New Schiit Vali 2 Discussion Thread

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

  1. keanex

    keanex Martian Bounty Hunter - Friend

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    Definitely interested in this.
     
  2. insidious meme

    insidious meme Ambivalent Kumquat

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    Oh man, too late for a Golden Shlong award? At least it has the same type of design.
     
  3. schiit

    schiit SchiitHead

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    Yes, it does.
     
  4. fraggler

    fraggler A Happy & Busy Life

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    Great! Thanks. Just bought one.
     
  5. BioniclePhile

    BioniclePhile The Terminal Man - Friend

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    The circuitboard doesn't have anyone's initials on it. There's noone to thank for this one? :p
     
  6. Thujone

    Thujone Friend

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    No mention of microphonics. I'm guessing the new toob and advertising the use of sensitive headphones is implying that the ringing is a thing of the past. Err, rather Vali 1.
     
  7. ultrabike

    ultrabike Measurbator - Admin

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    Not only that. The SNR is >99dB according to specs. It should be a quiet amp, with deep black/Kuro background.
     
  8. SKiring

    SKiring Friend

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    http://www.cdrinfo.com/Images/Uploaded/pioneer_kuro.jpg
    Sorry... course of habit.


    Looks great though! I might get one myself, I was already eyeing the Valhalla 2, now to wait until Schiit Europe puts it up for sale. :D
     
  9. schiit

    schiit SchiitHead

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    Yes, LISST works--gain is slightly lower (about 4 in high gain), but otherwise yep, it works. But you really want to run LISST in this, rather than simply getting a Magni 2 Uber?
     
  10. purr1n

    purr1n Desire for betterer is endless.

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    LOL. Cat's out of the bag. Get this now!

    Didn't anyone see the easter egg on the image posted in the Omni (vs. X00 and Nighthawk) thread?
    [​IMG]

    Vali 2 is amazing... in the sense of how completely normal it sounds. Hard to hear it's cap coupled. In contrast to Vali 1 where the microphonic tubes gave it some immediately exciting "character" (which did make it sound good), Vali 2 doesn't make itself known like the Vali 1's shouting "hear me! I sound pretty good huh". Vali 2 is more subtle and it's only an hour later until you realize how good it is. It's basically an improved Magni 2U for all intents and purposes. The fact that it uses a tube or has caps in the way is completely irrelevant. Like the first Vali, the Vali 2 sounds a lot better than most $1000 amps commonly discussed on HF. I'm sure Tom at Beezar.com will vehemently disagree, and again insist that the Vali 2 sucks and shouldn't be used with nice expensive headphones like the HEK or Ether. All the more reason to pick this up for cheap and enjoy with your HEK and Ether.

    Notes:
    1. Don't expect warm a sounding amp. Throw in some Amperex A-frame 6DJ8 or 7308 ($$$) if you want a warmer sound.
    2. I'm using a semi-vintage Sovtek 6922 (leaner, meaner, more upper mid and treble aggressive) for HD650m and X00. Your tastes may be different.
    3. More midrange clarity and better microdynamics (I hate this term too, but do you really want to me use PRaT?).
    4. Magni 2U has deeper sub-bass extension and better overall bass control.
    5. Use a decent vintage tube to get best results. Don't be lazy on this.
    6. There's a high / low gain switch. I forgot the output impedances. Look it up on the Schiit site.
    I will not NOT be doing a formal review on this I'll. I'll defer to the HF reviewers on this one. Maybe some measurements (which may look bad because it uses tubes.)
     
    Last edited: Dec 11, 2015
  11. keanex

    keanex Martian Bounty Hunter - Friend

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    Showoff.
     
  12. Griffon

    Griffon 2nd biggest asshole on SBAF

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    Holy Schiit, @purrin any chance for a budget golden schlong award for Vali 2? It's still 2015!
     
  13. lm4der

    lm4der A very good sport - Friend

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    Doh!
     
  14. lm4der

    lm4der A very good sport - Friend

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    Everyone likes to get schlong on a budget. Sorry, I'll stop now.
     
  15. Tuco1965

    Tuco1965 Suffring from early onset Alzheimer's - Friend

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    Discount dick
     
  16. JK47

    JK47 Guest

    Was this the "redacted3" that was mentioned in a thread somewhere here on SBAF?
     
  17. fraggler

    fraggler A Happy & Busy Life

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    Could use one of these to make your tube a golden one.[​IMG]
     
  18. Judeus

    Judeus Facebook Friend

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    LMAO

    someone please photoshop out the tube for the golden shlong and use this as the SBAF award
     
  19. inseconds99

    inseconds99 New

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    Hey purrin, any chance you can give a quick answer as to what cheap amp I should buy for my TH-X00s. Magni 2 Uber, Vali 2 or Asgard 2?
     
  20. purr1n

    purr1n Desire for betterer is endless.

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    No. The Golden Schlong must not be cheaped like a whore. It is a prestigious medal which can only be sparingly awarded. While the Vali 2 is good and an incredible value (I told Jason to put it in a bigger box, call it the Lyr 2B, and charge you porkers one hell of a lot more for it), it is not enough of a game changer. (The Vali 1 would have received the Golden Schlong away if it existed back then.)
     

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