Schiit Vali 3 : Impressions Thread

[ThEvil0nE]

Me being a Luddite like the Vali 3 is

 

[ThEvil0nE]

I just got a new wooden box to hold my tube collection (only a dozen or so, so far) and realized there's so much space that I'll need to fill. I haven't gone down the adapter route yet so that may be my next venture. Anyone have some suggestions on the type I should try out next?

12au7 and another wooden box

 

[Mr Trev]

I just got a new wooden box to hold my tube collection (only a dozen or so, so far) and realized there's so much space that I'll need to fill. I haven't gone down the adapter route yet so that may be my next venture. Anyone have some suggestions on the type I should try out next?

I'll second what @ThEvil0nE said about 12AU7.

I'd also say get one of those G1217 5670-6922 adapters too. Not so much for the 6922 tubes, but for the 6CG7 that are also a direct drop-in. 2 birds, one stone

 

[Richsvt]

thank you, I think?

 

[sghound]

Red knob district

btw what is the knob shaft size for vali3? 6mm?

 

[sghound]

time for some teak action

 

[ThEvil0nE]

btw what is the knob shaft size for vali3? 6mm?

6mm

 

[klappco]

I haven’t started doing math on that.

 

[LobalWarming]

12au7 and another wooden box

I'll second what @ThEvil0nE said about 12AU7.

I don't 3rd.

Best to skip the 12AU7 meh zone... sure there are some good ones... but far more blah ones to fill a dozen wooden boxes. (Good ones: CV491, CV4003, G-73R)

Instead, I suggest getting the best 12AU7s ever created. Single section predecessors, 6C4/EC90/CV133/M8080 and more. These little twins will win your ears and your wallet. They're like 6J5s/L63 are to the 6SN7.

The under $20 a pair RCA 6C4s offer a bigger, more detailed presentation than most $200+ ECC82s.

You could stop right there, save space for Deyan's custom 6C4 to 5670 adapter and be happy.

But you won't.

Tube rolling isn't about ultimate happiness or even ultimate sonics... it's about rolin' rollin', rollin' - until the hide of your wallet is raw.

So... you'll want to explore the higher end of the family. Mullard M8080s are great step into the house of thermionic upper class twinning.

While the cheap RCAs best most every 12AU7, the M8080s best them all. More details, more 3D soundstage, just more enjoyable. To my greedy ears, at least.

Anyhow, I take it back... go buy many meh 12AU7s... enjoy them for what meh they bring... then when you grow restless of mehAU7, spend some more and roll twice as many!

 

[RBRIII]

thank you, I think?

And then, after that, get a nice 6SN7 adapter (@Deyan makes great ones) to try those tubes out.

 

[Mr Trev]

I don't 3rd.

Best to skip the 12AU7 meh zone... sure there are some good ones... but far more blah ones to fill a dozen wooden boxes. (Good ones: CV491, CV4003, G-73R)

Instead, I suggest getting the best 12AU7s ever created. Single section predecessors, 6C4/EC90/CV133/M8080 and more. These little twins will win your ears and your wallet. They're like 6J5s/L63 are to the 6SN7.

The under $20 a pair RCA 6C4s offer a bigger, more detailed presentation than most $200+ ECC82s.



You could stop right there, save space for Deyan's custom 6C4 to 5670 adapter and be happy.

But you won't.

Tube rolling isn't about ultimate happiness or even ultimate sonics... it's about rolin' rollin', rollin' - until the hide of your wallet is raw.

So... you'll want to explore the higher end of the family. Mullard M8080s are great step into the house of thermionic upper class twinning.



While the cheap RCAs best most every 12AU7, the M8080s best them all. More details, more 3D soundstage, just more enjoyable. To my greedy ears, at least.

Anyhow, I take it back... go buy many meh 12AU7s... enjoy them for what meh they bring... then when you grow restless of mehAU7, spend some more and roll twice as many!

You're being way too hard on 12AU7. The godliest, king of the meh zone has gotta be the ECG 6922. 12AU7 are a golden ratio'd hug for the ears compared to those things

 

[jonathan c]

btw what is the knob shaft size for vali3? 6mm?

It is 6mm, but the shaft is not fully circular. It has, in part, a flat plane. For any volume knob with screw, tighten the screw aligned with that flat plane.

 

[LobalWarming]

You're being way too hard on 12AU7. The godliest, king of the meh zone has gotta be the ECG 6922. 12AU7 are a golden ratio'd hug for the ears compared to those things

Perhaps... but nah... not in comparison to the over-priced fancy 12AU7s, the cheap twin 6C4s are a far better value. Compared to cheap 12AU7s, the cheap 6C4s are just far better. IMO, of course.

 

[bevanc]

The 6N3P-DR arrived yesterday. Just saying, it sounds very good out of the box, pins are clean and the tube is in perfect condition. Boxes are a challenge to get in tho.

Can't say the same for the the RCA 12AU7A. It was DOA. Seller is sending another, great service.

 

[bevanc]

Here is my little tube organizer that I got off eBay. Not as good as something as @Paladin79 would make but I like it. The seller also had stacking units for the mid side Schiit stacks. My BF2 and Jot 2 get a little warm and this improves cooling.