Schiit Buf: tube buffer + gain

[Redacted]

Of course adjustability is much better overall. It's just that simply adding gain is nothing you need an extra shitbox for.

The Wax thing (the device not the cylinders) is interesting, but pricey, if you are unfortunate enough to still have vinyl.

But I'd want to preserve vinyl in pristine condition, as it wears on every play (or even just getting in and out the sleeve), so I'd buy £20 ADC and save as a 16-44 FLAC - you don't need a fancy ADC or high spec FLAC format for vinyl (you're on ASR and you don't dance with the fairies!). You can then use free PC tools to correct/improve all sorts of issues, a bit like the Wax thing, but for a fraction of the price. Even something basic like Audacity with plugins can do a lot.

 

[Ropeburn]

The Wax thing (the device not the cylinders) is interesting, but pricey, if you are unfortunate enough to still have vinyl.

But I'd want to preserve vinyl in pristine condition, as it wears on every play (or even just getting in and out the sleeve), so I'd buy £20 ADC and save as a 16-44 FLAC - you don't need a fancy ADC or high spec FLAC format for vinyl (you're on ASR and you don't dance with the fairies!). You can then use free PC tools to correct/improve all sorts of issues, a bit like the Wax thing, but for a fraction of the price. Even something basic like Audacity with plugins can do a lot.

Take a wild guess how much I care about wear.

Not going to buy any more vinyl anyway. These days when I want to listen to my collection, I just find it on YouTube... much better sound lolll

 

[Redacted]

Take a wild guess how much I care about wear.
Not going to buy any more vinyl anyway. These days when I want to listen to my collection, I just find it on YouTube... much better sound lolll

I think you'll find the headphones might damage the needle on your deck! Best to spread them a bit thinner
You'll miss all the "rice krispie" authentic effects if you go on YT!

Looking at your tidy room, I'm physically wincing in case my wife pops past and somehow blames me, and I get 10 mins of ear bleeding.

 

[Ropeburn]

I think you'll find the headphones might damage the needle on your deck! Best to spread them a bit thinner
You'll miss all the "rice krispie" authentic effects if you go on YT!

Looking at your tidy room, I'm physically wincing in case my wife pops past and somehow blames me, and I get 10 mins of ear bleeding.

Amateurs have cable chaos behind their gear, professionals have gear chaos behind their speakers.

 

[Redacted]

Amateurs have cable chaos behind their gear, professionals have gear chaos behind their speakers.

You can borrow my multi-tool. Simply carve out the backs of those speakers, and hide all the junk in them. Simples.
(Wear a mask if it's MDF, and specs)

 

[Ropeburn]

You can borrow my multi-tool. Simply carve out the backs of those speakers, and hide all the junk in them. Simples.
(Wear a mask if it's MDF, and specs)

Fun fact: old dusty gear is perfect for hiding money. Nobody suspects it.

 

[Ropeburn]

You can borrow my multi-tool. Simply carve out the backs of those speakers, and hide all the junk in them. Simples.
(Wear a mask if it's MDF, and specs)

O btw it really does look like junk, but with a bit of repairs and care that pile is worth several thousands. Like fine wine, for some reason people pay ludicrous money for "vintage" lol

 

[Bob from Florida]

The Wax thing (the device not the cylinders) is interesting, but pricey, if you are unfortunate enough to still have vinyl.

But I'd want to preserve vinyl in pristine condition, as it wears on every play (or even just getting in and out the sleeve), so I'd buy £20 ADC and save as a 16-44 FLAC - you don't need a fancy ADC or high spec FLAC format for vinyl (you're on ASR and you don't dance with the fairies!). You can then use free PC tools to correct/improve all sorts of issues, a bit like the Wax thing, but for a fraction of the price. Even something basic like Audacity with plugins can do a lot.

What you are suggesting requires a computing device in your audio setup - which is perfectly fine. The Waxwing is a tiny stand alone device - controlled via an Ap, requiring an Android or IOS device - that does a great job for the money.
Regarding records wearing out when you play them - it can happen with mishandling and using bad setups. By bad I mean a damaged stylus, high wear stylus profile (conical and elliptical), and bad alignment. A good turntable, arm, cartridge, stylus setup will have minimal impact on record wear. I have records that have been played a lot for the last 45 years that are still a joy to play. But, the first thing I do with a new record is ditch the rice paper for a good anti-static sleeve and clean it on the record cleaning machine. It’s not for everyone - that much is certain. A tiny amount of wear and something audible are not necessarily congruent.

