[lamski]

  Are you looking for some gain, connectivity or both? If just the connectivity you could get a SYS or just a cheap switch or Y cables and use a Vali.

It would be mainly for connectivity.  And I would prefer to keep it as clean and simple as possible with my limited amount of desktop space.  I would run powered monitors when not using headphones.  I would like to use just one master volume for either the headphones or the monitors.
 
I could go with the Magni 2 Uber which has everything I need but am just a little heart-set on trying tubes (even as simplistic as the ones in the Vali may be).
 
Any feedback on if the Vali would be a worthy upgrade to the Magni 2 Uber for Beyerdynamic DT-990 Pro 250ohm?  And I also hope to upgrade to the Sennheiser HD 650's in the near future.  I sold my HD580's last year and I would say it was a big mistake on my part...

 

[StanD]

 
It would be mainly for connectivity.  And I would prefer to keep it as clean and simple as possible with my limited amount of desktop space.  I would run powered monitors when not using headphones.  I would like to use just one master volume for either the headphones or the monitors.
 
I could go with the Magni 2 Uber which has everything I need but am just a little heart-set on trying tubes (even as simplistic as the ones in the Vali may be).
 
Any feedback on if the Vali would be a worthy upgrade to the Magni 2 Uber for Beyerdynamic DT-990 Pro 250ohm?  And I also hope to upgrade to the Sennheiser HD 650's in the near future.  I sold my HD580's last year and I would say it was a big mistake on my part...

Then SYS + Val + powered monitors. If you like the HD600's you can save around a hundred bucks.
The Vali is not an upgrade to the Magni, it is a choice.

 

[jgreen16]

  Then SYS + Val + powered monitors. If you like the HD600's you can save around a hundred bucks.
The Vali is not an upgrade to the Magni, it is a choice.

 
Right now the price difference on Amazon between the HD650 and HD600 is $11.00.
 
The HD650 has dropped to $290 several times now since late January.

 

[jgreen16]

I have both the Magni 2 Uber and the Vali. I'd say I prefer the sound of the Vali slightly more, but currently have the M2U connected in my system due to the pre-outs.I run the pre-out to the Aux In on a vintage Sansui AU-717 integrated amp that powers  a pair of JBL110 speakers.
 
I have always questioned whether the RCA splitters would degrade the sound quality in some way. I guess for the price it would be worth a try. Or just grab a Sys and use it in reverse.

 

[StanD]

  I have both the Magni 2 Uber and the Vali. I'd say I prefer the sound of the Vali slightly more, but currently have the M2U connected in my system due to the pre-outs.I run the pre-out to the Aux In on a vintage Sansui AU-717 integrated amp that powers  a pair of JBL110 speakers.
 
I have always questioned whether the RCA splitters would degrade the sound quality in some way. I guess for the price it would be worth a try. Or just grab a Sys and use it in reverse.

If you used a Y cable on the Modi out, the Modi has an output impedance of 75 Ohms, the line inputs are several thousand Ohms (typically 10K Ohms) and the capacitance of short Y and RCA cables will not result in many pf which should not cause any issues with the Modi.
Nice price on those HD650's at Amazon, if I didn't already have HD600's, HE-500's, and a large number of other headphones, I'd be hitting the buy button.

 

[PWGuy]

Off topic but why get the 650s over the 600s?


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[StanD]

Off topic but why get the 650s over the 600s?


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Depends on which sound profile you prefer. I prefer the 600's others prefer 650's. It takes A/B ear time to determine which floats your boat.

 

[PWGuy]

So what is the sound profile of each and primary differences, if I could ask?


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[StanD]

So what is the sound profile of each and primary differences, if I could ask?


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They are very similar.
The HD600 a bit more neutral.
The HD650 a bit more bass a bit less treble.

 

[episiarch]

FWIW I'm with jgreen16 in owning both the Vali and the M2U and slightly preferring the Vali.  But besides the preamp outs the M2U has switchable gain (1.5 or 6 vs Vali's 4) which may be important in some situations, and the Vali has the possibility of tube microphonics. (Though mine, purchased new in 2015, seems to be one of the very non-microphonic ones and I've yet to experience this issue myself.)
 
Re Y cables, here is what I have used, and if it degraded the signal at all, I couldn't tell:  http://www.parts-express.com/rca-male-to-dual-rt-angle-rca-female--091-1045

 

[StanD]

  FWIW I'm with jgreen16 in owning both the Vali and the M2U and slightly preferring the Vali.  But besides the preamp outs the M2U has switchable gain (1.5 or 6 vs Vali's 4) which may be important in some situations, and the Vali has the possibility of tube microphonics. (Though mine, purchased new in 2015, seems to be one of the very non-microphonic ones and I've yet to experience this issue myself.)
 
Re Y cables, here is what I have used, and if it degraded the signal at all, I couldn't tell:  http://www.parts-express.com/rca-male-to-dual-rt-angle-rca-female--091-1045

IMO some folks insist upon hearing something and so they do. 

 

[jgreen16]

  FWIW I'm with jgreen16 in owning both the Vali and the M2U and slightly preferring the Vali.  But besides the preamp outs the M2U has switchable gain (1.5 or 6 vs Vali's 4) which may be important in some situations, and the Vali has the possibility of tube microphonics. (Though mine, purchased new in 2015, seems to be one of the very non-microphonic ones and I've yet to experience this issue myself.)
 
Re Y cables, here is what I have used, and if it degraded the signal at all, I couldn't tell:  http://www.parts-express.com/rca-male-to-dual-rt-angle-rca-female--091-1045

I think I'll grab a pair of those and try them out with the Vali. My Vali was alos very non-microphonic. I tried tapping it fairly hard, just to see what the ringing sounded like, and heard absolutely nothing. I must be the exception to your comment Stan D. 

 

[StanD]

  I think I'll grab a pair of those and try them out with the Vali. My Vali was alos very non-microphonic. I tried tapping it fairly hard, just to see what the ringing sounded like, and heard absolutely nothing. I must be the exception to your comment Stan D. 

My comment was about the Y cable degrading the signal, I say no.
I have an earlier Vali and it does ring when I tap on it, touching it doesn't cause any problems.

 

[jgreen16]

  My comment was about the Y cable degrading the signal, I say no.
I have an earlier Vali and it does ring when I tap on it, touching it doesn't cause any problems.

Yeah, I know, hence my smiley too. Before considering trying some type of splitter I did some research, and as you might imagine, there were a lot of differing opinions on whether there was any sound degradation. For $15, I may as well try this out for myself. Or, for a bit more, the Sys would look good in the Schiit stack, and act as a switch as opposed to a splitter.

 

[StanD]

  Yeah, I know, hence my smiley too. Before considering trying some type of splitter I did some research, and as you might imagine, there were a lot of differing opinions on whether there was any sound degradation. For $15, I may as well try this out for myself. Or, for a bit more, the Sys would look good in the Schiit stack, and act as a switch as opposed to a splitter.

I'm an EE and I can tell you that there is no reason for it to create any problems unless it is defective. If for example you are using a Schiit DAC, they have an output impedance of 75 Ohms, that's pretty low and most line inputs have an impedance of 10K Ohms. I do this all the time, go for it.