Review on AIYIMA T8 Preamplifier Bluetooth Headphone by Gregory Flynt

Components are a bit outdated but great value. The ES9018K2M DAC can be found in slightly older but more expensive DACs like the $400 MSRP Topping DX7 (which debuted in 2017 and is now being discontinued). The NJW1194 IC is also being discontinued and I suspect that's how Aiyama managed to push those budget prices up. I'm pretty sure the tube is purely aesthetic - just a decorative addition to a solid state amp. Nevertheless, I think it's good that the lamp is partially protected from damage. Compared to similarly expensive FiiO USB amplifiers, it has excellent sound quality. The operation of the device is extremely intuitive and works like plug & play on my Win10 PC. The main reason I wanted this was to replace a smaller portable DAC I use at work - it has a volume knob rather than small buttons. My main issue hampering a 5 star rating is that none of my headphones are plugged in tightly - the fit is pretty loose despite the device being 30 minutes old. If you leave it alone it's fine, but any significant movement will shorten your band (which isn't too bad since it's not portable). I'm a little wary of the durability of this device, so I may have to adjust my rating in the near future if the device degrades.