Schiit Valhalla 2

It does pair quite well, I find it a touch thin with the stock tubes (although resolves beautifully) but apparently you can change that by rolling in tubes.

 

If you like a warmer sound, Amperex Orange globes a real nice choice - I use them in my Valhalla 2 and it warms it up a bit.

 

What's a good source to buy the tubes?
Any experience with the Russian tubes?

 

Speaking of tubes, I have to take back everything I said about the Amperex Orange Globes. I don't know the reason but these have really brightened up and produced more detail than my first listen (negative impressions several pages back). They still don't have the treble detail of the stock tubes but they have plenty enough to be engaging while still adding a bit of overall warmth and musicality. I expect that the tubes have finally settled into their operating state. Regardless, I'm very content with them now and may not go back to stock tubes.

@thegunner100 and @The Alchemist, you guys were right. I'll try to keep my premature feelings to myself in the future

 

So,as far as I can tell there isn't just one kind of Amperex Orange globes. Anyone have any more details on the tubes they are using that have this magical midrange warmth? I'd like to get one for my Vali 2, but quickly got lost in the myriad of variations on the Amperex tubes. Apparently, date of manufacture, location of manufacture, color of logo, type of logo, are all important and can change the price by 300% or more. Does it change the sound that much?

 

Yeah, there are tons.

This is what I have...not an orange globe, but a really great all-rounder tube. It's actually made in gt. britain and is a rebranded mullard tube.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/1-x-MULLARD...IN-6DJ8-ECC88-TUBE-TESTED-GREAT-/182001968749

The ones from Holland seem to get the most attention, but I haven't heard one.

 

Didn't know Mullard made tubes for Amperex. Wonder if it sounds like Mullards or Amperexes . I see deals on ebay that are far, far lower than most of the main websites for vintage tubes. Makes me nervous.

 

Couldn't say. I'll just say that it sounds quite nice out of my Ember and works with a wide variety of headphones. Especially the HD650.

 

I'll look mine up as I still have the receipt, but I believe mine are Amperex Orange Globe Holland 1962 or 1963 - but I will post later exactly which ones.

 

Just got some 1969 Amperex Orange Globes in my valhalla 2 and yeah, this is what I needed, just a slight warming over for the HD800.

 

How long did this take? I switched back to the stock 73 Voskhods that mine came with and yeah holy lord are those things V shaped sounding compared to the Orange Globes. But I miss the bass slam of the Ruskies if not the mean treble on a stock HD800. I have about 15-20 hours on the Orange Globes, hope they firm up a touch, if not what would be a good in-between? Probably 60/70s German tubes I don't want to pay for.

 

I left the amp on and played music all night before giving my first impressions. I was likely too tired to hear how good they actually are. I put them in later and was very impressed.

 

First impressions on my Valhalla 2 are very good. Compared to the Vali 2, they have a wonderful sense of space, both in the width of the soundstage but also in terms of the space surrounding each instrument. The Valhalla 2 is also incredibly crisp (this is with stock tubes). I understand why people say this sounds like a solid state amp, but it isn't harsh. A very engaging, organic sound that is incredibly pleasing. This is on high gain with the HD600.

I have a pair of NOS tubes coming. I wanted to get a feel for the sound with stock tubes first so I could appreciate the differences.

However, it does also make me appreciate how solid of a little amp the Vali 2 is. It's not as clear, not as crisp, not as spacious, but it's also less than half the price of the Valhalla 2 and it gets a lot right. I'm happy to have both amps.

 

I was initially dismissive of the stock tubes. A tweak to my chain upstream of the Valhalla 2 and the stock tubes now strike a fine balance with the rest of the system. I actually now enjoy the sharper attack of the stock tubes over the wetter and slightly rounded edges of my Amperex tubes.

 

That was fast dude, weren't you just looking to buy one of these yesterday?

Have not heard the Vali 2 yet, but I do have to agree with your assessment of the Stock Valhalla 2, after switching back and forth with Orange Globes and Stock Voskhods, I ended up finding the stock tubes a tad too bright for my unmodded HD800 after the OGs. I imagine they would be very good with the DH6xx line though. An amp with speedy, expansive, and detailed sound.

 

I do miss the last few % of attack and detail the stock tubes have, I think they may be preferable once I mod my HD800 and tame the treble a bit.

 

I actually found my stock tubes a bit "soft" after trying out a pair of brighter EH 6922s, which I currently prefer for most of my music, although I must admit it was the stock Valhalla 2 that first got me hooked when I played a live orchestra piece and there was that silky smooth rendering of a wind chime where the stick just seemed to slide through the bars. Yeah, bad description, but that magical instance cost me 500 SGD.

 

Yeah, my wife gave me the go ahead to buy new, and I did next day delivery.

I've enjoyed tubes from the Herleen plant in my Vali 2, but for the Valhalla 2 I went with a pair of Russian Reflektors from '75.

 

Silver shields or Gray shields?

 

Silver shields. Bought them from a head-fier who's been championing them.