NO twitch stream tonight.. Did one yesterday.. See you all on Sunday instead.

So I took my Valhalla 2 apart and drilled a couple quick 1/4" holes to wire up a new push-button toggle switch (to turn it on and off) and just soldered it to the leads on the board to move the power switch and high-low switches to the front. I believe that voids the warranty, but honestly I doubt I'll ever return this thing. It's amazing and if anything goes wrong with it, it's simple enough to fix. Schiit will supply parts, on the other hand so there is that benefit if you have the technical know-how to fix things yourself.

"Tubes get really hot, it's like dangerous to be here..." lets headphone cable sit directly on tubes (9:32) lol. Love it Zeos, keep doing what you do best.

“The shift of the sound moving from in front of you eyes to straight in line with your ears.” What an acute way to describe the sound of tubes.

Z really and truly does like/appreciate all kinds of music. That's just one of the many ways he's unusual.

Jason from Schitt explained on Head-fi why they were reluctant (to say the least) about putting power switches in the front of the units. Running high voltage wires to the front would create interference inside the unit so you'd need to add a relay switch inside which would in turn increase the cost. Since Schiit's busines model is to offer the best possible sound at the lowest possible price while still being made in the US, moving the power switch to the front isn't one of their priorities right now

best reviewer ever! looks so natural, no bs. Much love from Sweden!

I didn't know about that Gary Clark Jr. live session... and now I can't stop listening to it. Thanks for the recommendation!

Your like the guru in the cyberpunk slums the protagonist goes to for new equipment with that "personal mechanic" type of vibe I've been looking for someone like you for a while friend. Thank you.

I love this amp. I can't, at the moment do A/B testing, but I will be able to soon. Not that it matters. For the first time, ever, I took a Sharpie and defaced a piece of audio equipment. Because I felt I had to. I can't read that volume dial. This thing sounds great and it keeps my hands warm. Heading into winter, this is a good thing. I'm going to receive an A/B switch and some cables in the next couple of days. Not that it matters. I'm keeping this tubey amp and my SS amp. Variety is a good thing!

I've tried amps with tubes that go sideways inside, I think it's just a design choice to put them standing, y'know for the swag and tube rolling of course.

Can you include in your reviews a bit about how the amps drive high impedance headphones?? Not just your 300 ohms . But also DT990 600 ohms ? I believe there are plenty of people looking for that information specially who look to amps

Hey Z! Do you think this would pair well with the Modi 2 and a pair of Audeze LCD-2Cs?

So these work great with low impedance headphones like Schiit claims? I am Judy wondering if getting this will restrict me into a certain category

Spent my first ever paycheck on a valhalla 2, fiio taishan d03k and fidelio x2's. 6 years later and I still love them all.

Hey Zeos, I'm looking for the best (used) headphones i can get for 300$. I found an offer for the AudioQuest Nighthawk. Do you have any other recommendations?

I am wondering the differences between the Darkvoice and the Valhalla 2 more than the difference between tube vs. solid state. I believe you covered that in the Darkvoice video.

KEXP is here in Seattle.

Have you seen the minidsp Nano AVR HDA? i was thinking of using it to achive 5.1 surround without a reciver

KEXP is in Seattle. Worked there a few years ago. Interestingly I know Gary, too, but from before he performed at KEXP. But eventually the audio might be released on their daily song podcasts. They do them randomly though and there are legal considerations when releasing single songs, even when you recorded them.

What is better for Beyerdynamics DT880?The Lyr 3 + 4490 DAC or the Valhalla 2 + Bifrost 4490 GEN5 USB? Does Lyr 3 have agressive highs with DT880? I like the Vali 2 with my DT880. What should i get?

Any difference if I feed a SS amp using the headphone out and the preamp output? Thanks

can it work on plannar like he560 I have and like, in other words, does it have enough power for plannar?

Did you mention how this amp sounded on your HD600s?

hi,how about monoprice 1060 with Valhalla 2 and Jotunheim ?

