Review on 🎧 Sensational Sound: Explore the SMSL T2 Vacuum Tube Headphone Amplifier for Unmatched Audio Quality by Renz Alexandria

TL;DR - 4 stars for sound quality for the price, decent build quality and some minor complaints about the overall design. You're probably considering this amp because, like me, you want to test tube tone on a budget. However, I was very surprised by the sound quality in relation to the price. I honestly couldn't be happier with a $60 amp. I currently have this paired with a JDS Labs OL DAC and a Sennheiser HD600. The amplifier is silent. I can fully turn the watch face on with no hum or noise when no music is playing. For most tracks, I only have to sit down on the stick between 9-10 a.m. to achieve a comfortable listening level on my 600, which is surprising given the lower output power at 300 ohms. Compared to my previous amp (Fiio E18), it offers a much smoother sound reproduction - it tames the highs and gives the music a slightly richer feel. This seems to add some breadth to the soundstage. Just enough not to feel "in your face". like E18. I don't know if I can run tubes with this amp, although there are a few options if you're inclined to get the most out of this amp. I think it's more of a stepping stone to better tube amps for me. Let's get away from the noise. Build quality is pretty good for a $60 amp. The device is very small, fits well in my hand. The handset is slightly tilted, at least on my device. It's barely noticeable and doesn't affect usage, but it's worth mentioning. Below the tubes are two blue LEDs, which you may or may not like. They don't bother me personally, but I could do without them. The knob is pretty smooth and I had no problem getting the perfect volume for my liking. While I wish it had a 6.3mm output, I can understand sticking with 3.5mm given its size. What I don't quite understand is why the input was placed on the front of the unit. I certainly would have preferred the RCA inputs on the back to the 3.5mm on the front, but I think some concessions had to be made for such a small board. The power button works as it should. It offers a satisfying click when turned on. The device takes some time from turning on to beeping, which gives the lamps some time to warm up. Overall, I'm impressed with what this little amp is capable of. There are some minor changes I would make to the design, but for the cost I can't complain. If you're trying out a tube amp and don't want to spend too much money, this is a good little amp to experiment with.