[H20Fidelity]

  Shipping is high. You have to warch for that. I found this..better deal.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/NEW-Genalex-Gold-Lion-6922-Gold-Pin-tube-36-40-each-E88CC-/310792543321?pt=Vintage_Electronics_R2&hash=item485caddc59

Oh, I forgot to mention I'm in Australia, however can get one still.

Thanks
 

  I bought a Amperex Bugle Boy and a pair of 1969 Amperex Orange Globes, both made in Holland. I don't know what year the Bugle Boy is from. Compared to the stock tube the Bugle Boy offers a narrower sound stage with a little less treble and bass so the sound is flatter and more neutral. It's a little louder than the 6922EH and mids are more pronounced. It may be good for toning down V-shaped headphones but it doesn't offer anything too different to my ears. On my M-100, which are closed-back with an already narrow sound stage, it made the music sound a little more congested.
 
The Orange Globes, upon first listen, gave me goosebumps. The sound stage was enormous. The sense of air around instruments and the separation allowed the vocals to occupy their own space within the soundscape which gave the music an incredible 3-D effect. The bass was toned down a little, which benefited my bass-heavy M-100, although it left me wanting on some songs. The Orange Globe sounded great with rock, instrumentals, classical, jazz and anything that was vocal driven. Let me reiterate; vocals are incredible with the Orange Globes. Adele, Imogen Heap, Norah Jones, and Lana Del Ray sounded sublime. Land Del Ray especially since I feel most of her tracks layer on the bass too thick which makes them fatiguing to listen to on bass-heavy headphones. Pop, EDM, Hip-hop and the like sounded better with the Bugle Boy and stock tube due to their stronger bass. Tracks by Britney Spears, Miley Cyrus, 2NE1, and Eminem (just to give a few examples) sounded distant and lost that visceral impact of the beat.
 
The Orange Globes are usually sold in pairs for around $40.
 
http://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_trksid=p2050601.m570.l1313.TR0.TRC0.H2.Xamperex+6dj8+orange+glob&_nkw=amperex+6dj8+orange+globe&_sacat=0&_from=R40

You have me very interested, however the main seller with Orange Globes in pairs won't ship to Oz.

None the less I really appreciate you guys giving me some insight. 

 

[SpiderNhan]

 
Oh, I forgot to mention I'm in Australia, however can get one still.

Thanks
 

You have me very interested, however the main seller with Orange Globes in pairs won't ship to Oz.

None the less I really appreciate you guys giving me some insight. 

I'm not sure of the exchange rate between USD and AU, but there are sellers who'll ship to you.
 
http://www.ebay.com.au/sch/i.html?_sacat=0&_from=R40&_nkw=amperex+orange+6dj8&LH_PrefLoc=2&_arm=1&_armm=63&_ruu=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ebay.com.au%2Fsch%2Fi.html%3F_sacat%3D0%26_from%3DR40%26_nkw%3Damperex%2Borange%2B6dj8%26_arr%3D1

 

[MrEleventy]

+1 on the Orange globe. Made my jaw drop when paired with dt880s. I get the same feeling new with a sylvania tube, 6bk7b

 

[truly194]

Is there tube with i can get a better quality bass? 
I'm comparising aune t1 with fiio x5 right now, and fiio has a better soundstage(but i think that elextro harmonix make small soundstage and i will could fix it by change tube) and better bass quality (better resolution).
 
Is there any chance for tube that kind or i should go into a fiio? Aune t1 great well job with my dt 880 250 05' edit, but fiio is better in this thigns. Please fast answer because i have to make decision tommorow.
 
And hi, this is my first post...

 

[Redline21]

 ~~Is there tube with i can get a better quality bass? I'm comparising aune t1 with fiio x5 right now, and fiio has a better soundstage(but i think that elextro harmonix make small soundstage and i will could fix it by change tube) and better bass quality (better resolution).

 
I'm wondering the same thing.  I just got the T1 today and honestly I was expecting more.  I have a Gigabyte motherboard(GA-Z77X-UD3H), is it possible that the on board sound card is plenty good?  I've never heard any kind of hiss or feedback from it but was expecting a much better sound and didn't hear it.  I'm using Audio Technica ATH-M50s for headphones.  It seems with the 6922EH tube at least that the sound stage is a bit wider and the higher freqs sound a little better, but at the cost of much less distinct bass.  It seems more like an EQ was hooked up that upped the treble and lowered the bass is all, in addition to the somewhat wider sound stage.
 
