Vali 3 Tube Upgrade

[freakdiablo]

I'm entering dangerous waters here, people.

I posted in the "What did you get today" thread that I received a little Vali 3 last week. A replacement for a Monolith Liquid Spark amp.

The amp is being fed from an old Modi MB and driving a set of HiFiMan Anandas.

I actually like the Monolith amp - it drives hard and gives the Anandas a kicking deep low end. But always found the mid bass/mids are a little too...digital. That's why I thought I'd give a tube amp a shot.

After a week of listening to the Vali, I can say the main advantage it has is it ups the mid bass. Adds that bid of "tube warmth". But it seems to lack the real deep low end (sub bass?) that make my teeth rattle at higher volume. It also has a bit of...almost but not quite sibilance that the Monolith didn't have.

So I figured give it a second chance, change out the tube. I'm below novice when it comes to tubes, we're effectively starting at zero here.

I realize changing the tube can't make it go "full digitial", but wanted to know if there's a tube that both A) adds back that low end kick and B) cleans up the high end a little.

Thanks!

 

[freakdiablo]

Minor update. Ordered a matched and balanced GE 5670W / 2C51 since that appears to be a common upgrade for the Valis. Will post an update when it gets in.

 

[freakdiablo]

Update - got the 5670W yesterday, definite improvement. Comparing the two, with the stock tube it sounded like someone hit the "bass boost" on a cheap stereo, or tried to give a tube "sound" through EQ.

With the new tube, the mid bass fades back and everything sounds punchy again. High end also a little cleaner but still a little shrill, might just be from the headphones though - I noticed it a little in certain songs with the Monolith as well. Could also need some brain breakin.

Already have an RCA splitter on the Modi, so next step is hooking the Monolith back up and doing some quick side by side comparisons.