Tubes have juice
Audio Research LS16 Preamplifier; No-name Tube Buffer; Eddy Current Balancing Act Preamplifier By this point I have a good grasp on what tubes can add to the sound of a system, and conversely what solid state has to offer. But every now and then I still get struck by the crystalline clarity on the top end when tubes are involved. Something about that sound makes cymbals and stringed instrument plectrum noise just so sweet and attractive. Here at The Music Room, we see everything that’s made for high end audio. And on both ends of the price spectrum, folks are focused on tubes. This little generic, unbranded Chinese tube buffer has a little magic in it, take it from me. For a $69 piece of kit with no name and no information, that seems a little hard to believe. But it’s the tubes, man. Even at $69 and with no info you can’t screw up the magic that tubes bring to the table too badly. Now, describing the bass on this thing, I would call tubby and soft. But that’s why you p...