Tube Amp Battle: Bottlehead Crack vs Schiit Valhalla 2

Tubes! They really can be a lot of fun with the right headphones. IMO, it’s certainly worth getting a decent tube amp in your set up to experiment with from time to time (if not use it as a daily driver).

For this video, I’m comparing a Bottlehead Crack with Speedball and the Schiit Valhalla 2. They are both decent amps, but the Crack just has such life to it–honestly, I love it. Really adds a new dimension to the dynamic headphones that I’ve been putting on it.

I’m no tube amp expert. For more technical information, I’d recommend check out the sites for both these amps and searching the forums for tube rolling advice.

Here’s links to stuff mentioned in the video:
Bottlehead Crack: https://bottlehead.com/product/crack-...
Valhalla 2: https://www.schiit.com/products/valha...


Check out this playlist for more Amp & DAC reviews:
   • Amps & DACs  

Check this playlist for more open-back headphone reviews:    • Open Back Headphones  

Check out this playlist for more closed-back headphone reviews:
   • Closed Back Headphones  

Look down below for links to all that gear and some other recommendations.

Of course, I always recommend you take a look at the used market, below are some sites that are great for that.

Head-Fi: https://www.head-fi.org/
HifiGuides: https://forum.hifiguides.com/
Reddit:   / avexchange  
Hifi-shark: https://www.hifishark.com/
US AudioMart: https://www.usaudiomart.com/


Some of my favorite equipment for various niches (some links are affiliate):

Super Budget Headphone: Koss kph40: https://koss.com/products/kph40-utility
Need these pads for the kph40 though: https://www.aliexpress.com/item/10050...
Cheap Gaming Headphone: AD700X: https://amzn.to/3b4ACUS
Cheap All-Around Headphone: SHP9600: https://amzn.to/3b6aUiP
Entry Level DAC: Modi 3+: https://www.schiit.com/products/modi-1
Entry Level Amp: IEMagni: https://www.schiit.com/products/magni-1
Entry Balanced DAC: SMSL SU8: (look used)
Or Modius: https://www.schiit.com/products/modius

My Main DAC: Bifrost 2: https://www.schiit.com/products/bifro...
My Main Amp: Singxer SA-1: https://amzn.to/3BgXJ97
Tube Amp: Bottlehead Crack: https://bottlehead.com/product/crack-...
Headphone #1: HE6SEv2: adorama.rfvk.net/4eydoo
Headphone #2: Focal Elex w/ Dekoni Fenestrated Sheepskin: https://drop.com/buy/massdrop-x-focal...
Headphone #3: OG NIghthawks: (look used)
TOTL: Focal Utopia: (look used)
Gaming Headphone: HE560v4: adorama.rfvk.net/6bnGoG
Bluetooth Portable DAC/Amp: XCan: https://amzn.to/3vJG8WA
Wired Portable DAC/Amp: Mojo: https://amzn.to/3CbYWQs
TWS: Sony XM4: https://amzn.to/3Glr7Py

Cables:
Hart Audio Cables: https://hartaudiocables.com/
Worlds Best RCA Interconnects: https://amzn.to/3pB2Oa7
Worlds Best XLR Interconnects: https://amzn.to/3vEdwxO

Recording Gear:
Canon M50: https://amzn.to/3ba7KKJ
Sigma 16mm 1.4: https://amzn.to/3vF6SaB
Maono USB Mic: https://amzn.to/3CecbQO
Canon M100 (overhead): https://amzn.to/31lZAxT
Canon 22mm 2.0 (overhead): https://amzn.to/3dowiAO

#bottleheadcrack #schiit #tubeamp