Tube Buffer Used With Dac

pietro944

Hi,I'm thinking of buying a Tube Buffer to use in my 2-channel system.In my set-up I would use it from my Dac out...to the buffer and then to my Pio Elite Recvr.

It's only $110 bucks,would it have value in this type of application?.....Thankx.peter

polkfarmboy

I think it would have great value in your setup especially since you can change out the tubes and improve the sound to match your preference . Keiko on here is or was using a tube buffer into a receiver with good results

pietro944

polkfarmboy wrote: »

I think it would have great value in your setup especially since you can change out the tubes and improve the sound to match your preference . Keiko on here is or was using a tube buffer into a receiver with good results

Thanks polkfarmboy(great name!).....good advice.I'd also could use it with my Tos HD Xa-1,which has nice audio dacs,in it's own right.

I also saw on ebay an auction that had different tubes that are 2 for $15.I really don't know how long an average tube lasts.

AsSiMiLaTeD

How polkfarmboy could possibly make a recommendation without knowing exactly what you're looking at is beyond me. The idea of a tube buffer is fine, but what model are you looking at?

sda2mike

i used a Yaqin tube buffer for a while...works as advertised. will add warmth and all that good stuff..sold it to a polkie...i upgraded to a tube pre...to answer your question: it would be of value esp. at the low $ being spent

mike

tonyb

Phil uses the Yagin with a Dacmagic and digs the results, only one way to find out. It's not alot of coin so if you don't like it you could always re sell with minimal loss.

pietro944

AsSiMiLaTeD wrote: »

How polkfarmboy could possibly make a recommendation without knowing exactly what you're looking at is beyond me. The idea of a tube buffer is fine, but what model are you looking at?

It's the Yaquin CD-2 with 2 Yaqin 6j1 tubes,I can buy upgraded tubes for 2/$15.Thanks for your help,peter

pietro944

sda2mike wrote: »

i used a Yaqin tube buffer for a while...works as advertised. will add warmth and all that good stuff..sold it to a polkie...i upgraded to a tube pre...to answer your question: it would be of value esp. at the low $ being spent

mike

thankx mike

pietro944

tonyb wrote: »

Phil uses the Yagin with a Dacmagic and digs the results, only one way to find out. It's not alot of coin so if you don't like it you could always re sell with minimal loss.

Good advice...thanks tony....peter

polkfarmboy

When I gave you the polkfarmboy thumbs up green light I had 90% hunch this was what you were going to buy :biggrin: . For this tube buffer I stongly recommend you upgrade the tubes for it an find some Amperex Holland Bugle Boy ECC88/6DJ8 . I have a yaqin mc 10 l like this one http://www.ebay.com/itm/YAQIN-MC-10L-Push-Pull-Integrated-Stereo-Tube-Amplifier-/140590041210?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_2&hash=item20bbd1c87a#ht_2781wt_905

The 4 yaqin mc10 l preamp tubes are the same ones you will find in the tube buffer you are seeking and I dont think they sound good enough as they kinda cut out the high frequencies but have amazing mid range . Another option is to go for some Genlalex Gold Lion 6922's as these are the tubes they sell with high end preamps from conrad j etc..

I am still searching for a good price on 4 Amperex bugles but I know that the Genlalex 6922's can be had for around $48 a tube .So happy hunting and have great fun

sda2mike

i found some rca's on the cheap...which with a $99 component is a theme you want to stick with;)...rolling is an ongoing experiment...you could take pfb tube recommendations and find unspectacular results...point is: there your ears and your system...find a trusted source..there's a bunch of good guys on here you could buy from...don't spend crazy amounts...get the cheap and just try them...you have less to lose and more to learn

good luck

polkfarmboy

sda2mike wrote: »

i found some rca's on the cheap...which with a $99 component is a theme you want to stick with;)...rolling is an ongoing experiment...you could take pfb tube recommendations and find unspectacular results...point is: there your ears and your system...find a trusted source..there's a bunch of good guys on here you could buy from...don't spend crazy amounts...get the cheap and just try them...you have less to lose and more to learn

good luck

My recommendation on the bugle's was given to me by a member on here who has that exact same tube buffer and tried alot of tubes and thought that they sounded best overall

The tubes that are going to come bundled when you buy are chinese 6n1's but there is a seller on ebay I can post a link for who would be able to give you some great advice and cheap alternatives to try out if you wish .He told me he specialises in the yaqin brand and sells upgrade kits for my yaqin http://www.ebay.com/itm/YAQIN-MC-10L-Premium-Tube-Set-EL34-6CA7-Svetlana-Preamp-/380300590243?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item588bae7ca3#ht_5772wt_1037 This set in the link here is what he told me many yaqin users have had good results for so you could just ask him to try out 2 of the listed Svetlana 6N1P's as they would be really cheap to give you a starting point as I think anything would be better than the cheap stock ones

sda2mike

thats cool, pfb...i'm just stressing not to go chasing the elusive 'brand x' tubes that promise sound so good you'll live to 120!:) with a piece at that price point, it's time to roll roll roll, cheap, cheap, cheap

