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

[Cheesedoodle]

I'm not an expert, but I do have a pair of orange globes. The second pair is orange globe, the first, I believe, is not. The price of the second is hard to comment on, because it is a "start bid" price, so no telling what the final sale price will be.

I paid about $65 for my pair, which seems like approximately the going rate. I bought mine on eBay and was fairly confident they weren't fakes because the seller had lots of positive reviews and was experienced selling tubes, and provided lots of information about the tubes, testing information, etc. Others on the list can probably do a better job telling you specifics about what to look for to determine a fake. The orange globes do indeed sound very good. I also have a pair of Amperex PQs that sound as good as the orange globes, but somewhat different.

Hey guys
I saw a lot of recommendations for the Amperex 6DJ8 OG
is this the one?
https://www.ebay.com/itm/Match-1-pa...h=item3ad9e7567e:g:LTQAAOSwmCVY-GJA:rk:1f:0

Or is this it?
https://www.ebay.com/itm/6DJ8-ECC88...h=item5b4f9ad9c9:g:6d0AAOSw34Fbszvf:rk:4f:0

Also is it a fair purchase?

 

[wgkwgk]

I have this sitting around from my Aune days. You can have it for a song. I also have three others: all NOS.
Amperex ECC88 1970 A-frame, Orange Globe Heerlen, Holland

 

[exSpire]

Sorry for link spamming, but could someone help me narrow it down?
Which one would be best? At least, I THINK, they're all Amperex 6DJ8, but one of them says PQ.. not sure which pair would be the best of this bunch. One of them is also a quad.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/matched-qu...=item5d83122b0d:g:IY0AAOSwTB5boikU:rk:15:pf:0 - Matched quad?
https://www.ebay.com/itm/MATCH-PQ-V...h=item41d4ed2d1e:g:baQAAOSwT2daFsZe:rk:3:pf:0 - Matched Pair + PQ?


And then there's these which seem nearly the same and from the same seller:

https://www.ebay.com/itm/AMPEREX-OR...=item4b546c68ab:g:AIEAAOSwVBRb41mc:rk:10:pf:0
https://www.ebay.com/itm/AMPEREX-OR...=item33f87b3f8f:g:GfoAAOSw-FRb2gPf:rk:11:pf:0
https://www.ebay.com/itm/AMPEREX-OR...=item4b53c0c297:g:fPwAAOSwE8Vb2gGi:rk:17:pf:0
https://www.ebay.com/itm/AMPEREX-OR...=item33f5b3b444:g:zZgAAOSwiMRbJAsN:rk:16:pf:0
https://www.ebay.com/itm/AMPEREX-OR...=item4b53d8e95b:g:ubsAAOSw6BhajGap:rk:14:pf:0
https://www.ebay.com/itm/AMPEREX-OR...=item4b5470b35e:g:ubsAAOSw6BhajGap:rk:13:pf:0
https://www.ebay.com/itm/AMPEREX-6D...=item4b553a9223:g:7WwAAOSw2GJbYdr5:rk:12:pf:0

 

[CoiL]

Hey guys
I saw a lot of recommendations for the Amperex 6DJ8 OG
is this the one?
https://www.ebay.com/itm/Match-1-pa...h=item3ad9e7567e:g:LTQAAOSwmCVY-GJA:rk:1:pf:0

Or is this it?
https://www.ebay.com/itm/6DJ8-ECC88...h=item5b4f9ad9c9:g:6d0AAOSw34Fbszvf:rk:4:pf:0

Also is it a fair purchase? I don't wanna pay much more than that, it would be my second tube after the original one that came with the Aune T1. From what I learned, this tube is a great all-arounder and should be great for me.

Also saw good things here about Siemens\Valvo EC88, Mullard ECC86 and a few others, but its hard to pinpoint the real vs fakes one out there.
I can buy from eBay \ Amazon or TubeDepot.. if it helps.

Would appreciate if someone could send me in the right direction. Thank you.

The second link is correct Amperex orange globe 6DJ8 with single leg dimpled getter. I have that one and it belongs to my best 10 tubes collection for Aune T1. It is sonically and SQ-wise a bit better than other OGs with A-frame getter.
I recommend to go with single leg dimpled getter OG and call it done. Very natural and organic sounding with medium "holographic" stage.

Another relatively cheap upgrade tube would be green label JAN Sylvania 6922. Very "energetic" sounding and good value for money: https://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_from=R40&_trksid=m570.l1313&_nkw=JAN+Sylvania+6922&_sacat=0

Next highly recommended upgrade is capacitors, which is cheap and A LOT cheaper than hunting for rare expensive tubes.
Also upgrading headphone amp board opamp for ~10€ will bring noticeable upgrade for relatively small money.

 

[exSpire]

The second link is correct Amperex orange globe 6DJ8 with single leg dimpled getter. I have that one and it belongs to my best 10 tubes collection for Aune T1. It is sonically and SQ-wise a bit better than other OGs with A-frame getter.
I recommend to go with single leg dimpled getter OG and call it done. Very natural and organic sounding with medium "holographic" stage.

Thanks for your reply!
Would you say its worth getting a matched pair for my first tube upgrade? Or keep it simple and go with a single? I don't expect to go tube rolling, I mostly just want a single tube that will be the best all-arounder (maybe similar to the original one, I don't know if the original one is considered natural). Although a pair seems nice so I don't need to buy another one when the first one dies on me.

