What Does a Sub-$30 Tube Preamp Sound Like?

I've been curious about all the inexpensive tube preamps on Amazon and eBay for a while, so I decide to purchase one and test it out. This is the D2 from PJ Miaolai and it cost me less than $30. I test it out with my Roland Juno-Gi, KORG KO-1 Kaossilator, and David Bowie Stylophone to see if there's any sound difference.
Intro - 0:00
Unboxing - 0:42
Installing the Tube - 1:32
About the Tube - 2:00
Logistics - 2:18
Sound Samples with Juno-Gi - 2:42
Sound Samples with KO-1 - 3:14
Sound Samples with Stylophone - 3:55
Sound Samples with Audio Mix - 4:21
This is the actual preamp I purchased for this video: www.ebay.com/itm/134699658704
#tubepreamp #vacuumtube

[@ajayadas3248]

I honestly can't hear a difference, but I enjoyed the video 😊

[@musicalmiscellany]

It's pretty subtle. I can hear a slight warmth but I need good speakers or headphones to distinguish it. Thanks for checking it out.

[@reggybee]

I can't hear any difference 😔, but I think because we are listening to it on Y.T.on are are phones 📱 makes finding a difference impossible 😮. 😅😂😂... great video as always ⭐👍 keep up the good work 👏👏👏👏👏👍👍👍

[@musicalmiscellany]

Thanks for checking it out. I'll bet it's difficult to discern on a phone speaker because I can barely hear it on studio monitors. It's pretty subtle.

[@The..Butterfly..Effect]

A little fuller clean sound, little
Seems like an unnecessary purchase - Worth investing more
Thanks for sharing

[@musicalmiscellany]

I agree on all points. There is a slight different but it's just that... slight. It might be interesting to see what happens if I push it hard. It might produce some natural overdrive but it doesn't seem to add much color as a preamp.

[@TheDavidPoole]

It is subtle, but there is a bit more warmth and presence there. Would like to hear it driven a bit more. Get that tube glowing 😁

[@musicalmiscellany]

I completely agree. It has just a tiny bit more warmth. Also, I think you make a great suggestion. Where this vid is testing the transparency of the preamp, it might be fun to see how dirty I can get it. Thanks for checking out the vid.

[@TheDavidPoole]

@@musicalmiscellany yes, I think you might get some nice saturation and grit out of this.

[@jfrankcarr]

I'm using a small Class D amp to boost sounds coming from my mixer into small-ish PA speakers in my office. I'm not sure if one of these tube pre-amps would be a worthwhile change but they're getting cheap enough that I might try one out.

[@musicalmiscellany]

Thanks for checking out the vid. For what they cost, you could easily try it and if you don't like it, just return it.

[@drennie158]

It did more than I thought it was going to. I always thought they were a gimmick/scam. It definitely warmed it up a bit. I think you have to drive to breakup like some other people have suggested.

[@musicalmiscellany]

Thanks for checking it out. There is a difference there but it's pretty subtle. I too hear a slight warmth that the preamp adds. I definitely need to do a follow up video where I push it into overdrive range.

[@randyfreiberg7853]

added depth and warmth more pleasant. only a bit, but its a difference. something cool

[@musicalmiscellany]

Yeah. There's definitely a difference but it is subtle. Thanks for checking it out.

[@id.unknown1283]

That little amp sounded pretty good it didn't seem like it did much to the tone, but I have a feeling that it isn't getting enough power to overdrive the tube, but I watch these on my phone so it could have been much different and my phone didn't pick it up

[@musicalmiscellany]

You're exactly right. I was looking more for transparency in this vid. You can hear a slight warmth but it's subtle. I need to do a follow up vid and really crank it to see if I can create a natural tube overdrive.

[@ViviSectia]

It's hard to tell. I think there's a difference there but it's too subtle to be noticeable without turning up the volume and really listening to it but also, I don't think these are meant to heavily color the audio like a guitar preamp. They're supposed to be a headphone preamp. They basically do the same thing the headphone section of your audio interface is doing. It's an upgrade to the onboard audio of your computer or other devices like an tablet or phone which can have trouble driving some of the higher end headphones.

[@musicalmiscellany]

I completely agree with you. This video is really more of a transparency test and I feel like there's a slight warmth added but the tube but it is subtle. I might be fun to do another vid where I try to make it drive the signal and see what happens. Thanks for checking it out.

[@user-ok1hg3ed3z]

First Choice Thank you very much for your review video. Many people use this small device and feel that it has no effect. Most people can't hear any difference. Only a few people can hear the difference. It may be due to psychological effects. Some people even think that such a cheap and cheap product is just a toy and has no use. There are many counterfeit products in China. This kind of product is called a light machine in China, which is a device with a light. In fact, it is powered by electricity to make the tube light up. , the others have no real effect. I also bought this device myself. It only has a sound amplification function. It is difficult to hear the difference in sound quality.

[@musicalmiscellany]

Thanks for checking out the video.

[@stephpicher]

I think I hear a subtle difference, but I'm not quite sure it's not psychological. I might listen it with headphones (I have good-ish monitors).
I don't get "analog warmth" though. I mean, yes I get it if you want to make an instrument or a track sound more (warm, analog, colored, etc.), but not with actual finished pieces of music. (I know people use them with their headphones.)
Like: who wants to add "warmth" to a melancholic Chopin piano piece (for example)?

[@musicalmiscellany]

Thanks for checking it out. I too hear an incremental difference at best.

[@gstormelectro]

Sweet I only heard diff on first demo on iPhone. Now, can it be pushed into distortion?

[@musicalmiscellany]

There is a very subtle different but the preamp seems to add a bit of warmth and punch. I may need to do a follow up video about pushing it into overdrive.

[@garydesrosiers5692]

I really didn't notice anything different between the two,then again I am a little hard of hearing 😅

[@musicalmiscellany]

It's definitely subtle. I don't think it does much but then again... it's doesn't cost much either. LOL. Thanks for checking it out.

[@dysfunctionalcritiques]

I could hear no difference on the piano or stylophone. i feel like there was a slight difference on the drum machine and audio track but i cant even pinpoint waht it was.

[@musicalmiscellany]

Yeah. It is subtle at best. I don't think you should buy one of these if you're expecting a big difference. It's just not there. Thanks for checking it out though.

[@bearshield7138]

I am not hearing any change.... Got my head phones out and listened again and still nothing

[@musicalmiscellany]

It's pretty subtle. I can hear a slight difference but it is just that... slight. Thanks for giving it a go.

[@bearshield7138]

@@musicalmiscellany That may be because of the difference in our equipment.
Be well

[@cbgslinger]

I failed the test Kale! I couldn’t hear the difference.

[@musicalmiscellany]

I can detect a slight difference but it's just that... slight. Thanks for giving it a go.