Adding tube buffer to my system?
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Poultrygeist
Lunatic Member
If it provides gain it's a preamp not a tube buffer and I believe that one does. It should offer some nice tube warmth.
FlaCharlie
Super Member
These are preamps, not buffers, so they do have gain. In effect, you'd be running the signal through two preamps, which wouldn't harm anything but it's redundant and most systems don't really need any gain if your source is line level.
You could also use this in place of your regular preamp. And you should probably try it in front of your regular preamp too as this might result in a better impedance match if you have a SS or Class D amp since its output impedance is technically better suited to use with a tube amp. Lots of people use them successfully with SS and Class D, though.
There are numerous versions of these, sold under various brands, but they're all pretty similar. If you haven't already, you should check out this thread:
https://www.audiokarma.org/forums/index.php?threads/fx-audio-6j1-tube-preamp-a-31-wonder.848535/
What preamp and amp are you currently using?
If you want an actual buffer, which has no gain and will match up with SS better, you might consider trying one of these kits: https://glass-ware.stores.yahoo.net/tubu.html
or there's this one, which is also a buffer: https://www.ebay.com/itm/154151985365
You could also use this in place of your regular preamp. And you should probably try it in front of your regular preamp too as this might result in a better impedance match if you have a SS or Class D amp since its output impedance is technically better suited to use with a tube amp. Lots of people use them successfully with SS and Class D, though.
There are numerous versions of these, sold under various brands, but they're all pretty similar. If you haven't already, you should check out this thread:
https://www.audiokarma.org/forums/index.php?threads/fx-audio-6j1-tube-preamp-a-31-wonder.848535/
What preamp and amp are you currently using?
If you want an actual buffer, which has no gain and will match up with SS better, you might consider trying one of these kits: https://glass-ware.stores.yahoo.net/tubu.html
or there's this one, which is also a buffer: https://www.ebay.com/itm/154151985365
7.62
Infinity nutcase.
Thank you FlaCharlie, right now the preamp is a McIntosh C36 and the amps are McIntosh 2205’s running in mono. I’ll investigate all of those it’s much appreciated 
. My knowledge on this type of stuff just falls of a cliff. So I’m kinda timid and would like to avoid any damage.
. My knowledge on this type of stuff just falls of a cliff. So I’m kinda timid and would like to avoid any damage.
I put a Schiit Vali 2+ in front of my powered Klipsch speakers, it did add a certain "smoothness" to the sound, though I never did blind testing. I rolled the original tube for a more expensive model that the internet loved, the Electro Harmonix 6922 / E88CC, I barely noticed a slight change. With the new tube the higher bass notes (like the bass notes on a guitar, not a bass guitar) seemed a bit clearer. It was subtle but noticeable. Again no blind testing. I have worked as a Quality engineer, if you want me to do statistical testing it becomes "work", not fun. I then put that same Schiit Vali 2+ in front of an old Motorola stereo amp that was lifted from a console and needed a volume control (the Motorola amp used a remote volume control in a record changer module.) I noticed that the Klipsch powered speakers went back to their old sound. So in my case it was noticeable and did not cause the solid state amp in my powered speakers to explode, catch fire, or eat the neighbors. I live in a lower budget world than Mac owners, not sure what you would hear.
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billyz
Super Member
A well designed tube buffer adds almost nothing . Probably the least effective way to get some tube mojo. But it is probably cheaper than any other tube piece of gear. I would rate the power amp the biggest factor , then the preamp. I am talking about well designed quality pieces, not distortion generators.
I have to agree, I wouldn't stick that in front of a Mac preamp, SS or tube.
7.62
Infinity nutcase.
I wish I could afford to move up into a nice McIntosh Tube preamp, like the C220. But it’s out of reach for the immediate moment, like I said my knowledge on this tube stuff is really limited. I guess being able to biamp I could introduce some of that tube warmth to the top end of the Infinity Delta Gammas. So I’m seeing if this is a possible approach, that’s all. Tube amps that can do 150 watts minimum into 4 ohms is our way over what I could spend. I know they’re out there but cost man.