After doing several back to back tests with using the T1 vs just plugging the headphones directly into the on board sound, I can tell a difference and yet I think I'd rather have the sound without the T1.  And that's not even factoring in the cost of the T1.  Just commenting as well to see if there's a tube that makes it worthwhile to keep the nice treble and wider sound, but wouldn't lose the bass?
 
Just want to make sure I'm not missing something before I return it.
 
Thanks.

 

[hdtv00]

There is a reason this thread is 344 pages long people. READ, even back handfull of pages.
 
The reason it's 344 pages long is NOT because it's the perfect black box with it's newer tube that it comes with, is there a better tube, gee I don't know maybe go to page 1 and read the god damn reviews at least make an effort instead of back to back post asking what's better.
 
Think this reply is harsh lol, try reading some of the replies when people are to lazy to even read the fist damn FAQ post.
 
But here yet again for the lazy let me pick a few tubes that are miles beyond the stock tube it came with...
 
http://www.ebay.com/itm/2-Vintage-Amperex-Globe-Holland-6DJ8-ECC88-Dimpled-Disc-Getters-Stereo-Tubes-420-/400700702890?pt=Vintage_Electronics_R2&hash=item5d4b9f80aa
 
http://www.ebay.com/itm/4-AMPEREX-HOLLAND-ECC88-6DJ8-ORANGE-GLOBE-LOGO-VINTAGE-TUBES-/351058761415?pt=Vintage_Electronics_R2&hash=item51bcbb96c7
 
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Pair-1969-Holland-Amperex-Orange-Globe-6DJ8-ECC88-tubes-Tested-86-87-86-89-/181293786998?pt=Vintage_Electronics_R2&hash=item2a35f3a776
 
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Pair-1969-Holland-Amperex-Orange-Globe-6DJ8-ECC88-tubes-Tested-72-71-73-71-/181294313781?pt=Vintage_Electronics_R2&hash=item2a35fbb135
 
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Pair-1969-Holland-Amperex-Orange-Globe-6DJ8-ECC88-tubes-Tested-75-78-77-80-/181294220022?pt=Vintage_Electronics_R2&hash=item2a35fa42f6
 
Some reviews and thoughts on other tubes
http://www.head-fi.org/t/633006/aune-t1-usb-tube-dac-amp-discussion-thread-see-first-post-for-faq/1200#post_9256553
 
Some thoughts from Coil who has loads of tubes too

rock/metal/progressive/jazz:
 
***** Ultron SQ PCC189/7ES8 (DJF V3B, Bharat India, gold label)
***** Amperex 6DJ8 (GAC ⊿9F3, Heerlen Holland, single support leg dimpled disc getter, orange globe logo)
****/ Siemens PCC88/7DJ8 (≠2J)
**** Siemens PCC189 (IP1 B7C3, Mullard Blackburn England) 
***/ GE JAN 6BQ7A (USA, green label, o-ring getter with glowing wire under it)
 
***/ GE JAN 6BQ7A (green label, o-ring getter with glowing wire under it) - this sounds actually very good with metal and is similar to Ultron & Amperex GAC ...BUT it has somewhat loose bass and you don`t get so much bass tightness and kick out of it as with latter ones. Reason why I recommend to try this is because it is very cheap @ eBay. Great starter tube for metal/rock/progressive. But note that there is also version without thin glowing wire under getter. I have the version with glow-wire under o-ring getter.
 
**** Siemens PCC189 (IP1 B7C3, Blackburn) - This tube is probably re-labeled as Siemens because according to code it`s made in England Blackburn. Mullard PCC189 made in Blackburn should be "same". Try to look for those if Siemens is too expensive or hard to find but note that there are 3 different physical build of them. About sound - it`s better all-around performer than other tubes I mentioned for Metal. Highs might sound little bright with bright-sided cans but still has tinybit smoothed highs.
 
***** Ultron SQ PCC189/7ES8 (DJF V3B, Bharat India, gold label) and
***** Amperex 6DJ8 (GAC ⊿9F3, single support leg dimpled disc getter, orange globe logo) - These tubes sound actually very similar but Ultron has fraction better bass tightness & kick. Soundstage is "same". I would describe those tubes soundstage as middle-sized soundstage - you get enough air and soundscape but it doesn`t sound so distant. For example I find these tubes littlebit better than my gold pinned Siemens E88CC with metal/progressive because Siemens has so huge soundstage with so much separation and air, that it makes metal lose its "intimacy"... often feels too holographic for metal/progressive/rock genres. 
 
****/ Siemens PCC88/7DJ8 (≠2J) - this tube is basically "same" sounding than Ultron & GAC but it`s somewhat more mellow & warm.
 
