NEW Vali Schiit AMP!!! | Page 295 | Headphone Reviews and Discussion - Head-Fi.org

the Ortherion · Jan 4, 2015 at 10:37 AM

jaywillin said:
did you buy this new from schiit , or used ? the first units were very sensitive , i had one, when i got a newer one, schiit addressed the problem, and now its much better
it still rings, but it stops a lot faster

I bought new from sonority audio (schiit europe). Mine is a #424 number. Is this one considered "early production"? Is yours newer or older than mine? I contacted schiit and they told me to contact schiit europe because they offer the support for schiit europe. It was weird since they could have told me if it was normal or not and they just told me to contact sonority.

When i scratch my fingernail on the volume pot groves it's really the worst but gently touching the volume pot only gets a slight hint of microphonics. Im reading again some opinions and it seems its normal.

To be honest it bothers me a little bit but the sound is much "better" than the one from my Cmoy. My Cmoy is so harsh compared to the Vali.

Eee Pee · Jan 4, 2015 at 11:45 AM

Mine is 2238 and rings if I touch the volume knob.

jaywillin · Jan 4, 2015 at 12:50 PM

the ortherion said:
I bought new from sonority audio (schiit europe). Mine is a #424 number. Is this one considered "early production"? Is yours newer or older than mine? I contacted schiit and they told me to contact schiit europe because they offer the support for schiit europe. It was weird since they could have told me if it was normal or not and they just told me to contact sonority.

When i scratch my fingernail on the volume pot groves it's really the worst but gently touching the volume pot only gets a slight hint of microphonics. Im reading again some opinions and it seems its normal.

To be honest it bothers me a little bit but the sound is much "better" than the one from my Cmoy. My Cmoy is so harsh compared to the Vali.

mine is #3528 and mine rings if i scratch the volume nob, or if i tap the chassis , but it subsides pretty quickly
the earlier models took a while longer, and were more sensitive to be sure
with that serial # i'd say that's an earlier unit, one way you can tell is to get a flashlight and look into the vent holes,
and try to look at the tubes, and see if they are seated on the cushions, or have they pulled loose and are sitting
at about a 45 degree angle
but i agree with the others that are saying the microphonics you are having aren't really out of the ordinary, some units are better
some worse

q2klepto · Jan 4, 2015 at 3:41 PM

Not sure if this was asked anywhere (please point me to the permalink if there is) - but how does the Vali compare to the new Magni 2 Uber?

Just sold my Aune T1 w/ 6922 tube and looking for a new dac/amp for my HE-400i, currently running off my AVR. I've read VERY positive reviews on the vali on the other site, but theres 2 things that concern me about the vali

1. 550mW - 650mW for 32-50Ohms ..the 400i is listed at 32Omhs, but a lot of them measure around 45-50Ohn
2. Noise floor, which is inherent in tube amps apparently.

Will the Vali power the HE-400i properly given about 600mW of power? I hear these should be powered with 1W to 1.5W

Since the 400i is neutral, warm tilting with a bit of sparkle at 9khz - would pairing it with the Magni 2 Uber be the best. I think itll tame the bass slightly for a more neutral sound, but also exaggerate the treble - im hoping it wont turn it more sibilant.

I'll probably post this in the Modi/Uber 2 thread as well - but id like other peoples opinion on the Vali + HE-400i combo.

Thanks

Billheiser · Jan 4, 2015 at 3:45 PM

I had 2 Vali's, about 8-10 months apart in manufacturing date. Their ringing and microphonics were essentially the same.

(Still have one Vali, love the sound).

potterpastor · Jan 4, 2015 at 3:57 PM

q2klepto said:
Not sure if this was asked anywhere (please point me to the permalink if there is) - but how does the Vali compare to the new Magni 2 Uber?

Just sold my Aune T1 w/ 6922 tube and looking for a new dac/amp for my HE-400i, currently running off my AVR. I've read VERY positive reviews on the vali on the other site, but theres 2 things that concern me about the vali

1. 550mW - 650mW for 32-50Ohms ..the 400i is listed at 32Omhs, but a lot of them measure around 45-50Ohn
2. Noise floor, which is inherent in tube amps apparently.

