Official Schiit Vali 2 Thread

[jonathan c]

Hello again everyone. I finally ended up getting my 6SN7 adapter working on my Vali but I've noticed something. both of the 6SN7 tubes I bought are really really dim and don't glow anywhere near as bright as some of my 5670's and the ECC88's I use. Is it normal for 6SN7's to have a pretty dim glow? or is it because I have it going through the adapter and the socket saver to fit it in the amp? regardless music sounds great and really interesting through the 6SN7's on the Vali, I'm a noob so I don't really know how to describe it but its defiantly a lot different than all my other tubes. thanks again to everyone who helped point me in the right direction to get everything working a few weeks ago.

6SN7s usually have a dimmer glow than ECC88s etc. The adapter / socket saver, unless defective, should not affect the tube glow.

 

[Mr Trev]

Hello again everyone. I finally ended up getting my 6SN7 adapter working on my Vali but I've noticed something. both of the 6SN7 tubes I bought are really really dim and don't glow anywhere near as bright as some of my 5670's and the ECC88's I use. Is it normal for 6SN7's to have a pretty dim glow? or is it because I have it going through the adapter and the socket saver to fit it in the amp? regardless music sounds great and really interesting through the 6SN7's on the Vali, I'm a noob so I don't really know how to describe it but its defiantly a lot different than all my other tubes. thanks again to everyone who helped point me in the right direction to get everything working a few weeks ago.

I'll second what @jonathan c said. Don't sweat it, different tubes will glow different amounts - I'm not sure if it has to do with the composition of the filaments or what.
I have an EI Yugo 12au7 that'll barely be visible in my Vali2 with daytime lighting, but is easy to see with my Little Bear. Weird thing is that the Little Bear actually has a crappier power supply so I'd think the opposite would be true - the tube will do that cool turn on flash with the Vali that the LB won't do

 

[mam237]

Hi, folks! Just switched out the stock tube for the Electro-Harmonix 6922 EH and wanted to share some quick impressions. First, the change is not especially dramatic. If you are listening critically, you will notice the change. If you are not listening critically, then you will not—at least tonally, though you may have less ear fatigue. Second, what change is audible is positive. Of course, this assessment is subjective. I like a warmer sound. The Electro-Harmonix is slightly warmer than the stock tube. So (to me), it's a bit better. Not a lot better but a little better. Third, if you use the Vali 2 as a preamp (at least with a Schiit Ragnarok 2, my power amp), then swapping out the stock tube for the EH6922 will not produce a noticeable change. Somehow, using a secondary power amp seems to wash out the Electro-Harmonix's sound signature.

 

[RickB]

Hi, folks! Just switched out the stock tube for the Electro-Harmonix 6922 EH and wanted to share some quick impressions. First, the change is not especially dramatic. If you are listening critically, you will notice the change. If you are not listening critically, then you will not—at least tonally, though you may have less ear fatigue. Second, what change is audible is positive. Of course, this assessment is subjective. I like a warmer sound. The Electro-Harmonix is slightly warmer than the stock tube. So (to me), it's a bit better. Not a lot better but a little better. Third, if you use the Vali 2 as a preamp (at least with a Schiit Ragnarok 2, my power amp), then swapping out the stock tube for the EH6922 will not produce a noticeable change. Somehow, using a secondary power amp seems to wash out the Electro-Harmonix's sound signature.

Welcome to Head-Fi, sorry about your wallet!

Edit: noticed you joined 2016. Better late than never!

 

[mam237]

Welcome to Head-Fi, sorry about your wallet!

Edit: noticed you joined 2016. Better late than never!

Truth.

 

[treys1]

Hey everyone, new here. I posted most of this in a new member thread but I figure it is good info for further discussion.

I'm 45 and have been into audio most of my life with a reoccurring emphasis on car audio (SQ comps) over the years. But lately my automotive hobby has been off roading so not much room for SQ there... All of that said, I realized hi-fi has been missing from my life for a while, and since my wife doesn't share the passion (she likes music, but doesn't make a hobby of listening), I figured it was time to dabble in good headphone setup(s).

I went with a Modi / Loki / Vali stack at our cabin and got a JAN Sylvania 5670 for it right off the bat based on a LOT of reading / price. Set it all up and used my ATH-m40x that I have had for years to travel with and it was GREAT just like that! So what does one do with something that is great? Make it even better, right?

So, ordered a Loki / Vali for the main house (desktop is higher end and has a ESS Sabre ES9023P DAC chip), proceeded to order a bazillion tubes (multiple GE 5 Star, JAN Sylvania, RCA Command, RCA Triple Mica and even a pair of WE 396As, I need multiples with 2 Valis, right??) AND a pair of DT 770 Pros + Drop Meze 99s..... And this all happened in a couple weeks.... lol

(All of the Schiit stuff is the current model for reference)

Most of my listening is "popular alternative" (M83, Grouplove, Beck kinda thing), Classic Rock, The Beatles (so "Classic Pop"?) and a heavy dose of EDM (Trance / Progressive & DNB being the fave there).

Anywho, so far my impressions of the Schiit equipment has been fantastic for the money. The DT770s are also really nice, they have good extention and are brighter than the m40x which is cool as I do like treble as well as bass.

Now, on to some tube opinions.

