[fredgarvin]

Anyone tried one? I've noticed several posts about the Burson and others. The Decware stuff I have heard has sounded quite good. The buffer is tubed and around $400.

[gooberdude]

i tried the MF x-10 v3...its fun for a few weeks.   i convinced a friend to buy one and it blew up his monoblocks.

hopefully other tube buffers don't share similar circuitry...there's a post here a week ago by a guy who
ruined his subs with the X-10.

i'd find a good tubed pre or a TVC before spending $ on a buffer...

[robert1325]

Probably wrong thread, but would something like the TVC give more body and dynamics to the music?   That's why those buffers look interesting to me ....

I'm using a power amp with a pot at the moment...

[boead]

i tried the MF x-10 v3...its fun for a few weeks.   i convinced a friend to buy one and it blew up his monoblocks.

hopefully other tube buffers don't share similar circuitry...there's a post here a week ago by a guy who
ruined his subs with the X-10.

i'd find a good tubed pre or a TVC before spending $ on a buffer...

?? thats a first. 

[smccull]

Robert,

Check out the very long thread on the Promitheus TVC. I think it'll give you a sense of what a well designed TVC can do. I just got my Promitheus a week and a half ago. It's still breaking in but I have to say it's looking like the best pre I've ever had. It's warm, detailed and transparent at all listening volumes. I've had a Supratek Syrah (previously the best and maybe still the best. too close to call) a Van Alstine T7 (very, very good), a VTL 2.5 and an Eastern Electric Minimax. I liked all of these for different reasons but the TVC seems to let the music flow without getting in the way or inserting its own signature. And the tone is fantastic!

Best of luck!

Steve

[robert1325]

I already asked some stuff in that thread    Do you have the dual mono?

I'm going to get one very soon

[gooberdude]

hey Boed,

there's a dire warning in the x-10 v3 manual about this issue...i think the correct way to hook it up
is to turn the buffer on first and let the circuits normalize a minute or 2, then turn on your amp, then sources.

My buddy's girl blew a fuse when he wasn't home...she flipped the breaker which turned the amps & x-10 on at the same time...a few puffs of smoke later and 2 Adcom 555 in mono were ruined.

just a week or so ago a guy posted a similar problem here, but he destroyed speakers.
Fun toy, you gotta be careful though.   No idea if other buffers have the same issue.



The TVC does add a LOT of body and weight and dynamics and slam and all that...its really the sound & tone i'd been looking for.    For similar $ as a tube buffer, the TVC is quite a steal. 

matt

[robert1325]

Sounds like a very nice deal indeed! 

Those buffers add warmth to the sound but also get to hot sometimes I guess

[fredgarvin]

The Decware buffer is intended to be used after your source, or dac, to replace the output stage. It does have a volume control, so I guess you could use it as a simple pre. I've never heard any first hand report of the unit. I would suspect it to outperform the x-10 but, who knows?

[smccull]

I already asked some stuff in that thread    Do you have the dual mono?

I'm going to get one very soon

I don't have the dual mono, didn't even realize that was an option till after I ordered mine. But I did get Nicholas to add a second strand of silver wires. Don't know what it sounds like with one strand but I'm one happy camper. I also had him add an HT bypass, which I haven't had a chance to test yet.

If you order one now you WON'T "get one very soon". Waiting is part of the price for this audio bargain. With the custom chassis and the redux on the wiring after it was completed and burning in, mine took around 8 weeks. But it's worth it. Wish all my favorite audio gear was under $400! I could afford a lot more software.

s

[boead]

The Decware buffer is intended to be used after your source, or dac, to replace the output stage. It does have a volume control, so I guess you could use it as a simple pre. I've never heard any first hand report of the unit. I would suspect it to outperform the x-10 but, who knows?

Yeah, you can find lots of comments on the Decware forums.

The primary goal of the Decware Zboix is to better match impedance between source and pre or amp. Its volume is meant to obtain the right amount of output voltage for the pre or amps input.

[NewBuyer]

Yeah, you can find lots of comments on the Decware forums.

The primary goal of the Decware Zboix is to better match impedance between source and pre or amp. Its volume is meant to obtain the right amount of output voltage for the pre or amps input.

Hi boead,

So would there be any reason not to use its volume control as a pre?