Maybe to define the EH6922 as excellent it is slightly a stretch, but yes: the value for money it's there.
Said so, I would like to go back to the pop caused by the tubes as in my case the situation is exactly the opposite: both 6FQ7 that I have (the standard one and the spare both from Schiit) have a louder pop than the EH6922. I am not an expert in this field, but I wonder if it could be caused by the production batch or the manufacturer process.
Anyhow, now I'm tempted to buy also a Mullard NOS, but maybe it is too much for the small Vali.
Better to save the money or spend it in music.
Is there anyone that has already tried and that may give me an opinion before I pull the trigger and I spend 80-90 bucks?
Okay, Excellent is a bit of a stretch as a superlative. Think I paid around the £ 20 mark with delivery, for the valve / tube, so agreed good VFM. Yikes, 80-90 bucks, round £ 54-60, just checked where I bought the EH6922, an ECC88 Mullard NOS is £ 25, though currently out of stock, at £ 25 I might be tempted.
This is the cheapest that I could find online: http://www.ebay.co.uk/sch/i.html?_from=R40&_trksid=p2050601.m570.l1313.TR0.TRC0.H0.TRS0&_nkw=ECC88+MULLARD+MADE+IN+ENGLAND+RING+GETTER+TYPE+TESTED+NEW+AND+UNUSED+MULLARD+CODES+IN+GLASS&_sacat=0
Here in China the market is crazy and, provided that the valves are not fake, everything is very expensive. The mark-up is huge.
I am considering those, shipped to Italy at the address of my parents.
This is the cheapest that I could find online: http://www.ebay.co.uk/sch/i.html?_from=R40&_trksid=p2050601.m570.l1313.TR0.TRC0.H0.TRS0&_nkw=ECC88+MULLARD+MADE+IN+ENGLAND+RING+GETTER+TYPE+TESTED+NEW+AND+UNUSED+MULLARD+CODES+IN+GLASS&_sacat=0
Here in China the market is crazy and, provided that the valves are not fake, everything is very expensive. The mark-up is huge.
I am considering those, shipped to Italy at the address of my parents.
You are correct, the EH6922 Gold does sound excellent. One thing I have noticed, depending on which tube / valve is in the Vali 2, the pop just after switch on varies in volume, the 6N23P gave quite a loud pop, the pop from the 6FQ7 was barely noticeable, the EH6922 was slightly louder.
It's kind of annoying, always having to remember to unplug headphones to avoid the popping sound when turning on my Vali2. Still much much worse when I forget to turn off my powered speakers (with HP unplugged) and then turn on the Vali2 for next listening session!
All this worry about popping sounds is much ado about nothing. If there really was a chance this could damage your headphones/speakers, then Schiit would warn you about it in the manual.
All this worry about popping sounds is much ado about nothing. If there really was a chance this could damage your headphones/speakers, then Schiit would warn you about it in the manual.
I had a bad experience a couple of years ago with a cheap tube amp. Switched on and there was an immediate loud crack from the headphones and the left driver was broken-pushed right out of its housing and sticking out of the protective grill!
I was lucky I wasn't wearing the cans at the time otherwise my hearing might have been damaged too.
I then read up that some amps don't have protection circuits and at 'switch on' a faulty tube can result in a DC surge which can damage the headphone drivers. I presume that's what happened to me.
I would expect the Vali to have a built in protection circuit to prevent this.
Maybe a fault in the can caused the problem, but thought I should just mention that unpleasant experience.
I had a bad experience a couple of years ago with a cheap tube amp. Switched on and there was an immediate loud crack from the headphones and the left driver was broken-pushed right out of its housing and sticking out of the protective grill!
I was lucky I wasn't wearing the cans at the time otherwise my hearing might have been damaged too.
I then read up that some amps don't have protection circuits and at 'switch on' a faulty tube can result in a DC surge which can damage the headphone drivers. I presume that's what happened to me.
I would expect the Vali to have a built in protection circuit to prevent this.
Maybe a fault in the can caused the problem, but thought I should just mention that unpleasant experience.
Well, the white van man brought me a present this afternoon...... Haven't listened to them yet, though looking forward to trying them - HiFiMan HE-400i
Am also tempted to buy the tube / valve Faber65 is considering, the Mullard ECC88 NOS for my Vali 2
Well, the white van man brought me a present this afternoon...... Haven't listened to them yet, though looking forward to trying them - HiFiMan HE-400i
Am also tempted to buy the tube / valve Faber65 is considering, the Mullard ECC88 NOS for my Vali 2
The 400i is more treble emphasized, bit more airy, arguably a bit more fatiguing. I prefer the 400S, it's not a gigantic difference however (to my ears with my gear).
This is the cheapest that I could find online: http://www.ebay.co.uk/sch/i.html?_from=R40&_trksid=p2050601.m570.l1313.TR0.TRC0.H0.TRS0&_nkw=ECC88+MULLARD+MADE+IN+ENGLAND+RING+GETTER+TYPE+TESTED+NEW+AND+UNUSED+MULLARD+CODES+IN+GLASS&_sacat=0
Here in China the market is crazy and, provided that the valves are not fake, everything is very expensive. The mark-up is huge.
I am considering those, shipped to Italy at the address of my parents.
Your second link is where I bought the 6FQ7/6CG7 that I've got, in fact you can see my purchase in the purchase history, I like this tube, hope you enjoy your purchases. At the moment, I am trying the PCC88 I bought from same place, enjoying Enya with new headphones on Schiit/Sonos system. Just been a bad lad and bought one of these - ECC88 VINTAGE MULLARD 'D' GETTER NOS VALVE/TUBE (LC22) to try
I have ordered a 1975 Voshkod 6n23p from the Ukraine and a more recent Sovteck from Upscale Audio. a Platinum and cyroed one. It looks exactly like my own Sovtek. Does not sound as good yet because it is new. The 75 Voshkod won't be here till later in the month.
My Voshkod 6N23P arrived today. 8 days from the Ukraine for $8 shipping for a $40 tube. Lots of bubble trap and a photogenic box. Right off it sounds better balanced than the other two with more bass I think I found my tube. I'm going to order a spare. V
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