AIYIMA T20 Tube Pre-amplifier Review

[Chanur]

Thanks to ASR info I ordered a T20 and A20 to mess around with. I liked the idea of a class D amp with a tube preamp. I just had to put 5k into getting my AC fixed in my car plus a few other minor things( Not optional in Florida) so buying the Buckeye Monoblocks I wanted will have to wait a bit. How ever if I do like it, I could see me replacing the A20 with them and using the T20.

 

[Hipster Doofus]

Very nice job....Just a thought ...some of us have more than one system and for others still they don't only care about the best measurable data. Sometimes good enough is good enough..... So to use the science to find the best in any given class of product is great. I have good systems but I also love the history of how we got here. For 170 on Amazon this is a little hats off to tubes and the wonderful guys who got us here. PHILLIPS ANYONE.

 

[Winemaker]

I'm writing this because I'd like to hear from anyone who has seen/heard/used it, or who is simply using it, the Aiyima T20 preamp.
I should point out that I currently use the Eversolo DMP A6 ME first series as a preamp, not the G2.
I'd like to use the T20 by setting the A6 to pass-through mode, replacing the stock tubes with Genalex Gold Lions, to drive my Microsim power amp built on Purifi 1ET400 modules and a Hypex PS600 power supply.
What do you think? Does anyone have any advice to share, and has anyone made similar combinations?

 

[SMen]

I'm writing this because I'd like to hear from anyone who has seen/heard/used it, or who is simply using it, the Aiyima T20 preamp.
I should point out that I currently use the Eversolo DMP A6 ME first series as a preamp, not the G2.
I'd like to use the T20 by setting the A6 to pass-through mode, replacing the stock tubes with Genalex Gold Lions, to drive my Microsim power amp built on Purifi 1ET400 modules and a Hypex PS600 power supply.
What do you think? Does anyone have any advice to share, and has anyone made similar combinations?

I use mine with 3e A7s and changed the stock valves to standard Tung-Sol . It is a surprisingly good pre-amp and measures well as you can see from this review. For me it was an out of character purchase but I was intrigued by the fact that it was genuinely balanced, and can output unbalanced to my subwoofers also.

It does not add warmth or such, but I use my tv in my system as well as streaming, and I find voices on things like news broadcasts sound more natural, so it has stayed put. It also strikes me as well channel balanced also, with a decent analogue volume control. I have kind of forgotten about HiFi with this combination. Just works (for me). I think you will have fun with it.

 

[Winemaker]

I got it on AliEx, with coupons and various discounts I paid 121 euros for it, down the line I might try some different tubes, we'll see how it goes — for now, when it arrives, I'll give it a listen with the stock ones, which if I'm not mistaken are Psvane, and those are actually supposed to be pretty good. If you're interested I'll keep you posted.

 

[SMen]

I got it on AliEx, with coupons and various discounts I paid 121 euros for it, down the line I might try some different tubes, we'll see how it goes — for now, when it arrives, I'll give it a listen with the stock ones, which if I'm not mistaken are Psvane, and those are actually supposed to be pretty good. If you're interested I'll keep you posted.

Sure. I got a similarly well timed price. Expect it to take a while to settle down, but I found the Tung-Sols cost effective and preferred though it is always interesting to switch back. I also put in a decent 3A linear and recently switched back to the stock wall wart. I only had time for TV voice listening and going back to the wall wart I did not hear any difference. I'll try it with my music set up when I have more time.

But point being ... at the price its superb not just for the performance, but also for trying things out, and I am in no doubt it 'naturalizes' lower quality broadcasts, while sounding great with high quality sourced music.

 

[Winemaker]

Sure. I got a similarly well timed price. Expect it to take a while to settle down, but I found the Tung-Sols cost effective and preferred though it is always interesting to switch back. I also put in a decent 3A linear and recently switched back to the stock wall wart. I only had time for TV voice listening and going back to the wall wart I did not hear any difference. I'll try it with my music set up when I have more time.

But point being ... at the price its superb not just for the performance, but also for trying things out, and I am in no doubt it 'naturalizes' lower quality broadcasts, while sounding great with high quality sourced music.

I wonder — given that in this field the only things that really matter are measurements, and only numbers carry any real authority — whether, when swapping valves or op-amps while keeping the measured values the same before and after (or at least with minimal deviations that shouldn't be audible to the human ear), it's actually worth trying different valves and/or op-amps, or whether it's purely a psychological matter, a case of self-suggestion. Are we fooling ourselves, or are there real, tangible differences that you can actually hear and that make the change worthwhile?

 

[SMen]

I wonder — given that in this field the only things that really matter are measurements, and only numbers carry any real authority — whether, when swapping valves or op-amps while keeping the measured values the same before and after (or at least with minimal deviations that shouldn't be audible to the human ear), it's actually worth trying different valves and/or op-amps, or whether it's purely a psychological matter, a case of self-suggestion. Are we fooling ourselves, or are there real, tangible differences that you can actually hear and that make the change worthwhile?

Self-suggestion or bias is definitely a major factor, but it gets weaponized often too.

