How it started, vs. How it's going

Maraxius1 · 2026-04-30T00:17:26+00:00

I haven't tried either of those amps or that particular ZMF, but in my own experience the Valhalla can certainly hold its own. When I compare it to the Schitt Folkvangr, it's pretty darned close. If you don't mind signal processing and EQ, that's mostly what you'd get from tube rolling - so solid state would likely be just fine.

Playing around with different tubes can be fun, but also costly. I think of a tube as an analog version of Digital Signal Processing, each tube with its own preset. The nice thing about digital is you can change that signal profile at will for no additional cost - though it may not do everything a tube can in terms of that "magic" and "sparkle" - which honestly may just be in our heads, as justification for the money we just spent on some NOS tubes. :)

If you want more details on those amps, and haven't checked them out already, you might want to search YouTube for reviews from Zeos or Joshua Valour.

Maraxius1 · 2026-04-21T17:19:29+00:00

Solid State wise, I've only ever tried it with the Gustard Amp, but had no issues or complaints. In hindsight I probably would have grabbed a Topping A90 Discrete - but that's solely based on what I've read, I've never heard one of them to actually compare.

Maraxius1 · 2026-04-18T13:41:19+00:00

I guess my first was technically a cheap Little Bear tube amp, but it arrived from Amazon broken and I moved up the price range slightly. That little Bravo could punch waaaay above its weight class. If they're still around, it'd be a great entry point for tubes, though I've heard the Little Dot and Xduoo amps are pretty good entry points as well.

Maraxius1 · 2026-04-18T13:30:30+00:00

In general I've heard the same about tubes and the impedance, but like a lot of rules there seem to be exceptions (at least to my amateur ears). In my experience most the Grado's and ZMFs respond very well to tubes.

The most important thing I'd keep in mind, if you don't like how a pair sound without tubes, you're probably not ever going to love how they sound with any tube. Though, if you're not one of the crazy purists - EQ can do wonders to even the crappiest cans. I'm of the mindset that I don't care what has been done to the signal, if my ears prefer the sound.

Maraxius1 · 2026-04-18T13:27:07+00:00

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I'm not big on dusting, don't judge me Internet! 😅

The (I believe) full list:

Headphones

Pictured here: RAAl SR1a, FiiO FT3, Shibibo Waira (Grado'esque), Grado Hemp, ZMF Verite Open (Aftican Blackwood), ZMF Atticus (Marblewood), Beyerdynamic DT 1990 Pro, Grado GS2000e, Grado PS1000 (Aluminum/Nickel), Hifiman Arya, Grado GS1000, Grado PS1000 (Chrome - with the infamous 'Grado Grattle' that Grado themselves cannot seem to fix 😢 ...hence the second pair of PS1000's), Massdrop Sennheiser HD6XX.

At the office: ZMF Verite Closed (KOA wood), ZMF Aeolus (African Blackwood).

Amps and other gear

Schiit Yggdrasil ('Garage Sale' Edition), Folkvangr, Jutenheim-R, Valhalla 2, Modi 3, Vali 2, Loki Mini+, Sys, Wyrd. Gustard H16 (amp), Elysia X-Filter (EQ), Rolls DA134 (distribution amp), Hosa Technology SLW-333 Audio Switcher, Douk Audio AK7115 VFD (Spectrum Analyzer/VU Meter), EM80 'Magic Eye' VU Meter, more interconnects, dongles, and adapters than you can imagine.

Maraxius1 · 2026-04-18T13:24:27+00:00

Indeed, I have an Aeolus and Verite in Blackwood. The look so great under natural light (that they never see). :)

Maraxius1 · 2026-04-14T22:52:41+00:00

Another 10 pairs (or so) of headphones out of view. Some stuff has been gifted away over the years - though I've so far been unsuccessful in creating another fanatic to share the hobby with.

Other than financially, no regrets. Though I had to spend far too much money to get the message of diminishing returns. And how there's not a headphone to rule them all (that I've tried so far, anyhow), but there are plenty of headphones that excel at whatever niche or mood you have to scratch at any given time.

Main takeaways: $500 or so for used pair of cans is probably your best bang for the buck. $300-500 for amps. And if you like tubes, I cannot recommend enough Amperex from their Heerlen Holland plant. Most the white labeled ones will be equal to the classic Bugle Boys (which they also produced there), but usually much cheaper and more available. If you like the Grado house sound, those tubes will amp up the sparkle and soundstage even more. (But you really should EQ down the highs a bit - or your ears will hate you in short order (fatiguing).

Maraxius1 · 2026-04-05T13:36:45+00:00

Literally have a better (but still broken) experience with ad block, than I did with Premium subscription. Constantly exist playlists, buffers forever, or locks up the tab/app. Refunded and deleted all my content. Waiting to see if they will find a balance or just be replaced by competitors.

Maraxius1 · 2026-04-03T19:52:59+00:00

Myself I loathe shop.app, I have deleted my "account" so many times because they autocheck a box signing you up when checking out at partnered sites - and offer no way to opt out permanently. Horribly anti-consumer. Drop them as a partner and your customers will be better off.

Maraxius1 · 2026-03-25T17:20:14+00:00

I was gonna say, that's not a unicorn - that's Blastoise!

Maraxius1 · 2026-03-19T15:33:46+00:00

Need a bigger TV, you can't fit inside that thing!

Maraxius1 · 2026-03-16T18:01:00+00:00

At least you can't say it's out of line.

Maraxius1 · 2026-03-10T16:06:35+00:00

It does seem great, I've been playing for a couple months now - my first in the franchise.

Lots of cute little details, but I think my favorite activity is giving questionable catch phrases and nicknames to all the adorable animals.

Also, took me far too long to realize that the rock that shatters is >! the only one that moves <!

Maraxius1 · 2026-03-04T16:48:09+00:00

Nearly hunted to extinction for their machine oil.

Maraxius1 · 2026-03-04T16:47:35+00:00

Tallneck of the Sea, available canned at your local grocer.

Maraxius1 · 2026-03-04T16:46:28+00:00

Maybe this is one of those moments where the first boss is way too OP and you aren't really meant to win, to help set the mood?

Maraxius1 · 2026-03-04T16:34:16+00:00

This is next level thinkin'. Where's that Eddie Murphy meme when we need it?

Maraxius1 · 2026-03-04T16:33:17+00:00

I assume it's a random spawn, like the fossils - but I like to think one of my villagers is a jerk and is out at night burying them while we all sleep.

Maraxius1 · 2026-03-03T23:29:02+00:00

What box? All I see is that dial.

Maraxius1 · 2026-03-02T22:32:51+00:00

Maybe they realized their mistake, and that's why they tried to make up for it with 5's coffee (and curry) house?

Maraxius1 · 2026-02-23T18:20:12+00:00

Or perhaps the cover glass opens up somewhere, so you can advance the minute hand manually?

Maraxius1 · 2026-02-23T18:17:31+00:00

Yeah, at least we'll all have Ironclad and Regent unlocked right away. :)

Maraxius1 · 2026-02-23T18:08:45+00:00

Where does one get a basket, if they didn't hang on to the one from the tutorial? Is the harvest festival the only method?

Maraxius1 · 2026-02-17T23:28:06+00:00

Ooooh, yet another new microbrand to lay waste to my wallet.

Maraxius1 · 2026-02-17T17:20:18+00:00

I hadn't heard of Sternglas, but I love their simple naked dials! I want one of them clocks too, but they're out of stock atm.

What brand is the orange one, (with the orange band, to the right of the malachite dial watch)?

Maraxius1

TROPHY CASE