98Badger

As others have said, it's not a big investment to try. I had a Yaquin single tube buffer in my setup for a couple months. Tried a couple of tubes, but it didn't do anything for me. I thought the buffer reduced clarity and muddied the bass. I did like what it did for the highs. If you end up not liking it, you can probably unload it for a minimal loss. Trying different gear is half the fun.

pietro944

sda2mike wrote: »

thats cool, pfb...i'm just stressing not to go chasing the elusive 'brand x' tubes that promise sound so good you'll live to 120!:) with a piece at that price point, it's time to roll roll roll, cheap, cheap, cheap

Thanks to you both.....I'm learning.
Mike...Yaqin also has the SCD-3 with 2 x6n8p tubes for an addt'l $80($190 total shipped).

This seems to have much lower harmonic distortion......What do you think?...thankx,peter

Poee7R

pietro944 wrote: »

This seems to have much lower harmonic distortion......What do you think?...thankx,peter

Well, you're introducing distortion into your system by adding a buffer. Its kind of what they're made to do, so going lower may not yield much gain.

Id tell ya to save your pennies and get either a tube pre with an HT bypass (since youre using a reciever, im assuming this is in a HT setup, if not then ditch the receiver and just grab a tube pre), or buy a tube based DAC if you want to get some tubes into your rig.

Ive never been a fan of tube buffers myself.


Dave

pietro944

Poee7R wrote: »

Well, you're introducing distortion into your system by adding a buffer. Its kind of what they're made to do, so going lower may not yield much gain.

Id tell ya to save your pennies and get either a tube pre with an HT bypass (since youre using a reciever, im assuming this is in a HT setup, if not then ditch the receiver and just grab a tube pre), or buy a tube based DAC if you want to get some tubes into your rig.

Ive never been a fan of tube buffers myself.


Dave

Interesting idea...I need to keep the recvr,as I'm building a seperate 2-ch system within what I have.

The tube DAC is a possible way to go,as I was thinking of upgrading to the Zhalou 3.5 dac or better still the Citypulse DA 7.2 II.....It might be simpler to look at Tube Dacs....thankx.

sda2mike

pietro944 wrote: »

Thanks to you both.....I'm learning.
Mike...Yaqin also has the SCD-3 with 2 x6n8p tubes for an addt'l $80($190 total shipped).

This seems to have much lower harmonic distortion......What do you think?...thankx,peter

i dunno...mine had 2 tubes...keep in mind, it's another link in your electronics chain and will introduce it's own inherent distortion...i think the tube buffer might best be looked at as a stepping stone into tubes..

pietro944

sda2mike wrote: »

i dunno...mine had 2 tubes...keep in mind, it's another link in your electronics chain and will introduce it's own inherent distortion...i think the tube buffer might best be looked at as a stepping stone into tubes..

Yea....might be getting ahead of myself...the bright,shiny thingy-syndrome
I'm going to try it for $110 and then experiment with different tubes,later...thankx

Tbone289

Pietro, please let us know the results after you've tried the buffer. I would like to try the same thing with my USB DAC.

pietro944

Tbone289 wrote: »

Pietro, please let us know the results after you've tried the buffer. I would like to try the same thing with my USB DAC.

Will do.....It will take to about 9/10 to get it up and running and evaluated.If you haven't heard from me by then.....just shoot me a pm.

pearsall001

I'm using the Yagin CD-1 tube buffer & I'm loving what it brings to the table. I'm currently using the EAT Cool Valve ECC 88 tube (pretty expensive) & the results have been awesome. I also roll in & out an Amperex Bugle Boy (also expensive) but the EAT tube is my favorite. A lot of what you experience will be due to the tubes you're using. Have fun with it.

tonyb

pearsall001 wrote: »

A lot of what you experience will be due to the tubes you're using. .

Bingo Phil, some of the better tube sets can cost as much as the buffer itself, so one needs to think about that.
Just buying a buffer with the standard tubes and expecting some grand tube sound isn't likely to happen. You'll need to experiment a tad with the tubes,take some advice from the ones here who have rolled some. A buffer can bring benefits to a bright system, for not alot of coin. I think using one with a dac is the way to go if you intend on using a buffer, as Phil has done.

maod

Check this out:http://www.audiogon.com/cgi-bin/cls.pl?accstwek&1318808360&/Musical-Fidelity-X-10v3-Tube-B, it is a little above your price range but is class "A" rated.

pietro944

maod wrote: »

Check this out:http://www.audiogon.com/cgi-bin/cls.pl?accstwek&1318808360&/Musical-Fidelity-X-10v3-Tube-B, it is a little above your price range but is class "A" rated.

Thanks,nice find...I'm going to give it a look.

pietro944

maod wrote: »

Check this out:http://www.audiogon.com/cgi-bin/cls.pl?accstwek&1318808360&/Musical-Fidelity-X-10v3-Tube-B, it is a little above your price range but is class "A" rated.

Just read tubes are "hard-wired",can't be changed-out.None of the sellers mention how many hours are on existing tubes....not a good sign,imo.