 
Electronic/atmospheric/ambient/edm:
 
Miniwatt-Dario ECC189 (|X1 ±2L4 .. , Chartres France, yellow "shield" logo) - tightest bass & percussion kick out of my tubes (and it`s deep also) with quite large soundstage
​Amperex 6GM8/ECC86 (⊿8J5, orange globe logo) - HUGE holographic soundstage with deep bass (somewhat boomy but I like it with dNb/dubstep/downtemp)
JAN Sylvania 6922 (82219 EAD 7002, US, green label) - good for electronic music with lot of vocals
6922EH ("stock" tube with Aune T1) - Large soundstage (littlebit V shaped), sparkly highs, mids are neutral but after capacitor upgrade it sounds actually pretty good with tighter bass and littlebit more mids.
 
 
Great all-around tubes:
 
Siemens E88CC (GØ 1≠ 6A / GØ 1≠ 5L / EØ 1≠ 6A, grey plates, o-ring getter, gold pins) - expensive and hard to get, very good detail and instrument separation & transparency, sometimes sounds too holographic and too large soundstage for example with rock/metal.
Siemens PCC189 (IP1 B7C3, Mullard Blackburn England) - very good all-around tube, nothing to complain about but nothing wow/special also. Good transparency and separation. Middle sized soundstage. There might be 2 different builds but not sure atm.
Ultron PCC189/7ES8 (50402, white label) - there are at least 3 different build types because this is re-labeled brand. Highs are littlebit smoothed but not so much as Amperex 6DJ8 GAC or Ultron SQ PCC189 and with some metal/rock might feel tinybit bright. With warmer headphones should sound great.
Miniwatt-Dario PCC189 (IP9 ⊿9F1) - Should be quite "bugle-boy" sounding tube but not sure, hard to find with MW/Dario labeling but according to code should be quite easy to find under different label.
Tight bass & kick, middle-sized soundstage.
 
 
Note that my impressions are littlebit over-emphasized to bring out differences. For beginner analytical listener differences could be much smaller.
 
Also make sure you have it configured for proper playback using foobar or whatever else you want to use to play files back and not just plugging it usb and playing stuff. Hope this helps....haha joined today that explains it. Welcome to the forum.

And PS I'd like to point out I may have been an ass like so many other posts complaining about reading and making an effort I at least answered it all in depth anyway in my defense hehe.

 

[truly194]

Thank You very much
 
I gave up at 87 page, i couldn't read it in one day. Now just one question and i will go with aune, not with fiio. Is it will get more resolution bas? Not bigger -  this is ok. But quality...

 

[hdtv00]

Well that hasn't been entirely clear to me. To me the highs are what make it stand out but I have tested with many bass heavy tracks and some sound out of this world, while others sound similar to what I have always heard, I'm not certain why this is, but I think that the bass would have a bigger impact based on which actual headphone you were using or set of speakers you were playing it back on, more so than highs anyway.
 
Why I was grumpy is I had just said days ago that I also after hearing the stock tube had planned to sell my unit on here. BUT before it got here I happened to buy on ebay bugle boy and Orange Globe tubes, I tried bugle first , slightly better than stock to me. But when I heard the Orange Globe it came alive to my ears, both on my headphones and my home speakers when I run it out the rca outs into receiver. I was blown away and still am. So I say give at least an Orange Globe a try and then if that doesn't get your attention just sell it.

 

[Redline21]

I also started reading in, and 344 pages is a lot of reading to cover the whole thing.  I'll go through your tube ideas, so thanks for taking the time with that, again.  After my first impressions, I didn't really think a tube would make that much difference.  I was just reminded of reading(I believe somewhere buried in here) about someone using a USB 2.0 vs USB 3.0 port.  I was using 3.0 earlier and switched to a 2.0 port and at first listen, seemed to better as in I had all the good qualities without the obvious bass loss.  May have been placebo, since it took a while to make the 3.0 to 2.0 switch so I need more listening with it.
 
For me, I just need to be able to decide if it's worth it or not.

 

[hdtv00]

It's TOTALLY worth it. I completely agree anyone still using the stock tube is wasting this things magic. But find a cheaper single or pair of Amperex Orange Globe from ebay and let the real fun begin. That and make sure you're playing back things correctly using foobar and WASAPI. Even just simple flac cd rips are stellar , doesn't even need to be high res flac.

