New Schiit Vali 2 Discussion Thread

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

  1. gixxerwimp

    gixxerwimp Professional tricycle rider

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    Interesting mix of items from that seller. Vacuum tubes and Lularoe Leggings :p
     
  2. DigMe

    DigMe Friend

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    I was super hyped that I could receive tubes and tube tops in the same box.
    #personalgoals
     
  3. Steakface

    Steakface Acquaintance

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    My stock tube sounded kind of funky, like both triodes were severely out of balance - did all kinds of crazy things to the soundstage. I also remember it being quite grainy. Other than that, the sound signature was rather neutral with little low end extension. Both the 6CG7 and 6922 bested it in every category in terms of quality.

    If I had to make a comparison, I would say the 6CG7 was "closest". Take my word on that with a grain of salt as I haven't heard the stock tube in a long time, my comparison may not be so reliable.
     
  4. DigMe

    DigMe Friend

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    @Garns and @Dino both liked this post. Which reminds me that I should give both of them props as Garns gifted me the ECC88 all the way from Australia and Dino continued living up to his reputation as Dino the Deal Devil by turning me onto the auction for the 6CG7. Thanks, guys!

    :sail:
     
  5. sunnygsm

    sunnygsm New

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    Getting a 6922EH in soon. Will post impressions against stock tube after it comes in.
     
  6. Dino

    Dino Friend

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    I'm a leg man. Especially when they are covered with buffalos!.:)
    [​IMG]

    Maybe a Husband and Wife team. Tubes and Leggings!
     
  7. DomieMic65

    DomieMic65 New

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    I have ordered a EH 6CG7 and a 6922GP and I think I am good!
    When I get them I will report my impressions!
    Whatever the case with the tube rolling the Vali 2 is a great amp and a unique amp for the price! I can't find any flaw considering the money I payed!


    What about this?
    http://ifi-audio.com/portfolio-view/accessory-nos-6922-2/
    EDIT: I just saw the price of the pair to the local dealer.... No go!!!
     
    Last edited: Jan 24, 2017
  8. Garns

    Garns Friend

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    Or you can assemble the components of one of those yourself for ~$20:
    EDIT: note that link is for a pair and you would only need a single!
     
    Last edited: Jan 24, 2017
  9. starence

    starence Facebook Friend

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    Ugh, $100 for a pair of GE 5670s and adapters? That's just silly.
     
  10. sunnygsm

    sunnygsm New

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    Tube hasn't arrived yet, apparently customs decided to take 5 days with it for some reason. Hoping it arrives tomorrow.
     
  11. DomieMic65

    DomieMic65 New

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    Just received the El. Harmonix 6922 GP and 6CG7
    I chose randomly and I am using the 6CG7 now...
    I quite like what I hear! My first impression is that it might be a littel bit more datail but not in a fatiguing way!
    Anyway I think that it should settle down for some time and then I will be able to say more...

    Thnx for the help guys!

    PS: I can not find how I can post pictures ... is there a guide?
     
  12. gixxerwimp

    gixxerwimp Professional tricycle rider

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    Use imgur > direct link.
     
  13. sunnygsm

    sunnygsm New

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    Tube finally made it. Will get it warm and do some comparisons later today. Can't promise I'll be able to notice the differences or articulate them.

    UPDATE: My early impressions seem to be similar to some others in this thread. 6922EH seems to tone down the treble in places where I previously found it a little harsh. Bass was difficult to judge, but I felt the 6922EH added a bit of detail/separation vs the stock tube.
     
    Last edited: Feb 1, 2017
  14. Steakface

    Steakface Acquaintance

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    The 6922 does quite a few things right for being such a cheap tube. I too enjoyed the detail and separation, as well as the staging.
     
  15. a44100Hz

    a44100Hz Friend

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    Just popped these in, and my two cents on EH6922 vs EH6CG7... skip the 6CG7. It kills the realism of the music for me. The thump of a kick drum is gone, the twang of a guitar string is gone, and the soundstage collapses. It immediately sounded weird to me switching from an old Brimar tube I had been using. What you perceive as more detail might just be an accidental emphasis of upper mids or lower treble since it seems both ends get sucked out. But the EH6922 sounds nice, I wouldn't hesitate to recommend this as a no-fuss easy to acquire option.

