New Schiit Vali 2 Discussion Thread

Enjoy! Vali is a great amp, you'll discover that you'll need to spend much much more to substantially outdo it.

HF's classified is freaking ridiculous at times, I like to drop by every now and then for some good laughs. Last week (probably still there), I've seen an Asgard 2 for $230, and Bifrost Uber with no USB for $320, the best part was shipping not included.

 

Wow, Vali sounds wonderful with my Bifrost 4490 and T90 cans. Crystal clear with a touch of warmth, very euphonic and smooth. Highs are are a bit sharp on hot recordings but the T90s exacerbate that.

 

How well does it scale? Would getting a Gungnir Multibit make an obvious difference? I may end up getting a Valhalla 2 or at least a Vali 2 as well but just wanna know if Vali 1 is a good long term bet.

 

Long term? Probably not, but you won't be disappointed with it until you decide to upgrade.

 

Maybe long term was the wrong word. I just meant as far as being able to notice DAC upgrades.

 

In my opinion, it's a good long term bet. The Vali is extremely resolving and will continue to scale up with a DAC upgrade like the Gungnir Multibit. Anyone who disagrees clearly hasn't tried the combo.

 

Awesome.

 

Remember to give us impressions when your Gungnir Multibit arrives

 

So far I've tried classical, folk and jazz and they are all wonderful, especially jazz. The presentation is a lot more focused and coherent vs my solid state Denon receiver. Vali doesn't have its bass and oomph factor but everything else is an improvement. Best $75 I ever spent.

 

I also notice more resolution in the highs like trumpets don't lose focus and remain tight. The Denon was a little messier in that area. Man, tubes are not what I expected!

 

Yeah, this is a thing - tubes often have a smooth yet clear, resolving character to the highs. I have some historically informed period instrument performances of classical stuff, and those old period wind instruments had a bit of a blare to them, but Vali1 resolves it nicely. Maybe adds a touch of wet, and I like that.

 

I am a little disappointed in the lack of bass/punch (way more noticeable with pop music). I guess I was used to it with the Denon. How is the Vali 2 with bass?

 

It's decently fast, defined, and high-quality bass. I would even call it punchy, when it is there. It has what I would call very distinctly SS characteristics. The quantity just leaves a bit to be desired. Not a whole lot of emphasis. It just doesn't have that impact... ...that energy. The extension also isn't there compared to SS rivals... ...initially I was pretty disappointed by the subdued sub-bass.

Not exactly a weak point, but definitely not its strong suit, either. It's been said that the Magni 2 has better bass, while the Vali 2 has better everything else. I'd say this is very true. That is the compromise.

One thing I will say... ...I no longer miss it after a couple of months. Takes some getting used to, though.

 

The trade off is more than acceptable. Tears for Fears has me nearly floating on air! Voices are so sweet and heavenly. And there is layer upon layer of detail and resolution. I hear moments and nuance I've never heard before. Instrument timbre is also superb. Tubes are the real deal. It will be hard to go back to solid state.

I had a Magni 2 so know the difference. It wasn't this good. No contest. If the Vali had the Magni bass, it would be insane.

 

Bahahaha... ...my sentiments exactly. It's like "ahhh, yes. That's what this is. These aren't sounds. I'm hearing music!" It's got that wholesome tube gestalt. So hard to pin down, but impossible to miss. The Vali 2 just lives and breathes so effortlessly. I'm sure the Vali does, too... ...perhaps even more so. Schiit really brought us something special with these two. Sometimes I still think about getting the Vali. Took a lot to not buy one when Schiit put them back up on closeout.

Cheers, man. Glad you're enjoying your Vali! It really is like an "AHA!" moment.

 

I too miss the solid state bass of my Asgard 2. But as @robot zombie pointed out, you stop noticing it after a couple days because you're too busy enjoying the music. Indeed, it is a small trade off; it does everything else well!

 

STOP. Stop right there. Please don't do this to me - to us. I won't allow it. One day, when the wind is at my back and the sun shines brightly upon my face, I will make way for the heavens so that I may join the stars in dance and be enraptured by the warm, glowing embrace of the most holy and sacred of all sonic deities.

But alas, today is not that day... ...please understand, I want to believe. I know that it is my destiny to cross into the forgotten realm. Now is simply not the time for harboring such wistful ideations. I must make preparations for the fated encounter that is to bring an end to all that there is to know of this existence, for when I do, I shall never again be able to bear down the path of man. I must first complete my mortal tasks and relinquish myself of my countless worldly objects.

Such matters are not to be taken lightly and I will thank you to wield dire caution when making utterance of such unspeakably atrocious facts. Speak not of the untouchable philosopher's stone, lest you be consumed in the wake of the ungodly aberrations in the FR curves. You speak of territories that mere mortals cannot and must not traverse! Their existence stands as a grave contradiction to all space and time - monoliths that tower so high over this very existence that they cannot be seen by those who inhabit it.

...this is probably getting super-weird and cringey by now. I am very tired. I'll stop... ...but seriously. I'm sure there are all kinds of awesome tube amps out there, but I don't wanna know about any of it. Not now... nonono.