luckybaer
Headphoneus Supremus
- Joined
- Feb 21, 2006
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The Vali 2 headphone amp has a tube front end, so not surprising that some clarity and micro-dynamics is lost compared to a pure solid-state design. I don't know much about the Magni 3, but you can't ask for a lot from a $109 amp.
In my experience, buying amps based on price is a mistake (if one is assuming the higher priced ones sound better). I originally bought the $600 Singxer SA-1, but sold it quickly because it sounded "veiled" compared to the $199 Schiit Magnius (or even the headphone outputs of an old mas-market receiver
I was tossing out thoughts on higher end amps vs. less costly products.The Vali 2 headphone amp has a tube front end, so not surprising that some clarity and micro-dynamics is lost compared to a pure solid-state design. I don't know much about the Magni 3, but you can't ask for a lot from a $109 amp.
In my experience, buying amps based on price is a mistake (if one is assuming the higher priced ones sound better). I originally bought the $600 Singxer SA-1, but sold it quickly because it sounded "veiled" compared to the $199 Schiit Magnius (or even the headphone outputs of an old mas-market receiver).
Regarding Vali 2, a more apt comparison would be to my Quicksilver, but that will be another mismatch, and not entirely apples to apples, as Vali 2 is a hybrid, and QSHA is SET (I believe).
I think the entry Schiit products probably get me 80-85% of what the more pricey amps get me. That makes them good deals and good products. They serve as desktop components for me, while the Taurus and QSHA sit with my full-sized, “big person” gear.