Schiit Buf
- Thread starter Sliphorn
- Start date
Gigantic
A big, big love
Jason's advice was to just use two.
Mike Stehr
Poverty Audio
The Buf uses 6DJ8/ECC88/6922/7308 type of tubes...will a 6SN7/6CG7 work in that circuit?
No. The 6SN7 will physically not fit. The 6CG7 will physically fit; however, the pinout is different. Beyond that, both of those tubes draw a lot of heater current. Are there pin adapters? Yes, but I would stick with compatible tube types, per Schiit Audio. There will still be plenty of options for tube rolling.
Mike Stehr
Poverty Audio
6SN7 draws 600 milliamps heater current versus 300 milliamps of the 6DJ8/6922/ECC88 types. That may or may not strain the little Buf's heater circuit.
The amp factor (mu) is 20 for 6SN7/6CG7 versus 33 of 6922. That could affect the gain, unless the tube isn't used for circuit gain...it is a buffer.
I flipped the BUF on and left it sit for an hour to warm the tube up before turning the rest of the system on... currently playing my oldest CD (DSOTM) via my Cambridge Audio AXC35 CD player... damn does it sound GOOD, that little bit of tube magic is awesome ! My copy of DSOTM is the 1986 Japanese EMI pressing labeled "Harvest CDP 7 46001 2 - (not the version released for the US, this one was made for Europe) this version sounds almost as good as the vinyl.
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That would work. May be easier if they made one with two tubes and XLR connectors, but .....
Yes, it is.
Jason has said that Schiit has a boat load of those tubes and is one of the reasons some of their equipment is designed around them (Freya Noval, Stjarna, BUF, and some of the headphone amps)... the ones in my Stjarna sound really good once they are warmed up for a bit (an hour or so).
I sent Schiit an Email asking them to add a blurb to the BUF website about not touching any of the switches on the BUF while your power amp is turned on to avoid the potential speaker damage from the loud POP you get. (It was not realistic to ask them to reprint their manual).
Lavane
Lunatic Member
That was there response?
I haven't got one yet, but probably will get an answer Monday when there is somebody there to read my E-Mail !
Initial review:
Out of the box, I installed the Buf between a Mani 2 phono preamp and a Saga 2 preamp in a solid state stack. To be honest, and I don't claim any special listening powers, I didn't hear anything I would throw a recommendation around. Yeah, really discrete test, so take it for what it is.
Out of the box, I installed the Buf between a Mani 2 phono preamp and a Saga 2 preamp in a solid state stack. To be honest, and I don't claim any special listening powers, I didn't hear anything I would throw a recommendation around. Yeah, really discrete test, so take it for what it is.
I can't analyze circuits and I don't know the difference between a JFET or a MOSFET inverter and I don't tube roll, but I wonder if Jason has planted a placebo bomb that we fell for? After all, it is in the Fun category at the top of the Schitt products page and they got us talking.
Built a Quickie from Bottlehead years ago. Have never used it much. Pulled it off the shelf in recent months, put new batteries in it and installed it in a system. So microphonic it was unlistenable. Don't remember it being like this previously. Did have a solder bridge issue when building that caused terrible noise, but that was solved years ago. YMMV
If you tried it with non Schiit equipment you would notice the difference right away... I have my BUF between a Parasound P6 preamp and a 1980's Onkyo M-508 amp pushing a pair of Dynaco A25's, it sweetened up the sound nicely. I usually use this system for background music when I'm working, but now it has me toe tapping along with the music, I'm currently playing an old CD "Decade of Steely Dan" man there are some great guitar solos in those tunes !
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Yeah, my initial test (phono > Mani 2 > Buf > Saga 2 > Gjallahorn) was an all-Schitt stack. (coincidentally, also with Dynaco A-25s.)
Anyway, I now have the Buf in between the Saga 2 and Gjallahorn with: digital source > Mimir > Saga 2 > Buf > Gjallahorn. It's too subtle for an instant A/B test, but if you kick back for a whole record side, I think you can pick out the Buf.
I fully admit my ears are not getting any younger. And I try to resist all psychoacoustic influences like wanting or expecting something to sound better (or worse or at least different).
I fully admit my ears are not getting any younger. And I try to resist all psychoacoustic influences like wanting or expecting something to sound better (or worse or at least different).
