Think I'm Gonna Try This

deronb1

This item looks really interesting. Not much money and cool looking!

http://www.ebay.com/itm/MK3A-Indeed-Hi-Fi-Class-A-Valve-Buffer-Amp-Amplifier-NOS-5814A-tube-USA-sixties-/251016465447?pt=Vintage_Electronics_R2&hash=item3a71bf4c27

Syndil

So basically, it just piggy-backs a tube into your signal chain? Less is more, IMO.

deronb1

If it warms up the sound a bit, I am all for it. Will post a review.

chumlie

Have you ordered it yet or still thinking on it ? Looking forward to review.

deronb1

ordered it last night.

chumlie

Cool. Where do you plan on putting it ?

deronb1

chumlie wrote: »

Cool. Where do you plan on putting it ?

between the pre and the amp. Can get the TT in on the action too! :cheesygrin:

chumlie

Looking forward to your thoughts on it. May want to join ya.

deronb1

I'm looking forward to it too. Will certainly let you know.

drumminman

Interesting - looking forward to your review. Looks like it uses quality parts, though the power supply is a little cheesy. Could it be the first mod ? :cool:

mhardy6647

Love the performance of well designed and well implemented vacuum tube amplification circuitry for audio. Hate the gratitous use of a vacuum tube, in effect, as a distortion generator to "add warmth".

Just my hardly-humble opinion, of course. YMMV.

heiney9

mhardy6647 wrote: »

Love the performance of well designed and well implemented vacuum tube amplification circuitry for audio. Hate the gratitous use of a vacuum tube, in effect, as a distortion generator to "add warmth".

Just my hardly-humble opinion, of course. YMMV.

This is not a well designed, well implemented circuit. Plus it's run off a switching walwart power supply, not the best.

Not to rain on the OP's parade but you would have been much better off spending a bit more stateside and getting the Yaqin CD3 buffer.

H9

Big Dawg

I have the 12au7 version of this little headphone amp for work:

http://headfonics.com/2012/01/bravo-audio-headphone-amp-series-part-1-the-v1-2/

Indeed (maker of the above tube buffer) makes one very similar.

I like it, and it was worth the small investment for low volume listening at work, but i probably wouldn't buy it again.

However, I'm with mhardy, and struggle to understand the point of a tube buffer. IMHO, either you like the sound of your current gear, and don't need to "warm it up," or you need to try different (possible tube-based) gear.

Nevertheless, if this makes deronb1's rig sound better to his ears, then I say "awesome!"

mhardy6647

there are good reasons to use a buffer -they're designed to match impedances between components. As such, a good buffer is designed to be unity gain and utterly distortionless - to add or subtract nothing (in amplitude, phase, or frequency domains) to the signal. Improving the impedance match, e.g., between a preamp and power amp could certainly have audible consequences (flattening of frequency response, e.g.)... the problem is, I think, that some of these tube buffers are deliberately designed not to be benign. That's the reason I get persnickety about the topic.

PAiA's "Tubehead" is a good example, I think :-)
... and, at least, they're honest about it!
http://www.paia.com/proddetail.asp?prod=9305HSR
http://www.paia.com/proddetail.asp?prod=9305KEN

evhudsons

Yeah, I'm curious too. I've seen lots of these things but all from China. This is a hobby, and the price isn't much so you have something to experiment with that doesn't permanently do any changes.

I just recieved a cmoy kit from Australia. I know there are MUCH better ones here, but as it is an experimentation to see if it really helps with headphones if I don't like it much, I am not out much money. If it helps, I may be more inclined to spend money on better stuff stateside with better electronics.

Looking for your review man! I think it takes a couple of weeks or so to come from China and through customs.

BlueFox

deronb1 wrote: »

If it warms up the sound a bit, I am all for it. Will post a review.

What is a 'warm' sound?

heiney9

BlueFox wrote: »

What is a 'warm' sound?

Not cold.

H9

Syndil

And the pitch goes wide!

EndersShadow

BlueFox wrote: »

What is a 'warm' sound?

