Just noise from a rando - move along

I bought a Schiit Vali 1 from @BrettMatthews and I'm about to reveal just HOW rando I am - this is my first headphone amp experience aside from a Fiio Q1. WOW! What have I done? I realize this is like the lowest end of the headphone amp game but I'm blown away. Right now I'me simply using the DAC of a Fiio Q1 > Vali > AKG K7XX and I'm loving what I'm hearing. Dave Grohl's voice on These Days is so present and crisp it feels like I could break it (in a good way). Listening to Beck's Heart is a Drum is so huge and lush it feels like caressing my ear drums with the softest pillows known to man. Sticking with Beck I listened to his latest track "Wow" and it perfectly describes my new experience - the separation, the presence, the soundstage.. WOW!

Anyway, I'm sure anyone who made it past my thread title is probably nodding knowingly and snickering at my amazement from such a low-end system but just wanted to share with someone who understands because I don't really have any headphile friends. I'm sure you remember the beginning of your journey as well. Can't wait until I can get some money together to buy a good DAC around Christmas. Also looking at possibly selling the K7XX and saving for HD650 (though I have really enjoyed the K7XX).

regards,
Brad

 

Always fun to get that eye opener

If you like the K7XX you should consider the HD600 as well. It's a little bit more neutral and lighter in presentation than the HD650. I love the HD650 but it can be a smidge muddy compared to K7XX if you're used to a very clear and neutral sound. It's a matter of taste, some prefer HD650 and some HD600. HD600 is probably the more neutral reference like headphone... probably.

 

Good to hear. I was considering that but everyone keeps speaking so highly of the 650 lately... I guess I'll have to ponder that some more.

 

Not even close to lowest end... the Vali packs a powerful punch for its size and cost. Marv and a few others once thought Jason was crazy for not slapping on a $1000 pricetag on it. I recently sold mine to fund other stuff, but I wouldn't mind picking it up again in the future for cheap. It's that good.

 

Thanks for introducing me to Beck's Heart is a Drum. I've added it to my favorites list.

Have fun!

 

Brad, this almost exactly my story. I had a pair of KRK 6400s running off of FiioX1< FiioE11, then I bought Vali 1 - it was a mind blower. Then got a GO450, and now a HD650. It's a beautiful how even a relatively small investment will change the way you listen to music.
Have Fun!

 

My pleasure! The whole album is high quality and of a similar style.

Awesome! You told me, "Have fun!" In the Vali for sale thread and I imagine you were maybe remembering your Vali experience. I am indeed having fun! Thanks!

Brad

 

Well, my low-end was the headphone-out of my Audiofire2 audio interface, and, as a newcomer to headphones, I was enjoying my AT headphones very much. (The Audiofire2 is a good interface; not so much as a headphone amp)

One day, there was a big broadband outage, and I thought I might as well shift to the sofa and plug into the Cyrus Amp's headphone-out.

Now, I hate sounding like an audiophile, because there have only been two or three real "night&day" audio differences in my entire life --- but this was one of them. And hey, this was just an integrated amp!

 

Hey, it's not a cause for snickering- the affordable and genuinely massive improvements at the lower end may be the most exciting and satisfying bit. Suddenly, your favourite music sounds awesome! It's all downhill from here- when you're spending a fortune and fretting about the last 5%, it's a lot less satisfying

 

I probably won't get to that point of spending a fortune. I never have been the type to keep spending and spending once I've found something that I'm really happy with. I'll get a decent DAC, maybe switch my headphones to Sennheiser and most likely be done. There's a chance I may upgrade to a Vali 2 at some point as well. Since I'm moving overseas in a year the voltage change limits what I can take with me anyway so that's a built-in constraint I have on any crazy spending.

 

Confession: If I could have, I would have.

There's a whole heap of things that I wouldn't spend a fairy-godmother fortune on. Things I would... A house big enough to get a bit lost in. A yacht --- sensible, sailing sort, not a motorised gin palace. Some beautiful antique furniture for my house. Then some audio stuff: just for fun, just because I could. But, quite likely, My regular listening system would be very far from crazy, might even include my HD600s. And probably wouldn't get changed that often.

(Hookers and blow: second Saturday of every month. Only.)

 

No observatory? No pony? What's wrong with you, man?

 

When I was young, for a short period, I had a pony forced upon me. Imagine the kids and the not so young, who really are OMG Ponies! But my mother loved horses, so I was to have a pony. And did.

Even then, I wish they had bought me something better than the 78rpm radiogram instead!

Anyway, I could, even lacking passion, have enjoyed learning to ride, but the animal turned out to be fierce and didn't stay. Could never understand why my mum didn't just get her self a horse! The experiment was not repeated.

Boats were my passion. All my scooters, bikes, toy tractors, were driven around the garden as pretend boats, Moored against planks. Etc. Didn't get around to proper sailing until I was thirty-something, and then after a while a health problem prevented it. But the yacht is on the list still.

I wonder what sound system one could install in the saloon of a 40-foot yacht? Not much space. Surely, something better than car stuff, though!

 

--- whoops posted on wrong thread ---

 

Hey DigMe, From what I understand, the Vali 1 adds a lot of character to the music. Unfortunately, since it's my first amp, (like Donnie) I have no frame of reference. I'm thinking the Vali 1 would color an HD600, but a more laid back amp might make them seem a little lack luster. This and the comprehensive documentation about modding them took me to the 650s.

 

Something small, sleek and very efficient, doubtless. However, you could surely lavish resource on some acoustic treatment, too- to get the most out of those speakers! Combining first rate maritime fit-out/interior design with acoustic tweaks would surely be a demanding and costly aim.

(Also, yes, an evil pony sounds no fun at all- I can see why you wouldn't want one of those. I have to admit, I don't have much urge to ride, either, but would be content with a reasonably personable rescue pony/donkey or two just to trundle around and munch things.)

 

Here in Central Texas we have a lake that's not really all that big but there are actually a few people who own yachts that they use on this small lake. Strangest thing having a multibedroom luxury yacht on a small landlocked lake. It even has a zodiac with a crane to lower it. I went to a party on one once. Pretty lavish setup. He had a full surround sound entertainment system in the living room but nothing really hifi.