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tube buffers?

post #1 of 9
10/15/08 at 12:40am
Thread Starter 
so, I've read almost everything I could find on the board about the Yaqin, a little about some DIY projects, and some opinions on the sound added (or lost) from a system with a buffer

I'm still lost

mostly I'm wanting to tweak and play since I'm fairly happy with my current amplification, speakers, headphones, etc

so, would a tube buffer looped with my receiver really gain me anything?

equipment in profile (too lazy to type it again)
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post #2 of 9
10/15/08 at 7:14am
I acquired a Musical Fidelity X-10 v3 the other day, and it does some wonderful things to digital reproduction, makes it more analog-like. A tube buffer may give you the most benefit if your speakers or headphones are of good quality. Some of us like the signal to go through tubes at some point, and in my "main" system, it's like this: transport-DAC-tube buffer-preamp-power amp (also tubed)-speakers. Maybe that's overkill on the tubes.

Laz
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post #3 of 9
10/15/08 at 7:28am
Thread Starter 
sounds like it might be fun to toy with, now the next question is, which tube buffer is right for me? lol
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post #4 of 9
10/15/08 at 10:51pm
I have a Yaqin buffer. I ended up rebuilding it with the help of this thread over at diyaudio.com.

The circuit's dead simple--there's a schematic in the above thread. Out of the box it's so-so. Dropping in better caps and the other mods in the thread turn it into a very nice buffer. If you do get one and even if you don't mod it, check the ground lead from the IEC socket. Mine was screwed into the chassis without any of the powder coating being removed; not the best of mechanical connections for a solid ground.
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post #5 of 9
10/18/08 at 1:32pm
I have had a few buffers and the best by far is the Audio Horizons TP 5.0n. I did a little review on it last year. http://www.head-fi.org/forums/f21/au...buffer-277955/
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post #6 of 9
10/18/08 at 2:27pm
So which is better a tube buffer or a DAC to get that analog sound?
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post #7 of 9
10/18/08 at 10:49pm
Both. But if I had to start with one I'd start with the buffer. The buffer's more versatile--works great with my RWA iMod and with my Squeezebox and with my CD player.

Quote:
Originally Posted by jbusuego View Post
So which is better a tube buffer or a DAC to get that analog sound?
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post #8 of 9
10/18/08 at 11:58pm
I started with a DAC but i had an old CD player. It changed everything and made the music three D and crisp. The tube buffer then rounded off the sharp corners. So i did it the other way around, kinda depends on what you start with i guess.
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post #9 of 9
2/9/11 at 9:30am

I have the fortune to obtain the tube buffer built by dBel84 (runeight's design). I am hearing an improvement in my system: Gamma2 Dac --> tube buffer --> M3 amp --> DT770 / 32 ohm. The tube buffer extend the soundstage, fills up the mids and make the highs smoother; without the tube buffer the combo was a bit aggressive with dance / eletronica type of music. I am not a DIY guy, but I think this tube buffer sounds really good and specs well at the same time. Thanks for the great job,dBel84 and runeight! This tube buffer is so good that I am thinking to get another one......but I do not know who else can build one.Details for DIY can be found at Cavalli Audio (see OCL tube buffer).

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