Vali vs Magni vs O2

[tehsprayer]

What is better? I am currently running the DT 990-250, but I am looking to upgrade to HD 650/600, HE-400/500 or LCD-2. (leaning towards HE-400 or HE-500).
 
I would purchase the dac that matches the amp e.g. Schiit i'll get the modi, O2 i'll get the odac. Price is not a concern. I am using the Fiio e10 and it is nice but I am looking for something less portable better quality and I sold this and going to upgrade.
 
What should I get?

 

[PurpleAngel]

Audio-GD NFB-15.32 external DAC/Amp, $255+shipping.

 

[tehsprayer]

  Audio-GD NFB-15.32 external DAC/Amp, $255+shipping.

Interesting, where can I get this? Doesn't seem available anywhere.

 

[PurpleAngel]

  Interesting, where can I get this? Doesn't seem available anywhere.

This is really the only place you can order it from, I used Paypal to buy mine with, shipped to me in California.
http://www.audio-gd.com/Pro/Headphoneamp/NFB1532/NFB15.32EN.htm

 

[tehsprayer]

  This is really the only place you can order it from, I used Paypal to buy mine with, shipped to me in California.
http://www.audio-gd.com/Pro/Headphoneamp/NFB1532/NFB15.32EN.htm

I want to stay away from chinese products and with more ease of buying.

 

[tehsprayer]

bump                  !

 

[cakebreaker]

  What is better? I am currently running the DT 990-250, but I am looking to upgrade to HD 650/600, HE-400/500 or LCD-2. (leaning towards HE-400 or HE-500).
 
I would purchase the dac that matches the amp e.g. Schiit i'll get the modi, O2 i'll get the odac. Price is not a concern. I am using the Fiio e10 and it is nice but I am looking for something less portable better quality and I sold this and going to upgrade.
 
What should I get?

Before I got my Vali I've been using DT 880/250 with Fiio x3 (DAC+Amp) and used to like it a lot. Perhaps, because I'm a big fan of DT 880 sound, which is precise, bright and crisp. I'm sure WOLFSON WM8740 DAC chip and an AD8397 amplifier chip that x3 uses had something to do with it However, once I tried Vali things got changed a bit. It is really nice to my ear. I like it better! To be clear I still use x3 as my DAC and Vali as my main desktop amp now.
DT 880 sounds neutral, crisp highs, solid mids, clever bass and additionally to this a lot warmer. This I guess I've been missing.
I can't compare that to Magni or O2 but I would recommend Vali for sure.

 

[tehsprayer]

  Before I got my Vali I've been using DT 880/250 with Fiio x3 (DAC+Amp) and used to like it a lot. Perhaps, because I'm a big fan of DT 880 sound, which is precise, bright and crisp. I'm sure WOLFSON WM8740 DAC chip and an AD8397 amplifier chip that x3 uses had something to do with it However, once I tried Vali things got changed a bit. It is really nice to my ear. I like it better! To be clear I still use x3 as my DAC and Vali as my main desktop amp now.
DT 880 sounds neutral, crisp highs, solid mids, clever bass and additionally to this a lot warmer. This I guess I've been missing.
I can't compare that to Magni or O2 but I would recommend Vali for sure.

How hot does the vali get? Would be nice in the cold Canadian winter! 

 

[cakebreaker]

  How hot does the vali get? Would be nice in the cold Canadian winter! 

Well, it is on tubes. It does get a bit hot. Not too bad in my opinion. I tried to cook an egg on it and I failed )) Just kidding. It won't be disappointing

 

[tehsprayer]

Are these amps equal or is one stronger than the other? With shipping to Canada I can get the o2/odac combo for $299 CAD from headphonebar without duties or get the schiit for $200 (or $220) + duties and $30+ shipping, making them both fairly equal in price.
 
I like the aesthetics of the schiit better but my first priority is the SQ.

 

[tehsprayer]

bump

 

[Spiral Out]

I just received a Vali yesterday. I definitely recommend it without hesitation. Very warm, clean and dynamic sounding with my DT 880 250 ohm. Sounds far better than the Headroom amp I was using before. The tubes are microphonic, and there have some people that have had ringing issues, but my amp has had none at all. The only time I heard any was when I first plugged my headphones in. I can't speak to the Modi, I'm sure it's a great product from what I have read. I'm using a Music Streamer II that I had just bought a few months ago. If it wasn't so new I would be tempted to buy the Modi. It has all the same features as the MS II (Asynchronous Dac,24/96).  If your thinking of upgrading to HD600/650 the Vali should have no problems driving them from what I have read and based on how well they drive my 880's.

 

[Spiral Out]

O2 Specs:
 

THD 1 Khz 150 Ohms	0.0016%
IMD CCIF 15 Ohms	0.001%
IMD SMPTE	0.002%
Noise (ref 400 mV)	-105 dB
Max Output (33 Ohms)	613 mW
Max Output (150 Ohms)	355 mW
Max Output (600 Ohms)	88 mW
Output Impedance	0.54 ohms
Crosstalk (15 ohms)	-65 dB
Channel Balance (50% volume)	0.6 dB
Battery Run Time

 
 
Vali Specs:
 
 
Maximum Power, 32 ohms: 650mW RMS per channel
Maximum Power, 50 ohms: 550mW RMS per channel
Maximum Power, 300 ohms: 220mW RMS per channel
Maximum Power, 600 ohms: 115mW RMS per channel
THD: <0.4%, 20Hz-20KHz, at 1V RMS
IMD: <0.45%, CCIR
SNR: >93db, unweighted, referenced to 1V RMS
Output Impedance: 6.5 ohms
 
The amps look very similar as far as power output goes. I don't think the Vali would work as well with low impedance phones as the o2, but with higher impendence cans the Vali is a little more powerful.

 

[tehsprayer]

  O2 Specs:
 

THD 1 Khz 150 Ohms	0.0016%
IMD CCIF 15 Ohms	0.001%
IMD SMPTE	0.002%
Noise (ref 400 mV)	-105 dB
Max Output (33 Ohms)	613 mW
Max Output (150 Ohms)	355 mW
Max Output (600 Ohms)	88 mW
Output Impedance	0.54 ohms
Crosstalk (15 ohms)	-65 dB
Channel Balance (50% volume)	0.6 dB
Battery Run Time

 
 
Vali Specs:
 
 
Maximum Power, 32 ohms: 650mW RMS per channel
Maximum Power, 50 ohms: 550mW RMS per channel
Maximum Power, 300 ohms: 220mW RMS per channel
Maximum Power, 600 ohms: 115mW RMS per channel
THD: <0.4%, 20Hz-20KHz, at 1V RMS
IMD: <0.45%, CCIR
SNR: >93db, unweighted, referenced to 1V RMS
Output Impedance: 6.5 ohms
 
The amps look very similar as far as power output goes. I don't think the Vali would work as well with low impedance phones as the o2, but with higher impendence cans the Vali is a little more powerful.

Very tough decision, I heard the vali is pretty much neutral and so is the o2. Since the vali has microphonic issues that I should go with the o2. Although I heard the vali is very nice and I much prefer the looks over the o2.

 

[Spiral Out]

My Vali has almost no microphonics at all. There have  been people who had to open theirs up and press the tubes down on to the adhesive pad to eliminate ringing.
 
It is a tough decision for sure. They are both very similar. I guess it comes down your preference as far as if you want tubes or not. I considered an o2 for a while also. I know from research that tubes suited the headphones I currently had.