Review on 🎵 AIYIMA Audio 6J1 Tube Preamplifier Bluetooth 5.0 with Treble & Bass Adjustment DC12V HiFi Audio Preamp NE5532P Chips for Home Audio Amplifier System in Silver+BT 5.0 by Chakravarthi Ladner

The $45 Aiyima preamp is a great choice when you want to add volume, treble, bass controls, and tube tone to your system. You need GE JAN 5654 tubes to get a nice tone. You have to buy GE yourself. This preamp uses Chinese 6J6 tubes. When I previously tried them in my Little Dot Mk 2, they were neutral and didn't change the sound at all. So I didn't bother trying them in this one. The preamp itself doesn't change the sound any differently than what the tubes do. Read reviews of 5456 lamps - there are a lot on the net. These tubes add a smoothness to the music that runs very well through this preamp. In general, I find that tones made shrill or slightly cold by my computer and the Canary Daart DAC become smoother and more realistic. Satchmo's voice sounds real, somehow fuller. Sometimes details emerge that I would not have noticed without the lamps. The preamp body is tiny but solid aluminum. Each knob feels very firm and has a smooth turning feel. Bass really gives you more or less bass. A small change, but enough to make the music sound better. The highs also change the sound a bit, just enough to be noticeable. The power button has a bold appearance. The volume slider moves slowly and steadily, gradually increasing or decreasing the volume. On top of that, Ayima placed small anti-vibration feet on the aluminum case. Nice gesture! I mentioned that my other tube preamp was the Little Dot Mk 2. He's much better built. My Little Dot had weak connections. It's solid. When you insert the pipes, it looks like they're sinking into half-dried cement. There is no movement in the sockets of the tubes. Not so with my Little Dot. When it works properly, Little Dot sounds like Aiyima - everyone lets the lamps do their job. Overall this preamp is a great value, especially when compared to the Little Dot line and similar preamps.