The All Purpose Advice Thread

Discussion in 'Advice Threads' started by purr1n, Sep 26, 2015.

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

    MrTurtle Facebook Friend

    Joined:
    Oct 6, 2015
    Likes Received:
    166
    Trophy Points:
    33
    To follow up on my earlier post, I'm waiting on a used UD120 right now - will let you guys know how the combination works out. Skirted around the battery issue by getting a Zerolemon battery pack, haha.

    Another question: Where I live, there's a used Asgard 2 going for about the same price as a new Vali 2 + shipping. Which do you guys think would be better value for money? Using with modded T50RP, IEMs from time to time, a stray KSC75 or 2, and I also see a HD650 in my future.

    Sorry to be one of those dudes always asking questions instead of contributing meaningful data and impressions.
     
  2. fraggler

    fraggler A Happy & Busy Life

    Pyrate
    Joined:
    Oct 1, 2015
    Likes Received:
    5,084
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Location:
    Chicago, IL
    Ok, so I have a Valhalla 2 incoming with basically end game tubes to drive my partially modded HD650s. For up to $400 max, is the Schiit Bifrost 4490 the way to go? I love detail, but am looking for an analog, liquid sound. Not too mushy or syrupy, but something involving that I can listen to for hours. Any other DACs I should look at? Currently have a GOV2 Infinity, but hoping to sell it to get a full sized DAC (though I'm limited in space something not too much bigger than a Bifrost would be ideal). If it is basically already at that level, I could be convinced to keep it.
     
  3. Skyline

    Skyline Double-blindly done with this hobby

    Pyrate
    Joined:
    Sep 28, 2015
    Likes Received:
    3,426
    Trophy Points:
    113
    4490, for sure, if you're looking at the $400 range.
     
  4. therealjay

    therealjay New

    Joined:
    Feb 24, 2016
    Likes Received:
    23
    Trophy Points:
    8
    Can someone point me in the direction of a link or something that explains the advantages of solid state versus tube amplifiers? I have HD 800s showing up in the mail tommorow and I think I'm at the point of too much research. I was all ready to jump into tubes head first but I've been reading recently about how on a technical level solid state is better and has less distortion. I sort of knew this already but it kind of hit me that I'm a rational human being in pretty much every other aspect of my life so why would I apply subjective feelings towards this purchase when I wouldn't ever do it with anything else.

    Just want to make sure I'm getting the right thing. I've tried several times now to find decent comparisons on head-fi and nothing's been too informative.
     
  5. Merrick

    Merrick A lidless ear

    Pyrate
    Joined:
    Jan 6, 2016
    Likes Received:
    12,568
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Location:
    Portland, OR
    With the Valhalla 2 running the '75 Reflektor silver shields, paired with a Bifrost Multibit and HD600, I'm pretty much done on my digital setup. The sound is astonishingly good. What we've heard from people who have both the 4490 and the Bifrost Multibit, the two are very close in quality. Given that we've run a very similar gear upgrade path, leading me to think we likely have similar sonic tastes, I suspect you'd find a 4490/Val2 combo to be as close to endgame as you can get without spending a few thousand dollars.
     
  6. fraggler

    fraggler A Happy & Busy Life

    Pyrate
    Joined:
    Oct 1, 2015
    Likes Received:
    5,084
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Location:
    Chicago, IL
    Heh, that is what I said when I had the GOV2 feeding a Vali 2. I don't expect a huge leap, but I've been wanting to try the Valhalla 2 since it came out.
     
  7. Merrick

    Merrick A lidless ear

    Pyrate
    Joined:
    Jan 6, 2016
    Likes Received:
    12,568
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Location:
    Portland, OR
    Ah, I never thought the Vali 2 or GOV2 felt like endgame material. I'm still in mid-fi, but right now the leap out of it is too much for my wallet (that and I want to spruce up my analog setup, because it feels very inadequate at this point and my vinyl deserves better). With the Bifrost Multibit and the Val2, I frequently find myself losing hours just listening to music. It's always one more song, one more song, one more song...
     
  8. fraggler

    fraggler A Happy & Busy Life

    Pyrate
    Joined:
    Oct 1, 2015
    Likes Received:
    5,084
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Location:
    Chicago, IL
    Oh, it certainly wasn't endgame, but I felt that most mid-fi upgrades wouldn't necessarily be worth the money. That said, it will be quite some time, if ever that I go beyond this. I love music, but have so many other things I'd rather spend money on at this point.
     
