Tube Buffer Question

[miata57]

Hello All,

I have some older Emotiva equipment (USP-1 pre-amp, UPA-1 mono blocks) and find my sound extremely bright (Magnepan .7 speakers)

Would a tube buffer help tame the brightness, and if so how or where would I connect it?

Thanks
Howie

[tropicallutefisk]

First, have you tried adding a resistor? I use a 0.5 ohm resistor on the ribbons of my 3.7is which helps tame the brightness. The other thing I added that really pulled my system together nicely was a Schiit Freya + tube preamp. So... I’m inclined to think a quality tube buffer could work, but I just don’t know any to recommend.

[pedrocols]

Get a tube preamp. You will be glad you did.

[pedrocols]

Here is a video of my old set up. Magnepan MG12 powered by UPA-1s and a BAT tube preamp. The mid range and vocals are unreal! I still have the speakers and sometimes I alternate between them and the MG 1.7s.

[novisnick]

Jun 24, 2020 17:29:36 GMT -5 pedrocols said:

Get a tube preamp. You will be glad you did.

I concur! One more thing, sometimes you get what you pay for, other times its just a remarkable device at a bargain price! (Rare as it might be)
Most have a colored sound, some say my C220 is very colored and they prefer something  else, I like what it does with the tubes I’ve found for it.
Good luck on your journey!

[miata57]

I am using a .6 ohm resistor with the Maggies but still find it bright.

I can't afford a new tube pre-amp. I am a bit confused, is a tube buffer and pre-amp the same?

Can it be hooked up between amp and existing pre-amp?

Any recommendations on which tube buffer to get?

Thanks
Howie

[pedrocols]

One other thing I can suggest is that you experiment with speaker placement and then experiment some more. Yes it can be tedious...🙄

[audiobill]

Pivot your speakers so the treble side is further than the bass panels from your listening position

[audiobill]

A good tube buffer, pre etc won’t dull your highs, but bad ss will result in harshness.

[jackfish]

ifi-audio.com/products/micro-itube2/

[DYohn]

If your system sounds too bright tubes likely won't solve anything. The issue is most likely your speakers. Try an EQ.

[boomzilla]

Jun 25, 2020 8:27:55 GMT -5 DYohn said:

If your system sounds too bright tubes likely won't solve anything. The issue is most likely your speakers. Try an EQ.

Schiit makes the "Loki" equalizer - good quality - only $149!

[amped]

Jun 24, 2020 17:29:36 GMT -5 pedrocols said:

Get a tube preamp. You will be glad you did.

+1

[mgbpuff]

There is no advantage in getting a tube preamp. Tubes in preamps are very linear because they are small signal devices and can easily cover the same bandwidth as solid state preamps. The harshness is probably due to the amplifiers, so a tube buffer between the preamp and the power amp may do the job. Something like this costs little to try - geardiary.com/2017/12/01/audiophile-budget-fx-audio-tube-01-best-tube-buffer-money/

[pedrocols]

Jun 25, 2020 11:27:15 GMT -5 mgbpuff said:

There is no advantage in getting a tube preamp. Tubes in preamps are very linear because they are small signal devices and can easily cover the same bandwidth as solid state preamps. The harshness is probably due to the amplifiers, so a tube buffer between the preamp and the power amp may do the job. Something like this costs little to try - geardiary.com/2017/12/01/audiophile-budget-fx-audio-tube-01-best-tube-buffer-money/

Exactly no real advantage but the Tube preamp will bring a very joyful music experience. Just ask anybody who plays electric guitars...

[miata57]

Thanks everyone for your replies! Think I might give the Schiit Equalizer a go

[mgbpuff]

Jun 25, 2020 14:37:57 GMT -5 pedrocols said:

Jun 25, 2020 11:27:15 GMT -5 mgbpuff said:

There is no advantage in getting a tube preamp. Tubes in preamps are very linear because they are small signal devices and can easily cover the same bandwidth as solid state preamps. The harshness is probably due to the amplifiers, so a tube buffer between the preamp and the power amp may do the job. Something like this costs little to try - geardiary.com/2017/12/01/audiophile-budget-fx-audio-tube-01-best-tube-buffer-money/

Exactly no real advantage but the Tube preamp will bring a very joyful music experience. Just ask anybody who plays electric guitars...

Guitar amps are distortion generators. Audio amps have to reproduce guitar amp bs without adding additional bs. The audio amp is much harder to build well. The guitar amp is allowed the cover of artistry.

[amped]

Jun 25, 2020 11:27:15 GMT -5 mgbpuff said:

There is no advantage in getting a tube preamp. Tubes in preamps are very linear because they are small signal devices and can easily cover the same bandwidth as solid state preamps. The harshness is probably due to the amplifiers, so a tube buffer between the preamp and the power amp may do the job. Something like this costs little to try - geardiary.com/2017/12/01/audiophile-budget-fx-audio-tube-01-best-tube-buffer-money/

Be still my beating heart!  You are incorrect regarding the no advantage in tube pre's!  Although the rest of you statement is technically  "correct"  SS vs Tube is no analog vs Digital comparison...

[mgbpuff]

Jun 26, 2020 12:47:44 GMT -5 amped said:

Jun 25, 2020 11:27:15 GMT -5 mgbpuff said:

There is no advantage in getting a tube preamp. Tubes in preamps are very linear because they are small signal devices and can easily cover the same bandwidth as solid state preamps. The harshness is probably due to the amplifiers, so a tube buffer between the preamp and the power amp may do the job. Something like this costs little to try - geardiary.com/2017/12/01/audiophile-budget-fx-audio-tube-01-best-tube-buffer-money/

Be still my beating heart!  You are incorrect regarding the no advantage in tube pre's!  Although the rest of you statement is technically  "correct"  SS vs Tube is no analog vs Digital comparison...

Where are you coming from? Digital is not a part of my post! A good tube pre is most likely indistinguishable from a good ss pre.