If a pair is worth it, I linked to a few in the post above yours, could you point the better one? The last group of links is from the same seller and mostly look the same, but I don't know.

I would very much appreciate that and thank you again for your help! <3


As far as the other small upgrades you mentioned, I will definitely be looking into that later on, when I get a good tube that I'm happy with ^_^

 

[CoiL]

Those links You gave seem to be already gone? At least my browser don`t open them anymore.
Anyway, I would go with single one and like I said, get single leg support dimpled getter OG... or... JAN Sylvania 6922 green label. I would rather take OG.

As far as the other small upgrades you mentioned, I will definitely be looking into that later on, when I get a good tube that I'm happy with ^_^

Small in money but BIG in SQ improvement!

 

[exSpire]

Those links You gave seem to be already gone? At least my browser don`t open them anymore.
Anyway, I would go with single one and like I said, get single leg support dimpled getter OG... or... JAN Sylvania 6922 green label. I would rather take OG.

Since I can't tell one from another and sorry to bother you again, could you pinpoint the best one here? (As far as the best quality \ condition)
These two say "PQ"
https://www.ebay.com/itm/6DJ8-ECC88...h=item5b4f9ad9c9:g:6d0AAOSw34Fbszvf:rk:4:pf:0
https://www.ebay.com/itm/AMPEREX-OR...h=item4b51178c6e:g:KIgAAOSw1ZBbtpzK:rk:1:pf:0
And these are all from the same seller, all I can tell is the year is different:
https://www.ebay.com/itm/AMPEREX-OR...h=item4b549a8d39:g:gUwAAOSwCQZZD-Ms:rk:9:pf:0
https://www.ebay.com/itm/AMPEREX-OR...h=item33f88f1165:g:rOkAAOSw~FJZKhwx:rk:8:pf:0
https://www.ebay.com/itm/AMPEREX-OR...h=item4b53c030ea:g:PxUAAOSwXYtY2zEq:rk:7:pf:0
https://www.ebay.com/itm/AMPEREX-OR...h=item4b5134c3b3:g:ZgIAAOSwFzZbuCg9:rk:6:pf:0
https://www.ebay.com/itm/AMPEREX-OR...h=item33f63dfa4a:g:ScoAAOSwPR9btYm7:rk:4:pf:0
https://www.ebay.com/itm/AMPEREX-OR...h=item33f63c7b5d:g:Xz8AAOSw-MRbtXEf:rk:3:pf:0
https://www.ebay.com/itm/AMPEREX-OR...h=item33f87a8add:g:NHsAAOSwpw5bst2J:rk:2:pf:0

Thank you so very much btw <3
Been delaying this purchase for quite some time because of all the small differences and would be super sweet to be using the Aune T1 again

 

[CoiL]

The very first link one is best OG and should be authentic for sure.

 

[exSpire]

The very first link one is best OG and should be authentic for sure.

Thank you!! <3
Much appreciated!!

 

[exSpire]

The very first link one is best OG and should be authentic for sure.

Update: Received the Tube. Sadly the issue isn't the tube because I'm still getting this "buzz" sound out of the right channel.
Guess its something to do with the electronics of the Aune T1. =\

 

[CoiL]

Update: Received the Tube. Sadly the issue isn't the tube because I'm still getting this "buzz" sound out of the right channel.
Guess its something to do with the electronics of the Aune T1. =\

Just in case... have You tried switching gain swithes (under T1 enclosure, red/white switches) back and forth?

 

[exSpire]

Just in case... have You tried switching gain swithes (under T1 enclosure, red/white switches) back and forth?

Tried numerous combinations with the DIP switches, no luck

Thanks

 

[penmarker]

I used to have an issue like this too, the culprit turns out the DAC board. Can you try wrapping the tube in thick cloth or tissue? Try and listen if the buzzing goes away with the tube heating up.

 

[exSpire]

I used to have an issue like this too, the culprit turns out the DAC board. Can you try wrapping the tube in thick cloth or tissue? Try and listen if the buzzing goes away with the tube heating up.

That's actually exactly what happened when the issue started. I turn the DAC on each day and turn it off at night. So at first, I would only hear it for a few minutes. Later on it would take longer and longer.. That's originally why I suspected it was the tube, since it was Ok once the tube was warmed up. A few months later and it wouldn't go away anymore, the buzzing is there all the time.
So you're saying its the DAC board?

By the way, what about contacting the manufacturer.. I bet its out of warranty, but I've had some nice experiences with some big companies before. Although I got mine from Massdrop.

 

[CoiL]

That's actually exactly what happened when the issue started. I turn the DAC on each day and turn it off at night. So at first, I would only hear it for a few minutes. Later on it would take longer and longer.. That's originally why I suspected it was the tube, since it was Ok once the tube was warmed up. A few months later and it wouldn't go away anymore, the buzzing is there all the time.
So you're saying its the DAC board?

By the way, what about contacting the manufacturer.. I bet its out of warranty, but I've had some nice experiences with some big companies before. Although I got mine from Massdrop.

Idk, if You have opportunity but try another power brick. Also, not always capacitors show external failing signs, thus I would try to change all capacitors to quality ones. My logic says that DAC chip or dac differential opamp failing is less likely.
Resistors failing? I doubt it. Warm up relay (don`t know exact component at T1)? probably could be.
I would take that unit for some professional electronic guy and let him find the fault.
My T1 is very old in terms of hi-fi but works like new. Has a lot of hours playtime.