 

[hk6230]

I extracted this from Cambridge Audio's Audiophiles Guide to Bit-Perfect USB Audio:

ASIO (Audio Stream Input/Output) is another method of audio transport which is superior to WASAPI as it bypasses the Windows Kernel Mixer (and the distortion this adds). Just like WASAPI, to use ASIO the media player will normally require some kind of output plug in, but it is only possible to use ASIO in Class 2 USB Audio mode (which allows transmission of higher data rates) using a dedicated driver (such as the free Cambridge Audio USB 2.0 driver). [Aune T1 can only support up to 24/96kHz so maybe doesn't require Class 2 USB Audio mode. Note: Class 2 USB Audio mode is NOT USB2.0.] 

ASIO is preferable to all Kernel streaming audio transport methods (eg. WASAPI or DirectSound) as it delivers lower latency, better jitter and no mixing of audio streams.

Can anyone verify this?

 

[truly194]

I'm not sure that i understood. With other tube can i get more quality and better resolution bass? I know that soundstage depend on tube, but bass, will i get close to fiio x5?

 

[SpiderNhan]

I think the FiiO sound always leans toward warm with a strong bass. The only tube I have that sounds most like my FiiO E17 is the stock 6922EH. Since the headphones I use are already bassy, I like that the T1, with an Amperex Orange Globe 6DJ8, tames the bass and widens the sound stage.

I also noticed that my T1, out of the box, had the gain set to +16db. I would turn the potentiometer from 5:45 to 6:15 and the volume was deafening. I lowered it to +0db gain and I can get the potentiometer almost halfway around. Maybe playing with the gain will help with dynamics. You can find the gain dip switches on the bottom of the unit under the potentiometer.

Gain settings:

Spoiler: Warning: Spoiler!

1.. 2..
On On

1.. 2..
On On

16db

Spoiler: Warning: Spoiler!

1.. 2..
On Off

1.. 2..
On Off

10db

Spoiler: Warning: Spoiler!

1.. 2..
Off Off

1.. 2..
Off Off

0db

 

[Charliemotta]

Nice info. Spidy...Thanks

 

[mikoss]

   
I'm wondering the same thing.  I just got the T1 today and honestly I was expecting more.  I have a Gigabyte motherboard(GA-Z77X-UD3H), is it possible that the on board sound card is plenty good?  I've never heard any kind of hiss or feedback from it but was expecting a much better sound and didn't hear it.  I'm using Audio Technica ATH-M50s for headphones.  It seems with the 6922EH tube at least that the sound stage is a bit wider and the higher freqs sound a little better, but at the cost of much less distinct bass.  It seems more like an EQ was hooked up that upped the treble and lowered the bass is all, in addition to the somewhat wider sound stage.
 
After doing several back to back tests with using the T1 vs just plugging the headphones directly into the on board sound, I can tell a difference and yet I think I'd rather have the sound without the T1.  And that's not even factoring in the cost of the T1.  Just commenting as well to see if there's a tube that makes it worthwhile to keep the nice treble and wider sound, but wouldn't lose the bass?
 
Just want to make sure I'm not missing something before I return it.
 
Thanks.

 
A couple things from my perspective that may be of help to you...
 
- Depending on the tube in your Aune T1, I have personally found that it takes about 12-15-20 hours of burn in time (music playing through the tube) before its sound signature completely opens up. For example, my Aune came with the 6922EH tube and I found that the sound dramatically changed after a week of listening 2-3 hours/day. If the tube is used, perhaps this isn't a concern. Personally, I believe if a tube sounds "really great" from the first listen onwards, it is probably used. I've also read forum posts where people claim that tubes that have been sitting for a long while still need a couple of hours to burn back in, but I have no experience with this. I've also found that from turning power on, my tubes need an hour or a bit more to sound their best. This is less noticeable and may just be a subjective remark.
 
- I bought a newer laptop as well and found the sound quality is actually impressive. I compared it to my HRT Microstreamer DAC and found minimal differences. Compared to the Aune T1 though, the tubes really represent the sound differently. I've noticed the mids are especially more lush, and the highs are extended and pleasing. Soundstage width differs with different tubes.
 
- I also bought a source switching "box" which enables me to audition and test different sources at the same time, without switching cords/settings/etc. I have yet to find a tube that matches the amount of bass coming from my laptop's soundcard, but I also find the bass is uncontrolled and "bleeds" into the mix, causing what I perceive as muddling up. I also don't find myself wishing that the bass from the Aune tubes was hitting harder... it has plenty of impact, it's just controlled and tight.
 
I think it's a great idea to figure out whatever sounds the most pleasing and go with it. I have an older (3 years) desktop computer that has noticeably lower sound quality, but I personally believe a lot of the newer soundcards are better quality, probably comparable to cheaper DACs with high reviews (eg. the HRT Microstreamer, which I spent $189 on... nearly half the price of the laptop!!!).
 
Just my opinion, good luck.