[Virco]

Hello guys,
 
Despite my fear that among your advanced/specialised talk about all sort of exotic tubes to roll on the Aune, my question will sound flat, muddled and with no "sound-stage" whatsoever, here goes:
 
I mainly play my music from an 80Gb iPod 5th gen. filled to the brim with ALAC files, through a rather basic portable Storm headphone amp, to my ATH-AD700 or Grado 80i.
Since I don't really listen to music on the move - and when I do I'm quite satisfied with what my Ethymotic hf5 or Yamaha EPH100 are giving me - I am thinking about getting a tube tabletop headphone amp to drive my headphones - especially the Grados - and through reading many of this forum's posts I was thinking about the Aune T1.
 
My question is: since I don't play my music from the computer (hence no USB connection), if I were to use a 30 pin to RCA cable to connect my iPod to the T1, would that give me the benefit of the tube or will it just go through the solid-state part of the amp? In other words, is the Aune a tube headphone amp or just a tube DAC?
 
Thank you very much for your replies as well as putting up with my newbe ingenuity...
And if anyone feels inclined to give me any advice on other decent tube headphone amps - I don't have the budget for the really good ones - I assure you it will be highly appreciated.
 
Cheers,

 

[audiofrog]

Quote:

Hello guys,
 
Despite my fear that among your advanced/specialised talk about all sort of exotic tubes to roll on the Aune, my question will sound flat, muddled and with no "sound-stage" whatsoever, here goes:
 
I mainly play my music from an 80Gb iPod 5th gen. filled to the brim with ALAC files, through a rather basic portable Storm headphone amp, to my ATH-AD700 or Grado 80i.
Since I don't really listen to music on the move - and when I do I'm quite satisfied with what my Ethymotic hf5 or Yamaha EPH100 are giving me - I am thinking about getting a tube tabletop headphone amp to drive my headphones - especially the Grados - and through reading many of this forum's posts I was thinking about the Aune T1.
 
My question is: since I don't play my music from the computer (hence no USB connection), if I were to use a 30 pin to RCA cable to connect my iPod to the T1, would that give me the benefit of the tube or will it just go through the solid-state part of the amp? In other words, is the Aune a tube headphone amp or just a tube DAC?
 
Thank you very much for your replies as well as putting up with my newbe ingenuity...
And if anyone feels inclined to give me any advice on other decent tube headphone amps - I don't have the budget for the really good ones - I assure you it will be highly appreciated.
 
Cheers,

You will not get the benefit of the tube.  It's a tube dac, not a tube amp.  So you can still use it as an amp, but you wont get the benefit of the tube when using your ipod.  I'd recommend a tube amp, not a tube dac for you.    

 

[Virco]

Quote:

Hello guys,
 
Despite my fear that among your advanced/specialised talk about all sort of exotic tubes to roll on the Aune, my question will sound flat, muddled and with no "sound-stage" whatsoever, here goes:
 
I mainly play my music from an 80Gb iPod 5th gen. filled to the brim with ALAC files, through a rather basic portable Storm headphone amp, to my ATH-AD700 or Grado 80i.
Since I don't really listen to music on the move - and when I do I'm quite satisfied with what my Ethymotic hf5 or Yamaha EPH100 are giving me - I am thinking about getting a tube tabletop headphone amp to drive my headphones - especially the Grados - and through reading many of this forum's posts I was thinking about the Aune T1.
 
My question is: since I don't play my music from the computer (hence no USB connection), if I were to use a 30 pin to RCA cable to connect my iPod to the T1, would that give me the benefit of the tube or will it just go through the solid-state part of the amp? In other words, is the Aune a tube headphone amp or just a tube DAC?
 
Thank you very much for your replies as well as putting up with my newbe ingenuity...
And if anyone feels inclined to give me any advice on other decent tube headphone amps - I don't have the budget for the really good ones - I assure you it will be highly appreciated.
 
