Schiit Valhalla 3

Introduction

We call Valhalla 3 "the fully modern tube headphone amplifier," because it gives you more ways to enjoy tubes, with less worries.

Unique OTL/OCL design connects you straight to the tubes, with no transformers or capacitors in the way. At the same time, the built-in impedance multiplier helps drive more difficult headphones.

And, with full analog-computer-type DC protection, you can be confident using Valhalla 3 with even your most treasured headphones.

Go ahead—discover what a fully modern tube amp can do!

Important Safety Information

The following is required by government agencies and regulations. If you have common sense, they should seem straightforward. In any case, read these instructions before proceeding, follow all instructions, and heed all warnings.

1. If you don't know how to install audio devices, get a qualified professional to help.
2. Never use this device near water, and clean only with a dry cloth.
3. Assure adequate ventilation, do not block any ventilation openings, or place near heat sources.
4. Use only the supplied power cord or suitable replacement. Route cords away from traffic areas and protect them from being pinched. Unplug the cord from the outlet if the apparatus is unused for a long period of time.
5. To prevent electric shock, do not use the plug with an extension cord, receptacle, or outlet unless blades can be fully inserted.
6. Refer all servicing to qualified service personnel. Service is required when the device has been damaged, including cord or plug damage, liquid has been spilled or objects have fallen into the device, the device has been exposed to rain or moisture, does not operate normally, or has been dropped.

WARNING: TO REDUCE THE RISK OF FIRE OR ELECTRIC SHOCK, DO NOT EXPOSE THIS DEVICE TO RAIN OR MOISTURE. ⚡

Getting Started

CAUTION! Dangerous voltages inside. Follow all instructions carefully.

1. Choose a cool, well-ventilated location. Valhalla 3 runs hot. This is totally normal for tube amplifiers.
2. Before plugging in the amplifier, insert the tubes. Short tubes in the front, long tubes in the back—closest to the RCA jack.

Diagram: Shows the placement of two short tubes (labeled 6N1P) in the front and two long tubes (labeled 6N6P) in the rear, closest to the RCA jack.

3. Ensure tubes are well-seated. Align carefully and push down firmly until seated.
4. Plug in your amplifier and turn it on. The tubes will glow after a few seconds.
5. Connect your source. And enjoy your music!

Tube Replacement

When it's time to replace the tubes, or when you want to "roll" tubes for different sound, follow this procedure carefully:

1. Turn off and unplug the amplifier. Wait until the tubes are cool before touching them—this can take several minutes.
2. Carefully extract tubes by gently rocking them back and forth and pulling upwards. Yes, the short tubes are tough to get out. A silicone funnel makes a nifty tube removal tool.
3. Carefully insert the replacement tubes: replace tubes with the same types (short = 6N1P, tall = 6N6P.) Align the pins to the sockets and press down gently until the tubes are seated. You may also "roll" the 6N1Ps for 6DJ8, 6BZ7, 6922, ECC88, or similar tubes.
4. Plug the amplifier back in and turn it on. That's it! Enjoy some music.

Connection

Diagram: Shows the rear panel of the Valhalla 3 amplifier with numbered connection points.

1. Input: Connect to your music source here with high quality RCA cables. You can even use super-fancy cables if you like.
2. Preamp Output: If you're connecting to powered speakers or a speaker amp, use these outputs. Note this is an actual preamp output, as in, the output signal is amplified by the tube stage of the amp. This means that your gain settings will affect the preamp output too.
3. Power: The power switch is located here. Up is on. Down is off. For best tube life, turn it off when not in use.
4. AC Input: Plug the power cord in here. Plug the other end into an outlet of the correct voltage. Please note the AC voltage of the amp is fixed and not adjustable. Plugging a 115VAC rated amp into a 230V AC outlet will result in a broken amp. ?

Operation

Diagram: Shows the front panel of the Valhalla 3 amplifier with numbered controls.

1. Tubes: These run very warm, especially the two tubes in the rear. Keep your hands, kids, and pets away from them.
2. Volume: Turn it to the right to make the music louder. Stop before the pain starts.
3. Gain/Feedback: Use this switch to change the gain. It has 3 positions:
   • TOP: High gain with feedback
   • MIDDLE: No feedback (highest gain)
   • BOTTOM: Low gain with feedback
4. Impedance Multiplier: Use this switch to control the impedance multiplier.
   • TOP: Impedance multiplier engaged
   • BOTTOM: Pure tube output
   The impedance multiplier helps when you are using hard-to-drive, low-impedance headphones.
5. Headphone Jack: This is where you plug in your headphones. ? Plugging in headphones mutes the preamp output automatically.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

I hear hum, what do I do?

If you're hearing hum through the headphones, or through the preamp output into powered speakers, select low gain for the lowest noise floor.

I still hear some hum with my IEMs.

Valhalla 3 is very quiet for a tube amp, but it does have a bit of residual hum. It works with most IEMs in low gain, but some extremely high efficiency models might reveal its noise floor.

No, I mean a TON of hum.

You may have a ground loop. Ground loops can happen when multiple products with grounded AC cords are in the same system. Try plugging everything into the same plug or power strip. In some cases, you may need a ground loop isolator for one or more products.

What gain should I use?

Try low gain for low impedance headphones and high gain (or no feedback) for high impedance headphones. But there are no wrong answers—you can't hurt the amp or your headphones with the wrong gain. Try them all and discover what you like.

When should I use the impedance multiplier?

If you get audible distortion with low impedance headphones, try the impedance multiplier to increase Valhalla 3's output capability.

How does Valhalla 3 work with (insert tube type here)?

The short answer is, if it's in the list in the front of the manual, it'll work fine. Beyond that, beware. If the tube has a different pinout, bad things can happen.

Can I leave Valhalla 3 on all the time?

You can, but consider that a 5000 hour tube lifespan is 200 days. We recommend you turn Valhalla 3 off when you're not going to use it for more than an hour.

It doesn't turn on, what do I do?

Plug it in to a different AC socket. Ensure you are not currently in a blackout. Then contact Schiit Audio if it still doesn't turn on.

Warranty Information

Schiit Audio warrants to the original purchaser that this product shall be free from defects in material and workmanship for five (5) years from the date of purchase, with the exception of tubes. Tubes supplied with this product are covered by a 90-day warranty. If a defect covered by warranty occurs during this period, Schiit Audio will repair the defective product, free of charge. Date of purchase will be based on customer receipts, otherwise date of manufacturing will be used.

If you believe you need warranty service, contact Schiit Audio first. Schiit Audio products sent back to us without a Return Authorization (RA) will be returned to the sender without repair. To contact Schiit Audio and obtain an RA, email info@schiit.com.

Warranty Limitations: This warranty shall not apply if a product: (a) is modified or tampered with; (b) is damaged by negligence, accident, unreasonable use, or other causes unrelated to defective materials or workmanship, or (c) has had the serial number altered or removed.

Any implied warranties, including warranties of merchantability and fitness for a particular purpose, are hereby limited in duration to the warranty period of 5 years. In no event shall Schiit Audio be liable for consequential or incidental damages resulting from the breach of any implied or expressed warranties. Some states do not allow these limitations, so they may not apply to you. You may also have other rights which vary from state to state or province to province.

In the Box

• (1) Valhalla 3
• (1) Valhalla Tube Set (2 6N1P and 2 6N6P)
• (1) Power Cord
• (Various) Stickers and stuff
• (Infinite) Appreciation from the whole Schiit crew in San Antonio and Corpus Christi
• (Even more) Thanks from our chassis and PCB guys in California and Utah

This product is in compliance with standards and regulations of the European Community.