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

[Bothand Nether]

The 37 indicates the factory of origin...These were made in the Trinek plant in Czechoslovakia,
don't know that date code of DE, though.

 

[Hansotek]

New discovery! I didn't expect this to work, but it totally did! Today I tried this combo:

T1 (DAC section only (w/ Amperex 7308)) > Schiit Lyr (stock tubes) > HD650 and Beyer DT880 600 ohm

Honestly, I've never heard better sound out of either headphone. I've used both out of the T1, and both out of ODAC>Lyr, but I just assumed the different tubes would make the T1>Lyr combo sound like poop. Never have I been so wrong!

Quick impressions:
DT880 - The definitive experience of this headphone. Retains the Amperex's massive soundstage but further smoothes out the highs for gorgeous sound PLUS detail. The true gift is in the bass - all of the detail and articulation of the DT880 with POWERFUL thump and extention all the way down to the deepest notes. Ribbon tight, but tons of impact. I think it beats the HE400's bass out of the T1's amp section, and that's saying something! Just crazy, crazy good.

HD650 - The absolute best sound I have ever heard out of a headphone. Hands down. I must confess, I didn't like what ODAC did with the Lyr and HD650, I ended up running Lyr out of my Macbook Pro's headphone jack more often than not, but T1>Lyr>HD650 is like velvet. The very definition of euphonic. I tried the HD650 straight out of the T1 and found it very veiled. The Lyr made it my favorite headphone. T1 (w/ Amperex) > Lyr > HD650 took it to another level today. This is what transparency means. It is just you and the music. The headphone disappears. I've never heard such sweet midrange. Such absence of grain. And the soundstage! It just emerses you. It's like you are swimming in the music. And the BASS! The best I have ever heard, bar none. Just pure, pure joy.

I'm not very familiar with tube matching and how that all works... maybe I just hit the tube lottery. If it's dumb luck, I'll take it. But I will tell you this, I know my ears, and what I heard today was truly special. I guess the old phrase rings true, don't knock it until you try it.

 

[mikoss]

HD650 - The absolute best sound I have ever heard out of a headphone. Hands down. I must confess, I didn't like what ODAC did with the Lyr and HD650, I ended up running Lyr out of my Macbook Pro's headphone jack more often than not, but T1>Lyr>HD650 is like velvet. The very definition of euphonic. I tried the HD650 straight out of the T1 and found it very veiled. The Lyr made it my favorite headphone. T1 (w/ Amperex) > Lyr > HD650 took it to another level today. This is what transparency means. It is just you and the music. The headphone disappears. I've never heard such sweet midrange. Such absence of grain. And the soundstage! It just emerses you. It's like you are swimming in the music. And the BASS! The best I have ever heard, bar none. Just pure, pure joy.

Yep, sounds like you've discovered why I can't "upgrade" from my 650's...
 
I would also suggest that you might enjoy the T1 with Panasonic FR & ELNA Silmic II capacitors instead of the stock ones. I think it takes it to an entirely new level, improving on everything I love about the headphones with the T1. 
 
I wonder how the Lyr would sound rolling in some NOS tubes as well... hmmmm I may have to try out the T1-> Lyr myself.

 

[Hansotek]

DO IT!!! I've read everywhere that the HD650 scales up well, but.... Wow, just wow!

Like I said, I might have gotten lucky with the tube match-up, but I feel like there's summit-fi potential here. Certainly the best I've heard. There's a good chance I might try rolling more tubes in this combo in the future, but I just spent my next few months of audio budget on the HE500 the other day. I can't wait to hear that with this combo!

Do you have a link and/or commentary on the NOS tubes? I'm pretty new to tube rolling.

I don't doubt you one bit on the capacitors comment. I've amp-rolled the T1's DAC into several different amps, every single one has been better than the stock amp section. It's a servicible, albeit bright, CMOY IMO. Even a JDS Labs 2x 9V provids a tremendous upgrade over the stock amp section IMO.

 

[Vanquished]

  The 37 indicates the factory of origin...These were made in the Trinek plant in Czechoslovakia,
don't know that date code of DE, though.

They have different codes. They may be are not CCa, because they aren't expensives.
 

 

[NCSUZoSo]

CCa is one the hardest tubes to identify and one of the most faked.  This is mainly because you can easily get $150-$200+ per tube due to their rarity and notoriety in the audio department.
 
My tube was labeled as a possible CCa on Ebay and the seller admitted he could not verify it because the plate codes didn't exactly match a CCa.  However I am willing to give one of those a try for the right price.
 