Cheers,

Just to make things even more clear:
Is the tube DAC function coming into play only when the signal is fed through the USB port or can I feed digital signal trough the rear RCA input too?
Cheers

 

[Virco]

Quote:

Just to make things even more clear:
Is the tube DAC function coming into play only when the signal is fed through the USB port or can I feed digital signal trough the rear RCA input too?
Cheers

 
Well, me again... not only do I ask daft sounding questions, it appears I also lack basic knowledge of my own equipment
After careful consideration I reached the conclusion that no matter the output port (be it the top headphones port, or the bottom 30 pin port) the signal coming out from the iPod is already converted to analog, despite the one put out through the bottom 30 pin connector not being influenced by the volume setting on the iPod. By some faulty assumptions I was thinking that only the signal being put out trough the top headphones port was analog and the one pumped out through the bottom 30 pin connector was still digital, which is obviously not the case on closer scrutiny. LOL...  

 

[penmarker]

Yes, when you use the 30 pin connection it is outputting line level audio from the iPod. This is called the Line Out Dock and used by people for amping purposes. To utilize the digital output from an iPod, only select DAC devices are granted license to process digital signals from an iPod because Apple is just like that.

You can just plug in your iPod to your pc and use iTunes to play the contents in your iPod. That would work fine.

 

[TJunky]

how's this with the mad dog, lcd2 or he500?

 

[Virco]

Quote:

.....

You can just plug in your iPod to your pc and use iTunes to play the contents in your iPod. That would work fine.

 
Good point!
 
Let me see if I got this right: so if I connect my iPod to my Mac and then use iTunes to play its content, then through the USB port on the Mac I have access to the unconverted digital signal than I can put trough a decent DAC?
 
Thank you so much.

 

[SanJulesSur]

Hi everyone,
 
This is my first post on head-fi but been frequenting as a "guest" for a while now.  I've had my Aune T1 for a couple of weeks now and I use it with my Hifiman HE-400 and HE-500. It's a highly impressive Tube DAC with amp.  It's definitely an upgrade to my first and past dac/amp, the Headroom Total Bithead and I feel it sounds better than the Schiit Modi/Magni stack which I auditioned.  I love how you can change the sound signature of the T1 to suit your tastes through tube rolling.  Right now, aside from the standard tube, I have a Genalex Gold Lion E88CC and a Mullard E88CC w/ gold pins.  I have a couple more tubes on the way and trying to resist the temptation to order more; it's quite addicting though.  
 
I'd like to ask for the help of the others here though to confirm the identity of my Mullard tube.  The markings have worn off and the ones that are barely legible say "E88CC" and "Great Britain."  I know it won't be much help since from reading this thread I've learned that tubes are often rebranded.  It does have the described sound of a Mullard that people here have written about where it's lush, musical, and warm with slightly rolled off highs. It pairs wonderfully with my Hifiman cans and is my favorite tube out of the 3 I have.  
 
I'd attach pics but it seems it's not letting me attach any.  (Maybe since it's my first post?)
 
here are the links to the images on ebay from the auction i won it from:

http://i.ebayimg.com/t/Mullard-E88CC-tube-gold-pin-premium-6DJ8-6922-/00/s/MTYwMFgxMjAw/z/6XgAAMXQHU1RoWlP/$T2eC16d,!zUE9s38+p7qBRoWlOs95!~~60_57.JPG
 
http://i.ebayimg.com/t/Mullard-E88CC-tube-gold-pin-premium-6DJ8-6922-/00/s/MTYwMFgxMjAw/z/KO8AAOxypthRoWlN/$T2eC16Z,!)cE9s4PudhcBRoWlNY5Vg~~60_57.JPG
 
Thoughts/confirmation on its identity anyone?
 
Thanks!

 

[SanJulesSur]

Hi Tjunky
 
I have the HE400 and the HE500.  The amp definitely has enough power to run the former and with the HE500 I still keep the adjustable gain switch to standard.  I do listen at lower volumes than most but I feel most people would be happy with the HE500 and the gain switched on to +10 position.  
 
