Tube Buffers worth it?


I own a SS Mac setup (352 with C41) with B&W 803S. It's sounds fantastic. I also have Musical Fidelity XRayV3 I am using as transport with DACV3.

How many out there have experience with X10V3 buffer or any other Manufacturer (Space tech, etc.).

Is there any tube add on that is going to make a significant improvement?
dmm53

Showing 1 response by waldenpond

In my system, yes, for the digital front end. Analog not so much (vinyl into separate minmailist SS preamp).

Viridian is correct with respect to impedence matching & quality / 'oomph' of source(s) driving your amps.

I run the MF X10v3 into Levinson monoblocks and find improvements with all of the following DAC front ends: Theta DS Pre GenII (passive pre may explain why the buffer helps); TacT 2.0 RCS; Acurus ACT-3 & Oppo 980 for HT.

In my system / room, the improvements are: Less hardness / glare, expecially strings & piano when played dynamically; less sibilance on female vocals; deeper soundstage / better imaging. Most important, though, is a better sense of cohesiveness, more natural, more thereness without being in your face, more liquid, less fatiguing (not that it was so bad before - just better). I use it in conjunction with a Camelot 5.1 jitter reduction / reclocking device that has similar happy effects.

Like everything audio, it will depnd on the sum of all the parts, I suppose.

Hope that helps.

Ken