audiotemp
Super Member
Schiit themselves say Buf is "designed to wreck the measurements of high-measuring gear".
They add, "(and perhaps bring some musical enjoyment back into that kinda gear)".
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Schiit Buf
- Thread starter Sliphorn
- Start date
Schiit themselves say Buf is "designed to wreck the measurements of high-measuring gear".
They add, "(and perhaps bring some musical enjoyment back into that kinda gear)".
Lavane
Lunatic Member
That loose like a fun project.I see - Thanks @Lavane !
I guess that the Little Schiit BUF is designed with a tube gain circuit possibly similar to yours in front, followed with a lo-Z SS output buffer, with selectable gain attenuation.
I have some ideas on how to build my Tube Buffer...
... When I will have time to do it !
T
The Schiit Buffer looked like a single tube gain stage with a SS Buffer when I first looked at it. "Hybrid" in the description kind of gave it away. I do like that most of the gain can be cut with a flick of the switch.
If you look through that link I posted you will see the "Color Preamp" too.
Its meant really for a SS amp to add some tube flavor, but Stephie built one with a few tweeks thats interesting. I seem to remember a thread she started on it along with a YouTube video on her channel about her build.
I've thought about building the color preamp for my very minimumalist garage system consisting of a Crown power amp, soeamers and a bluetooth reciever. But I'll probably just buy the Schiit Buffer instead.
fredgarvin
Super Member
It seems like the buffer could easily be used for impedance matching between a passive switcher and amp or after a low output source.That loose like a fun project.
The Schiit Buffer looked like a single tube gain stage with a SS Buffer when I first looked at it. "Hybrid" in the description kind of gave it away. I do like that most of the gain can be cut with a flick of the switch.
If you look through that link I posted you will see the "Color Preamp" too.
Its meant really for a SS amp to add some tube flavor, but Stephie built one with a few tweeks thats interesting. I seem to remember a thread she started on it along with a YouTube video on her channel about her build.
I've thought about building the color preamp for my very minimumalist garage system consisting of a Crown power amp, soeamers and a bluetooth reciever. But I'll probably just buy the Schiit Buffer instead.
Lavane
Lunatic Member
I've found most line level sources match well with most either SS or tube gear. Its when adding adding a SS preamp to a tube amp, or tube preamp to a SS amp that I've ran into a few impedance problems.
That single gain stage preamp using just the one dual triode comes to mind.
I've had good success though in most cases using SS preamps with my tube amps, or tube preamps with the SS amps. Using a tube buffer in a SS setup can add a bit of tube flavor. The Crown CDi series power amp I use in my garage has great specs, but is kind of sterile sounding to my ears. I should plug one of my tube preamps into it to see if that helps before buying a buffer. My main preamp is on my bench right now due to it needing a new bridge rectifier. I replaced the one that was bad, but I'm going to replace the other as well since I have the board out. I'm replacing the 2 amp rectifiers with 4 amp rectifiers.
StimpyWan
Addicted Member
I think I'm going to need to order another Buf, as the one I just received is staying in my work stack (Mimir - Lyr2 - HFM Edition XS)...! Even new, it's doing positive things. A warmer balance, with good mid-bass kick, that makes it an excellent product for rock, metal and prog rock. Good slam with a nice sense of recorded reverb and decay, that adds a slight shimmer to cymbals. More hall sound available. Crisp transients on plucked instruments as well. And that's through listening to Tool. I need to move onto some Copland and Stravinsky, followed by Pat Metheny or Al Di Meola. A great introduction to tubes, and as usual, Schiit deserves all the kudos that they receive...! 
Lavane
Lunatic Member
Be careful, your your standing awful close to the tube rabbit hole.I think I'm going to need to order another Buf, as the one I just received is staying in my work stack (Mimir - Lyr2 - HFM Edition XS)...! Even new, it's doing positive things. A warmer balance, with good mid-bass kick, that makes it an excellent product for rock, metal and prog rock. Good slam with a nice sense of recorded reverb and decay, that adds a slight shimmer to cymbals. More hall sound available. Crisp transients on plucked instruments as well. And that's through listening to Tool. I need to move onto some Copland and Stravinsky, followed by Pat Metheny or Al Di Meola. A great introduction to tubes, and as usual, Schiit deserves all the kudos that they receive...!
StimpyWan
Addicted Member
Just tubes from my meager collection...! Nothing to brag about; none of those 3 figure tubes for me.Be careful, your your standing awful close to the tube rabbit hole.
