Review on AIYIMA T8 Preamplifier Bluetooth Headphone by Daniel Steele

I tried to choose between the Aiyima T8 and the Douk P1 but this one won me over due to the remote control and optical input which the P1 doesn't have . This (with Aiyima A07 power amp) replaces the SMSL AD18 coming into my garage. I needed a versatile, inexpensive and small preamp for my bedroom and this is perfect for my needs. This and the A07 currently power the Emotiva B1+ speakers. My audio source is a Chromecast Audio connected to the T8 via an optical input, and while the Saber ES9018K2M isn't the latest DAC chip, it's still very capable. I've also tried the RCA, USB and Bluetooth inputs and they all work well. It should be noted that there has been some confusion regarding lamp power. Some reviews online state that if you want tube sound, you only need to use 3.5mm front-facing headphones. After speaking to Ayima, they confirmed that the tube signal also went to the rear RCA output. In fact, there is no audio output at all unless a tube is inserted. Anyway, I used a NOS 6N3P-E tube and am happy with the sound. Finally, the bass and treble adjustment is a nice feature. Since I'm using this in an upstairs bedroom where I don't want to put a subwoofer, a small bass EQ boost is all my speakers need for a richer sound when playing music. The small downside is that, as far as I know, adjustment of the high and low frequencies is only possible with the remote control. If you lose or damage the remote control, you're out of luck with your equalizer settings. Overall, I really like this T8. I'm a fan of Hi-Fi components on a budget and this is perfect for my needs. This paired with the small and excellent A07 sounds better than my outgoing AD18.