Official Schiit Vali 2 Thread

[bcowen]

Alright! I did some A/B testing.
Signal chain was this: uncompressed files on macbook -> Fulla 2 -> SYS -> Vali 2 / Magni 3 -> Mackie Mixer -> Sennheiser 58X & 6XX
Stock tube.
I used the headphone outs on both and with the SYS I could immediately switch back & forth.
I spent some time matching volumes. I also tried them with the Magni louder so I wouldn't be volume biased (since I liked the Vali better)
I listened to Nine Inch Nails (always my go-to for testing), random rock songs, Bach Cello Suite 3 performed by Richard Tunnicliffe, & Brahms Symphony 1
I won't make any claims about my ears but I do trust them and have two degrees in music.... so there's that

Winner: Vali 2
However they are close enough that I'd tell someone to just get whatever's on sale or fits their rig / preference. They're both great and worth worrying about which one to get.

The Vali sounded clearer with a touch more bass. There was some more clarity in the higher frequencies. Subtle.
It's like the Magni has a flat and neutral frequency response... But with the Vali it's like someone just turned up the "clarity knob".... or to be more specific just decreased a frequency somewhere in the 175 - 250 region and then just turned the treble up one notch.

If I wasn't going right back and forth I probably wouldn't notice. Both sound great.

The Vali 2 has slightly more gain - and Schiit confirmed this. Vali goes louder. I was surprised. Of course both go more than loud enough.

Anyways... just my thoughts... Haven't spent that long with them...I have some tubes on the way so right now I don't have any tube comparisons.

Before the price on these goes to the moon (or they disappear altogether), consider grabbing a couple and trying one of them in the Vali. They rank right in there with a 50's Telefunken 6DJ8 to my ears, and the Tele's ARE to the moon when or if you can find them. The Tele has a different sound, but it and this Brimar are my (personal) top two un-adaptered tubes in the Vali.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/NOS-Matche...370507?hash=item54733908cb:g:0wEAAOSwOTZdO5Hy

 

[bcowen]

Hey everyone! I've been reading a lot of this thread. I got my Vali 2 yesterday. I have a Magni 3 as well. I bought both from Schiit's B stock / discontinued stuff. Actually got a Fulla 2 from there as well. I couldn't pass up the Vail 2 for $99.
Anyways..... Did a quick listen last night to each. From a very quick initial listen I like the Vali better although it does have more treble than I'd like. And interestingly the Vali 2 goes louder than the Magni 3. Not much but definitely noticeable. I emailed Schiit to ask about it since the Magni 3 has more power in the specs.

Oh, and welcome!! Kinda shoulda said that first.

 

[oakparkmusicguy]

Oh, and welcome!! Kinda shoulda said that first.

Thank you!

 

[oakparkmusicguy]

I’ll pick up those tubes. Thanks for the recommendation!

 

[oakparkmusicguy]

Just spent some time comparing the Vali 2 to a $23 Prostar amp from Amazon. I'd bet many people couldn't tell the difference!! Vali 2 is clearer but damn they are too close. Gonna try some new tubes later.

 

[Shotland]

You guys might dig this. I just "modded" my Vali 2 by putting duct seal around the LED inside so it doesn't leak any light into the chassis. The light that would come out from the heat vent cutouts always bugged me so I first tried electrical tape, but this worked way better.

 

[Mr Trev]

You guys might dig this. I just "modded" my Vali 2 by putting duct seal around the LED inside so it doesn't leak any light into the chassis. The light that would come out from the heat vent cutouts always bugged me so I first tried electrical tape, but this worked way better.

I fiddled around doing that for a while until I finally got p---ed off and ripped the LED out completely. It wasn't until after that that I found out there is a thing called liquid electrical tape.
Oh well, at least there's nothing disturbing the lovely glow of the tube now.

 

[Shotland]

Haha, you just ripped it out completely? Why not solder in a lower power one and cover the back with liquid electrical tape?

 

[Mr Trev]

Haha, you just ripped it out completely? Why not solder in a lower power one and cover the back with liquid electrical tape?

Mostly because I'm lazy. And the tube is a good enough power light on its own.

Actually back when I first got the amp and was looking for suggestions on how to deal with the death ray, I had a suggestion that I should solder a pot on one leg of the LED. That would make the brightness adjustable. Great idea, but I don't have access to any electrical supply shops where I live and the shipping costs are way too high just to buy one online. Once I get enough of a shopping list together to justify the shipping I'll put a LED back in - probably orange, so it matches the tube glow

 

[bcowen]

Mostly because I'm lazy. And the tube is a good enough power light on its own.

