New Schiit Vali 2 Discussion Thread

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

  1. FallingObjects

    FallingObjects Pay It Forward

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    My laptop ports seem to get unhappy and I start noticing weird clipping between the 95-100% range, but yeah that's what I thought. Thanks!
     
  2. FallingObjects

    FallingObjects Pay It Forward

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    Immediate impressions:

    [​IMG]

    Using the FRM filter out of my GOV2, at the high gain setting, into a 3.5mm->RCA splitter cable, into my Vali 2 on low gain...

    Let it warm up for a minute while I also warm up my dinner (poverty flavoured rice, which is just unflavoured rice). Mmm. I missed having tube glow on my desk.

    Put on some music and...

    Holy. Schiit. My HD700s have mids again. And just. Wow. I'm gonna be up all night.
     
    Last edited: Nov 24, 2016
  3. SSL

    SSL Friend

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    Can someone remind me why the EH 6CG7 is a "favorite"? I keep seeing how it isn't as good as the EH 6922, not the other way round.
     
  4. cskippy

    cskippy Creamy warmpoo

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    I've read through this thread more than once and it's the most talked about tube. Of course everyone will have their own preferences and there might be better tubes for them. I'll let you know how the EH 6CG7 sounds when it arrives tomorrow. FWIW, I didn't hear much difference between different tubes with the 3 tubes I rolled. Rolling tubes in the Project Ember had a more noticeable effect.
     
  5. Dino

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    The EH 6CG7 became desirable to me when @Hands said that he liked it in the Vali 2, earlier in this thread. (He did say that he did not roll a lot of tubes, IIRC.)

    As best as I can tell, Hands has similar taste in sound to myself. Unfortunately, I have not been able to listen to mine yet.

    Edit: Good catch on @atomicbob - @cskippy. That was another big influence in my decision, that slipped my mind. I need a nap.
     
    Last edited: Nov 24, 2016
  6. cskippy

    cskippy Creamy warmpoo

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  7. Hands

    Hands Overzealous Auto Flusher - Measurbator

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    Atomicbob was the one that lent the tube to me when I borrowed jexby's Vali 2. No, I didn't tube roll much at all really, nor did I even have a stock tube to try, but I was very pleased with the sound regardless. I can't speak for any tube combos outside of that nor would I assume the 6CG7 was the best. It's just...good sound, new production tube at $20 or less. I didn't stress it after that.
     
  8. atomicbob

    atomicbob dScope Yoda

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    That was pretty much my take. Found something that gave me a good, clean, quiet sound similar to the EH 12BH7 in Garage1217 PS-III and didn't stress. Went on to listening to music. Searching for tube exotica for use with Bottlehead Crack was enough tube rolling for me.
     
  9. Dino

    Dino Friend

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    Do you remember what you settled on for the Bottlehead Crack, @atomicbob ?

    I have one (with Speedball) and have been using the tubes that came with it. I have thought that it might sound better with something else, but am a bit afraid to go down that road. So many tubes, so many opinions...
     
  10. Garns

    Garns Friend

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    Single WE396a's available here for $40 (lowest price I've seen if you don't want to trawl eBay/classifieds for months). No experience with the seller, but he seems to get respect over at Audio Asylum.

    EDIT: don't forget you also need this adapter
     
    Last edited: Nov 26, 2016
  11. starence

    starence Facebook Friend

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    I just ordered a Vali 2, thinking of trying this tube first. Do you need an adapter for it?
     
  12. jexby

    jexby Posole Prince

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    yes.
     
  13. cskippy

    cskippy Creamy warmpoo

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    I wanted to give a little update after using the EH 6CG7 for about 20hrs. It sounds a lot like the Sovtek 6H1n-Bn but with slightly better depth and an even smoother frequency response. It's a great tube for ~$20. The one I purchased was from TubeDepot with Balanced Triodes and Low Noise and Microphonics options.
     
    Last edited: Nov 27, 2016
  14. SSL

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    5922 == EH 6922?
     
  15. cskippy

    cskippy Creamy warmpoo

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    Pardon my ADD, I don't have a clue how I messed that up! It's actually a Sovtek 6H1n-Bn. I'll correct my previous posts.
     
  16. atomicbob

    atomicbob dScope Yoda

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    Went through a lot of 12AU7 and 6AS7 and 6080. Osram A1834 brown base and Western Electric WE621A are amazing tubes; quiet, clean amplification. But they are nearly unobtanium with prices competing with the cost of the BH Crack. Currently listening to a Tungsram e80cc (had to change bias resistors for this tube) and a Raytheon 6080WC (military surplus) which was obtained in a lot of 10 for $50.
     
  17. Skyline

    Skyline Double-blindly done with this hobby

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    So, has anyone had a tube break on them like this before?

    Got the Vali 2 yesterday, hooked it up today and it sounded great. Came back an hour later and the tube wasn't glowing orange. No sound. Turned off the amp and did the typical tube wiggle to remove it. It immediately cracked and the glass came right off.

    I managed to pull it out with pliers...Still have a loose piece of glass in the case I need to fish out. Will replace with a 6dj8 I have lying around after I get home to be sure there isn't a problem with the amp itself.

    Really surprised....I've been using a tube amp for a while and have done plenty of tube rolling. I've never run across something like this before.

    @schiit
     

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  18. Ice-man

    Ice-man Friend

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    I've had it happen. Not that common but it does happen. If you handle enough "glass" eventually the odds catch up to you. Very unlikely that something is wrong with the amp.
     
  19. FallingObjects

    FallingObjects Pay It Forward

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    You should be able to take the cover off the Vali 2 and just shake out the piece of glass, or if another tube ever breaks on you. I don't have my Vali 2 at where I'm staying for the holidays, but iirc the screws just have a standard Philips head. You'd also be able to remove (what was left of) the tube easier that way as well.

    If I could bet on this though, I'd say the issue was probably with the tube, and not on Schiit's end.
     
  20. Skyline

    Skyline Double-blindly done with this hobby

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    Replaced with the 6DJ8 and all seems well. I'll check back in an hour to be sure it's still glowing orange and happy.

    I will say the socket on this amp seems a bit stiff. Needs a little more force to seat the tube properly.

    Moreso than the other tube amps I've dealt with, anyway.

    The sound is solid and this amp has not been over-hyped. A little more congested than the Ember, but probably also a hair sharper if you prefer that trade-off. I prefer the Ember with the right tube as it's a tad more romantic sounding, but at $169 the value on this little amp is hard/impossible to beat.
     

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