Then there’s that line-level part when used as a preamplifier. And this part turned out to be really a surprising one. When used with my Amphions Argon0’s and both the Rekkr and Gjallarhorn it really excelled for the price. The main thing was the palpability of the soundstage and the realism that the whole setup offered which was well beyond its sticker price. It just turned out that it’s actually possible to have an affordable line-level preamplifier that can offer enough clarity to show what the really well-designed Amphions are capable of. And that half step into the coherent and a bit of a triode sound turned out to be just perfect for the all-metal (when it comes to membrane materials) Argons. The sound was full yet very natural and, most of all, on a level of many main stereo setups where the price of interconnect cables may be above of what is the Vali 3 sticker price.
Obviously, we need to look at the bigger picture too. The pairing with the HEDDphone TWO was reasonable, but such cans merit more serious amplification. With Sundaras, the Vali 3 exceeded expectations though. So as far as you are not going to use it with some really expensive and revealing headphones, everything will be fine. I would even suggest pairing it with some of the new planar headphones. Or those that are maybe just a bit on the revealing side. It’s not the very last word in the sheer transparency, but I do believe that this was not the goal here. The overall volume that the Vali 3 provided will be more than enough for most situations, especially when the gain is set to high. The treble that the Vali 3 offers is perhaps a bit rounded. And at the same time, it’s also more part of a whole, rather than it would be anything reference-grade by any standards. Yet it clearly showed the differences between the Modi Multibit 2 NOS and closed-form modes.
Schiit Vali 3 – some thoughts and a summary
Let me be perfectly clear here: this particular amplifier is actually a perfect example of the Schiit’s prowess in making affordable and at the same time really great sounding gear. If it cost twice the price, I could easily recommend it without hesitation. At the current asking price it’s a no-brainer for everyone who’s looking for a very capable headphone amplifier that will stand its ground also as a line-level preamplifier. Yes, it uses tube, but the whole concept here is to get as balanced sound as it is possible at the price. And at that, it really excels. Highly recommended.
Adam Kiryszewski
Manufacturer: Schiit Audio https://www.schiit.com/home
Price: 149 USD