Aune T1 USB Tube DAC+ SS Amp Discussion Thread ***See first post for FAQ--Updated on 02/14/15***

[Salvatore]

  How does the aune perform with the k701? Im looking for something that will still keep the k701's soundstage but add a touch of warmth to the sound. Is the amp capable of driving the headphone well? Im mainly looking at this and the little dot mk3 (no DAC with the ld though).

 
Hi! I have K702 anniversaries, which are warmer more linear than the standard versions, and they do have very good synergy with the T1. The K701 without anniversary pads could, however, be a bit too much on the bright side (because both your cans and T1 are on the bright side). With this combo you'd definitely want warm sounding tube. The soundstage is there and T1 has plenty of power to drive X7XX, so no worries. With T1 you basically get brightish SS amp with tube dac. You can mellow the sound and flatten those treble spikes for a bit with right tubes, but if you're really into that thick tube sound then you probably need a dedicated tube amp. This being said, T1 is so cheap that you can't go wrong with it. It's fantastic performer for the price (SS amp + DAC with tube rolling fun!) and can drive even the most demanding headphones thanks to the changeable gain settings. Another option would be to try anniversary/K712 pads in your K701 or get E17/E18 and do some EQing (not recommended though).

 

[CoiL]

Jipan, read my comments and links about 6GM8. Works like charm and sound is just mind-blowing-holographic ;P It`s been burning-in and playing already over 48h and it got better too. First was not sure about bass performance but it`s now certainly tight and dynamic. 

 

Spoiler: 6GM8

  http://www.mif.pg.gda.pl/homepages/frank/sheets/035/6/6GM8.pdf
http://www.mif.pg.gda.pl/homepages/frank/sheets/030/e/ECC86.pdf

http://www.r-type.org/exhib/aaa1161.htm
 
http://www.diyaudio.com/forums/tubes-valves/153258-ecc86-vs-ecc88.html
 
http://www.tubecad.com/2006/04/blog0059.htm
 
http://www.radiomuseum.org/tubes/tube_6n27p.html
 
Should work without problems. But we`ll see.
 

  Got really really lucky today... Amperex Orange Globe 6GM8/ECC86 Holland Heerlen - for just 3£ !!! With shipping it cost me only 10€ - crazy deal! O_o Those tubes are usually priced really high and it`s quite rare! Here`s seller pic:

This is my first 6GM8/ECC86. All those 6GM8/ECC86`s have been so expensive and quite rare, that`s why I haven`t got it until now. Hope it`s good! ;P

And here`s my pics and sound comments:

  Edit:  I received my Amperex OG 6GM8/ECC86. It`s coded delta6J5, Heerlen Holland, small o-ring getter. looks like this:

 
How it sounds, well ....OMG! I think I have stepped up to high-end tubes league with this. Seriously, first impressions with electronic atmospheric music - so freaking holographic sound, big wide large borderless soundstage in every direction with pitch-black background! Every detail, instrument, vocal is so separated from eachother. 
This tube is certainly one of my best tubes. Not sure it`s best for every genre since I have to do some burn-in and compare it with my other gems but it`s freaking freaking freaking good! ;P And to think that I got it only for pennies... O_o 
 
Edit2: And some more listening tells me that it sounds great with rock/metal/progressive/jazz too if your not a fan of intimate sounding tubes with small soundstage. 
Compared to Ultron PCC189 & Amperex OG GAC it has more spacious soundstage but instruments don`t get lost in that space, everything is just so... holographic.
And vocals with Dead Letter Circus for example are easily listenable with all that spacious sound, it does not "get lost in space". Everything is full of detail and clearness.
 

 

 

 

[Salvatore]

  read my comments and links about 6GM8.

 
It's cool when you hear those super transparent tubes for the first time. That's what I get from my Amperex 7308 as well. It's warm, musical and so transparent that it indeed feels almost holographic. You instantly know that it's a great tube. Seems like this 6GM8 OG could be cheap substitute for the 7308. Gongratulations for the find!

 

[CoiL]

Yes, this could be indeed substitute to higher priced 7308 but I would not say anything sure until I get chance to listen 7308
Unfortunately this Amperex OG 6GM8 is very hard to get. Don`t know if I should "waste" it on listening but it`s hard to keep my ears off from this tube

 

[richard51]

Hello everybody...... If anybody has some exprience with the hifiman 400 and the aune t1 tube dac......i want to know if i am wrong, but i think
that the full potential of the orthodynamics is not fully exploited by the aune t1. The he 400 are very efficient, but i think orthos need amplification with more power.... are my impression wrong ? I have Fostex th 7 b and the sound of these headphone with the aune t1 are very extraordinary for the price ( in canada 50 dollars). The hifiman he 400 are in another league but i feel that the full potential of thesse headphone are not fully open with the aune... am I wrong?

 

[CoiL]

First post: 

Q:What headphones are adequately driven by the Aune T1 amp?
A: Almost every headphone I have tried with the T1 works very, very well. 
 
Here is a list of headphones that I've used on the T1, and I think sound great:
Sennheiser HD800
Sennheiser HD650
Hifiman HE-400 
Beyerdynamic DT880 and DT990 (250 ohm versions)
AKG K702 Anniversary
AKG K550
Symphones Magnum v4 and v5 (my favorite headphones)
I imagine that Grado headphones would make an excellent match with the T1 since the Magnums sound so good on it.
The Beyerdynamic T1 sounds good on the T1, but I personally found that it benefits a little in the bass department with the extra power from my speaker amp (I terminated the Beyers to banana plugs).
 
Headphones that needed more power than the T1 could offer:
Audeze LCD-2
Hifiman HE-6

And have you tried gain switches at the bottom on Aune T1? +10db & +16db ?

 

[richard51]

i put the two switch on the "on" side.... Is it too much gain for the he 400?

 

[richard51]

I realize that i dont know how to adjust the gain settings....... what is the adjusment for hifiman he 400 ? there four buttons marked on or off and one and two .... this is many possibilities.... Thank you for your help.....

 

[MrEleventy]

There's 3 settings. 0db, +6db, and +10db, all down is 0, All dips marked 1 is +6, all dips up is +10db.
E : 0db, +10db, and +16db, all down is 0, All dips marked 1 is +10, all dips up is +16db.

 

[CoiL]

was it +6 and +10 ? If so, then sorry, bad memory, thought it was +10 and +16db.

 

[MrEleventy]

was it +6 and +10 ? If so, then sorry, bad memory, thought it was +10 and +16db.

Actually, no. You were correct sir. It is +10 and +16.

 

[shaocaholica]

Does the Aune T1 operate in asynchronous USB mode?

 

[richard51]

Mr. Eleventy, thank you very much for your response...... all my 4 clips are near the on, hence i am down with 0 db now ? ...... if all clips marked one are near "one" its 10 db ? And If all clips are on the opposite side of the "on" , as in your illustration, its 16 db? am i right?

I would like to know what is the ideal gain position for the hifiman he 400 ..... I dont know... I thank you very much for your kind reply and patience....

 

[Salvatore]

Mr. Eleventy, thank you very much for your response...... all my 4 clips are near the on, hence i am down with 0 db now ? ...... if all clips marked one are near "one" its 10 db ? And If all clips are on the opposite side of the "on" , as in your illustration, its 16 db? am i right?

I would like to know what is the ideal gain position for the hifiman he 400 ..... I dont know... I thank you very much for your kind reply and patience....

 
What about reading the manual and testing which gain setting works for you

 

[Salvatore]

Aune T1 manual: