Yaqin 6J1 Tube Buffer

All you do is yank the old ones out and slide the new ones in while the buffer is off. The high plate resistance of the 6J1 and its low current capability make it a pretty poor choice for a buffer...

This is probably not the best choice to "get your feet wet". Have you considered other buffers?

Well, it would be nice to find one that actually has a real power transformer, so you can get the operating voltages up into a linear region, and at the same time avoid something like running the 6J1 as a triode strapped cathode follower (seriously strange use of that tube, probably is run like that just so they can make it work with a tube that has some popularity).

The CD-1 from the same company uses a single 6922 cathode follower for both channels. There is a seller on eBay that has one, and a few floating around online. I think that is a massively better bet. If you can solder, there are DIY efforts out there that would also be quite nice.

There is another one that's about the same price as the Yaqin, the Indeed Hi-Fi Labs tube buffer. I have one of those and the Yaqin in separate systems. Have a look here:

eBay Seller: indeed-hi-fi-lab: Electronics, eBay Motors items on eBay.com

I have the buffer that's fitted for the ECC88 tubes (there seem to be new models on the webpage/eBay store) and have used the Shuguang tube that came with it as well as some Russian replacements. I bought Mullards for my Yaqin (yummy). I'd have to say that both buffers I have do a lovely job and I'd buy either/both again, though recently my Indeed developed a problem and have to have some dry solder bits tidied up. A cheap fix.

To be completely honest, I think the Indeed sounds better but according to another bloke I've conversed with here on Head-fi, the Yaqin can be modded easier. Dunno myself; I'm just a user like you and yes, changing the tubes is easy. I was advised to avoid touching the tubes directly as I have highly acidic skin that could make the tube glass weak, so I held the tube with a tissue and wore a surgical glove when tube rolling.

Buy either of these and you'll be glad you did. Burson makes one in Australia that's a solid state version of the same idea but it'll cost much more and I've read a few slightly suspect rumblings about Burson's ethics. Cannot comment directly on that' it's just what I've read. The thing about the Indeed is that when you send an email to them, the owner/designer writes you back. That's gotta be good.

I participated in another thread on this topic in the "Tweaks" forum; have a look there. I'd give you the link but my Head-fi searches aren't working at the moment...

Grant Fidelity...

I've got the Grant Fidelity version of the Yaqin - which is superb in all respects. It is exceptional with the the 5654 / EF95 / M8100 and related tubes. Especially, Mullards, Tung Sols, Philips and Sylvanias.

Its a bit more expensive... but... it looks good, and sounds good... and... appears to be well made.

Don't know how it compares to the "Indeed"... but... I prefer it to the MF X10 v3, and Core Audio tube buffers I had.

I'm not an "early adopter" so I wouldn't be "experimenting" with the "Indeed," unless I was a "techy / DIYer." And possibly not even then. Just the fact that one person has reported a cold solder joint... is... enough to justify the cost of the Grant Fidelity tube buffer for me.

Unless you're a "techy / DIYer" you may want to give careful consideration to that also.

Here ya go:

Tube Processors | Grant Fidelity Home Audio

Just do it... and be happy... and confident.

I don't know what amp you're talking about... And the PSU is already switchable between 110 and 220 volts... So, you may be better to ask for help on the Grant Fidelity forum...

Yes...

Yes... I thought the GF B-283 Tube Buffer supported both 110-120 volt North American mains supplies, as well as the EU 220-240 volt mains supplies - if I recall correctly, its got a switch on the back panel to allow you to select the appropriate voltage (I'm not near my B-283, so I can't just confirm by looking at it).

And... yes... I would think GF should be able to tell you, what fuse value to use in it in the EU.

As far as the tube selections - I love the following:

Mullard M8100/EF95s, Tung Sol 5654/EF95s, Philips Miniwatt 5654/EF95s, and Sylvania 5654/EF95s.

Here's a link to identify tube equivalents:

TDSL Tube data [5654]

Also... search for the DV332 thread - there is extensive discussion of these and equivlent tubes in that thread.

Let me warn you, NOS ecc88/6Dj8 can be very pricey tubes, as in $200 and up each for the best ones (which probably won't sound that much better in these circuits anyway). The Russian 6N23P-EV sounds awful at first, and takes long time to break in. Look for something like a Sylvania 6DJ8. Yes, 6922/E88CC will work and there are many new production versions of this tube.