Headphones amplifiers — Schiit Audio VALI 3

The Vali 3 is a desktop headphone amplifier from Schiit Audio with a tube-hybrid circuit and a generous power output for its size. It sits in the entry tier of the Schiit headphone amplifier range, next to the solid-state Magni.

Key specs that matter

Maximum power is 1,500 mW per channel into 32 ohms, 1,000 mW into 50 ohms, 400 mW into 300 ohms and 600 mW into 600 ohms. Gain is switchable between 1 and 5. THD stays below 0.007% at 1 V RMS into 300 ohms, while CCIR intermodulation distortion measures under 0.014% on that 300-ohm load. Noise sits more than 117 dB below the signal, crosstalk is 87 dB from 20 Hz to 20 kHz, and frequency response covers 20 Hz to 20 kHz within 3 dB. Output impedance is 0.5 ohms. The chassis measures 127 x 89 x 70 mm, compact for a design that carries a valve.

Engineering and use context

The hybrid circuit places a tube in the input stage and uses a solid-state output stage to drive the headphones, so the amplifier avoids the cost and upkeep of a pure valve design. The tube is still a wear part and will eventually need replacing, which belongs in the long-term running costs.

Pairing

The two gain settings cover both efficient headphones and less sensitive models without an external attenuator, which helps an owner who uses more than one pair. The low output impedance keeps the amplifier stable with a wide range of headphone loads.

Alternatives

The Magni is the purely solid-state Schiit Audio headphone amplifier at a similar price.