New Schiit Vali 2 Discussion Thread

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

  1. LSW

    LSW Facebook Friend

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    I tried doing a search, but wasn't really able to find a consensus on tubes to complement the HD800 w/ sdr using the Vali 2. Using the stock tube I am not really able to hear a significant difference between the Vali 2 and solid state amps like the Jotunheim or GO2Pro Infinity. I bought the Vali 2 specifically for the HD800.

    Is the jan philips 6922 a good place to start? Thanks for your recommendations.
     
  2. aamefford

    aamefford Nothing like chamberpot coffee

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    @mrflibble thank you for your comments and help. Do you happen to have a link or two for the GE 5670 triple mica and adaptor combo? I’ve run across a few Ebay sales for the adapter, but I’ve really gotten impatient with eBay. I have not yet found sources for the 5670 style tubes that fill me with confidence.
     
  3. mrflibble

    mrflibble Friend

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    Unfortunately, I'm in the UK therefore I've sourced all of my 5670 tubes via ebay. I'm not much help, I'm afraid.

    The adapter is available from an ebay seller in China: https://m.ebay.com/itm/1pc-Gold-pla...22-6DJ8-tube-adapter-for-you-amp/191866855836

    Haven't seen one anywhere else. It is where I got mine from and it didn't take too long to arrive.

    There is an ebay seller in Taiwan selling a pair of triple micas, but I haven't experience of the seller.

    The green label GE 5670 JAN is quite cheap and plentiful. It's reportedly not quite as good as the triple mica (although not heard it myself). It could give you an idea of the sound signature, and maybe get a triple mica later.
     
  4. winders

    winders boomer

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  5. slc66

    slc66 New

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    I have a GE 5670 I can send you to try out and compare to what you have. I think it is 5 star but may be JG. Both are the better version of the GE 5670 compared to the inexpensive green label (which also sounds good for the price). You can send it back to me if you do not want to keep it or just pay me $10 to keep or whatever you think is fair. That is if you are in Conus just because of shipping cost.
     
  6. mrflibble

    mrflibble Friend

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    There is
    Ha, someone just bought that tube!

    There is also this one:

    https://www.ebay.com/itm/Vintage-GE...s-Electronics-New-Old-Stock-C122/182850699341

    If you look closely it is a triple mica with square getter (maybe not five star though) and not expensive. I've used this seller before (bought a WE 396A from him).
     
  7. aamefford

    aamefford Nothing like chamberpot coffee

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    @winders i just ordered the adapter, thank you. I like the looks of that better as well compared to some black ones I ran across.

    @slc66, I’ll shoot over a pm - that is a generous offer, thank you.
     
  8. Decomo

    Decomo Almost "Made"

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    I just noticed that High Gain mode has channel imbalance (Left channel noticeably louder than right channel). When I turn it back to low gain mode then it works fine.
    Is this normal or is it just my unit?
     
  9. slc66

    slc66 New

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    On low volume it happens to me.
     
  10. Decomo

    Decomo Almost "Made"

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    At lowest volume, right channel comes up first then both channel when the volume goes up.
    However, when the volume is normal listening level, low gain mode is fine but at high gain mode, left channel is definitely higher than right channel. I swapped to different tube and it happens same thing. I guess that my unit is dodgy one. Since my one is used one that I got from another person, I guess that i am doomed to use low gain only....
     
  11. Kattefjaes

    Kattefjaes Mostly Harmless

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    You will always get a slight imbalance at low volumes on a little pot like that, mind you. Sometimes the first 45 degrees or so will be a bit unbalanced, so it's often good to have a clear idea of your gain structure though the chain so you can keep everything in a sensible place.

    Do you have anything you can use as an attenuator? Then you could knock the incoming level down and put the Vali 2 on high gain, and test if it still sounds unbalanced with the pot somewhere in the middle. If it's literally just pot imbalance then attenuating, or just staying in low gain is the answer.