With regards to the sound it's a great DAC and depending on the tube you use, you can suit it to match how you want the hifiman to sound.  I prefer a warmer musical sound and I feel it suits the HE400 and HE500 perfectly. They sound great whatever the genre; I listen to mostly alternative-indie rock but also some rap, pop, and classical.  
 
I've tried the Mad Dogs as a headphone but it was run through a schitt magni/modi stack.  I think those would sound great too.  I have no experience with the HD650 and I plan to save up for an LCD-2.  
 
The T1 is a great overall package though.  I was lucky and was able to purchase one on ebay for much less than retail.   

 

[TJunky]

thanks! now I kinda regret not getting this amp. Have you tried the O2 amps? if so how does it compare?

 

[penmarker]

Virco:
Yeah that should work with no problem

 

[Salvatore]

Quote:

Thoughts/confirmation on its identity anyone?

 
Text position and getter suggests 60's Mullard (more likely IEC than shield logo). This being said I actually think it's Mullard, Blackburn made GE tube (maybe from 1969): http://www.ebay.com/itm/A-Pair-of-Mullard-Gold-Pin-6922-Tubes-/370696978125
 
https://www.tubeworld.com/6922.htm#6922Mullard
https://www.tubeworld.com/6dj8.htm#6DJ8MULL60
 
E: I'm sure it's very nice tube!
E2: Just noticed the GE tube to have a large halo getter...

 

[iamnoone]

Quote:

Guys just to let you know I've upgraded my T1 rig with Focal XS Book active desktop speakers. First I auditioned Tangent Evo 4 but they didn't impress me much. The mids were awesome and the case design was brilliant but that was about it. I've auditioned many full size active speakers during the years and somehow I always find myself drawn into the highly musical Focal sound. XS book seems to offer very good value for money, but we'll see after I've got some real time with these new toys. I'll post more impressions after burn in if anyone is interested. At least I'd be interested to know your experiences with T1 speakers systems.

Hello Salvatore,
I just wanted to confirm something regarding your T1 speaker setup.  It's a totally noob question but I'm interested to know how you are controlling the volume.  Do you fully open the Focal speakers and control the volume using the T1?  I have a Qinpu A3 driving a set of passive Audioengine.  I'd like to get a T1 and run that as a DAC and get the added headphone amping function for my desk.  I would run my qinpu fully open and control the volume with the T1.  Thanks!

 

[Salvatore]

Quote:

Hello Salvatore,
I just wanted to confirm something regarding your T1 speaker setup.  It's a totally noob question but I'm interested to know how you are controlling the volume.  Do you fully open the Focal speakers and control the volume using the T1?  I have a Qinpu A3 driving a set of passive Audioengine.  I'd like to get a T1 and run that as a DAC and get the added headphone amping function for my desk.  I would run my qinpu fully open and control the volume with the T1.  Thanks!

 
It seems to depend on the speakers. The tangents I had for test purposes had remote control and they responded to the T1 volume. I adjusted the speaker volume to the same level as my headphones so that I could always use the same familiar T1 volume levels regardless of what output was in use. Focals, however, seem to work differently. They don't respond to what volume levels my T1 has. I just adjust the volume from the speakers.
 
E: Just to be clear, you're thinking this kind of setup; computer - T1 (control volume + headphone use) - Qinpu A3 (volume max) - Audioengine (passive?).

 

[iamnoone]

Quote:

 
It seems to depend on the speakers. The tangents I had for test purposes had remote control and they responded to the T1 volume. I adjusted the speaker volume to the same level as my headphones so that I could always use the same familiar T1 volume levels regardless of what output was in use. Focals, however, seem to work differently. They don't respond to what volume levels my T1 has. I just adjust the volume from the speakers.
 
E: Just to be clear, you're thinking this kind of setup; computer - T1 (control volume + headphone use) - Qinpu A3 (volume max) - Audioengine (passive?).

Yup, that's exactly right.  You are correct both in the signal path as well as the audioengines being the passive version.  I don't want to fiddle with the volume in two places.