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Schiit Buf: tube buffer + gain
- Thread starter john61ct
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Method2Madness
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I don't have test equipment, but in case anyone's interested, I got mine today. Very well built and does exactly what it says: colors the sound. I'll save you all the crazy adjectives, but it's very pleasing to my ears. Definely sounds better than most of the Fosi/Aiyima/etc "tube buffers" I've heard and adds a nice punch to the low end.
I hate to use this description.... But the soundstage does appear wider to me. Everything audio is subjective, so take this witha grain of salt, but to me, it's worth the asking price.
I hate to use this description.... But the soundstage does appear wider to me. Everything audio is subjective, so take this witha grain of salt, but to me, it's worth the asking price.
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Method2Madness
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Correct.
Method2Madness
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There's really no moving it further upstream. Eversolo A8 RCA out to Buf to amp.
Nice spectrum! It's cheap enough to get it, mod it for infinite gain, and put in a pedal as a nice distortion effect. Should work excellently!
- Thread Starter
- #28
Apparently the Siemens ECC88 gives a very nice effect.
Some in that thread are getting two, so can be used with XLR, using specifically wired Wye adapter cables to shift phase then re-combine.
I want to emulate Crestron's CNXBRMO bridging interface for their CNAMPX-16X60 16-ch amp (bargain!) and it seems to be the same idea
Some in that thread are getting two, so can be used with XLR, using specifically wired Wye adapter cables to shift phase then re-combine.
I want to emulate Crestron's CNXBRMO bridging interface for their CNAMPX-16X60 16-ch amp (bargain!) and it seems to be the same idea
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oy.
It sounded like a fun idea, and cheap too. I ordered one.
I wish they had a balanced version with XLR. I would buy it for 2x the price
Shht, balancing stages are like 5 moneys in parts DIY, can run it off the internal power rails...I wish they had a balanced version with XLR. I would buy it for 2x the price
- Thread Starter
- #33
You just buy two and wire it with Wye adapters.I wish they had a balanced version with XLR. I would buy it for 2x the price
As I stated, pretty clearly outlined in the thread
solderdude
Grand Contributor
Well that's a silly solution as that would alter the effect of the even harmonics which are said to contain the tube magic.
Instead they should buy a line transformer. That will give even more 'tube-ness' and add some odd harmonics and can be connected to a balanced input.
Last edited:
- Thread Starter
- #35
Interesting! but pricey no?
I thought transformers strive to be transparent?
Aren't odd harmonics "bad" can cause unpleasant sounds?
solderdude
Grand Contributor
That depends on the level of the added harmonics, the harmonic spread of them and depends on the recording (masking).
It also depends on the load and source resistance and input level.
What usually sounds 'bad' is high amounts of (higher order) harmonics and IM products (they always go hand-in-hand).
At least when those added signals, that did not belong in the signal in the first place, are reaching audible levels. So not only above a certain threshold but also are not masked.
Masking fortunately helps a lot and is where lossy codecs depend on.
There are good transformers and bad transformers and yes, the better ones are usually more expensive.
Back in the days I was always amazed how good an MC cartridge (followed by a step-up transformer) sounded on my electrostatic speakers.
The gain that was needed for that was mostly done by transformers and it sounded excellent.
MC to MD using step up was something like 15x gain (24dB) and electrostatic speakers had 1:50 transformers = 33dB gain.
The MD pre-amp +40dB and power amp +25dB gave 65dB gain (at 1kHz) where the transformers added 57dB of (voltage) gain.
Another funny thing here is that people hear 'tube' sound even from balanced tube designs with an without transformers so there's that.
Designs with heaps of even order harmonics and little to no odd harmonics are still perceived as 'tube amps' (with all the superlatives of 'typical tube sound').
Of course, in these cases people are all aware they are 'listening to tubes'. They are hard to miss in most designs.
It also depends on the load and source resistance and input level.
What usually sounds 'bad' is high amounts of (higher order) harmonics and IM products (they always go hand-in-hand).
At least when those added signals, that did not belong in the signal in the first place, are reaching audible levels. So not only above a certain threshold but also are not masked.
Masking fortunately helps a lot and is where lossy codecs depend on.
There are good transformers and bad transformers and yes, the better ones are usually more expensive.
Back in the days I was always amazed how good an MC cartridge (followed by a step-up transformer) sounded on my electrostatic speakers.
The gain that was needed for that was mostly done by transformers and it sounded excellent.
MC to MD using step up was something like 15x gain (24dB) and electrostatic speakers had 1:50 transformers = 33dB gain.
The MD pre-amp +40dB and power amp +25dB gave 65dB gain (at 1kHz) where the transformers added 57dB of (voltage) gain.
Another funny thing here is that people hear 'tube' sound even from balanced tube designs with an without transformers so there's that.
Designs with heaps of even order harmonics and little to no odd harmonics are still perceived as 'tube amps' (with all the superlatives of 'typical tube sound').
Of course, in these cases people are all aware they are 'listening to tubes'. They are hard to miss in most designs.
- Thread Starter
- #37
Yes, much as I think it's likely just silly, in this case as a drop-in $99 component easily bypassed maybe worth a try.
One day, as a finishing touch experiment, after the heavier saving up / spending on more important issues have been resolved
One day, as a finishing touch experiment, after the heavier saving up / spending on more important issues have been resolved
teej
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Runs quite hot. Also more gain that I was expecting. Front bypass switch works flawlessly, but turning the unit off via the main power switch on the back has the exact same effect. Audio comes through either way. Fun little box! Bought a second one for my bench system.
I have one that’ll be delivered today, along with a Mimir dac. I’ll use the Buf between the mimir & my Asgard X. Is it a good idea to let the tube warm up some upon first powering it up? This is my first experience using anything with tubes. I’m pretty excited about it. Really look forward to trying some other tubes in it in the future as well.
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