Lavane
Lunatic Member
Same here. I have put some new old stock tubes in some of my equipment, but none more or much more than new manufacture tubes. The last NOS tubes I bought were a pair of GE 12DW7 driver tubes at $25 each. I pay that much for new manufacture JJ signal tubes. I've had really good luck with Soviet era NOS equivalents of western tubes. Signal and power tubes.Just tubes from my meager collection...! Nothing to brag about; none of those 3 figure tubes for me.
I recently bought a Russian 6N3P-EV driver tube for a single ended amp I recently built. Dirt cheap and sounds great.
tubelectron
Super Member
Personally, I'm more like @Lavane : in the designer-builder camp, in order to fit my Audio needs... And/or Audio fancyness !
T
Lavane
Lunatic Member
There is something about building from either a kit or scratch and flipping that switch for the first time and hearing music coming through.Personally, I'm more like @Lavane : in the designer-builder camp, in order to fit my Audio needs... And/or Audio fancyness !
T
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Lavane
Lunatic Member
I will add its hard to beat the price of the Schiit buffer. I could probably cobble together something with a low gain output by rummaging through my parts bins, but I still had to have payed for those parts I have on hand. Parts and whatever chassis I came up with would probably wind up costing as much, or more than the Schiit buffer. I really don't have a problem with it being a hybrid. I have a small hybrid line stage preamp with a tube front end and SS single ended output. It sounds pretty darn good. So do the two hybrid phono preamps I have. One with a MOSFET buffer stage.
Somewhere around 2012 I bought a used Grant Fidelity Tube Buffer for a bit under $100. Later sold it for a similar price.
I was encourage enough to work my way through a number of Jolida Tube amps before winding up with a JD502CRC an honest 60/85w/ch real tube amp sound.
The Schitt is a $100 dollar stereo addition to your system - inexpensive enough. So what exactly did you expect for that kind of outlay?
www.schiit.com
I was encourage enough to work my way through a number of Jolida Tube amps before winding up with a JD502CRC an honest 60/85w/ch real tube amp sound.
The Schitt is a $100 dollar stereo addition to your system - inexpensive enough. So what exactly did you expect for that kind of outlay?
Schiit Audio
Schiit Audio designs and builds headphone amps, DACs, preamps and power amps in California.
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I agree about Soviet era NOS equivalents of western tubes. The Reflector 6P14P-EV I use in my ST-35 are the best sounding power tubes
I’ve tried. They have a beefy, weighty and strong sound to them. Just excellent. I also use some Rocket logo NOS 6N1P and 6N3P in other gear and they sound great too. And you can’t beat the price!
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My BUF arrived an hour ago... it is the smallest piece of Schiit I've ever seen (only 5" wide). I found out the BAD way not to turn it On or Off, or switch the gain while the amplifier is turned On... I was rewarded with extremely loud speaker pops. It didn't matter that the preamp volume was turned all the way down, the amp has to be OFF before you make any changes to the BUF.
The sound... it takes the digital edge off CD's, and makes FM radio a little "tubey". I haven't tried anything else, that's all that I have hooked up to the Parasound P6 preamp and Onkyo M-508 amp right now. A very nice little "Toy".
The sound... it takes the digital edge off CD's, and makes FM radio a little "tubey". I haven't tried anything else, that's all that I have hooked up to the Parasound P6 preamp and Onkyo M-508 amp right now. A very nice little "Toy".
StimpyWan
Addicted Member
I was really close to switching things with the Buf on. Glad I didn't. Thanks for the warning...!
I got mine on Monday so after a few days I have formed some early impressions
Not going to put it in my main system which is all tube, but I did run it into some Kali LP UNF speakers in my bedroom and it gives those very neutral speakers a touch of warmth using the RCA inputs
I turn it off when playing music that does not lend itself to to some color and it is nice that when you turn it off it just bypasses the buffer
For $99 it is worth the price of admission
Did not need it but I like it as it is interesting and I like interesting components
Not going to put it in my main system which is all tube, but I did run it into some Kali LP UNF speakers in my bedroom and it gives those very neutral speakers a touch of warmth using the RCA inputs
I turn it off when playing music that does not lend itself to to some color and it is nice that when you turn it off it just bypasses the buffer
For $99 it is worth the price of admission
Did not need it but I like it as it is interesting and I like interesting components