Will the Vali power the HE-400i properly given about 600mW of power? I hear these should be powered with 1W to 1.5W

Since the 400i is neutral, warm tilting with a bit of sparkle at 9khz - would pairing it with the Magni 2 Uber be the best. I think itll tame the bass slightly for a more neutral sound, but also exaggerate the treble - im hoping it wont turn it more sibilant.

I'll probably post this in the Modi/Uber 2 thread as well - but id like other peoples opinion on the Vali + HE-400i combo.

Thanks

the Vali can drive almost any headphone.

StanD · Jan 4, 2015 at 4:23 PM

q2klepto said:
Not sure if this was asked anywhere (please point me to the permalink if there is) - but how does the Vali compare to the new Magni 2 Uber?

Just sold my Aune T1 w/ 6922 tube and looking for a new dac/amp for my HE-400i, currently running off my AVR. I've read VERY positive reviews on the vali on the other site, but theres 2 things that concern me about the vali

1. 550mW - 650mW for 32-50Ohms ..the 400i is listed at 32Omhs, but a lot of them measure around 45-50Ohn
2. Noise floor, which is inherent in tube amps apparently.

Will the Vali power the HE-400i properly given about 600mW of power? I hear these should be powered with 1W to 1.5W

Since the 400i is neutral, warm tilting with a bit of sparkle at 9khz - would pairing it with the Magni 2 Uber be the best. I think itll tame the bass slightly for a more neutral sound, but also exaggerate the treble - im hoping it wont turn it more sibilant.

I'll probably post this in the Modi/Uber 2 thread as well - but id like other peoples opinion on the Vali + HE-400i combo.

Thanks.

The 400i's shouldn't require that much power, its sensitivity is 93 dB/mW. The Vali should be able to get you to 120 dBSPL, a smidge less if your cans are 50 Ohms. which should more than ring your bell. Expecting your amp to radically change the FR or sibilance is IMO more myth than reality.

skyline315 · Jan 4, 2015 at 4:32 PM

q2klepto said:
Not sure if this was asked anywhere (please point me to the permalink if there is) - but how does the Vali compare to the new Magni 2 Uber?

Just sold my Aune T1 w/ 6922 tube and looking for a new dac/amp for my HE-400i, currently running off my AVR. I've read VERY positive reviews on the vali on the other site, but theres 2 things that concern me about the vali

1. 550mW - 650mW for 32-50Ohms ..the 400i is listed at 32Omhs, but a lot of them measure around 45-50Ohn
2. Noise floor, which is inherent in tube amps apparently.

Will the Vali power the HE-400i properly given about 600mW of power? I hear these should be powered with 1W to 1.5W

Since the 400i is neutral, warm tilting with a bit of sparkle at 9khz - would pairing it with the Magni 2 Uber be the best. I think itll tame the bass slightly for a more neutral sound, but also exaggerate the treble - im hoping it wont turn it more sibilant.

I'll probably post this in the Modi/Uber 2 thread as well - but id like other peoples opinion on the Vali + HE-400i combo.

Thanks

The Vali+400i combo is fantastic.

Plenty of power and it adds a touch of liquidity/sweetness to the sound that the 400i benefits from greatly.

I went from the Asgard 1 to the Vali and felt that it was a step up with this particular headphone.

Noise floor is a non-issue.

Phishin Phool · Jan 4, 2015 at 11:45 PM

stand said:
The 400i's shouldn't require that much power, its sensitivity is 93 dB/mW. The Vali should be able to get you to 120 dBSPL, a smidge less if your cans are 50 Ohms. which should more than ring your bell. Expecting your amp to radically change the FR or sibilance is IMO more myth than reality.

I had thought that too but moving from a solid state amp to a OTL Tube amp (Sunrise II) definitely tamed the sibilance on my DT990's.

StanD · Jan 5, 2015 at 6:21 AM

phishin phool said:
I had thought that too but moving from a solid state amp to a OTL Tube amp (Sunrise II) definitely tamed the sibilance on my DT990's.