Would you say this is the only amp I'll need at a time, or should I hold onto a solid state as well?

Would you recomend this or the asgard 2 for hd650s? Pretty new to amps etc

What is the diffrence between how many tubes there are in the amp?. Like dies it make any diffence if there is 4 instead og 2 or even 1?

the audio-gd dac/amps are the same way with the power button in the back. pain in the ass. still love my nfb-11 tho

how comparable is it to the vali 2? also, is it usable for iems in low gain?

Would anyone recommend this as a phono preamp? I've been looking into using tubes as a pre & solid as an amp (& vice versa). Just curious since V2 has a preout

If you could only have one, which one would you have?

i need your help z... i got a pair of budget headphones (dt 770 pro - 80 ohm). my problem is.. i got this creative x-fi hd external soundcard that is just not capable of diving the beyers.... i feel like the 770s have more potential that can be unlocked if only i ditch the soundcard for a proper headphone amp. do you have any suggestions for me that would suit my heaphone? ideal a unit that would be a dac and amp combo so i can keep things fairly minimal. thanks and great job on all your reviews.

So about those ws1100s, I've been looking for some good cans for portable use. I had the m40x and loved them. But the build left more to be desired. I've narrowed it down to the msr7, mdr-1a, and conveniently the ws1100. What do you recommend I do ? (I tend to a v shaped sound. And build is the most important)

Also would like to see a review of Schiit Jotunheim vs Topping DX7. Please Z.

What speakers are those? When is the review for the Kef speakers coming?

Hey Z what's the best stereo amplifier or receiver that I can buy for $500?

How well does it get along with planar magnetic cans?

I have hd 6xx. Which amp should I get Asgard 2 or Valhalla 2 ? Btw I have a laptop and Fiio E10k.

That or the Lyr 3 with the multibit DAC?

I'm not into headphone music listening, rather I plan to use this as a preamp to pair with the Vidar amp? Any suggestion? Thanks

I just picked up a set of DT 1990 pro's, I'm looking at the Asgard 2 Class A solid state, and the Valhalla 2 TRIODE OTL (tube) What do you guys recommend? I haven't had experience with tube headphone amps, so i'm not too familiar with the sound staging.

what tubes to u run/like most in the dark voice?

Has anyone rolled tubes on this? Im curious but not too sure which tubes to get

How do these compare to the Asgard 3 for the hd 6xx?

where do i get the speaker stands? thanks

Should have added the hd660 (150 ohm). According to the 1:8 rule out put impedance of the amp to impedance of the headphones, Valhalla 2 (14 ohm output impedance) should be a good match for them. 150/8=18.75. Pretty close.

are you going to review the topping dx7??!

T1 2nd gens, Valhalla 2 with stock tubes, and a modi 3, all good? I have the T1 2nd gens atm, but not sure if I should go with a Tube amp or just go with a JDS element 2. Would appreciate ur input! Thanks

i hate it how i can't finish your videos sometimes because i see you fiddling around with headphones, amps and it makes me wanna do the same, so i go do it and have a 2 hour music listening session and just then returning to finish the video. but i guess that's a good thing

Zeos, please just tell me. The Valhalla 2 or the Darkvoice 336se? The darkvoice is dropped on massdrop rn and I'm not sure if I should get it or just wait for a valhalla 2

I'm running my Fostex THX-00 on a Schiit LYR. Is this overkill or shall I swap for a Valhalla?

Z, please, sound demo with Stax. Emotiva A100 vs. Valhalla 2.

Zeos, thanks for this review. Between the Jotunheim and the Valhalla 2 for the HD600, which would you go for? Thanks

What's the name of the speaker stands? Thanks

Valhalla 2 with bifrost or just jotunheim?

would anyone recommend the Valhalla 2 with the hd 660s?

Where do u guys buy/download high quality music on ur pc??