Guys I was looking at something else for my T1.  Since I use the SoundMAGIC HP100 that has a unique headphone connection that can't be upgraded or changed and sometimes I need more distance from the T1 without putting stress on the unit. 
 
I was looking at this Mogami headphone extension: http://www.ebay.com/itm/120675145777?_trksid=p2060778.m1438.l2649&ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT
 
However I am worried the cable may be heavy enough to cause the unit to tilt or put too much stress on the headphone jack.  Any opinions on using this for an extension on the HP100 with the T1?

 

[penmarker]

You're worried about the coil pulling and tugging the jack off from the amp aren't you. Don't worry just get the cable extension and it'll be fine. The connection is 1/8th of an inch, studios use them all the time and the cables are always stretched and bent and pulled sideways. The jack can take it. Where is the amp located on your desk? Is the rubber feet sticky enough to let it sit firm on the desk?

 

[NCSUZoSo]

It is sitting between my center channel and my PC (the only place possible on my desk) and actually has no rubber feet on it currently because I need to dremel where the dip switches are supposed to go through the base.  After changing the caps on the amp board it is barely off perfect.  So I guess before using that cable I need to put the bottom back on, lol 

 
 
However don't worry about my tube, I have the TubeMonger silicon filled base and also using two ring dampers on the tube.  I did this originally due to the vibration encountered by my home theater setup which is all around the T1.  Maybe I should figure out a way to get the entire unit away from the vibration of 2 subs an 5 speakers, with the Definitive Technology C/L/R 2002 sitting directly next to it.
 
Also yea, I don't like the idea of a coiled cable pulling itself straight while I move so I have to hold where the coil starts when I am moving too far from the unit.  The unit is about a foot from where I am in terms of across the desk.

 

[Tamirci]

Guys, just before buying this (and selling mine Beresford Gatorized) I need to know it. How will I connect my ibasso dx90 thus make it a transport?
Using Beresford, it had coax in option so I could connect my dx90 as a transport device.

 

[penmarker]

  Guys, just before buying this (and selling mine Beresford Gatorized) I need to know it. How will I connect my ibasso dx90 thus make it a transport?
Using Beresford, it had coax in option so I could connect my dx90 as a transport device.

The Aune T1 only has USB in and no SPDIF or Coaxial In. Maybe you can find if there's such a thing as Coax to USB converter?

 

[MrEleventy]

Guys, just before buying this (and selling mine Beresford Gatorized) I need to know it. How will I connect my ibasso dx90 thus make it a transport?
Using Beresford, it had coax in option so I could connect my dx90 as a transport device.

I can't personally test it out but I believe the DX90 has a dac mode that enables it to be used as a dac via usb from a computer, maybe a micro usb to USB B would work.

E: Well, shipped off my Aune T1 & tubes collection. Upgrading to a Schiit Bifrost. It's been fun guys. Keep rolling dem tubes.

 

[Emilijus]

Hello guys,
Im new AuneT1+Gold Lion user - and as i listen it - i noticed some of the random glitches sometimes, like x3 in 8 hours or so. Its realy not a song or something (i rewinded and its gone), this never happened before with any settups etc. So lets say - random song plays and for part of a second its some sort of ...crack, glitch sound appears super rarely.
So what it might be?
Tube is almost new, i used it for about 30-40 hours. 
 

 

[sandab]

   i noticed some of the random glitches sometimes, like x3 in 8 hours or so. Its realy not a song or something (i rewinded and its gone), this never happened before with any settups etc. So lets say - random song plays and for part of a second its some sort of ...crack, glitch sound appears super rarely.
So what it might be?

USB data error?

 

[NCSUZoSo]

I can't personally test it out but I believe the DX90 has a dac mode that enables it to be used as a dac via usb from a computer, maybe a micro usb to USB B would work.

E: Well, shipped off my Aune T1 & tubes collection. Upgrading to a Schiit Bifrost. It's been fun guys. Keep rolling dem tubes.

 
 
Awww, you know you will still be using it somewhere!

 

[caco]

Hi. I played a little with an external DAC (UD110 V2) and the “LINE INPUT” of my new MK2 T1. I used the frontal headphone output and, if my ears did not betray my brain, it sounded superb! Does anyone know if the T1 is still amplifying the signal with the tube? I’m using a 6DJ8 orange globe (“A” Getter) Amperex tube. Thanks...