Assuming this buffer is just a more expensive version of the same basic thing I was testing, I hope I answered this question in the OP.
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This would most likely add a bit of warmth, reduce a bit of harshness, add longer decay and the illusion of a bit more space. Not massive but def noticeable
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@Bmn1251 be careful with that buffer, it looks like it’s now being sold as Aimpire so it might be a worse clone (Aimpire has taken over some topping and little bear products and are sending worse clones under that name)
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Aimpire cloning Yaqin? Augh. AFAIK they “clone” 100$-or-less stuff from Topping… I hope they don’t start cloning D50S and D1s and whatever (and other brands)… Maybe they’ll just get kicked out of Amazon too because too many returns.
I hope that’s just temporary.
That’s not the chi-fi takeover we want. 
Yeah it’s kinda pissing me off lol
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The Aimpire Strikes Back
(it had to be done)
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Probably. I don’t directly know to give a definite ‘yes’, but it’s most likely they’re all made in the same factory in Shenzhen. The different brand names (FX, Douk/Nobsound, Fosi, etc.) are probably all companies that buy them, slap their name on it, and sell it. I emphasize I can’t say this with certainty, but it is quite likely.
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Thanks. I might try this on my Atom. 
Cool. Don’t forget cables!
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As long as you’re not treble-sensitive you’ll have no problems.
I just feel like, whatever I do, my Tube-03 is pushing 10khz+ by a few dB’s.
My Atom is at another place right now (paired with a DAC without much treble – synergy, yay!) and I have a SMSL sAp-1 amp for my tube-03 (wayyy smoother).
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Little guy arrived today and I’ve been having a blast playing around with it. Really makes the Tygrs come alive. I feel whatever mid range shortcomings it had are corrected by this setup. Abbey Road never sounded better. I keep going back and forth on the bass and treble knobs from 3 o’ clock to full in some songs. Delicious tubey distortion.
Update: After realizing full volume on the buffer was making songs muddy and bloated; I want to add that it took me a week to find out the sweet spot with the volume pot at 12 o’clock, and tone controls at around 12 to 2 o’clock in some songs with the A3 on high gain. It’s kinda mindblowing how tubes resonate and I finally get that holographic quality. I’m afraid I can’t go back now and I’m fine with that!
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Anyone know if this would work with the LCX SDAC? The only dynamics I’ve got are the 60ohm Koss so it doesn’t seem worth getting anything bigger.
So can I take the SDAC 3.5mm out to the tube preamp and then back into the RCA input of the LCX or would the DAC shut off when I switch input?
Wow tube buffer and my dt770 600 ohm is doing some nice things. Dt770 with mids that arent so recessed. Everything I’ve wanted for this pair from the start.
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Hey @WaveTheory, great write up.
I have a little SMSL SP100 I want to use as a Tube Buffer / Preamp. Will that tubey-ness / coloration occur if the device is on and the signal is actively passing through and out the RCA outputs to my amp? And then when it’s turned off will that coloration be gone and the signal will passively go through the buffer?
That’s really what I’m looking for: the ability to turn it on and get some “tubey-ness” but not if the device is off. I’m just not sure if it works that way lol, a little new to this.
This probably belongs here:
Circuit basics from what I saw are the same between the device in the video and these cheap tube pre-amps.
My biggest gripe and reason I don’t own one of these is the lack of a bypass.
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Thank you.
I don’t know how the SP100 works myself but I would bet it doesn’t have a pass through. When it’s off it won’t pass a signal. What amp are you using? If it has multiple inputs, you can split your DAC output and run one line through the SP100 and one line direct to amp. You could also get a switch and accomplish the same thing.
So I set it up today and interestingly, the SP100 does have a passthrough while off, although I wonder if that’s really true because “off” is simply when the switch is powered off, but there is still red LED lightning to indicate the device has power.
Also, while on or off, the volume knob doesn’t actually affect the audio signal, so is this really acting as a pre-amp? I wouldn’t think so.
Even more weirdly, while on, the device is absolutely “working” by coloring the audio signal but I actually started getting fatigue 10min in and found it ultimately to be quite harsh, which is unusual since wouldn’t a tube pre-amp normally be more warm and take the edge off?
When I use the DV in the same way as a pre-amp it’s actually quite nice and I prefer it like this.
Oh sorry, I forgot to mention I’m using a Liquid Carbon X. My signal path is Grace SDAC --> Schiit Loki --> SP100 / DV --> Liquid Carbon X --> HP-3 / Meze 99 Noir / Beyer TYGR 300R
No idea about the internal layout, but a cheap Op-Amp after the tube fed with “dirty” power could cause that.
Would have to get detailed photos of the internals to say for sure.
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Quick update: I upgraded the crappy little Chinese stock tube with one of these and the harshness definitely went away. Still not sure how much of the “tubey-ness” I hear; the Carbon X is already a pretty relaxed SS amp so I don’t want to placebo myself, but I do think I hear a tad of it.
It’s nice! Looks cool too.