sound more controlled and betterer in many respects, it also removes the soul of the music. Fortunately, the people who like 120db AmirNAD amps won't be able to hear the difference.

    It was quite easy for me to tell whether "neutered mode" was on or not. I berated others for leaving it on "neutered mode" when they were listening to it with Grados. On the other hand, maybe it's not so bad. If people don't think the Heresy sounds slightly on the insipid side compared to 3+, but then it should be all good.
     
  7. purr1n

    purr1n Desire for betterer is endless.

    Staff Member Pyrate BWC
    Joined:
    Sep 24, 2015
    Likes Received:
    89,771
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Location:
    Padre Island CC TX
     
  8. Cspirou

    Cspirou They call me Sparky

    Pyrate
    Joined:
    Sep 27, 2015
    Likes Received:
    8,200
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Location:
    Northwest France
    God damn a DC coupled tube amp

    I must ask how bass is on the Folkvangr
     
  9. Azimuth

    Azimuth FKA rtaylor76, Friend

    Pyrate
    Joined:
    Nov 9, 2015
    Likes Received:
    6,834
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Location:
    Nashville, TN
    Home Page:
    So the tube comliment is buried in the Description...

    "With Folkvangr, your headphones are literally connected directly to eight 6N6P output tubes..."​

    "With Folkvangr, you can “roll” the 6N1P input tubes for 6922, ECC88, and many other tube types." ​

    Not a mention of tube types in the Specifications. For comparision, here is what is listed for Valhalla in the Specifiations:

    "Tube Complement: 6N1P dual triode input, 6N6P dual triode output, 1 each per channel. 6N1Ps rollable to 6DJ8, E88CC, 6922, 6BZ7, and similar types."​
     
  10. wbass

    wbass Friend

    Pyrate
    Joined:
    Feb 10, 2019
    Likes Received:
    1,542
    Trophy Points:
    93
    Location:
    London, UK
    Will be curious to see if this ends up playing in the Starlett league. Or if it’ll just be different.

    I take it OTL means it’ll favor high-impedance Senn and less so the various Focals?
     
  11. zonto

    zonto Friend

    Pyrate Contributor
    Joined:
    Sep 30, 2015
    Likes Received:
    4,975
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Location:
    Boston, MA
    Also curious re: potential synergy with Focal headphones (particularly Utopia).
     
  12. Cspirou

    Cspirou They call me Sparky

    Pyrate
    Joined:
    Sep 27, 2015
    Likes Received:
    8,200
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Location:
    Northwest France
    Really got to explore the non-objectivist potential as much as possible. Standard audio engineering says you want an impedance ratio of at least 10:1, which would mean only using it with HD 600/650/800 and Beyers. LCD-4 at 110Ω might be interesting too.

    However screw all that, there’s definitely enough current for 32Ω grados and overears in the same range. Might have some transconductance-like properties.

    I wouldn’t use it with a BA IEM but very curious what a DD sounds like with it
     
  13. Gazny

    Gazny MOT: ETA Audio

    Pyrate Contributor
    Joined:
    May 11, 2020
    Likes Received:
    2,209
    Trophy Points:
    93
    Location:
    open sky
    Is the impedance multiplier a voltage divider but instead it is taken out?
    Similar to how low gain is increased feedback mode?

    Harmonic content is limited by the output devices in parallel?
     
  14. Cspirou

    Cspirou They call me Sparky

    Pyrate
    Joined:
    Sep 27, 2015
    Likes Received:
    8,200
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Location:
    Northwest France
    From the description is seems similar to the DC servo in their SS amps and also behaves like negative feedback that lowers output impedance. The difference though is that feedback lowers distortion and this seems to keep it the same
     
    • Like Like x 1
    • Agreed, ditto, +1 Agreed, ditto, +1 x 1
    • List
  15. HotRatSalad

    HotRatSalad Friend

    Pyrate
    Joined:
    May 4, 2018
    Likes Received:
    1,684
    Trophy Points:
    93
    Location:
    NH

    What tubes can I use in place of the stock 6N6P output tubes? In short, not much. 6N30P will also work. JJ ECC99s do not work, despite what you may have heard—they have the wrong pinout. However, if you’re willing to have lower power output, 6N1P or any dual triode tube with 6DJ8-style pinout and 6.3V heaters will work fine, as long as they don’t need more than 750mA of heater current.

    What can I use instead of the stock 6N1P input tubes? Any 6DJ8-pinout dual triode with 6.3V heaters at 600mA or lower heater current will be fine—this includes 6DJ8, 6922, ECC88, 6BZ7, etc.

    From the manual
     
  16. neo_the_one

    neo_the_one Acquaintance

    Contributor
    Joined:
    Jan 25, 2020
    Likes Received:
    60
    Trophy Points:
    18
    Location:
    Seattle
    What are the current best considered TOTL SS amps for orthos like Susvara? I am coming from EC Studio JR. With good source they don't seem to have enough power to do the low end well with Orthos. I am assuming most tube amps will struggle there. I guess if some SS amp has good juice to drive the Susvara it should prolly be able to drive everything.
    Possibly headphone amps and not speaker amps.
     
  17. roshambo123

    roshambo123 Friend

    Pyrate Contributor
    Joined:
    May 26, 2018
    Likes Received:
    2,762
    Trophy Points:
    93
    Location:
    Los Angeles
    Be glad to do an impressions write-up on mine when it arrives.
     
  18. PacoTaco

    PacoTaco Friend

    Pyrate
    Joined:
    Nov 24, 2015
    Likes Received:
    1,474
    Trophy Points:
    93
    Bit off topic, but try thr Bryston BHA-1 if you can get it around a grand. That thing slams like a truck and had a lot of headroom.
     
  19. Senorx12562

    Senorx12562 Case of the mondays

    Pyrate
    Joined:
    Oct 26, 2015
    Likes Received:
    3,274
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Location:
    Bird-watcher's paradise
    The "limited-run" thing only means I won't be able to afford it used either.
     
    • Like Like x 4
    • Agreed, ditto, +1 Agreed, ditto, +1 x 1
    • List
  20. will_f

    will_f Friend

    Pyrate
    Joined:
    Dec 15, 2019
    Likes Received:
    902
    Trophy Points:
    93
    Location:
    USA
    OTOH, if you can afford it used, you probably don’t want it. That said, @purr1n doesn’t appear to hate it so it will probably hold value, at least while Russian 6N6P tubes are still available.
     
Thread Status:
Not open for further replies.

Share This Page