• Sylvania JAN 5670 - First one I tried and logged about 10 hours on one. Nice and full but nothing else special that I would call out, other than it just had more body than a non-tube amp would.
• Sylvania JHS 5670 - Same "body" as the JAN, but edgier if you will.
• GE 5670 5-Star - Lots of fullness but also good punch down low, with everything else being nice and clear / tight without being edgy.
• RCA Command 5670 - Similar to the GE 5-Star but looser... I feel like this tube would be almost identical to the 5-star if I didnt listen to EDM at all.
• RCA Triple Mica - Very full and clear like the GE 5-Star, but also slightly brighter in a good way.
• Western Electric 396a - I know this one is highly regarded as one of the best and I can see how for classic rock (or jazz, classical, etc). A VERY warm and acoustic feel to it. Personally I think anything that is worked electronically in production quite a bit like newer alternative or EDM, kind of falls apart at louder volumes. That said, I think this one is unmatched for classic rock / pop / etc mentioned above.

My personal favorites so far are:

• GE 5-Star
• RCA Triple Mica

 

[bcowen]

Hey everyone, new here. I posted most of this in a new member thread but I figure it is good info for further discussion.

I'm 45 and have been into audio most of my life with a reoccurring emphasis on car audio (SQ comps) over the years. But lately my automotive hobby has been off roading so not much room for SQ there... All of that said, I realized hi-fi has been missing from my life for a while, and since my wife doesn't share the passion (she likes music, but doesn't make a hobby of listening), I figured it was time to dabble in good headphone setup(s).

I went with a Modi / Loki / Vali stack at our cabin and got a JAN Sylvania 5670 for it right off the bat based on a LOT of reading / price. Set it all up and used my ATH-m40x that I have had for years to travel with and it was GREAT just like that! So what does one do with something that is great? Make it even better, right?

So, ordered a Loki / Vali for the main house (desktop is higher end and has a ESS Sabre ES9023P DAC chip), proceeded to order a bazillion tubes (multiple GE 5 Star, JAN Sylvania, RCA Command, RCA Triple Mica and even a pair of WE 396As, I need multiples with 2 Valis, right??) AND a pair of DT 770 Pros + Drop Meze 99s..... And this all happened in a couple weeks.... lol

(All of the Schiit stuff is the current model for reference)

Most of my listening is "popular alternative" (M83, Grouplove, Beck kinda thing), Classic Rock, The Beatles (so "Classic Pop"?) and a heavy dose of EDM (Trance / Progressive & DNB being the fave there).

Anywho, so far my impressions of the Schiit equipment has been fantastic for the money. The DT770s are also really nice, they have good extention and are brighter than the m40x which is cool as I do like treble as well as bass.

Now, on to some tube opinions.

• Sylvania JAN 5670 - First one I tried and logged about 10 hours on one. Nice and full but nothing else special that I would call out, other than it just had more body than a non-tube amp would.
• Sylvania JHS 5670 - Same "body" as the JAN, but edgier if you will.
• GE 5670 5-Star - Lots of fullness but also good punch down low, with everything else being nice and clear / tight without being edgy.
• RCA Command 5670 - Similar to the GE 5-Star but looser... I feel like this tube would be almost identical to the 5-star if I didnt listen to EDM at all.
• RCA Triple Mica - Very full and clear like the GE 5-Star, but also slightly brighter in a good way.
• Western Electric 396a - I know this one is highly regarded as one of the best and I can see how for classic rock (or jazz, classical, etc). A VERY warm and acoustic feel to it. Personally I think anything that is worked electronically in production quite a bit like newer alternative or EDM, kind of falls apart at louder volumes. That said, I think this one is unmatched for classic rock / pop / etc mentioned above.

My personal favorites so far are:

• GE 5-Star
• RCA Triple Mica

Welcome! And I'd offer the standard "sorry about your wallet," but it looks like yours is already battle hardened.

The Vali 2 is still one of my favorite Schiit products. Lyr 3 and Folkvangr up the ante of course, but the Vali is one of the biggest bang-for-the-buck audio components I've ever run across.

 

[treys1]

Welcome! And I'd offer the standard "sorry about your wallet," but it looks like yours is already battle hardened.

The Vali 2 is still one of my favorite Schiit products. Lyr 3 and Folkvangr up the ante of course, but the Vali is one of the biggest bang-for-the-buck audio components I've ever run across.

Thanks! As a couple that is decidedly no kids, my wallet is well hardened to hobby expenditures!

I am loving both setups and am very happy with the Schiit line, glad I found them in my research before jumping in.

I'm sitting here listening to the Meze's that just came, with a standard NOS RCA 5670 that just came this weekend. Tube sound pretty good and very similar to the Command 5670.

Also, I took advantage of that DCA sale on the Aeon RT's and have some of those in closed back coming as well!

 

[treys1]

Alright, spent the evening on the WE396A and have gone through Dark Side of the Moon, Rubber Soul, Revolver & Let it Be and it is a pretty sweet tube for the classic rock / classic pop.

So, that leads me to question the tube rollers, do you swap tubes depending on what you intend to listen to?

 

[LobalWarming]

Alright, spent the evening on the WE396A and have gone through Dark Side of the Moon, Rubber Soul, Revolver & Let it Be and it is a pretty sweet tube for the classic rock / classic pop.

So, that leads me to question the tube rollers, do you swap tubes depending on what you intend to listen to?

Yes. And more... also depends on mood, phase of the moon... that sort of thing

 

[jonathan c]

Yes. And more... also depends on mood, phase of the moon... that sort of thing

… don’t forget rolling tubes between albums tracks !!

 

[LobalWarming]

… don’t forget rolling tubes between albums tracks !!

Or during tracks... Don't forget the oven mitts

 

[treys1]

Yes. And more... also depends on mood, phase of the moon... that sort of thing

Well the moon phase tonight was "Dark Side"

 

[treys1]

… don’t forget rolling tubes between albums tracks !!

OK, I'm not there YET.

 

[LobalWarming]

Well the moon phase tonight was "Dark Side"

Good selection for a KR dark glass