Schiit Vali 2 Measurements

Discussion in 'Headphone Amplifier Measurements' started by purr1n, Dec 13, 2015.

  1. purr1n

    purr1n Desire for betterer is endless.

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    Schiit Vali 2 Measurements
    Measurements were taken at high gain. As expected, higher distortion than Magni 2U. Second order is -55db down or more which is about 0.1%. Very little third order. Both channels were drive with the same load during these tests.

    1kHz @ ~0.550Vrms (using /10 diff. probe) into 330 ohms at High Gain
    Vali2 1k.png

    50Hz @ ~0.550Vrms (using /10 diff. probe) into 330 ohms at High Gain

    (ignore the HF spurs around 10k - they are artifacts)
    Vali2 50.png

    600Hz and 1700Hz 1:1 into 330 ohms at High Gain

    Vali1 6-17.png

    50Hz and 7000Hz 2:1 into 330 ohms at High Gain
    Vali2 6-7.png
     
    Last edited: Dec 13, 2015
  2. purr1n

    purr1n Desire for betterer is endless.

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    Low Gain
    Here is the low gain measurement. Distortion goes down a shitload to ~0.01%. But guess what? High gain sounds better. More open, more lively. In any event, I doubt second order harmonics adding more euphony, warmth, goo, or whatever, at least in the midrange. The harmonics around 55-60db down are still pretty low in the case of the high gain setting. I will acknowledge that the bass is a bit (a tiny bit) rounder on the Vali 2 compared to the Magnu 2U.

    1kHz @ ~0.550Vrms (using /10 diff. probe) into 330 ohms at Low Gain
    Vali2 1 low.png

    50Hz @ ~0.550Vrms (using /10 diff. probe) into 330 ohms at Low Gain

    (ignore the HF spurs around 10k - they are artifacts)
    Vali2 50 low.png
     
    Last edited: Dec 13, 2015
  3. purr1n

    purr1n Desire for betterer is endless.

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    Magnu 2U High Gain (Compare to)
    The Magni 2U as slightly better distortion at 50Hz and a half-magnitude better distortion at 1kHz when compared to Vali 2 at Low Gain. Vali 2 at High Gain has the most distortion, but quite a bit. Whether any of this distortion is within the limits of human hearing is debatable. Personally, I feel the bass characteristics of the Vali 2 at high gain is a more rounded and less tight than the Magni 2U.

    Magni 2U 50Hz @ ~0.550Vrms (using /10 diff. probe) into 330 ohms at High Gain
    (
    Ignore high frequency spurs, they are artifacts)
    Magni 2U 50.png

    Magni 2U 1kHz @ ~0.550Vrms (using /10 diff. probe) into 330 ohms at High Gain
    Magni 2U 1.png
     
    Last edited: Dec 13, 2015
  4. purr1n

    purr1n Desire for betterer is endless.

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    Vali 1 (Compare To)
    Vali 1 has a little bit more than 5db second order than Vali 2 at high gain.

    Vali1 1.png
    Vali1 50.png

    Vali1 6-17.png
     
    Last edited: Dec 13, 2015
  5. paranoidroid

    paranoidroid Friend

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    Nice! Would be great to see frequency response too..
     
  6. T.Rainman

    T.Rainman Acquaintance

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    agree.... needs moar measurements !
     
    Last edited: Dec 13, 2015
  7. Skyline

    Skyline Double-blindly done with this hobby

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    Sorry to dig up an old thread, but I've suddenly become interested in this. I've always used high gain on my amps and not thought much of it.

    What's the technical reason that high gain and low gain wouldn't sound the same when set to equal volumes? Is it simply outputting more power to the headphones?

    I'm playing around with the 650 on the Vali 2 and I only barely listen above 9 oclock for most songs when in high gain mode. Low gain gives me a lot more play in volume control and I typically wind up between 12 and 3. Too early to say whether I prefer the sound in one setting or the other.
     
  8. DigMe

    DigMe Friend

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    Is this from the computer? I'm using PC > Coaxial output > Modi Multibit > Vali 2. I have the Vali 2 on high gain and I keep the volume control at 3 o'clock and I use the computer volume control to turn the volume up and down. Computer volume control goes up to 100 and I usually listen at 30 to 40 depending on the recording.
     
  9. Skyline

    Skyline Double-blindly done with this hobby

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    I always keep computer volume at 100%. I was under the impression that this was the way to go.
     
  10. DigMe

    DigMe Friend

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    It probably is dude. Just more convenient for me to use the computer volume. Also, it's better that way when my kids use the computer.
     

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