AIYIMA T1 Pro Tube Preamp Review

[Rainier939]

@amirm

Does the THD stay consistand with output level or is it dependent on the output level. Do you have a THD vs output voltage graph?
And what is it maiximum output voltage?

 

[SIY]

@amirm

Does the THD stay consistand with output level or is it dependent on the output level. Do you have a THD vs output voltage graph?
And what is it maiximum output voltage?

It's about the third graph in.

 

[Rainier939]

It's about the third graph in.

Thanks. My bad

 

[DualTriode]

Large amount of harmonic distortion is what you expect to see and it delivers on that. Dialing down the input however, sharply reduces that:

So if you are after that tube sound, you would want to listen at elevated volumes.

amirm,

Thanks for the inside Hi-Fi review of this brave little tube amp. Pure as Reverse Osmosis water it is not. Vacuum tube performance is what it delivers, proudly and intentionally.

Some times I like to squeeze a little lemon in my water. I do not want the whole lemon.

"dialing down the input however, sharply reduces that:"

Please tell us how the tube harmonics can be turned down or reduced.

I want to turn up the volume without going full tilt tube harmonics? You know just a little lemon not the whole thing.

Thanks DT

 

[DualTriode]

In addition, a number of members pointed out that the distortion spectrum deviates from a “proper” tube amp.: too much odd order components.

Hello,

This little amplifier's stair stepping harmonic series is classic Class A vacuum tube distortion.

Thanks DT

My Guess is that this vacuum tube is a inexpensive pentode wired as a triode.

see attached sample: oops a triode sample

 

[mycose]

My unit just arrived today and I believe this might be useful for someone here:

In my experience, this little preamp adds 0.000% perceptible harmonic distortion to the sound. There are plenty of reviews already there and yeah, it looks cool and feels solid.

I asked my younger siblings (~20yo) to help me test it out and see if they'd notice any changes in sound in an A/B test. I used music and pure 1, 1.5 and 2kHz tones at regular volume levels and they couldn't notice any differences (Topping E70 + Topping PA7 Plus + Klipsch Speakers). All my quick and dirty testing was done with the preamp set to unity gain and "direct mode" (no EQ applied).

Conclusion: this little guy is great if you want to EQ the sound, and that's about it. There's no noticeable "tube sound" though. It's a great purchase anyway, and I prefer it over software EQ.

 

[Joe Smith]

FYI, there is a new non-tube preamp (P4) coming out from Fosi that is a nice match with the V3 amp - it does not have Bluetooth, but has three RCA inputs, a remote, tone controls with tone/direct switch, preamp out. I am an early tester and will writing longer impressions of the device next week.

This Aiyima is such a nice match with the A07 MAX, it would be great if they also would come out with an improved preamp that would mate nicely with the A07 MAX...

 

[livinon2wheels]

I am quite curious about the circuit diagram...love to see how this thing works. 12VDC supply doesnt seem like enough to make the tubes do anything, except maybe light the filaments.

 

[solderdude]

DC-DC converters ?