  9. 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
    Funny, I had the same exact Goldilocks problem with headphones. Maybe nice desktop monitors / speakers custom built by @OJneg or me?
     
  10. 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
    No link
    Only words
    In general
    Tubes sound better
    Solid-state measures better
    Don't think about it too much
    Just jump in
    Use the Force
    And while we are at it
    Digital sucks
     
  11. Merrick

    Merrick A lidless ear

    Pyrate
    Joined:
    Jan 6, 2016
    Likes Received:
    12,568
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Location:
    Portland, OR
    [​IMG]

    Is there a thread about this that I have missed?
     
  12. 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
    @OJneg built some really nice desktop monitors. I haven't posted pictures because the build quality is HFM like. The SQ >>> KEF LS50 (they do use very expensive drivers.) I do have some nicer cabinets I will transfer the drivers and XO over to. In time.
     
  13. a44100Hz

    a44100Hz Friend

    Pyrate
    Joined:
    Jan 1, 2016
    Likes Received:
    1,159
    Trophy Points:
    93
    Location:
    US East
    In an ideal world. I don't have the luxury of speakers as an option due to congested quarters. I'm leaning toward trying the HD800 in the future, but for now I suppose I don't really need anything.
     
  14. therealjay

    therealjay New

    Joined:
    Feb 24, 2016
    Likes Received:
    23
    Trophy Points:
    8
    Hah ok fair enough.

    Think I may buy a Valhalla 2 tommorow. Hopefully I love it.
     
  15. No_One411

    No_One411 Fired by Jude

    Staff Member Pyrate
    Joined:
    Sep 27, 2015
    Likes Received:
    560
    Trophy Points:
    93
    Location:
    Saratoga, CA
    lololol so...flawless build quality? :D
     
  16. muse

    muse Facebook Friend

    Joined:
    Oct 15, 2015
    Likes Received:
    224
    Trophy Points:
    43
    I tried looking at various places to get the my first ever tubes for my first ever tube amp, but the variation in description and pricing is all rather confusing.

    Does anyone know where's a good place to pick up a matched pair of Reflektor 1973 Silver Shield tubes for the Valhalla 2?

    I intend to get these and be done with it. No rolling, no swapping, no whatever as I can foresee this being a bottomless pit that can only suck you in.
     
  17. JK47

    JK47 Guest

    Are those the mythical Russian tubes that the guy on HF try's to shill for $200 a pair? Claiming only he has them, and all of them are tested to his high standards, etc.

    I have a set of early 1980's Russian 6N23P for my former Mjolnir 2, and now use them in my Vali 2. Great tube and only cost $20 a pair shipped. If you want to spend 10x that on the Unicorn tube that HF dude only has, that's up to you, but I have a sneaking suspicion the added benefit may be placebo to justify the silly price...YMMV
     
  18. primetime877

    primetime877 New

    Joined:
    Mar 15, 2016
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    1
    I've currently got a Vali 2 hooked up to a Chord Mojo. My Mojo has very low distortion but I can hear distortion in my Vali 2.

    I'm looking for something that sounds natural, uncoloured just something to amplify my source without adding any harshness, lushness, distortion.

    Does such a thing exist at this price or under?
     
  19. muse

    muse Facebook Friend

    Joined:
    Oct 15, 2015
    Likes Received:
    224
    Trophy Points:
    43
    Jeez this is quite unsettling. I guess it's tough to have a consensus over what sounds best but tubes are unchartered territory and there's only so much reading up that can help. Perhaps it might be wise to err on the side of caution for my first set of tubes. Thanks for preaching caution. I'll do my due diligence before making a decision.
     
  20. trung225

    trung225 Facebook Friend

    Joined:
    Oct 22, 2015
    Likes Received:
    123
    Trophy Points:
    43
    I think you should get the NOS Russian 6N23P tube, but only at fair price, I mean under 30-40 USD per pair (shipping included). I have a pair of Reflektor 6N23P 1973 Gray Shield, and I found them superior to the stock tube, more liquid sound and less grain in treble. More importantly, Val 2 runs cooler with those tubes than with stock tubes.
     
Thread Status:
Not open for further replies.

Share This Page