New Schiit Vali 2 Discussion Thread

Discussion in 'Headphone Amplifiers and Combo (DAC/Amp) Units' started by jexby, Dec 11, 2015.

  1. DigMe

    DigMe Friend

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    I think he means from HF
     
  2. Kattefjaes

    Kattefjaes Mostly Harmless

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    Aye, I plugged a couple of those quotes into google, and then ninja-edited. Your reply was just too damn quick :)
     
  3. DigMe

    DigMe Friend

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    Haha.. oops, sorry about that. :D
     
  4. Hands

    Hands Overzealous Auto Flusher - Measurbator

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    Maybe that 6922 is good. Dunno. Haven't tried it. Buy both and find out for yourself! :)
     
  5. doors1991

    doors1991 New

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    i'm more inclined to buy the gold lion
     
  6. gaspasser

    gaspasser Flatulence Maestro

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    Quick impressions...just got EH 6CG7 plugged in and cooked for about an hour. Tube purchased off of Amazon (Amplified Parts), arrived well-packed, no microphonics. System is Chromebook USB-->GO2A-->Vali 2 EH6CG7-->stock HD600. @Hands speaks the truth! I have not heard the Vali 2 sound this good. The sound is another level of detail above the stock tube. I now understand the holographic sound ascribed to tube amps that I don't get from Jotunheim.
    @doors1991 if you own HD6X0, I would at least get EH6CG7 and roll from there if you desire. I am floored how good this sounds!
     
  7. Hands

    Hands Overzealous Auto Flusher - Measurbator

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    So why do you keep asking around here? You clearly want the GL 6922...so just get it, and if you enjoy it, be happy.
     
  8. doors1991

    doors1991 New

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    i want to be sure when i buy something online.
     
  9. Steakface

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    @doors1991 I'm not sure how accurate it is, but thetubedepot.com has a comparison tool that lists the EH 6922 as being a bright leaning tube with a wide soundstage. Compared to the Gold Lion on the tool, it looks similar to the EH but may be "better" - there's only one way to find out with this hobby.

    I just got the EH6CG7 and it's much better all around than the stock tube - also cheap to boot. I'm thinking of trying the JJ E88CC Gold Pin next when I want a change of sound.


    EDIT:
    https://www.tubedepot.com/tube-comparison-tool
     
    Last edited: Nov 8, 2016
  10. Kattefjaes

    Kattefjaes Mostly Harmless

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    Considering the variance between even some tubes of the same type, and how subjective the discussion is, good luck with that.

    Given the price of most of the tubes we're discussing, don't waste calories bickering about them- if you like the look of a tube, treat yourself to one, have a listen. Experimenting with tubes may not come much cheaper or easier than with the Vali 2.. if you're curious, just take advantage of the fact.
     
  11. gaspasser

    gaspasser Flatulence Maestro

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    Please be considerate when posting.
    I personally don't need to see written evidence of your thought process about choosing a tube for the Vali 2. One can never "be sure" when buying online.
     
  12. doors1991

    doors1991 New

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    i just want feedback,you are not obligated to answer.
     
    Last edited: Nov 22, 2016
  13. cskippy

    cskippy Creamy warmpoo

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    I've read a couple SBAFers using the Vali 2 with Jot as a preamp. I know it's best to leave volume attenuation to the last device, or use a transparent preamp (Jotunheim) but I was wondering how I could use Vali 2 as a line level tube buffer in between Gungnir Multibit and Jodie. Does anyone know unity gain for Vali 2 or Jot?
     
  14. Garns

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    I have this feeling generally about the Russian tubes - if you look at them rationally they do extremely well in all categories but at the same time they are somehow hard to feel very enthusiastic about. Plenty of people love 'em though, so different strokes &c &c.
     
  15. cskippy

    cskippy Creamy warmpoo

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    I wanted to share my early impressions of Vali 2 after experimenting with a few configurations. I'm not the best at articulating my thoughts so bear with me. Pretty much all of my listening is done on my modded HE-6. Current mods are Brainwavz Angled Velour Pads, 2 layers of adhesive felt in back quarter of driver, similar to stock config but not as large and angled. Outside has yellow porous foam and a microfiber ring with a more open grill material. I have the gimbals turned as far as the can go angled inward. This configuration almost matches the HD650 sound stage but is slightly wider and not quite as deep. It's truly the best I've heard the HE-6.

