The Schiit Vali 2++(I haven't heard the 3 but most say it's the same)responds really well to tube rolling. Differences between tubes are noticeable on both HP out and the Pre out.
Hey Aaron. I bought a Fosi P1 tube preamp and used it as a tube buffer. I had it in the tape monitor loop of a Harman Kardon HK 3370. I was able to instantly switch between Fosi in and Fosi out. I could not hear a difference. I bought some GE tubes and still couldn't hear anything. Oh well, I do enjoy the tube glow. LOL
Nice review there dude, the Chinese tubes that come stock in the xduoo gear aren't the best. I find them slightly congested sounding. The soundstage will come alive with a tube change. I suspect the mh-02 is using the same topology as the mt-602 (which i have)(funnily enough, i use senn hd560s on it aswell) i found the best soundstage from a holographic point of view to be from using my mullard m8100 tubes. My favourite tubes for listening to are my western electric 403b tubes though as they are phatter and thicker. The tubes in the pre-amp stage of any valve amp are responsible for around 75-80% of the tubiness... the rest of the tubiness comes from the rectifier. The xduoo circuit is a pretty 'tube light' sounding board tbh, even with a thick tube instaled. It still has a crystalline sound to it.. much closer to a solid state than a full valve amp. Xx
Outstanding as always Aaron. I've had a couple of MT-602's for a few years now and I like them. I use one for headphones and another as a pre-amp into a class D amp. Headphone wise I feel they widen & deepen the sound stage. I'm running music from my laptop into a DragonFly Cobalt into the MT-602 then into HD-6xx's. That all adds up to a head full of magic. I'm not sure if the addition of a USB connection is worth the upgrade? Thank you as always and keep up the great work. You rock sir!
Does it have passthrough? Check mt602. If you INPUT audio behind the device with 2rca IN and put a 3.5 mm connector in the INPUT connector IN THE FRONT to use is as OUTPUT the device makes passthrough even switched off. It's a secret because the official use is opposite, the connector in the front right from volume wheel is input (now you know it has dual option). What about THIS device?