When using the tube buffer, you enter a situation where your interconnects need to be considered. For example, many tube users use relatively bright-sounding interconnects to give some sparkle to the extra warmth of tube sound.
It figures then (generalizing for a moment of course), that those using warmer-sounding interconnects that sound great with their non-tube gear, might perceive a "deficiency" when using the tube buffer in the same setup.
The tube buffer benefits from being integrated into a system, not just thrown in and judged without due consideration to interconnects etc.
If an expensive system is already assembled, the benefits of the tube buffer are unlikely to justify many hundreds of dollars of interconnect changes, BUT, when building a new system from scratch and selecting all ancilliary items with the tube buffer in place, I suspect most users will be delighted with the results.
It figures then (generalizing for a moment of course), that those using warmer-sounding interconnects that sound great with their non-tube gear, might perceive a "deficiency" when using the tube buffer in the same setup.
The tube buffer benefits from being integrated into a system, not just thrown in and judged without due consideration to interconnects etc.
If an expensive system is already assembled, the benefits of the tube buffer are unlikely to justify many hundreds of dollars of interconnect changes, BUT, when building a new system from scratch and selecting all ancilliary items with the tube buffer in place, I suspect most users will be delighted with the results.