Schiit Valhalla 2 er laget for å brukes. Og da mener vi virkelig brukes! Bare prøv å bruk hodetelefoner med lav impedans. Bruk IEMs. Alt funker!
Valhalla 2 er en komplett reinkarnasjon av tidligere Valhalla 1, med forbedret ytelse, høyere utgangskapasitet, samt lavere forvrenging og utgangs impedanse.
Fleksibel, selv med rør
Mens de fleste rørforsterkere er skreddersydd for 300 ohms Sennheisere eller 600 ohms Beyerdynamics, strekker Schiit Valhalla 2 seg langt lengre enn som så. Med Valhalla kan du peise på med allskens hodetelefoner man aldri skulle tro man kunne bruke med rørforsterker. Faktisk bruker mange Valhalla 2 sammen med svært sensitive hodetelefoner med lav impedans.
En komplett desktop-forforsterker
2. generasjon Valhalla byr på to nye men viktige funksjoner: gain bryter og forforsterker utgang. Utgangen lar deg koble til dine aktive høyttalere for å bruke Valhalla 2 som forforsterker til dem. Såkalt tubemagi! Bryteren for gain gir deg bedre kontroll over både utgangsnivået og impedansen, for å bedre matche hodetelefonene. Dermed er det lekende lett å bygge et komplett desktop-system rundt Valhalla.
Ikke noen klassisk gubbe-forsterker
Hvis du forventer sirup-aktig, tjukk, eufonisk farget rørlyd, kommer du til å få deg et sjokk. Valhalla 2 låter nemlig eksepsjonelt nøyaktig, nøytralt, og høyoppløst, uten å oppleves irriterende eller døllt.
Spesifikasjoner
Frequency Response: 20Hz-20Khz, -0.1db, 7Hz-200KHz, -3dB
Maximum Power, 300 ohms: 300mW RMS per channel at less than 10% THD
Maximum Power, 600 ohms: 340mW RMS per channel at less than 10% THD
THD: < 0.02%, 20Hz-20KHz, at 1V RMS, low gain, 600 ohms
IMD: < 0.03%, CCIF at 1V RMS low gain, 600 ohms
SNR: > 98db, unweighted, referenced to 1V RMS, low gain
Crosstalk: < -71dB, 20 Hz-20KHz
Output Impedance: 14 ohms (hi gain), 3.5 ohms (lo gain)
Input Impedance: 100K ohms
Gain: 7 (16.9db) or 1.5 (3.5 db), via rear switch
Topology: All-triode, noninverting, single voltage gain stage, current source biased front end and optimized WCF output stage, DC-coupled input
Tube Complement: 6N1P dual triode input, 6N6P dual triode output, 1 each per channel. 6N1Ps rollable to 6DJ8, E88CC, 6922, 6BZ7, and similar types.
Power Supply: Two internal power transformers with over 2,000uF of filter capacitance
Power Consumption: 40W
Size: 9 x 6 x 3.25”
Weight: 7 lbs
FAQ fra Schiit
Wait, wait, wait. low impedance headphones on an OTL tube amp? Are you nuts?
No, not completely. At typical listening levels, with high efficiency headphones, the low output impedance and higher current capability of Valhalla 2 mean you might be surprised by the sound.
What makes Valhalla 2 different than most tube amps?
We infuse each of the electrons in Valhalla with special powertrode ions, which gives the output super-strength. Each milli-amp of current in Valhalla is actually worth many amps of current in other amps.
Are you done now? Want to give us a real answer about how you made Valhalla 2 the “super OTL” amp?
Okay, fine, we’ll take our pills. Ahem. There’s really no magic. We just spent a long time optimizing both the input and output topology to maximize current delivery, and to reduce output impedance. This entailed quite a few tweaks to the common-cathode front end, adding a new negative voltage rail and current source to up the overall gain, and also changes to the White cathode follower output.
Hey, you’re making that up, too!
No, actually, we aren’t. To really understand our serious answers, you’ll need to learn engineerese, I’m afraid.
So what does that mean?
In simpler numbers: 2-8x lower output impedance, 8x lower distortion, 2x more current delivery, and lower noise. In simpler terms: while Valhalla was marginal-to-bad with IEMs and low-impedance headphones, Valhalla 2 is better. It’s not the be-all and end-all, but it’s now a much more well-rounded amp.
What headphones are Valhalla really good for?
Valhalla is still going to be at its best with high-impedance headphones like the 300 ohm Sennheisers and 250-600 ohm Beyers. With up to 60V p-p output capability, it can light up high-impedance headphones.
Does the volume control adjust the preamp outputs?
Yes.
Can I turn off the headphone outs when I’m using the preamp outputs?
The preamp outputs are automatically turned off when you plug in your headphones. Unplug your headphones to use the pre outs.
How do I switch the gain?
There’s a toggle switch on the back of the amp.
Is Valhalla rollable?
Yes! The standard 6N1P input tubes can be subbed out for any 6DJ8/6922/ECC88/ECC85/6BZ7 types, including NOS, cryo-treated, voodoo-blessed, hand-assembled by elves, etc.
Does this have a muting relay, like all your other amps?
No. The slow turn-on and turn-off characteristics of tubes and limited current capability means there’s no muting relay—which is the same for pretty much every tube OTL headphone amp out there. While there is DC on the output at turn-on and turn-off, it is on the order of 100mV into 32-ohm headphones. If you are concerned about this, unplug your headphones before turning the amp off, and wait 30 seconds or so after you turn Valhalla 2 on to plug in.
I was told that tube amps are all about euphonic distortion and that you’re a bunch of crazy money-grubbing arseholes because you make tube amps.
Have you ever heard a tube amp?
No, seriously.
We are serious. Have you ever heard a tube amp?
No, I don’t find it necessary, having done the calculations for exact current and voltage delivery to my headphones to achieve a long-term safe listening level, and knowing the distortion floor of my particular transducers—
Okay, we see where this is going. Bottom line, we make both highly-capable, completely-neutral-by-the-measurements, inexpensive solid state amps, and wacky tube and tube hybrid amps. Why? Because some people like solid state, and some people like tubes. You know, like some people like Camrys and some like Corvettes. Like some people like Budweiser, and some people like Bordeaux. Amazing thing, the world, full of so many different experiences and so many different opinions of them. Is one right, and another wrong? If so, who is the arbiter? Bottom line, if you don’t agree with our approach, there are tons of other options out there. Have fun, and we hope you find one that fits your desires perfectly.