    Config 1: MR816x->coax spdif->Gungnir Multibit->Bal to Jot->pre out to Vali 2

    This is how AtomicBob configured his system in the System Synergy thread to get volume matched SS or Tube as desired. Jot on low gain, used as a preamp for Vali 2 set to low gain and volume almost maxed.

    Compared to Jot balanced:
    • Noticeably deeper and more coherent sound stage.
    • Slightly better center image
    • Slightly smoother sounding, smoothing out the transients and decay of sounds
    • Same frequency extension as Jot albeit rolled subtly at the extremes
    Config 2: MR816x->coax spdif->Gungnir Multibit->single ended to Vali 2->pre out to Jot

    I wanted to see if this configuration would inject some of the tube magic into the sound but use the superior drive of Jot with headphones and speakers. I set Vali 2 as close to unity gain as I could guess and used Jot's volume. This seemed the best in my head but turned out to be the worst. Almost none of Vali 2's traits were there.
    • Almost no difference in sound
    • Maybe slightly smoothed transients
    • Same width and depth as Jot balanced
    Config 3: MR816x->coax spdif->Gungnir Multibit->single ended to Vali 2 (high gain)

    I tried this last because it seemed like the worst on paper. Again, I was wrong, and it goes to show that what sounds best is best. Vali 2 can't grip the HE-6 drivers like Jot or especially a good power amp can but the sound is 90% there. The emotional engagement with this setup is better than the Jot or my Pioneer Spec 2 power amplifier.
    • Soundstage is slightly deeper than Jot
    • FAR better center image and coherency
    • Smoother sounding than previous two configs
    • Still displays admirable impact
    • Warmest sounding (most tubey goodness)
    • Bass is noticeably more present
    The last bullet point was such a surprise compared to the other two configs or even Jot balanced. I kept switching back and forth, volume matched @ 1kHz, and without fail Vali 2 made the HE-6 a bass master! I say bass master because the bass is still controlled and the overall tonality is still HE-6 but now with a tangible weight to the sound. It seems to ground the music better, give it more solidity. I think this is due to the higher output impedance. The effect is more noticeable on high gain which has a higher impedance. I had a similar experience with the Spec 2 when I had a resister network attached. Without the resistors, the tonality was similar to Jot but with far better impact and slightly better imaging.

    All of this is with a Sovtek 6H1n-Bn tube, unmarked but possibly RCA. The stock tube wasn't bad but there was an edginess to it that some might like as it adds excitement to the sound. The Sovtek 6H1n-Bn has the same tonal balance, soundstage, and imaging but without the edginess. I ordered a EH 6CG7 based on the praise here. It should arrive this week. I did test the HD650 with each of these configs and the results were the same for most points but the difference in bass was very minimal. This is most likely due to the higher impedance of the HD650.
     
    Last edited: Nov 27, 2016
  16. Neal

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    I have the same gear (Gungnir Multibit, Jot, Vali 2) and I'm also amazed at how good the Vali 2 is from the single ended out of the Gungnir Multibit with a solid tube. Lately I've been using the GE JAN 5670 that @jexby recommended a while back, which can be had for only ~$4 on ebay. I feel like I'm crazy for enjoying this so much. It's getting the majority of my listening time lately.
     
  17. batriq

    batriq Probably has made you smarter

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    I use this same config, but I set the Vali2 volume pot to the max to get it out of the way. I prefer the Fostex purpleheart from the Vali2, and the HD650 balanced from the Joti.
     
  18. cskippy

    cskippy Creamy warmpoo

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    That's what I did as well, although I might have worded it poorly. My 650's are modded to slightly reduce the midbass bump so they work well with either, but the Jot does liven them up!
     
  19. FallingObjects

    FallingObjects Pay It Forward

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    Just picked up a pristine quality used Vali 2 for $200 Cad, anything I should know about that's not really covered in the first 2-3 pages of this thread? Warmup time of like 10 minutes, don't leave it running constantly if not in use, stock tube's aren't amazing so maybe buy some Amperex OG's, etc? I'm running out of a GOV2, so I assume I'll put digital to ~90-100%, and then control volume using the Vali's pot?
     
  20. cskippy

    cskippy Creamy warmpoo

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    Summary is pretty much amazeballs for the money. There is some talk about different tubes and there are a couple favorites, the EH 6CG7 being one. I'm not sure, but I think 100% volume on GOV2 is equivalent to line out so just max it.
     

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