Frequency Response: none

Power Output: zero

THD: huhwhut?

IMD: I dunno

SNR: nope

Crosstalk: I’ll guess with you

Output Impedance: noneInput Impedance: you’re kidding, right?

Gain: none

Topology: standard horizontal coaster

Protection: none

Power Supply: NA

Power Consumption: zero (very green!)

Size: 3.5” diameter x 0.062” thick

Weight: about 1 oz or maybe less (come on, it’s a coaster, you think we weighed it?)

 

 

Frequency Response: not terrible, but not exciting (like 10-100K, -1dB or so)

Power Output: much less than anything else we make (like, maybe 400mW into 32 ohms, all in, 10% THD or so)

THD: about 0.5% at 1V RMS (6418 tubes) or about 1.5% at 1V RMS (6088 tubes)

IMD: didn’t bother measuring, this amp ain’t about measurement

SNR: not CIEM friendly, about 90-95dB or so referenced to 1V, A weighted, depends a bit on the tubes

Crosstalk: yes, about -75dB 20-20k

Output Impedance: about 8 ohms (yes, 8, not 0.8, not 0.08), in case you didn’t get the memo, this ain’t a high-performance amp

Input Impedance: 50k

Gain: about 3-4 (depends on tube) 

Topology: subminiature pentode in triode-strapped mode, discrete Class AB output stage

Protection: time delayed relay mute on startup

Power Supply: uses standard Schiit 16VAC wall-wart

Power Consumption: about 2W

Size: 3.5” diameter x 1.25” thick at highest point. Or so. 

Weight: maybe 4-5 ounces, unless you went crazy on audiophile caps or something

Because we thought it was funny. And we could use some coasters.

 

You know, you say, “so” a lot?

 

Sigh.

 

Why say ‘hell with it, ain’t goin into work today, I’m gonna hit the open road?’” Why choose the life of a touring musician, making peanuts playing in front of grumpy crowds that don’t understand your work, when your parents wanted you to be a lawyer? Why put a car in space, when you knew ten million self-appointed experts on What is Right and Good would harrumph and moan about the decision on Twitter? Does everything need to make rational sense, in the way you define it? 

 

You’re getting it now!

 

Look. We like to have fun. We play around a lot. This is one of the things we played with. So, if you want a set of four coasters that look like a Schiit PCB for a funny gift or stocking-stuffer or whatever, then you can buy some and enjoy them as coasters. If you have a DIY bent, then you can build one or more of the coasters into a small tube hybrid amp, one that bears some small resemblance to the original Vali—right down to the ringing, microphonic tubes.

 

Nope. Again, read the chapters linked to from schiit.com/coaster. Seriously, the words won’t bite. It’s a simpler version that runs much lower voltage, and is much lower performance. 

 

Have a listen. It ain’t bad.

 

Nope. See the disclaimer on the back of the board.

 

Nope.

 

Again, nope. See the disclaimer.

 

--like any other DIY company would be a better choice? Yep. Now you’re getting it. If you want to build it, great. But we can’t provide the support. Lots of other companies can. Probably best to buy some of their products, and just use this as a coaster.