    If it did sound wonky on high gain in the middle of the pot with the input attenuated (not an ideal setup from a noise POV, incidentally), then that might indicate a fault, or maybe a triode imbalance in your tube.

    BTW, and you probably know this, but an easy way to spot imbalance without proper measurements is to listen to stuff that you know is supposed to be centre-panned, and estimate where it is in space. Close your eyes if you need to, hell, draw a little diagram of where things are, if it helps.
     
  12. Decomo

    Decomo Almost "Made"

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    Yes, I actually further investigated by trying different tubes and turn the volume up to 80~85db which is my normal listening level. At low gain the image is right on center however, when I turn it on high gain, whole image tilt towards left. Right channel still sound comes out but not as much as left channel. Weird.
     
  13. aamefford

    aamefford Nothing like chamberpot coffee

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    My Vali 2 is pretty well behaved. There is initial imbalance on high gain. I run both my Vali 2 and my Liquid Crimson through a Sys. It allows me to get useful volume travel with the LC, and with iems, I can attenuate the signal into the vali 2 and get decent volume travel there as well. Everyone needs at least one Sys. For the record, I used to run input 1 on the LC through the Sys, and input 2 straight from my Bifrost Multibit. I couldn’t hear any sound degradation through the Sys, so I have no qualms using it this way. Interestingly, the Sys pot is kinda shaky below 9 o’clock, seems perfect above it. I suspect that varies unit to unit.
     
  14. Kattefjaes

    Kattefjaes Mostly Harmless

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    They do, even if they're not sure why- yet.
     
  15. Skyline

    Skyline Double-blindly done with this hobby

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    Yeah, I still have no clue what it's supposed to do for me.
     
    Last edited: Nov 19, 2017
  16. Kattefjaes

    Kattefjaes Mostly Harmless

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    I've used mine backwards mostly, to connect a DAC to two amps. It does come in handy when you need a way to attenuate a slightly hot SE signal or want a passive volume control- e.g. for gonzo setups with powered speakers hooked up to a DAC.

    I have the balanced outs of my Gungnir Multibit going to one amp, and the SE to another now, so don't use the Sys regularly. However, I'm not inclined to sell it. as it's occasionally useful as a problem solver when I'm messing with stuff- and doesn't take up much cupboard room.
     
  17. allegro

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    I also bought the Vali 2 specifically to use with my HD 800S while searching for the right boutique tube amp. The only amps I have to compare with at the moment are Magni 3 and the amp built into my Brooklyn DAC+ but the Vali 2 with stock tube has a wider, deeper soundstage than either with less glare to the treble. I tried a Tesla E8CC and hated it. No more tube rolling for me. Based on reviews and what my ears hear from the HD 800S I have a Kenzie on order should have it in a few weeks and will see how she goes.
     
  18. Decomo

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    Is there anyone using Vali2 to pair with HE500? Currently pairing with HD600 and like the combo and not sure if Vali2 would be sufficient to drive HE500 especially at low gain mode since my Vali2 has channel imbalance at high gain mode. I listen at moderate level around 80-85 dB most of the time. Thank you
     
  19. LSW

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    Interesting. I've compared my Jotunheim to my vali 2 a lot now. I've tried the instantaneous back/forth switching method (even using an external a/b switch for instant comparison) and the "listen to one for a day then go back to the other for a day" method. I just can't hear any difference. Maybe I just don't have good ears. I also did an ABX of the first 24/96 recording I purchased against the same tracks after I converted them to 190 kbps VBR MP3 through the jot/hd800 setup. I couldn't hear a difference. Foobar abx I got 2 out of 8 with about a 90% guessing probability.

    Next time I'm in Torrance I'll have to try some of those big Woo audio tube amps at the sourceAV to see if those would have the desired effect on the hd800.
     
  20. Decomo

    Decomo Almost "Made"

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    Discard this. I found answer on page 27. In short, not a great pairing and HE500 is better to be paired with solid state..
     

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