Schiit Vali Setup

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maj

maj

maj

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Recently got hold of a Vali second hand from the MM on here but wanting to check if I have it set up correctly as was expecting the sound to be louder than what it is.

I have a FiiO E07k which is connected to my onboard sound via USB. I have a 3.5mm jack to phono cable going from the headphone jack to the phono ports on the back of the amp. DT770 Pro 250ohms plugged into headphone jack on Vali.

I have the volume dial at what would be 12 on a clock and sound doesn't really get loud, in my opinion, until I have dial facing what be 3 on a clock. I can adjust the volume on the E07K which helps a bit (I'm assuming its only acting as a DAC now?) and have set the gain on it to its highest setting but thought the amp would have been better for managing volume control. Everything maxed volume wise in windows etc.

Is this right or am I missing something or doing something wrong? Could just be I'm expecting too much for an amp of its size.
 
Something is wrong there, to play my 300ohm Sennheiser HD650's at normal volume I'm at around 10 o'clock and LOUD goes up as far as 11 o'clock.

All I can think is that the signal you're getting out of the E07K isn't as strong as a true line out.
 
As said it might the the e07k, when i was running that from my dac magic it ran my hd 650's easily at 10-11 oclock.
 
for most portable amps, like the E07K the normal output volume can be considerably less than line out because it is meant for use with sensitive, low impedance IEMs. If you can't get a true line out signal you will probably be better off connecting direct to your motherboard audio speaker connectors.
 
I'll try connecting it directly to mobo rather than front USB ports. Will it matter if I still use USB or should I try a sound cable?

Also I've noticed that as a DAC & Amp combo this only supports up to 150ohm. Should that matter?
 
You've lost me now, are you talking about the E07K and the Vali or just the E07K?

The Vali can drive pretty much anything short of large planar magnetics and will have absolutely no trouble with 250 ohm Beyers (they are easier to drive than 62 ohm AKGs).

If you are going direct between motherboard audio and Vali then you need either 3.5mm to RCA or RCA to RCA, depending on your motherboard sockets.
 
I mean the E07K as a dac and amp combo only supports up to 150ohm looking at the specs.

My mobo has the standard mobo sound ports. I'll try going straight from mobo to vali with a 3.5mm to RCA cable and using the dac on the mobo.
 
you need a special cable (L3) that fits in the dock socket to get a true line out signal.

You would also need a female 3.5mm stereo to RCA converter.
 
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Right got 3.5mm to RCA from mobo to Vali connected. Vali seems to be a lot louder than before now. Interestingly I had felt sounds in games felt weird, just something wasn't right but wasn't sure what. I've just gone into the Realtek audio manager and if I run a test the left speaker sounds come from the right ear cup, and the right speaker comes from the left cup. Dodgey RCA cable*?

Yes I do have RCA colour coded and have headset on right way:p
 
Looked in the driver control panel and couldn't see anything. Bizarrely I have fixed it by swapping the RCA connectors around so that the red phono is plugged into the white phono port and the black phono is plugged into the red phono port on the back of the Vali.

It could still mean the RCA cable is the problem though.
 
It's hard to judge how big it is based on the photos I've seen. The Vali is a lot smaller than I thought it was going to be and I like the idea of having the Modi stacked with it.
 
maj said:
It's hard to judge how big it is based on the photos I've seen. The Vali is a lot smaller than I thought it was going to be and I like the idea of having the Modi stacked with it.
Click to expand...

It was meant as a bit of a joke but its your choice the modi is also great, if your willing to pay postage im happy to ship it out for you to try.
 
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Angst said:
It was meatas a bit of a joke but its your choice the modi is also great, if your willing to pay postage im happy to ship it out for you to try.
Click to expand...

I took it in the way it was meant don't worry :) kind offer and will let you know if I decide to take you up on your offer.

Stuff like this is why I wish I knew someone who lived near-by who was into their audio so I could try different setups and hear for any differences based on my taste. I had to buy the Vali on a whim just based on the reviews I'd read.

If something like the Dacmagic performs equal to or better than the Modi then I'd certainly consider it. Stacking ability is useful but not the all important factor, especially when I'm on a budget. There's a Modi 2 now to go with the Magni 2 to through yet another spanner in the works.
 
Bought a fiio L3 cable but it doesn't connect in the way I thought it would. Thought the dock end would connect to the E07K but it doesn't, its meant for an ipad or an ipod. Was thinking I'd go onboard -> E07K with a 3.5mm female adapter on the L3 cable -> then to Vali with a 3.5mm to RCA cable.
 
Yeah, my bad on the L3, I didn't realise it was just for iPxxxx's.... Hopefully you got it from Amazon and can send it right back.

Does the E07K not have a line out socket on the bottom, next to the docking interface?

If so why were you connecting via the headphone output?

Also, there should be some kind of Line Out bypass switch that might be worth flicking.
 
No worries about the L3, I should have researched it myself and yeah got it from the river place. Packaging has been opened to test but should be able to return it under dsr.

On the bottom there is a usb connector port, dock connector for connecting to likes of E09K, and a 3.5mm line input connector.

I did have a 3.5mm to RCA going from headphone output port on top of device to RCA on back on Vali. This wrong way of doing it?

Only switch there is, is a 'hold' to stop settings being messed with. Unless there's an option in the menu somewhere.
 
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