AIYIMA T1 PRO Tube Preamp Vacuum Receiver Home Audio Preamplifier with RCA/Bluetooth & Bass Treble for HiFi Stereo Amplifier&Powered Speakers,with AUX/12V Trigger Signal Output

So I wanted to get a feel for what a tube preamp would sound like. I have a Hafler DH-220, fully restored and upgraded. Since it is solid state, I was thinking that I could warm it up a little with some tubes. Also, my streamer, the EverJoy DMP-A6 gen2, has the ESS chips in it, which can be bright and somewhat "shouty". So I though the tubes could possible smooth this out. My first impressions are that the sound I am getting, paired with my system, should not have only costed me 75 bucks. It really opened up the midrange and enhanced the realistic sound I was already getting from drums, snares, sax, voice, guitar. Anything that I play sounds awesome. It really makes me wonder what my system would sound like if I went ahead and got a high-end tube preamp, like PrimaLuna or the like. So, the test is a success. The trouble is, it may be too good for me to upgrade. I might not know what I am missing for now, but this little wonder is really something.

I used this pre-amp along side the AIYIMA phono amp and it made a WORLD of difference! The sound is fuller and more defined. The lows are punchier and the highs are crisp with no distortion. 100% recommend.

Setup was ridiculously simple, PC and iPhone found the Bluetooth audio device in seconds. I have the RCA inputs connected to a Scott (Solid State :( ) FM Tuner. This unit feeds the Tuner inputs on an H. H. Scott 222C (7189 Power tubes, 12AX7 audio tubes). Sounds great, nice and warm like you would expect tubes to be. I shall probably buy another to allow my daughter to stream to her EICO ST-70 (7591 power tubes and the same 12AX7 Audio tubes).I'll roll into some other tubes (6K4,6J4,5654) to see what changes. Overall, I'm very impressed with this unit.

I didnt want to write my review until i had spent some serious time listening and comparing and felt like i really had a handle on what it does to the sound. Starting off, i paired this up with my klipsch r41m speakers. At first listen, i couldnt tell much difference compared to baseline with just my amp. After a while, i realized that the tubes actually had a slight effect on bass delivery, the bass was slightly louder and more full. There was no discernable difference in the fidelity of the music. What really surprised me was that it actually sounded fine whether i played classic rock, bassy pop music, or something quick and technical and very bass heavy like glitch mob. Nobody talks about the fact that tubes also pair nicely with modern music. The other thing i noticed is that while i couldnt put it into words, i felt more drawn to listen to music more often and for longer with the tubes. Fast forward to week 2, and I installed a pair of Lm4562 op amps, and a meanwell switching power supply. I wont pretend either makes any noticeable difference, i simply did it because i could, and for the assurance that i would have the lowest possible amounts of distortion and noise coming out of this device. Now, my JBL a130s come in the mail. Holy BATMAN what an amazing speaker. For the first time in my life i learn that cymbals and guitar strings actually make a sound, not just a note. All kinds of new things in my music! Ok, now its time to add the tubes. Right away now i can hear a difference in the music. That new found detail and "sparkle" in the high frequency is slightly dampened , and replaced with a touch of warmth and a bit of a rolloff of high frequency spl. Still sounds amazing with all music types. Another test I did was to set my system at listening volume with music paused and compare noise floor levels of just the amp, vs tube turned up to full volume vs tube turned all the way down. There is NO discernable difference in noise floor regardless of what you do with this preamp. Im honestly amazed at how silent this thing is. If you are looking for something "tubby" and "soft" sounding, with a bit of crackle and hum this is not it. If you are looking for an aptx hd bluetooth preamp that will maintain music fidelity and add a TOUCH of tube warmth to your music then this is the product for you. I am honestly quite pleased with it and it will become a permanent part of my system for all music types, and i seriously listen to a bit of everything. This is a hands down 5 star recommendation from me

Warning I've purchased it and returned it cause it's not as described and what I mean is that this item does not need the tubes installed to play the tubes are lighted up for just effects they serve no purpose and it actually plays better without them installed so buy beware don't get duped as I did