Sibilance is usually a pretty big peak in FR, perhaps let say around 6 Khz. How is an amp going to perform the function of a notch filter and reduce the response around a specific peak frequency by the right amount of dB? Even more complicated if your cans have several such peaks, spread around.

jaywillin · Jan 5, 2015 at 8:14 AM

skyline315 said:
The Vali+400i combo is fantastic.

Plenty of power and it adds a touch of liquidity/sweetness to the sound that the 400i benefits from greatly.

I went from the Asgard 1 to the Vali and felt that it was a step up with this particular headphone.

Noise floor is a non-issue.

interesting, i've been thinking about trying the he400i , i've gone through some system changes, and what i what to do, and i've come full circle
my goals are more in the "affordable" realm, instead of "best attainable" lol (especially electronically speaking) money is better spent headphone wise
and i'm again loving my "little schiit's"

skyline315 · Jan 5, 2015 at 8:51 AM

jaywillin said:
interesting, i've been thinking about trying the he400i , i've gone through some system changes, and what i what to do, and i've come full circle
my goals are more in the "affordable" realm, instead of "best attainable" lol (especially electronically speaking) money is better spent headphone wise
and i'm again loving my "little schiit's"

It's a nice headphone, Jay.

Certainly not as nice as your Audeze I heard at our last meet, but I'd call it 90% there. Plus, it's just so easy to drive. I truly don't think I'd gain much dac/amp wise without climbing WAY up the chain.

The 400i+Vali combo is more than enough to hold me mesmerized by the music, which is what this is all about.

My last nagging doubt in the headphone realm right now is the HE-500. Essentially the same price and the memory of it haunts me.

jaywillin · Jan 5, 2015 at 10:10 AM

skyline315 said:
It's a nice headphone, Jay.

Certainly not as nice as your Audeze I heard at our last meet, but I'd call it 90% there. Plus, it's just so easy to drive. I truly don't think I'd gain much dac/amp wise without climbing WAY up the chain.

The 400i+Vali combo is more than enough to hold me mesmerized by the music, which is what this is all about.

My last nagging doubt in the headphone realm right now is the HE-500. Essentially the same price and the memory of it haunts me.

well the lcd x is gone, and not likely to return, as i said, i'm trying to stay somewhat "affordable" lol
right now i have a t1 i really, really like, and i got for a song, but i'd still like a planar, and while the lcd2f gets you 90-95% of the x(imo) i'd need to sell the t1, which i kinda don't want to do
if the 400i will scratch my planar itch so to speak

the Ortherion · Jan 6, 2015 at 8:28 AM

eee pee said:
Mine is 2238 and rings if I touch the volume knob.

jaywillin said:
mine is #3528 and mine rings if i scratch the volume nob, or if i tap the chassis , but it subsides pretty quickly
the earlier models took a while longer, and were more sensitive to be sure
with that serial # i'd say that's an earlier unit, one way you can tell is to get a flashlight and look into the vent holes,
and try to look at the tubes, and see if they are seated on the cushions, or have they pulled loose and are sitting
at about a 45 degree angle
but i agree with the others that are saying the microphonics you are having aren't really out of the ordinary, some units are better
some worse

billheiser said:
I had 2 Vali's, about 8-10 months apart in manufacturing date. Their ringing and microphonics were essentially the same.

(Still have one Vali, love the sound).

Mine despite being imported directly to me i think it's an early unit because im european. And schiit doesn't sell that much here in Europe i think (compared to USA at least). i looked inside the case with a flashlight and it doesn't seem to be upwards. However it's really weird considering im only getting the ringing on the right side. The left one is completely silent. I really do have to bang the case pretty "hard" (considering just a little touch does the job for the right channel) for it to ring. I do want to open it and see for myself. But i have it for less than a week so i won't open it. Worst case scenario ill ask for another unit.

phishin phool said:
I had thought that too but moving from a solid state amp to a OTL Tube amp (Sunrise II) definitely tamed the sibilance on my DT990's.

My sennheiser HD560 Ovation II paired with my Macbook HP out are somewhat sibilant. The Vali tamed that to an extent.

Eee Pee · Jan 6, 2015 at 9:48 AM

Mine rings more on the right than the left. It's NOT really weird. It's actually really common, as 200 pages in this thread will attest to.

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