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An enclosed tube buffer - doesn't it get really hot?
I'm surprised no one mentioned using the iFi iPower with these units. Bought one for my original iTube, and since have also added 3 to other (non-iFi) components.
Mine gets hot, but not tooooo hot. You can still touch it. I think the metal case helps dissipate the heat. I think it comes with the iPower, if I'm not mistaken? Honestly I plugged it in at the back of my system 2 weeks ago and didn't even pay attention.
Thank you Tyson for the review. I have a few questions:Does anyone know if the tube is replaceable? User replaceable only? Factory replaceable? And, what's the expected tube life?How well does this rate as a pre-amplifier? If this is truly a great little tube pre-amp, then that certainly opens some options.If someone is already using a great tube pre-amp, then how does a tube buffer necessarily improve upon the "tube" sound when using a tube pre-amp? I'm not challenging anyone's sentiments; rather I'm trying to understand the concept of using a tube buffer WITH a tube pre-amp. Thank you.
I've already got an original iTube1 being used as a buffer. Thinking of getting an iTube2. Instead of selling the iTube1, any oinions if there would be any benefit using it in conjunction with an iTube2? Like in a daisy chain? iTube1 -> SS preamp or VC -> iTube2
mtruong34,- Daisy chaining iTube's strikes me as rather redundant - unless of course you're going for an ultra warm, homogenous presentation. As Rodge said, you can try it out and see what happens. Personally, I think you'd be better off with just one unit in the chain. - Ex-nay on the 12v power supply stay. While there are some hefty 12v supplies that actually measure closer to 15v, it's best to stick with the 15v power supply that comes with the iTube 2.
I also read in the user's manual that the iTube2 can be run off 12V car battery power. So wondering if a quality 12V LPS would be OK since many audiophiles might have 12V LPS but very few 15V LPS.
Your System is ShittyI'm sorry but it is. You might not think it is, but you are wrong. I include myself in that statement. That's a bold statement, but unless you are a part of the very small minority of audiophiles, it's true. Why? Because most of us pursue systems that are "true to the source" and that "reproduces the recording with as much fidelity as possible". That is a trap. I've been an audiophile for more than 20 years and I also fell into this trap. Because Recordings are ShittyIt seems so logical and obvious to want a system that's as close to "straight wire with gain" as possible. But as someone that attends live performances of real instruments unamplified (in fact I saw a performance of Schubert's string quintet just last night), AND as someone that has over 8000 hirez recordings (including a massive number of DSD recordings) I can say this with certainty - recordings suck. All of them. Yes, even the "good" recordings. They don't capture correctly how instruments and music sounds in real life. So any system that merely reproduces the recording will never be satisfying. Which is why you see audiophiles constantly "upgrading". They are always searching for that next thing that will finally make their system fully satisfying. But, to quote Indiana Jones "They are digging in the wrong place!" Haha.The Root of the Problem and How to Fix ItThe main problem is that during the recording process itself, even order harmonics are stripped out. Unless the recording was done using tube equipment. Which is why even ‘great’ recordings are more edgy and less emotionally engaging than attending the performance in real life. So, if even order harmonics are stripped out, how do we fix that? Easy, use tube equipment. And the closer you can use tube equipment to your source, the more impact it has. Finally I Talk About the iTube2If you don't want to replace your existing gear then just insert the iTube2 between your DAC and Preamp (or whatever your source is). It connects with regular old analog RCA connectors. The iTube2 adds the tonal richness and removes the shittiness that you never even realized was there in the first place. You keep the goodness of your existing equipment while fixing the core problem that modern recordings represent. Finally, you are digging in the right place! Final ThoughtsInline tube gear has been around for a while. I’ve even owned some in the past, the Musical Fidelity X-Tube to be precise. It sucked. Most of them seem to suck. Because they caused a loss of resolution even while improving tonality. The iTube2 does not suck. It loses no resolution and still gives you the magic of tubes. Even if you already have tubes in your system (like I do), you should still try it. It seems to work, not by adding goodness to the signal, but rather by removing shittiness from it. It doesn’t make your system more true to the recording. It makes your system more true to real life.
Anyway, I'm not dogging you; simply educate me by pointing me in the right direction. Thank you.
It's simple ; most people prefer tubes somewhere in their rig and most people find an all SS system relatively uninvolving, dry and somewhat irritating.Now are you saying that most should force themselves to listen to exclusively SS gear because theoretically, it has less distortion? SS gear must be leaving something out if it just doesn't sound as musical to most people. Are you saying that you should listen to noise in preference to a more musical sound just to be consistent in the pursuit of the straight wire with gain? Second order distortion might not be the "something" that's missing from the SS presentation but there's something there that SS gear often misses despite vanishing low distortion numbers. Also, tubes "fix" digital haze. It's one reason Lampizator DACs are so popular among the very high end crowd who can afford anything. The Lampys' do very well in blind A/B tests.Personally, I'd much rather have the tubes integrated into the amp/pre/DAC rather than tacking on a buffer. Stringing together iTubes seems somewhat ridiculous adding unnecessary interconnects and clutter. " with tube gear I might be getting an earful of mush" You've probably never heard high quality tube gear.