I referred to speech on broadcasts and my previous set up niggled at me for months because I thought the voices sounded slightly unnatural, and for months now since changing DAC and pre-amp I've been much happier. I see no need to 'upgrade' my 3e A7 amplifier for example, but I went through a few before coming to that conclusion, and I am delighted when I read of people hearing absolutely no difference between amps, or dacs or cables, or op-amps etc.

That is a very nice set up you have btw.

 

[Winemaker]

On this forum I've seen setups that make mine look like it belongs in a garage, but thanks for the compliment anyway, with the budget I've got, I do what I can.

 

[kishanpatel995]

Has anyone tried this with a buckeye amp or similar and can provide some insight?
Really want to try this out but worried it may not be great with a wiim ultra and ncx500 amp.

 

[rebbiputzmaker]

Has anyone tried this with a buckeye amp or similar and can provide some insight?
Really want to try this out but worried it may not be great with a wiim ultra and ncx500 amp.

Why would it not be? It should be fine. Fact, the preamp actually sounds quite good. I would not really think it would hold, any system back. Better power supply on tubes, are also good upgrades.

 

[rebbiputzmaker]

I wonder — given that in this field the only things that really matter are measurements, and only numbers carry any real authority — whether, when swapping valves or op-amps while keeping the measured values the same before and after (or at least with minimal deviations that shouldn't be audible to the human ear), it's actually worth trying different valves and/or op-amps, or whether it's purely a psychological matter, a case of self-suggestion. Are we fooling ourselves, or are there real, tangible differences that you can actually hear and that make the change worthwhile?

A good idea is if you’re able to try some things yourself. Nothing far fetched like multi thousand dollar cables, and similar things are ridiculous. But some upgrades within reason can be worthwhile. Some of placebo, but some are real, even though there will be staunch disagreement here. Different tubes will make a difference in that preamp, they are extremely small differences, and I would not say mandatory. Just enjoy listening to your music, which is a primary goal.

 

[antcollinet]

or are there real, tangible differences that you can actually hear and that make the change worthwhile?

Why is it that when people swap stuff at random trying to make an audible difference - why are they always expecting that difference to be better sound. Logically you should assume that most differences will result in worse sound, otherwise why didn't the designer do it in the first place?

 

[Mort]

Why is it that when people swap stuff at random trying to make an audible difference - why are they always expecting that difference to be better sound. Logically you should assume that most differences will result in worse sound, otherwise why didn't the designer do it in the first place?

The same reason some people constantly change lanes in a traffic jam. fOMO of sorts.

 

[SMen]

Why is it that when people swap stuff at random trying to make an audible difference - why are they always expecting that difference to be better sound. Logically you should assume that most differences will result in worse sound, otherwise why didn't the designer do it in the first place?

Just because (;-)) ...

Why is it that there is equipment measured on ASR that measures badly? I mean, the designers designed these units like that in the first place.

But there is also budget. So designers design to a budget. This then becomes a "law of diminishing returns" question.

+ 1 for @rebbiputzmaker 's advice. Something like this T20 is great fun for experimentation because it lets us tear down some myths for ourselves, or not, as the case may be, without spending very much.

 

[antcollinet]

I mean, the designers designed these units like that in the first place

Perhaps they were doing it by swapping stuff at random. I've seen poor engineers do just that.


But are you really suggesting people are only doing this stuff on poorly designed kit then swapping stuff at random hoping to make it slightly less shit?

 

[Winemaker]

Why is it that when people swap stuff at random trying to make an audible difference - why are they always expecting that difference to be better sound. Logically you should assume that most differences will result in worse sound, otherwise why didn't the designer do it in the first place?

I think there's also a budget issue — if you put in Gold Lion ECC83s, it would cost more, and they need to stay within a certain price point, because that's how the project starts out. Then you can swap out the tubes and op-amps yourself, knowing you'll spend a few extra bucks. The engineer didn't include them when he designed the project, because otherwise it would've gone over budget and turned into a completely different product from what he originally had in mind. The proof of that is that Aiyima actually tells you themselves that you can go ahead and replace the tubes and op-amps.

 

[SMen]

Perhaps they were doing it by swapping stuff at random. I've seen poor engineers do just that.


But are you really suggesting people are only doing this stuff on poorly designed kit then swapping stuff at random hoping to make it slightly less shit?

Not at all. But in the case of this T20 it seems well designed, and most certainly to a budget.

 

[Winemaker]

The Aiyima T20 has arrived, waiting for the XLR cables and then I'll put everything together and we'll see — wait, I mean… we'll hear.

 

[rebbiputzmaker]

Perhaps they were doing it by swapping stuff at random. I've seen poor engineers do just that.


But are you really suggesting people are only doing this stuff on poorly designed kit then swapping stuff at random hoping to make it slightly less shit?

Hopefully you’re not that serious with the comment but anything is possible. People try to get inexpensive things which are good to begin with, to sound better. Sometimes that’s not measure better but sound better. This is a hobby and this is about listening to music so there are worse things that people could be doing. Some inexpensive products actually are very, very good. It’s surprising sometimes how good they could be for so little money.