BOALECO BX1 Bluetooth Tube Preamplifier

nick67

Head-Fier
Boaleco BX1 Review
Pros: - 2 inputs: RCA, Bluetooth
- Small form factor, solid aluminum chassis, smooth dials, feels durable
- Does not add much color to the sound when connected to PX2
- Detail retrieval/output from the PX2 amp remains pretty much the same running through the BX1 pre-amp
Cons: - Small con for me is that the bluetooth antenna is not as versatile as the PX2 in terms of positioning
When I purchased the Boaleco PX2 amp from Sen Hu Audio, they kindly asked if I would like to try out the BX1 as well, and share some feedback about it. Since I am going to be using the PX2 anyway, I thought I could pair the tube pre-amp together and see if it adds any value. This review is purely my own opinion from using the BX1.

Quick summary:
  • Comes in a simple Cardboard box with foam inserts
  • BX1 unit, 2x GE5654W tubes, 12V power adaptor
  • 2 inputs: RCA, Bluetooth
  • Small form factor, solid aluminum chassis, smooth dials, feels durable
  • Does not add much color to the sound when connected to PX2
  • Detail retrieval/output of the PX2 remains pretty much the same running through the BX1 pre-amp
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Thoughts:

The Boaleco BX1 tube pre-amp retails for about ~$70. Its form factor is pretty much the same as the PX2 tube amp in terms of size, weight, and looks.

The knobs all feel very solid, and give good feedback when turning. It’s smooth, but you will not be able to turn it by accident.

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What I like about this pre-amp is the ability to bump up the mid-bass a little without distorting the sound of my earbuds or make them sound too boomy/muddy. It makes listening to many otherwise lackluster flat earbuds sound a little more “alive”. Same goes to the ability to control the treble.

Another big plus for me is the ability to fine tune the volume output. Typically, I set the volume controls on my PC at max and exclusively use my amps to control the volume outputs. However, as I am sensitive to loud volumes, the adjustment on amps alone (such as PX2) sometimes catches me between being too soft and too loud for my liking. Using the BX1 solves this for me, so even if I am not using the bass and treble controls, I would still leave this connected to my gears.

Bluetooth works well and sounds good, similar to the PX2.

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Along with the BX1, I was sent a Boaleco RCA cable. This one does not come with the BX1 and is a separate purchase. The cable looks and feels really premium, and is one of the heavier cables I own. I am confident that I can use it as a weapon in a pinch, without causing any damage to it. It is built like a tank.

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I’d say, if you want to try out the tube sound on a budget, getting the PX2 is fantastic value. However, if you also want to add some simple bass and treble EQ controls, and just want to have some fun with the IEMs, buds and/or headphones you already own, then you should give this BX1 a shot.

At the time of writing, the BX1 can be purchased from Sen Hu Audio store on AE and on Lazada if you have that in your country.

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mars chan

New Head-Fier
BOALECO BX1, tube preamplifier with bluetooth receiver review
Pros: .
- inexpensive
- solid build
- replaceable tubes
- Replaceable opamps
- great sound quality
- practically noise free
- bass and treble controls
- excellent potentiometer channel tracking
- AptX HD Bluetooth reception
- small size
- The design looks to me retro, which I like.
Cons: .
- At this price, I cannot complain.
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BOALECO BX1, tube preamplifier with bluetooth receiver review

I would like to thank Sen Hu Audio Store at Lazada PH for sending me the BOALECO BX1 tube preamplifier for a review. Thank you, Sen Hu Audio. Sen Hu Audio never told me what to say in this review; this review will be based on my views and experience of this product.

A brief history:

My agreement to review this was a result of a mistake made by Sen Hu Audio Store at the time when I bought a Topping D90 III, which would cost $900 US regularly, at almost half the price during a sale. After I paid for the D90 III, Sen Hu Audio contacted me and said that they made a mistake in pricing and were at a loss, which I agree with and would have been willing to cancel the order, but then Sen Hu Audio told me that they would ship it anyway since I'm a repeat customer and asked me to write a review on the D90 III listing page in Lazada. I waited for the Topping D90 III to arrive, and it arrived in perfectly new and sealed condition. I messaged them that I could do more than just a review on Lazada; I could review on Facebook to somehow repay them for their loss. To cut the story shorter; after they saw my review on Facebook and Head-Fi, they asked me to review this unit along with two other items, so I agreed out of curiosity and compassion. Sen Hu Audio never told me what to say, and I won't get paid to review this. This is an honest review of this product. Kindly visit Sen Hu Audio Store in Lazada Ph.

The BOALECO BX1 is a small and inexpensive tube preamp with bass and treble controls, a Bluetooth connection with aptX HD reception, and replaceable opamps.

The packaging of the BOALECO BX1 is simple and efficient; it includes an antenna for the Bluetooth, a manual, a pair of tubes, a power supply, and the unit itself.

The bass, treble, and volume knobs are nicely detented and feel elegant to turn. At the back, there is a switch that allows you to choose between the RCA and Bluetooth input. I also took a peek inside and indeed saw two replaceable opamps for opamp rolling, which means you can upgrade not only the tubes but also the opamps. This is a fantastic feature at this price point.

I checked the bass, treble, and volume control and found no channel imbalance even at low volume levels, which indicates it uses good quality potentiometers.

I connected it to my Topping G5 headphone amplifier and to my Fiio M15s as a source. Using an IEM, I heard no hum, and the noise is very low—just a very faint, negligible white noise that you can't hear even at low music volumes. I heard no distortion even at full volume on the BX1.


I then connected it to my secondary speaker system consisting of an amp and a stand-mount speaker and to my desktop computer set-up consisting of a small powered computer speaker, and the results were very good; I encountered no issues.


It sounds very good, with good transparency. The addition of the bass and treble control really makes this preamp fun to listen to. I find nothing to complain about, about the sound of the BOALECO BX1 tube preamp.

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Pros:

- inexpensive
- solid build
- replaceable tubes
- Replaceable opamps
- great sound quality
- practically noise free
- bass and treble controls
- excellent potentiometer channel tracking
- AptX HD Bluetooth reception
- small size
- The design looks to me retro, which I like.

Cons:

- At this price, I cannot complain.
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Conclusion:

I find the BOALECO to be a truly remarkable product for its price, functionality, and performance, and thus highly recommend it. I only wish this were more widely available on the international market.

Have an enjoyable listening experience, cheers!


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A
audionooby
I love the design. Do they make other matching components?
mars chan
mars chan
@audionooby yes they have a tube headphone amp and a balance and unbalanced passive preamplifier.
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