I will stick to the thread here.

The Vali is next...

Hi Skyline, I have an 880 (250 ohms, the new version from 2005). I found the Vali an OK pairing, but bass doesn't seem as strong as from my Aikido.

Hello everyone else, first post here. Been lurking a while because there's so much great discussion here, lot more sanity than at the other place.

What is this, a choice-support bias thread?

Some of the linked posts are like one liners: "wow, this is the best amp I've ever heard" (and it's the first one). 

What is this, a choice-support bias thread?

Some of the linked posts are like one liners: "wow, this is the best amp I've ever heard" (and it's the first one). 

Dunno, I just went thru them and to me the linked reviews didn't read "wow, this is the best amp I've ever heard" to me:

Leesure: Preferred the Magni or the Vali depending on song and provided perceived strengths and weaknesses of both amps in his view.

CEETEE: Provided Zana vs Vali comparisons, but I don't read from it the Vali "is the best amp I've ever heard".

zerodedfex: Just said the Vali pairs better with his X-Sabre than his ODAC.

Barry S: Prefers the Mjolnir or the Vali depending given his perception of both amps strengths and weaknesses.

tdockweiler: Effing hates the Vali. Did crap for his 4th HD650. Directly compared it to his O2, and his O2 was a winner... So he defied the time-space continuum and traded it for his O2.

stratocaster: Best purchase made. Proly factoring affordability and unique amp character.

mangler: Similar impressions to Barry S... but no "best amp" evar claims.

achristilaw: Likes the amp... but no "best amp" evar claims AFAIK.

ecom: Brief comparo to O2. W the 650s, better impact than the O2, "thicker" mids, and about same level of detail. No go for IEMs due to noise floor.

jbarrrentine: Brief comparo to a TP41 class T amp. Liked the Vali best, but felt there was an imbalance... only to find out that his TP41 proly had the imbalance in the first place. (I've been there before w a different setup BTW... it was a DAC with a blown cap)

Binge: Felt it paired well with his 650s and Mad Dogs. No "best amp" evar claims.

jexby: Liked what he heard with his HE-500s relative to his Lyr. Was surprised it gave Lyr a run for its money given it's price range, but actually seemed to like his Lyr just a tad better.

Radio_head
"The DSHA sounds like butter while the Vali sounds like I can't believe its not butter." Nuff said!

I don't get the one sided review cherry picking there ... .

I heard (and measured) the Vali, and mostly agree with the above impressions.

blah blah blah

I said it improved as I moved from a good budget DAC to a much better DAC.

You're not the only member here who took cognitive science courses when in university, nor are you the only engineer (there are at least a few I've encountered). Not everyone blindly expected this thing to be amazing and the impressions weren't culled specifically because they were in support of the product.

I reserved my judgement until I actually listened to the damn thing. And yes, I consider the Vali a phenomenal value at the $120 price.