Actually back when I first got the amp and was looking for suggestions on how to deal with the death ray, I had a suggestion that I should solder a pot on one leg of the LED. That would make the brightness adjustable. Great idea, but I don't have access to any electrical supply shops where I live and the shipping costs are way too high just to buy one online. Once I get enough of a shopping list together to justify the shipping I'll put a LED back in - probably orange, so it matches the tube glow

I'm even lazier. I just used a black Sharpie marker.

 

[Mr Trev]

I'm even lazier. I just used a black Sharpie marker.

Tried that. Kept scraping the ink off trying to get the damn LED aligned with the opening in the case. And it still wasn't enough to keep it from lighting the inside of the amp.
Maybe I was just too lazy to try and do a good job.

 

[Shotland]

Tried that. Kept scraping the ink off trying to get the damn LED aligned with the opening in the case. And it still wasn't enough to keep it from lighting the inside of the amp.
Maybe I was just too lazy to try and do a good job.

Hah, I tried that for the front just to dim it, but it didn't seem to do much.

 

[ScubaMan2017]

Hey everyone! I've been reading a lot of this thread. I got my Vali 2 yesterday. I have a Magni 3 as well. I bought both from Schiit's B stock / discontinued stuff. Actually got a Fulla 2 from there as well. I couldn't pass up the Vail 2 for $99.
Anyways..... Did a quick listen last night to each. From a very quick initial listen I like the Vali better although it does have more treble than I'd like. And interestingly the Vali 2 goes louder than the Magni 3. Not much but definitely noticeable. I emailed Schiit to ask about it since the Magni 3 has more power in the specs.

Welcome to the thread, @oakparkmusicguy {{{btw, we have family in that neck of Chicago... nice neighbourhood. I still remember visiting when that last BIG cohort of cicadas crawled up the trees. Oy}}}. I love my little toaster (Vali 2). I went the foolish route and purchased a socket saver & 6922-6SN7 converter. I now have a phallic JJ Electronics tube jutting out of my Vali. Sure, I purchased a Valhalla 2 and Asgard 2 {{{{ooooh, yeah. Those big knobs}}}}; however, my Magni & Vali are an excellent pairing that I still revisit.

My only criticism would be the Vali 2's big-ass wall wart. Now, I'd like to to have that all in one case (and thus making its MRSP more expensive). I could pick up a Lyr3. But I don't like all-in-one cases. The more brushed aluminum boxes littering my listening nook, the better.

My B-stock Fulla sits in my office and has helped my mood whenever I'm marking student work. Other than having a slightly scratchy volume dial, I'm pleased with it.

 

[oakparkmusicguy]

Welcome to the thread, @oakparkmusicguy {{{btw, we have family in that neck of Chicago... nice neighbourhood. I still remember visiting when that last BIG cohort of cicadas crawled up the trees. Oy}}}. I love my little toaster (Vali 2). I went the foolish route and purchased a socket saver & 6922-6SN7 converter. I now have a phallic JJ Electronics tube jutting out of my Vali. Sure, I purchased a Valhalla 2 and Asgard 2 {{{{ooooh, yeah. Those big knobs}}}}; however, my Magni & Vali are an excellent pairing that I still revisit.

My only criticism would be the Vali 2's big-ass wall wart. Now, I'd like to to have that all in one case (and thus making its MRSP more expensive). I could pick up a Lyr3. But I don't like all-in-one cases. The more brushed aluminum boxes littering my listening nook, the better.

My B-stock Fulla sits in my office and has helped my mood whenever I'm marking student work. Other than having a slightly scratchy volume dial, I'm pleased with it.

Thanks! Oak Park is a nice area. I didn't grow up around but ended up here quite a while ago.
I got most of my Schiit gear from B stocks. Great deals! My Fulla has a scratchy pot as well but since it doesn't affect anything when stationary I forgot about it. I think some of the pots do that as well. I agree about the wall wart. But for getting a great little amp for $99 I'm ok with it .

Ok... so for some Vali 2 and tube rolling impressions
Definitely like the Vali 2 better than the Magni. But definitely keeping the Magni.
I've tried:

stock tube (numbers rubbed off first time I took it out so no idea what it is)
--- sounds just fine and you can stick with it and be happy

EH 6922
--- too much treble and mine hissed when plugging in headphones or if my fingers got near it or touched it. sent it back right away

EH 6CG7
--- bigger tube looks cool. sounds good. perhaps too thick sounding detracting from clarity but that could be a quality you're looking for

GE5670 high gain ( & and adapter)
--- need to do some more listening but whoah there is a lot of gain on this one. MUCH louder than the Magni.

 

[Shotland]

GE5670 high gain ( & and adapter)
--- need to do some more listening but whoah there is a lot of gain on this one. MUCH louder than the Magni.

I just snagged the WE396a (same construction as that GE5670) and I love it. Curious to hear how you like the GE over time. big price difference between the two tubes.