Review on 🎛️ FX AUDIO Tube 03 Hi-Fi Vacuum Tube Preamplifier Mini Home Audio Stereo Preamp with Bass & Treble Control for Home Theater Audio - Black (With 12V Power Adapter & RCA Cable) by Sara White

Edit: I've only used a $20 DAC, and after doing some research on Schiit Modi 3, if you don't have a comparable DAC, it's probably better to downgrade to 100. This preamp doesn't add detail to everything, but it can emphasize certain frequencies, allowing previously hidden things to come through, as well as some warmth, although to some extent it can make things a bit muddy or even messy. Best remedy for this is to use ef93 instead of 5654 of any kind. Helps remove some of the sharpness from the digital image. Worth a try, I recommend a good quality ef93 (6k4) like Seimens vs ANY 5654, I've tested them all and a Suca tube preamp for the same price is more accurate, sacrifices less OVERALL loss of detail and better overall sound. If that's the case, you should get less harsh digital music, with more warmth, and it's nice to play with sometimes, but off at times. I think I was wrong when I said it doesn't pick up certain frequencies, which I realized once my speaker placement got much better. . I think a true tube buffer with no volume or tone controls would be ideal for most of us. There are a couple of assembled x10-d clones for the same price that are unlikely to lose detail or overemphasize frequencies, but will make the digital sound more enjoyable without the sacrifices you make when using one of those tube preamps. This is probably the best option for a sub-$100 tube buffer until you get to a $400 fi tube. Previous: Was looking for a volume control for my Harman Kardon Pa2100 power amp. It meets all requirements. I boot an audio-audiophile 192 -> tube 03 -> pa2100 sound card from my computer. If you have a decent sound card like mine, I think you're getting more value than you can get from a DAC for less than $100. This brings the music to life and adds clarity to the vocals that I couldn't hear with my Harman Kardon 3250 as a preamp. I hear details I've never heard in songs before, without exaggerating certain frequencies. Sounds good with Treble on Bass controls at midday, uncolored mood. With my previous preamp, I was often dissatisfied with the default bass and treble positions because it lacked a certain level of detail that I was used to or wanted to hear. At the same time there are more middle frequencies. Roll hose is essential. I haven't tried the tubes that came with it, but I did have an old Sylvania 5654. They had some noise in the high frequencies, but are colorful and round with good instrument separation and good-sounding bass. Some old black RCA records had no hiss at high frequencies. RCA are more neutral. By the way, if you listen to music from a computer, the Tidal music service is unmatched in high sound quality. Not quite compared to the good CD players and CDs on my setup, but not bad especially when I crank the treble up a bit on the tube 03.. I think it's worth a try, especially since you can return it if it's not happy I have no hiss with the right tubes, a better preamp than an AV receiver can offer, and tube vibrancy while maintaining the power and performance my power amp can deliver. For $50, this is probably the best upgrade I could get, even for twice the price.