What happens after one too many shots/drinks :biggrin:

BlueFox

heiney9 wrote: »

Not cold.

More of a class A sound versus an ice class D sound?

heiney9

My response was merely a flippant, vague comment to mirror the vague comment of "warm".

Simply adding tubes in-line in a rig won't necessarily automatically mean a "warmer" sound. More to it than that.

H9

Timothy Smith

I used an inexpensive Grant Fidelity tube buffer for a year or two before I found a resonably priced tube pre. Made the sound sweeter and more natural. Hooked me on tube equipment.

You can switch the buffer on and off, and I always thought it sounded better with it on. Changed/upgraded tubes a few times and it sounded even better.

I know I liked it because 3 or 4 times I would headed to the basement for some listening and thought things sounded OK but not great. Each time it was because I forgot to turn the tube buffer on. Flipped it on and the magic returned.

mhardy6647

When I think of warm sound, I think of a late-1950s hifi console or a Dynaco ST-70 in its stock configuration - rolled off at both ends of the frequency spectrum, slow and thick sounding, but relaxed, mellow and unprovocative. I like to call that rather syrupy sound "boozy and bluesy".

At their best, vacuum tube amplifiers deliver convincingly real sound; like the instruments or vocalists are in the room.
(so can solid state amplifiers, but dollar for dollar, it's easier to get to with vacuum tubes IME)

The little interstage add-ons can deliver the former; I don't think they can reasonably be expected to deliver the latter.

cnh

mhardy6647 wrote: »

When I think of warm sound, I think of a late-1950s hifi console or a Dynaco ST-70 in its stock configuration - rolled off at both ends of the frequency spectrum, slow and thick sounding, but relaxed, mellow and unprovocative. I like to call that rather syrupy sound "boozy and bluesy".

I'll have some "pancakes" with that. These old ears love that effect and pancakes too! lol

cnh

pearsall001

There's only one way for the OP to find out...give it a try. I really like the Yagin Tube Buffer in my system.

pietro944

heiney9 wrote: »

This is not a well designed, well implemented circuit. Plus it's run off a switching walwart power supply, not the best.

Not to rain on the OP's parade but you would have been much better off spending a bit more stateside and getting the Yaqin CD3 buffer.

H9

Agree with you....My Yaqin was $50 more than what he paid for the Indeed G3....Much better tubes and it has it's own power supply.I have the Indeed G3,also......I got on auction on ebay for $46 +$20s/h=$66.It has the same 5814A tube.....I just use it as a buffer....sucks,compared to the CD3.......My plan has always been to use a tube buffer until I can get the Dared pre,like Brock has,and then really go down the tube rabbit-hole(lol)........peter

gdb

This is the buffer I use. It's "nice" on some material, get's "in the way" on other. I love the glowing terms that are used to describe it though! GOT SYRUP ????






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deronb1

pietro944 wrote: »

Agree with you....My Yaqin was $50 more than what he paid for the Indeed G3....Much better tubes and it has it's own power supply.I have the Indeed G3,also......I got on auction on ebay for $46 +$20s/h=$66.It has the same 5814A tube.....I just use it as a buffer....sucks,compared to the CD3.......My plan has always been to use a tube buffer until I can get the Dared pre,like Brock has,and then really go down the tube rabbit-hole(lol)........peter

I was kicking around the Yaquin stuff and I am not expecting miracles here fellas. Just want to see if there is a holistic change in the sound that leans it more toward the warm side. It's hard to describe a desirable sound with words, so I am just gonna stick with that. I know what I mean dambit!:cheesygrin: Anyway, like most of you have pointed out, there is a notible change for the better with the use of these units. I have no doubt that each system would experience it's own change with adding ANY item and I am at the point with my 2ch system now for very subtle changes (hopefully for the better).

Great replies and I hope to get this sucker hooked up soon. I do have the sinking feeling, like somone mentioned, that I am going to like the change and want to improve it further. Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa! (me falling down the rabbit hole)