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Post by lightingorb on Aug 25, 2015 9:04:18 GMT
Could I please get some real feedback from everyone who has tried using either Sunrise, Horizon or Ember mini-amp as a tube-buffer for your power amp for signal to speakers ?
Does it muddy the signal noticeably as opposed to having your amp plugged into directly the source ?
Does it add enough of the desired smoothness/tube sound signature for it to be noticeable enough while listening to speakers ?
Has anyone figured out the absolutely best way to implement them as a solution for a tube-buffer ? What attenuations and gains did you use that worked the best ? Did plugging it through line-out or headphone-out give you the best results in sound ?
Is it worthwhile to get it to use just as a tube-buffer without worrying that it will take away details, sound-stage or instrument separation or are there much better option out there available already that can also accept a wide variety of tubes ?
OR AT LEAST the 6SN7 tube and its equivalents, - are there better options out there to use as mini-tube buffers for amps already to make the signal smoother on top using tubes that wont alter the rest of the audio signal that much ? I mean we can all change the tubes for different sound and filtering, as long as we are sure that the rest of the components wont add any coloration or subtract details
Please help and please recommend,
Thank you very much for All and Any feedback and detailed information
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Rabbit
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Post by Rabbit on Aug 25, 2015 9:55:36 GMT
Hi. Welcome to DIYAH.
I use mine as a headphone amp and buffer to some active speakers.
The settings that I use are to have the speakers set at around three quarters volume and then use the Ember as the volume control. I have a long run to the speakers so I don't even have to get up. The volume of the speakers really depends on where you want the vol pot on the Ember to be at normal listening volumes.
I don't find that the Ember introduces any nasties. In fact, I really like it driving the speakers and it's very convenient to have the volume control close by and near where I'm seated.
Tube warmth does come through but I really like it tbh.
As far as tube choices go, for me, it's slightly more critical with headphones than speakers so I use an Orange Globe which has a nice beefy sound. Differences are pretty small IMO though and I do think that some people get a bit too hung up about what tube to use and often seem to alternate between loads of them. I know of one guy who spent as much on tubes as he did on the Ember!! Waste of money, but there's always that feeling that you're missing something I guess.
Personally, I'd relax for a while with the stock tube. Jeremy knows his onions and it's a good choice. Give it a while before forking out on more tubes. It may be more underwhelming than you think, although since you know that you've changed it, you may think that you hear 'massive' differences but personally, I don't, so I really no longer obsess over tubes. My advice would be to 'save yer money!!!' Get another headphone if you want a different sound.....
Ember is a nice buffer.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Aug 25, 2015 15:48:27 GMT
I'm not sure the valve is in the line-out circuit. If it is then I can't say I've particularly noticed any added colouration,no matter what valve I'm using.
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Post by jhelms on Aug 25, 2015 16:44:48 GMT
The tube is in the signal chain on the line out of all of our amplifiers.
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solderdude
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Post by solderdude on Aug 25, 2015 16:48:03 GMT
Line out is an (level) attenuated version of the headphone out.
The 'tube effect' depends on the volpot setting of the following power amp and the setting of the input of the G1217 amp. The lower you set the volume of following the power amp, the more 'tube sound' you will get.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Aug 25, 2015 18:34:57 GMT
I stand corrected guys.
So if I set the power amp level low and the G1217 amp high I'm getting more tube sound?
I'll try that out now.
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Post by lightingorb on Aug 25, 2015 23:09:23 GMT
And because line-out is attenuated already, you will get the most tube-sound coming out of the headphone-out, so you can try connecting your amp through headphone-out, set mini-amp to near optimal maximum volume level without clipping, and then slowly raise volume of either your power amp, or if power amp's volume is fixed bypass, then changing volume of the Source would be the thing to do
and play around with gain settings of mini-amp
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solderdude
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Post by solderdude on Aug 26, 2015 4:51:23 GMT
There's probably a sweet spot somewhere.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Aug 26, 2015 6:59:04 GMT
I can't hear the slightest difference I'm afraid but then I don't use my speakers for critical listening. I'm not going to try the headphone output because I don't have the cables for it & the line-out does all it needs to.
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solderdude
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Post by solderdude on Aug 26, 2015 10:08:13 GMT
You should only use the line-out, not the HP out as the maximum output voltage could oversteer and even damage the power amps input stage.
The line-out is the exact same signal as the HP out, just attenuated to (safe) line levels.
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oldson
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Post by oldson on Aug 26, 2015 18:26:49 GMT
i intend to get some active speakers in the coming weeks , so will use Ember as a buffer for those. its one of those things "i will do tomorrow", if you know what i mean.
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oldson
extremely active
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Post by oldson on Aug 26, 2015 18:30:00 GMT
Hi. Welcome to DIYAH. I use mine as a headphone amp and buffer to some active speakers. The settings that I use are to have the speakers set at around three quarters volume and then use the Ember as the volume control. I have a long run to the speakers so I don't even have to get up. The volume of the speakers really depends on where you want the vol pot on the Ember to be at normal listening volumes. I don't find that the Ember introduces any nasties. In fact, I really like it driving the speakers and it's very convenient to have the volume control close by and near where I'm seated. Tube warmth does come through but I really like it tbh. As far as tube choices go, for me, it's slightly more critical with headphones than speakers so I use an Orange Globe which has a nice beefy sound. Differences are pretty small IMO though and I do think that some people get a bit too hung up about what tube to use and often seem to alternate between loads of them. I know of one guy who spent as much on tubes as he did on the Ember!! Waste of money, but there's always that feeling that you're missing something I guess. Personally, I'd relax for a while with the stock tube. Jeremy knows his onions and it's a good choice. Give it a while before forking out on more tubes. It may be more underwhelming than you think, although since you know that you've changed it, you may think that you hear 'massive' differences but personally, I don't, so I really no longer obsess over tubes. My advice would be to 'save yer money!!!' Get another headphone if you want a different sound..... Ember is a nice buffer. what active speakers do you have Ian?
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Rabbit
Administrator
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Post by Rabbit on Aug 26, 2015 19:52:02 GMT
Just some old Roland speakers Simon. Nothing special. Mainly for TV and digital radio.
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Post by techboy on Dec 21, 2015 13:07:21 GMT
Hi. Welcome to DIYAH. I use mine as a headphone amp and buffer to some active speakers. The settings that I use are to have the speakers set at around three quarters volume and then use the Ember as the volume control. I have a long run to the speakers so I don't even have to get up. The volume of the speakers really depends on where you want the vol pot on the Ember to be at normal listening volumes. I don't find that the Ember introduces any nasties. In fact, I really like it driving the speakers and it's very convenient to have the volume control close by and near where I'm seated. Tube warmth does come through but I really like it tbh. As far as tube choices go, for me, it's slightly more critical with headphones than speakers so I use an Orange Globe which has a nice beefy sound. Differences are pretty small IMO though and I do think that some people get a bit too hung up about what tube to use and often seem to alternate between loads of them. I know of one guy who spent as much on tubes as he did on the Ember!! Waste of money, but there's always that feeling that you're missing something I guess. Personally, I'd relax for a while with the stock tube. Jeremy knows his onions and it's a good choice. Give it a while before forking out on more tubes. It may be more underwhelming than you think, although since you know that you've changed it, you may think that you hear 'massive' differences but personally, I don't, so I really no longer obsess over tubes. My advice would be to 'save yer money!!!' Get another headphone if you want a different sound..... Ember is a nice buffer. I know you're talking of me. On tubes I spent about USD 450+ in a matter of a few weeks. In 2013. And i I agree Ember is a very nice buffer.
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