Official Schiit Vali 2 Thread

[TinearedOne]

Okay OG Vali 2 owners. Not wanting to upgrade but looking for some tube types I haven’t tried before moving on. I’m thinking 6CG7 and 5670. Yes, I know the latter would need an adaptor. Thoughts?

I have tried, in addition to the stock tube, a few new production 6922 tubes as well as a 6N1P.

 

[hodgjy]

Okay OG Vali 2 owners. Not wanting to upgrade but looking for some tube types I haven’t tried before moving on. I’m thinking 6CG7 and 5670. Yes, I know the latter would need an adaptor. Thoughts?

I have tried, in addition to the stock tube, a few new production 6922 tubes as well as a 6N1P.

An automated watched thread email from a setting I put in years ago pulled me out of retirement to answer this. You cannot do much better than a 1960s GE 6CG7 in the Vali 2/2+. Trust me. I rolled until the cows came home.

 

[TinearedOne]

An automated watched thread email from a setting I put in years ago pulled me out of retirement to answer this. You cannot do much better than a 1960s GE 6CG7 in the Vali 2/2+. Trust me. I rolled until the cows came home.

Thank you Jay. Just the feedback I was looking for.

 

[senorx12562]

Thank you Jay. Just the feedback I was looking for.

The two you mentioned have been my favorites in the Vali 2.

 

[Mr Trev]

Okay OG Vali 2 owners. Not wanting to upgrade but looking for some tube types I haven’t tried before moving on. I’m thinking 6CG7 and 5670. Yes, I know the latter would need an adaptor. Thoughts?

I have tried, in addition to the stock tube, a few new production 6922 tubes as well as a 6N1P.

Yes to both. 6CG7… I'd reccy a Matsushita. 5760… Tesla 6CC42
Overall, I'd rate the 6CG7 as the best "no adapter required" choice for the Vali2

 

[RenoGu]

Can someone help me out. Considering the Vali 2++ since it is so cheap right now. I do not have any tube amp, and I do want to give a Hybrid a try to try the tuby sound. Apart from the Diana v2 most of my headphones are fairly easy to move and I want a compliment to my two most used amps, Cayin IHA 6 and Lake People.

But I am not sure of investing a lot of money to try. Will this be a good amp? Is it really tube sounding or I better look elsewhere ?

 

[HWB3]

It is a good amp, and you can get one for a reasonable price. I stepped up to the Vali 3 where the increased voltage to the tube makes it sound better. But the Vali 2++ with an upgraded tube sounds fine. Look for a GE Five Star 5670 or a GE JAN 5670W. Both are solid tubes that you can get for around $20.

 

[Thoven]

Can someone help me out. Considering the Vali 2++ since it is so cheap right now. I do not have any tube amp, and I do want to give a Hybrid a try to try the tuby sound. Apart from the Diana v2 most of my headphones are fairly easy to move and I want a compliment to my two most used amps, Cayin IHA 6 and Lake People.

But I am not sure of investing a lot of money to try. Will this be a good amp? Is it really tube sounding or I better look elsewhere ?

It's not super tube sounding, I would describe it as more solid state sounding with tube coloration. The stock tube especially is very uncolored. But it has great sound and power at its price point, even before it went on last call sale. And with some relatively affordable tube rolls you can explore the various kinds of tube coloration without investing too much money and see if it suits you.

For reference, I still use it alongside my midgard. Midgard displays the strengths of a SS amp, where Vali displays a strong SS foundation with some tube strengths added on top.

 

[RenoGu]

Ok thank you, I guess I will give it a try. Not that much money and I can test with some of those tubes mentioned.

 

[HWB3]

Anyone looking to repurpose your Vali 2++ because you bought a Vali 3, put it in your speaker system. Works pretty well for me.

 

[SolaVirtus]

Anyone looking to repurpose your Vali 2++ because you bought a Vali 3, put it in your speaker system. Works pretty well for me.

I kept mine too, and glad I did because it's getting a spot in my nascent modest vinyl setup that's coming together. Fluance RT82 + Mani 2 + Vali2+ = ?
I'll report back later!

 

[treys1]

I would pick up a 3, but then I'll have to get a new Mini-Link as the chart on the Snake Oil site shows that they are different than the 2++ version.

 

[michael2v]

I just came across this old post while looking into the scratchy volume pot that my Vali 2+ seems to have developed (but only in low gain, as some others have also reported). I don't have a way to test for DC current so I thought I'd consult the brain trust here. Is this something I should be concerned about?

 

[hodgjy]

I just came across this old post while looking into the scratchy volume pot that my Vali 2+ seems to have developed (but only in low gain, as some others have also reported). I don't have a way to test for DC current so I thought I'd consult the brain trust here. Is this something I should be concerned about?

Mine did this, but it's tube-dependent. Each tube that did it, did it at different positions on the dial, so it was a DC thing. I did two things. 1) I turned on the amp and let it sit for 10 minutes before plugging the headphones in and then unplugged the headphones before turning off the amp. I tested the DC levels and it spiked and fluctuated for over 5 minutes. 2) Use a GE 6CG7 tube only because it didn't make any scratchy sound. I think the lower gain affected the DC. If anything, it made me feel like it was safer for my headphones.

 

[michael2v]

Mine did this, but it's tube-dependent. Each tube that did it, did it at different positions on the dial, so it was a DC thing. I did two things. 1) I turned on the amp and let it sit for 10 minutes before plugging the headphones in and then unplugged the headphones before turning off the amp. I tested the DC levels and it spiked and fluctuated for over 5 minutes. 2) Use a GE 6CG7 tube only because it didn't make any scratchy sound. I think the lower gain affected the DC. If anything, it made me feel like it was safer for my headphones.

That's a really helpful clue, thank you! I swapped the 7JD8 I'd been using with the original stock tube and the volume pot is whisper quiet now on both gain settings (at least shortly after startup).

That said, I already had a 6CG7 (and a 6SN7 to 6922 adapter) on the way after perusing this thread; the lower gain seemed like a good option for getting more mileage out of the volume pot, and it sounds like it's generally a strong user preference in the 2+!