Be curious to see a review on the Aune T1.

how does tubes sound with planar drivers for example the monolith m1060s

Those amazon cables are great. The rubber they use is amazing. They feel like silicone dipped or something.

Can you link that HD6xx cable?

I know one is not better than the other but, Do you have a preference between the Dark voice or the Schiit Valhalla 2?

The Cayin C5 headphone amp would be interesting to see.

I've toyed with the idea of purchasing one of these to go along with my Jotunheim w/ DAC module. I have HD650 and the Hifiman 4xx on the way.

Are you gonna review beyerdynamic amiron home anytime soon?

Could you help recommend a setup for me? I've got about $1,000, I need closed back headphones and want a tube amp, I was leaning towards this amp and maybe some th-x00s, I don't know what DAC; but I'm so fickle. If you only had $1,000, what would you do?

KEXP is based in Seattle, but has an office and studio in New York.

Excelent Review Zeos!!

I want to see how this amp do with a M1060, very curious !

I recently upgraded my setup to a pair of HD600s and this amp. You pretty much mirrored my experience here, but have you noticed any sensitivity to volume setting with that combo? To my ears, the sound is flat below around 45% on high gain. I know audio loves amplification, but this feels pretty extreme.

love your reviews

Compare all the Schiit tubes?

Z I hope this finds you well sir. I have a question. I have a set of 660s and love them. Should I get a tube amp or solid state and why? Help me out man I’m such a noob

Any chance that you will get and possibly review an OLED tv?

I heared that shiit amps are DAC picky ,, some complained that its not working great with Chord Mojo as a dac .. any insight about the dacs you tried or any problems if they exist .. Thanks Z for the review ,, looking forward to see its bigger brother MJOLNIR 2 review.

My new valhalla 2 will have:Novosibirsk 6N6p and JSC Voskhod 6N1P. More robust than the stock Chinese tubes (which are excellent btw).

Do you happen to still have the dt1990 lying around? How do they do with tubes ( and this amp) ?

Thanks Zeos! That thing looks good, but I'd like so see a review of the preamp out functionality... I mean, does it actually make speakers sound different too? Because I don't know if that preamp out is actually going through the OTL amp or just though two of the four tubes, then to your standard solid amp kinda like the Vali 2 which would be disappointing. I don't know just wondering. So if you could do a quick follow up reviewing how it works with speakers that'd be great.

Z Reviews what tubes do you have on the Darkvoice? Thanks!

my Blue Robbie pre amp has its tubes facing out the front at it works fine

I solved the Schiit-power-switch-at-the-back problem. I have a wi-fi controlled power board running all my Schiit equipment; launch the app and turn on/off with my phone. Also have my active speakers (Edifier S2000pros) connected.

Why is it black? I don't see schiit.com selling a black finish. Unless it's out of stock because black is so much more demanded.

Which tube amp would you pick to pair with Z1R? This? Darkvoice? or WA8?

does bt1990 like this amp?

Will it shiit stack?

So this is good to go with stock tubes? Any recommendations for tube upgrades?

Did the k712 do anything on the tubes.

First pay check comes in tomorrow, tempted to buy a set of those Audeze isine 10s with it since I found a great deal on them earlier. My M40s will cry though...

WS1100 Review?

I see some monoprice budget headphones over there. wonder how the hell do they sound. review coming?

This or the Little Dot Mk III?

Need advice. Budget AMP/DAC for HD600's?

Would you use this amp on something like the monolith m1060?

WS1100 HAVE BEEN WITNESSED BY THE Z-GOD. I SHALL RIDE INTO VALHALLA WITH THEM

I use this on its side, its fine, it looks better that way anyway. I do it the other way around though, weight at the bottom.

KEXP is in Seattle. Just FYI.

only zeos would call an 18 min review "short" lol

Can't wait for lcd 4 review

Exact timing! How is bass in Valhalla 2 (With stock tubes)? Tight and punchy? Can it differentiate bass notes?