Musical Fidelity X-10 V3 Tube Buffer anyone have experience with it?

[TommyTunes]

Just ordered one to use, which I plan on using on the playback side from my R2R. Anyone using one or have an opinion?

[Steve Hoffman]

What do you need a buffer for, unhappy with the sound that you have now?

[KT88]

They just add noise. It might also attenuate some digital RF hash that you find annoying.

"I actually prefer a little tape hiss" - George Harrison

[TommyTunes]

[QmUOTE=Steve Hoffman]What do you need a buffer for, unhappy with the sound that you have now?[/QUOTE]

I thought the ithat it would give it more depth to the image. The sound of tapes compared to either vinyl or CD playback lacks depth, they seem more discrete in separation.

[dgsinner]

[QmUOTE=Steve Hoffman]What do you need a buffer for, unhappy with the sound that you have now?

[QUOTE]I thought the ithat it would give it more depth to the image. The sound of tapes compared to either vinyl or CD playback lacks depth, they seem more discrete in separation.[QUOTE]

While I was still in the US, I had two rtrs I used regularly--a Pioneer RT-707 (still one of audiophilia's great bargains) and a Tascam 34-B. There was no lack of depth whatsoever, certainly not compared to CD, and a reels dubbed from record revealed exactly what was on the record. Caveats: everything working right and a high quality tape.

Unless you're talking about pre-recorded tapes, in which case all bets are off.

Dale

[TommyTunes]

[QUOTE]I thought the ithat it would give it more depth to the image. The sound of tapes compared to either vinyl or CD playback lacks depth, they seem more discrete in separation.[QUOTE]

While I was still in the US, I had two rtrs I used regularly--a Pioneer RT-707 (still one of audiophilia's great bargains) and a Tascam 34-B. There was no lack of depth whatsoever, certainly not compared to CD, and a reels dubbed from record revealed exactly what was on the record. Caveats: everything working right and a high quality tape.

Unless you're talking about pre-recorded tapes, in which case all bets are off.

Dale
Prerecorded tapes.

[Billy Budapest]

I have one. Sounds great.

[dgsinner]

Prerecorded tapes.

I don't have that much experience with prerecorded tapes. Of the few that I own, I can say without question they need to be 7 1/2 IPS editions. A 3 3/4 IPS just won't cut it for sound quality, at least in my experience. That could be the reason it's not sounding as good as you expect...

Dale

[BIG ED]

I have one. Sounds great.
Would anyone care to add to that?
Thanks.

[Spaceboy]

Wouldnt you be better buying some attentuating RCA plugs? Less distortion and cheaper. Buy a valve amp if you want valve sound.

[teaser5]

I have one. In fact I have the DAC and the power box as well, using my CD player for transport. I found it warmed up my digital sound, made it more analogue sounding for lack of a better explanation. I find myself listening to a lot more CD's since I added them. Hope this helps
Peace-
Norm
t5

[4_everyman]

I have one. In fact I have the DAC and the power box as well, using my CD player for transport. I found it warmed up my digital sound, made it more analogue sounding for lack of a better explanation. I find myself listening to a lot more CD's since I added them. Hope this helps
Peace-
Norm
t5

:thumbsup:

My own experience was pretty much identical to Norm's. In fact, it's what got me on the path having a tube system for vinyl playback. Bottom line - i liked what it did for the sound of CD playback. If i had it to do over, i'd definitely buy it again.

[JLGB]

I guess thats similar to what DSD does with digital...getting it dirty to sound analog! Half kidding!

[dinchart]

I thought the purpose of a tube buffer was to cure impedance mismatches between components.

Eastern Electric makes one, too:

http://www.eeaudio.com/eeaudio_009.htm

[BIG ED]

I thought the purpose of a tube buffer was to cure impedance mismatches between components.

Eastern Electric makes one
At $850US does it outperform the MF?
Any post/threads/reviews on the BBA unit?
Thanks.

teaser5,
Do you notice improvements w/the power box?

Great to hear from others on the MF X-10, as well.

[Joe Nino-Hernes]

Remember, these are designed as buffer amps. Their real use would be between a source and a passive pre, or a passive pre and a power amp. This would help resolve impedance issues between the active component and the passive one.

Using them elsewhere is kind of silly. You are just adding another source of noise, and possibly coloration. Standard active components have buffer amps built into them.

[teaser5]

teaser5,
Do you notice improvements w/the power box?



Umm. Good question. I have never tried it without the power box. I'm not one of these guys who's always trying different connections. Once I posted a picture of my surround system and stereo and lots of guys wanted to know if I ever switched my Totems and my B&W's and I had frankly never even thought of it. Sorry...

Peace-
N
t5

[Billy Budapest]

Remember, these are designed as buffer amps. Their real use would be between a source and a passive pre, or a passive pre and a power amp. This would help resolve impedance issues between the active component and the passive one.

I use the X-10 in line before my integrated amp, a C-J CAV-50. The pre-amp section of the CAV-50 is passive, except for the signal routed to the pre-out jacks. No wonder why this newfangled contraption works so well for me!

[BIG ED]

Umm. Good question. I have never tried it without the power box. I'm not one of these guys who's always trying different connections.
Peace-
N
t5
Not a problem.
So you bought all three MF units at the same time?
Who did you buy from?
Thanks.

[BIG ED]

Remember, these are designed as buffer amps. Their real use would be between a source and a passive pre, or a passive pre and a power amp. This would help resolve impedance issues between the active component and the passive one.

Using them elsewhere is kind of silly. You are just adding another source of noise, and possibly coloration. Standard active components have buffer amps built into them.

So, better as pre-outs to amp than source outs to rec/pre, right?
However, are you not "just adding another source of noise, and possibly coloration" as well? How is it better in one place over the other?
Thanks.
My initial feeling was indeed for pre-out, (not cause I knew what I as doing) because I wanted to take advantage of the improvements; no matter what the source. :angel:

[BIG ED]

What do you need a buffer for, unhappy with the sound that you have now?
Aren't we all?!?!?! :laugh: :eek: :help:

[teaser5]

Not a problem.
So you bought all three MF units at the same time?
Who did you buy from?
Thanks.

Exactly. It was a deal thru Music Direct. Two Christmas' ago IIRC
Cheers-
N
t5

[platinum ear]

I thought the purpose of a tube buffer was to cure impedance mismatches between components.


The term 'Tube buffer' is really a paradox because the output impedance is usually quite high. This can result in a slightly rolled off frequency response if the power amplifier that it's driving has an input filter that requires a very low Z source, which is usually the case, or if you are running long interconnects from its output.
The real purpose of this device is to add some low order HDL2/3 which results in a warmer and smoother sound, much more like LP.

FTR, impedance matching is not relevant in hi-fi audio systems where typically short unbalanced interconnects are used. Audio amplifiers need only exhibit a low output impedance and a reasonably high input impedance to fully satisfy signal transfer requirements.

[fjhuerta]

Crazy...

We try to get as close to the original sound source as possible (via DCC's, MoFis, SACD's, DVD-A's)...

...and then, we corrupt the signal with vintage gear, tube buffers, and countless tweaks. :D

[Billy Budapest]

Crazy...

We try to get as close to the original sound source as possible (via DCC's, MoFis, SACD's, DVD-A's)...

...and then, we corrupt the signal with vintage gear, tube buffers, and countless tweaks. :D

I don't try to get as close to the original source as possible, I just want something that sounds good. Remember, "it's all in the mastering."