Schiit Buf: tube buffer + gain

[john61ct]

Sorry I could not find the "Tube Audio" subforum here?

*** Please don't convert this thread into an attack on tube products ***
*** We know tube adds distortion, we have seen it in measurements ***

Schiit Audio: Audio Products Made in USA

www.schiit.com

see the FAQ for ha-ha but serious...

Coherence maintains absolute phase, and offers gain if you need it.

easily switched out of the system…just turn it off

I doubt Amir would want to bother measuring to check the claimed specs?

Related, more general

Tube Buffer vs Tube Pre-amplifiers?

*** Please don't convert this thread into an attack on tube products *** *** We know tube adds distortion, we have seen it in measurements *** Those who are interested in Tube Products and have exposure to Tube Buffer and Tube Pre-amplifiers, please explain the differences and observations. To...

www.audiosciencereview.com

 

[egellings]

It's very reasonably priced.

 

[kemmler3D]

Honestly this makes more sense than most products with tubes. It's a sound effect, treat it like one, I say.

A standalone box with bypass feels pretty sensible in 2026 compared to building a 100dB SINAD DAC or pre and then sticking a tube in it.

The real question is whether this actually produces a truly audible effect or whether it's borderline, like distortion products at -65dB.

 

[john61ct]

A/B testing will reveal the truth, blind and level matched, ideally with a group of testers.

There likely are VST plugins that can match the effect, or come pretty close

 

[kemmler3D]

There likely are VST plugins that can match the effect, or come pretty close

Tons, but for a lot of setups, getting VST into the signal path isn't trivial. If you have a computer-based setup then by all means you should start there. If not, then VST can be a stretch.

I'm not into tubes, but honestly I don't mind this one. Seems convenient, it's not expensive for what it is, and they're not claiming it does anything magic to the sound. It feels like it solves the problem of tubes being bolted on to other solid-state desktop gear just for the sake of "tubes!"

 

[john61ct]

Sure, I've been looking at Hang Loose Host for standalone / passthrough filter convolving on RPI5 units, speaker EQ, crossovers, loudness comp, DRC.

I have little interest in running player software on the same nodes though.

 

[john61ct]

Buf origin story

Schiit Happened: The Story of the World's Most Improbable Start-Up

Have a great musical day, all! I’m off driving to Fort Lauderdale/Miami to work this weekends F1 race. I’ll be an Intervention Lead adjacent to the faux marina. With four racing series, it will be a very busy event.

www.head-fi.org

 

[mhardy6647]

It's adorable.
Looks like something that Steve "Decware" Deckert would've come up with. But he would sell it for $699, and it'd have an 18 month wait list for delivery if you ordered one today.

oh, I forgot -- he already did!

ZBOX | DECWARE

The DECWARE Zen Switch Box - Audiophile silver wired source selector.

www.decwareproducts.com

In all seriousness, though -- I had forgotten the price of the zBox... but it really is, apparently, $690! That rascal! I know him all too well.
I didn't look at their lead time, though. It probably isn't really 18 months... but it's a while.
His faithful are astonishingly faithful.

Full disclosure.
1) I do own one of his very early products (an SE-84B amplifier)
2) I am an apostate.

 

[mhardy6647]

Oh. I almost forgot.
I note, wryly, two 'features' of Schiit's Buf:

"100% linear"! Whoo-hoo! "No op-amps" (which are pretty linear themselves, when used as directed)! Whoo-hoo^2!
I guess no switching power supplies kinda goes without saying...

 

[JeffS7444]

It's harmonious! I could do without the 60 Hz noise + associated harmonics, but I'd wager that the other harmonics are exactly the "tube juice" it's designers were after. Priced right too. Chart depicts performance at 0 dB setting.

 

[Joe Smith]

I had a cheap "Little Bear" tube buffer, it was really a $40 piece of junk...this looks better. I'm not a fan of tubes but will be interested to see what others think. The price is certainly reasonable.

 

[john61ct]

Little Bear = Douk Audio, Nobsound, cheap & cheerful, often decent quality relative to very cheap pricing.


P5-1 Tube Preamplifier, line level

The Turntable Store

Vintage Audio and Records

www.theturntablestore.com

...

T7 adds MM phono preamp with RIAA equalization as well as line level

P3 also, likely more

..

B4-X is a portable headphone amp

I doubt any of these SKU would measure up to be competitive with the Buf on SQ

 

[Joe Smith]

Little Bear = Douk Audio, Nobsound, cheap & cheerful, often decent quality relative to very cheap pricing.


P5-1 Tube Preamplifier, line level

The Turntable Store

Vintage Audio and Records

www.theturntablestore.com

...

T7 adds MM phono preamp with RIAA equalization as well as line level

P3 also, likely more

..

B4-X is a portable headphone amp

I doubt any of these SKU would measure up to be competitive with the Buf on SQ

Yeah that's the same model I had...it was pretty bad. I certainly feel it added nothing positive to the sound.

 

[kemmler3D]

It's harmonious! I could do without the 60 Hz noise + associated harmonics, but I'd wager that the other harmonics are exactly the "tube juice" it's designers were after. Priced right too. Chart depicts performance at 0 dB setting.
View attachment 529330

Looks like just enough to sound a little warmer / lively without getting crunchy. As a one trick pony effects box, you could do a lot worse. And it's at least an honest approach to what it does.

 

[mhardy6647]

"we" need to get one of these Bufs* to @amirm!

_____________
* Not to be confused with a BUFF...

 

[john61ct]

I'd be surprised if it was of interest to him

 

[mhardy6647]

I'd be surprised if it was of interest to him

Of interest to us...
I 'atted' him; maybe we'll see. For a hunnert bucks...

EDIT: Can't get a BUFF for a C-note. Well, not one in working order.
Shipping would be prohibitive (although Boeing might have a beater hanging around somewhere in the general vicinity of Seattle).

 

[antcollinet]

Sorry I could not find the "Tube Audio" subforum here?

*** Please don't convert this thread into an attack on tube products ***
*** We know tube adds distortion, we have seen it in measurements ***

Schiit Audio: Audio Products Made in USA

www.schiit.com

see the FAQ for ha-ha but serious...

Coherence maintains absolute phase, and offers gain if you need it.

easily switched out of the system…just turn it off

I doubt Amir would want to bother measuring to check the claimed specs?

Related, more general

Tube Buffer vs Tube Pre-amplifiers?

*** Please don't convert this thread into an attack on tube products *** *** We know tube adds distortion, we have seen it in measurements *** Those who are interested in Tube Products and have exposure to Tube Buffer and Tube Pre-amplifiers, please explain the differences and observations. To...

www.audiosciencereview.com

From the page:

Music Beyond Numbers
Yeah you got lots of zeros. But are you enjoying your music?

Yep!

 

[john61ct]

the zeros do help!

But some people like to give the ones a chance too sometimes

 

[antcollinet]

the zeros do help!

But some people like to give the ones a chance too sometimes

You can have as many ones as you like - as long as they follow the zeros.

(To clarify, in case it wasn't clear - the zeros they are talking about are the ones following the "0." then one or two numbers, then a "%" )