 

[Ropeburn]

What you are suggesting requires a computing device in your audio setup - which is perfectly fine. The Waxwing is a tiny stand alone device - controlled via an Ap, requiring an Android or IOS device - that does a great job for the money.
Regarding records wearing out when you play them - it can happen with mishandling and using bad setups. By bad I mean a damaged stylus, high wear stylus profile (conical and elliptical), and bad alignment. A good turntable, arm, cartridge, stylus setup will have minimal impact on record wear. I have records that have been played a lot for the last 45 years that are still a joy to play. But, the first thing I do with a new record is ditch the rice paper for a good anti-static sleeve and clean it on the record cleaning machine. It’s not for everyone - that much is certain. A tiny amount of wear and something audible are not necessarily congruent.

You just described DJ use in every detail. Spherical needles, high weight, angle and tonearm adjusted for optimum tracking above all else, constantly touching vinyl with greasy fingers, wearing out certain points by cueing and scratching which effectively is hundredfold playback within minutes.

It's really bad. Seriously bad. But only by audiophile standards. Put on the appropriate old weary record at the right time, and the party explodes.

 

[john61ct]

Let's start a new thread for these tangents,

please try to keep this one for Buf, and comparisons to at least related competitors.

 

[mhardy6647]

Amateurs have cable chaos behind their gear, professionals have gear chaos behind their speakers.

... and some of us are all chaos, all the time.

Since entropy always increases -- I choose to lean into it.
Imagine a Jimmy Cagney voice here:
You can't pin the heat death of the universe on me, copper!

 

[xllr8]

recently purchased to front a fatiguing sounding Denon POA-2400. Soundstage opened up nicely (wider, more fleshed out), phantom center strong and clear, added a warm/vintage/touch of liquidity... closing in a brighter version of my Conrad Johnson MF2100 (if not maybe the same low end meatiness though)...

best bang/bang I can remember in a while, so satisfied I am gonna try rolling some tubes.

 

[Joe Smith]

So far, I'm surprised by how the Buf is barely noticeable to me. It doesn't make as much a variation in sound as I was hoping for. But at least it does not seem to actually degrade the sound like some other tube products.

 

[john61ct]

In the main Schiit dev thread, lots of tube nuts report being amazed by a variety of NOS tubes, some very vintage, from WWII era, ex-Soviet etc

Not all are super pricey...

 

[xllr8]

So far, I'm surprised by how the Buf is barely noticeable to me. It doesn't make as much a variation in sound as I was hoping for. But at least it does not seem to actually degrade the sound like some other tube products.

could be your system already sounded nice? Honestly I was not expecting much. It took my limp mode sound to wall of sound in seconds flat, but my baseline was starting -really- low, enough to have sent the denon for some bench time... had been shouty and thin sounding, whereas with the tube rolled in bass was full and warm with low level listening acoustic/jazz.

Ooh, @john61ct will have to check that thread. I've been so impressed I immediately purchased the ampex holland tube... my ears had been jaded so long that anything refreshing was a must do!

 

[john61ct]

Yes for those that love hardware tweaking, the effects of tube rolling can actually be heard objectively, unlike most opamps.

But then again a DSP effects engine is infinite tweaking without any further hardware costs.

You could invest $800 in a tube, tweak the DSP until you exactly match its flavour, then sell the tube on, maybe at a profit.

What a hobby 8-D

 

[Joe Smith]

Yeah, I was thinking at the onset that I would not go down the whole tube-rolling rabbit hole. Will continue to play with it and see. The fact that you can't switch it in and out without causing speaker pops definitely makes it harder to judge what one hears A/B...

 

[john61ct]

First I heard of that! You do mean on & off via its own power button right?

 

[Joe Smith]

First I heard of that! You do mean on & off via its own power button right?

That’s what early users reported; I haven’t tested myself to verify. On the tube side, there’s a JJ E88CC 6922 tube I may get, it’d be right about $30 shipped. Anyone have experience with that one?

 

[john61ct]

Post that sort of Q in a place where there is a higher proportion of tube fans.

The main Schiit thread I think would be most productive