Poultrygeist
Lunatic Member
A similar FX-Audio Tube-01 preamp I preferred over this Conrad Johnson. Unlike others I'm not clairvoyant enough to predict how gear sounds without listening.
asilker
Super Member
OP asked an extremely broad question looking for guidance. I do own an amplifier from Fosi Audio that I purchased on Amazon. The volume pot doesn't track the channels properly [and has DC on the attenuator Edit: this isn't true, the potentiometer just wasn't making physical contact regularly so it popped and crackled]. I have not heard every single item in the company's lineup, but I have owned one that had a preamp feature and it sucks.
Similarly I have owned high end amplifiers from Rogue, first watt, and hand built tube stuff -- as well as lower end / high value amps like the Volt D and those $100 EL84 amps. I, like you, have built plenty of my own gear as well as tried out high end stuff built from factory. My opinions differ from yours and in my opinion the low end stuff sounded low end. I'm not telling you that you're wrong but my opinion isn't developed out of "clairvoyance"
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Splatter Pak
High-End Scrounger
I run a Musical Fidelity X-10v3 between my SS pre and my SS power amp - it adds little, but the sound is more "whole."
trainbuftony
Electron Herder
Save your money. Buy a preamp.
This tube boofer trend is silly.
You already have a very refined audio system that probably doesn't need anything to sound great.
Tube boofers are a way for people to get high on the idea of having a real high quality refined audio system without spending any real money.
It's a tweak.
The money you spend on tweaks is money that's hard to reclaim when a deal pops up on a quality piece of gear. If you leave it under your mattress, then when that deal pops up on a c22 down the block, the preamp comes home with you.
If my newly coined term of "tube boofers" doesn't quite make sense, search the urban dictionary for "boof".
It's pretty a spot on analogy.
This tube boofer trend is silly.
You already have a very refined audio system that probably doesn't need anything to sound great.
Tube boofers are a way for people to get high on the idea of having a real high quality refined audio system without spending any real money.
It's a tweak.
The money you spend on tweaks is money that's hard to reclaim when a deal pops up on a quality piece of gear. If you leave it under your mattress, then when that deal pops up on a c22 down the block, the preamp comes home with you.
If my newly coined term of "tube boofers" doesn't quite make sense, search the urban dictionary for "boof".
It's pretty a spot on analogy.
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7.62
Infinity nutcase.
Admittedly what I’ve managed to do after finding the speakers I was after for a very long time does IMHO sound very good, this was more of a “what if” question. Kinda like would Franklin make any difference? I think reading here has already answered that question because if it was that easy and cheap everyone would be doing it..LOL. And I wouldn’t even had to ask !
I sure appreciate everyone chiming in and will do some researching, now which one of you wants to make a deal on a C220 !
Seriously Thank you though.
I sure appreciate everyone chiming in and will do some researching, now which one of you wants to make a deal on a C220 !
Seriously Thank you though.
Maxamillion
Super Member
Build yourself an 01A preamp. It can be done relatively cheaply and sounds IMO the best a preamp can sound. My preamp journeys are over now that I'm there.
Here's an example:
https://www.bartola.co.uk/valves/dht-pre-amplifier/01a-preamp-gen2/
My implementation is a bit different (and more complicated) from Bartola's as I included a DAC into the build and used different biasing, regulation and volume control schemes.
Either way it sounds terrific. Better than any other store-bought or DIY preamp I've experienced. If I had it all to do over I'd just start right here and be done with it.
Here's an example:
https://www.bartola.co.uk/valves/dht-pre-amplifier/01a-preamp-gen2/
My implementation is a bit different (and more complicated) from Bartola's as I included a DAC into the build and used different biasing, regulation and volume control schemes.
Either way it sounds terrific. Better than any other store-bought or DIY preamp I've experienced. If I had it all to do over I'd just start right here and be done with it.
ejman
Super Member
Interesting all the hand wringing over a few bucks. Nobody but the OP can determine if one of the cheap buffers would help or detract. I started my own journey into tubes with a Yaqin CD-1 buffer many years ago. The difference it made was subtle but noticeable. I liked what I heard and that started my descent into the tubes rabbit hole. Tube preamp, tube power amp, tube phono stage followed gradually over time. I'm glad I explored that avenue.
