Longitudinal review. Personally had some early quality issues due to the group buy I purchased this as a part of (fabrication facilities were not ready for the increased demand) resulting in 2 RMAs for separate reasons. Shu Guang 12AU7 tube is a good affordable starter tube if you listen to contemporary, jazz, and pop/rock which is less bass heavy. Regular source component utilized has been PC audio feeding into a FIIO E10 Olympus or a Schiit Modi 2. Did notice a difference in ease of driving my modded Fostex, but only a bright warping to any other headphones/iems I paired to the system.
3 years in currently and getting ready to perform first repairs on item once I perform tear down. Currently the 6.35 mm receptacle is failing to product proper stereo from varied source components (distortion appears in right channel until the phone jack is adjusted out and around circumference, dropping it funny enough to a pseudo bi-mono output). 3.5 mm mini doesn't appear to have same deficiency, but I will be inspecting the wiring and both solder points upon tear down. Will be rolling the 12AU7 to a darker sounding tube as well while amp is apart.
Will update review with follow-up post tear down. A year ago I would have rated another star higher since this is the first material issue I've had on this iteration of the amp. One of the previous that was quickly RMA'd was due to an issue with the 6.35 mm headphone jack.
3 years in currently and getting ready to perform first repairs on item once I perform tear down. Currently the 6.35 mm receptacle is failing to product proper stereo from varied source components (distortion appears in right channel until the phone jack is adjusted out and around circumference, dropping it funny enough to a pseudo bi-mono output). 3.5 mm mini doesn't appear to have same deficiency, but I will be inspecting the wiring and both solder points upon tear down. Will be rolling the 12AU7 to a darker sounding tube as well while amp is apart.
Will update review with follow-up post tear down. A year ago I would have rated another star higher since this is the first material issue I've had on this iteration of the amp. One of the previous that was quickly RMA'd was due to an issue with the 6.35 mm headphone jack.