    For cheap new production tubes I'd put the JJ Gold Pin 6922 above both of them though, as far as realism or the sensation of "being there" goes. This is with a Bifrost Multibit -> Vali 2 -> Jot -> 650M setup.

    It's annoying me how much better this old Brimar ECC88 tube sounds to me than any of the above, though. I didn't pay much for it at the time, maybe $20? I think it might be a case of particularly good system synergy, but borrowing a stock russian tube that came with the Valhalla 2 also sounds better than the new production tubes above. Meh. I don't want to encourage tube madness, but the old stock does sound better * to my ears.

    * What is "better?" More warmth, for sure; bass goes lower and sounds more real to me. I can turn the volume higher without as much fatigue. Get those goosebump chills from a feeling of acoustic realism sometimes. The net result is a sense of presence and immersion in the music I can't seem to quite get with the new production tubes. It adds a touch of fluffiness or slightly exaggerated decay to the sound that some people probably wouldn't like, but I do.

    Just realized I had these same overall impressions a year ago in this thread. Forgot I did that. Yay, consistency!

    The Vali 2 with a warm tube really does make for a lovely pre-amp with the Jotunheim.
     
    Last edited: Feb 2, 2017
  16. a44100Hz

    a44100Hz Friend

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    I just ran all the tubes I had available through a quick contest and the winning tube for the Vali 2 -> Jot -> 650 combo is a 1974 Reflektor 6N23P. The Brimar tubes I mentioned before aren't far behind it, but the Reflektor has both the warmth I'm looking for and a clarity in the mids (not sure how to describe this; in comparison, the Brimars sound fuzzy, the Philips Miniwatts a bit farther away with a very slight graininess) that make them a solid all-rounder. Don't feel like anything is missing.

    All told my tube preference goes something like this: Reflektors > Miniwatts > Brimars >> some probably not-much-life-left-in-them Amperex Bugle Boys I had > JJ6922 >= EH6922 >>> EH6CG7. But that's how the prices go, too, so... fancy that.

    Switching from the considerably more expensive Reflektor to the new production JJ6922 or EH6922 (those two are very similar) there's a lack of warmth and perceived hollowness to my music, as if there's too much echo in an empty room, that results in a lack of emotional engagement but I'm not sure if I would have noticed it if I didn't have a basis for comparison. But now that I'm aware of it I can't get over how artificial it sounds.

    What I'd recommend for someone with a similar setup is to grab a NOS ECC88 Brimar or Amperex or Mullard tube and see if you like it. They seem to go for pretty cheap on eBay as single tubes rather than matched pairs.
     
    Last edited: Feb 2, 2017
  17. Linkgoron

    Linkgoron New

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    I have to agree with others in this thread. I didn't test the stock tube, and I have to admit that I was skeptical, but the EH6922 was a noticeable upgrade to the EH6CG7. Even my GF mentioned that the EH6922 noticeably improved the sound (I actually didn't tell her that I swapped the tubes, she just mentioned that my speakers suddenly sound better). However, the EH6922 does hum a bit (when using the HD6XX) when my Vali 2 is on high gain. I don't hear a hum when the Vali 2 is on low gain (although I haven't listened for it).

    I also have a jj6922 gold pin, which I think is pretty similar to the EH6922, but maybe a touch clearer than the EH6922. However I haven't really A/B tested them, but the JJ6922 doesn't cause any hum/hiss.
     
    Last edited: Feb 3, 2017
  18. Skyline

    Skyline Double-blindly done with this hobby

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  19. Changeling

    Changeling Tube Slut

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    Happy Vali2 owners!
    I've got 2 Amperex Bugle Boy 6DJ8 left over. Donate shipping cost to site and I'll give them away for free.
    Friends and contributors preferably. Will hopefully make 2 Vali owners happy.

    EDIT:
    One reserved, one to go!
    EDIT2: And they're gone!
     
    Last edited: Feb 4, 2017
  20. gixxerwimp

    gixxerwimp Professional tricycle rider

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    I almost want to jump on this giveaway, but I don't even have the Vali 2 yet! :D
     

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