• The move to the new server is done. There are some software and database maintenance updates in process. This has us passing the hat around to help out. We appreciate any donations. Seriously, even a dollar helps. The payment page may be found here - https://www.audiokarma.org/support.html

Aiyima Tube -T3 Phono Pre-Amp

kcline

kcline

Tube Audio Collector
I had this for around 30 days or so. This popped up on Amazon at 10% off plus I had another discount I applied to it. It delivered to me for under $50.00!!. Unlike the Little Bear phono pre,s I had in the past this worked right out of the box with no hum. I placed this in my Analog Room #1 system, I connected it to my Fisher 400-C pre by disconnecting my very rarely used CD player cables to this. At the lowest gain setting it had more then it needed connected to my Ortofon 2M red cart. It came with pr. 6K4 tubes. Manual states that matched 6K4, 6J1 6J4 6AK5 and 5654 all work, so far I have only used with stock tubes. Sound was OK only played for a very short time. I hope to get another of my Turntables going so I can use this with my main room system linestage pre-ampDSCN1539.JPG also I have 6AK5 tubes I will try in it.
 
Register to hide this ad
The GE JAN 5654W's might sound better. I used them to replace the 6J1's in a small preamp I have, and it sounded much better. With the 6J1's I couldn't touch the thing without hearing it through the tubes. The 5654's aren't microphonic at all in that preamp now.
 
I consider the RCA nickel/silver plated 6AK5's to be the best buy to replace the 6J1's.
My favorite tubes are the Philips, Holland, EF-95's, but they are pricey.
 
I have added this to my Main Room System, where I have not had a Turntable in years. The Technics SL-1300 MK2 had issues, that I solved by pure luck as the cueing does not work right and it was the root of its issues. I have to hand cue but I have done this in pass with other TT. Now back to the Phono stage, I pulled at random pair of NOS WW-2 6AK5 tubes I did not test these I placed them in unit, it plays as before very unlikely this is a matched pair. Tubes light up but never get very warm to the touch.DSCN1622.JPG DSCN1626.JPG
 
kcline said:
I have added this to my Main Room System, where I have not had a Turntable in years. The Technics SL-1300 MK2 had issues, that I solved by pure luck as the cueing does not work right and it was the root of its issues. I have to hand cue but I have done this in pass with other TT. Now back to the Phono stage, I pulled at random pair of NOS WW-2 6AK5 tubes I did not test these I placed them in unit, it plays as before very unlikely this is a matched pair. Tubes light up but never get very warm to the touch.View attachment 2318114 View attachment 2318115
Click to expand...
IMO, the tubes do not really get warm to the touch, try another random pair or test them, if you don't have another pair.
 
Just looked close at the tubes that came with unit, they are marked 6A2 inside of star mark. Manual states that they are a matched pair but does state how or what they were matched for. They do match each other, that could be what maker means by "matched"
 
kcline said:
Just looked close at the tubes that came with unit, they are marked 6A2 inside of star mark. Manual states that they are a matched pair but does state how or what they were matched for. They do match each other, that could be what maker means by "matched"
Click to expand...
"Matched" only means they match each other.
6A2's and 6AK5's are not equivalents.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom