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SO,,,, does the Douk Audio T3 Plus suck or not? It's on the way. I know it was not covered in this vid but just wondering if you have listened to it? Thanks.
Hey Randy :) Recent subscriber, and the first component I picked up after watching some of your videos was a phono preamp ! I actually ended up buying TWO of them, because they were pretty inexpensive and I was super curious to try a tube component with my vintage table. Soooo…I picked up the Fosi Box X2 AND the iFi Zen Air. While I think BOTH sound great and worth more than their cost in terms of effect on my sound, I like to use both for different reasons but don’t like moving all the wires from the one to the other when I switch them out. MY question is, do you know of/use a component when you are comparing phono preamps that enables you to wire them up and simply switch between one or the other using buttons or a switch? Basically an A/B switch but for phono preamps. For example, I’d ideally like to be able to power both of these up and start listening right away with the iFi ZEN, and then once the tubes have warmed up on the Fosi, switch over to that one. Thanks for being here and providing such solid reviews/information !!!
You're on fire this weekend. Thank you for your time and effort in sharing these products with us all. Enjoy your Easter weekend with your family. Take care.
Looking at the Douk pictures I see they are using Op Amps from back in the 80's TL071 is single TI Op Amp and NE5532 is from back in the day Signetics and too bad they are surface mount so UPGRADE will involve some major surgery NOT for the faint of heart, or unskilled. I'm sure it's quite good I know several companies are still using them with obviously excellent results. The fact that Douk puts a headphone amp on it should have NO effect on the sound, it's probably isolated (Buffered) off the line output. What I'd like to see is a level set for the headphone amp so you could set it to a comparable level to what your room volume would be. Don't even need another control on the front just a one time adjustment located by the Meter adjust. Just a Thought. I need to get ahold of you with "AN OFFER YOU CAN'T REFUSE".
Love your reviews, recent subscriber. Still stinging from the T15 hitting the floor in the sub-$100 review, but I do listen rather than being butthurt. 🙂 Proof of my listening is how much I like the Aiyima T9, but I digress. Wondering very much however, what do these options (on this review) bring me that my $25 Behringer phono preamp to my tube amp does not? I give a lot of credit to amps and speakers in the audio stream, but hadn't much considered this component.
douk of hazzards , daisy douk, yes i could really see that 😁 . Andover bendsover to douk of hazzards daisy douk, yes i really could see that too 😁. TOO TOOS, flesh out with plenty of clarity, yes i really get the picture now, i can can really see this, now that really does move me physically and emotionally 😁 .
I'm your Jenny :) Where the headphone output comes in handy is if you have a pair of Sennheiser wireless cans like I do for late night listening when you don't want to bother people sleeping. Sounds like the Andover should be called the Bendover..lol
I really like the products of this company douk, the price is very good. I bought the douk tube headphone amplifier three years ago and I am still using them!
Giving examples of what matches the best with each component is awesome. Synergy is King and this is going to really help people get the most for their money
Anyone on here have the Audio Parks Puffin? Debating weather to get one of these or saving and getting the Puffin. Just curious if anyone on here thinks the extra money is worth it?
My Outlaw Audio receiver has a built in phono preamp with an MM, MC switch. It sounds great. I prefer that to having extra boxes, and cables all over the place.
@@markflitz1772, I have the RR2160, and it’s loaded with features ( 3 USB inputs, phono amp, headphone amp, internet radio, AM/FM. You can use it as just an amp, or as a preamp. 110 watts/channel, and great sound. The new RR2160 MK II has even more features.I keep hoping Randy can get one to review. He might be able to throw half of his other gear out.
@@markflitz1772 I don''t understand why some of the other TH-camr channels never review their products. Terrible missed opportunity and to throw some light on an American brand.
Thanks for the reviews. I purchased these items based on the review. Unfortunately, the build quality is poor. One Douk amplifer lasted about 15 minutes...Made a huge screeching noise, and quit. Only headphone out worked after that. So, my take is this....You always get what you pay for. Cheap Douk and Andover hifi stuff works, but doesn't work long.
Good Morning Sir, Am Prashant from India, Need your suggestion on speakers? I hv newly buy a Onkyo AVR TX RZ - 50. Pls advice me 5.1 speaker sets which is small in size, good in sound quality ( bass & vocal) and budget freindly. Awaiting your reply n will be highly appreciated. Keep it up, good going your channel and best of luck for future. We love you Cheapaudioman. Happy weekend. Thanks.
Hi, newbie here! Why do you think it would be better to lose the headphone jack? Does this have effect on the sound quality? And why? Really interested! Thanks!
There's a theory that every added circuit in a component can conceivably add noise and distortion, depending on how well it is electrically isolated within the casing. Therefore, the simpler the better. Stick to the primary function.
I think, "why would ANYTHING ever come WITHOUT a headphone jack?!" They're very inexpensive to implement and it increases the flexibility of everything. Headphone jacks on EVERYTHING! . . especially phones.
Additional electronics can cause signal interference needlessly with the main reason for a device such as a phono stage. Adding proper shielding and such would add to the costs and let's face it, most people would never need one on a phono stage but would rather use the one on their receiver or preamp instead. I'd rather the extra $25 go to better internal components or power supply.
@@rosswarren436 Of course, but that's all mere logic! With such inexpensive gear it is not typical to focus on that level of marginal degradation to the signal. But seriously, the true cost of putting something in a budget product like this is usually design. A proper design and good manufacturing systems will produce a practically flawless product at lower prices than something with none of the extra features that's made from a design that requires low tolerances, or in a manufacturing process that produces lots of waste or defects. As soon as a machine can reliably kerchunk something, penny parts have little effect on the ultimate cost. Even packaging can add more cost and more significantly impact the seller's profits more than an additional feature, jack, or chip on a circuit board. This thing has guitar amp tubes in it for goodness sake! Obviously fun, and not audio fidelity, is the priority with a product like this. I say at this level of price and precision, if it makes sound, put a headphone jack on it! Of course on good equipment you want things to be made to do exactly what they need to do and nothing more. Keep the path short and as clean as possible. Thanks for the replies Ross and @Ships Ahoy.
@@AndyBHome it adds unnecessary cost and manufacturers have to compete. Adding a headphone amp to a device that normally doesn't get one like a phono stage would put that manufacturer at a disadvantage over one who didn't.
@@rosswarren436 But they actually sell more because people buy products with more features over ones with fewer features. People want "more" even when it doesn't make sense. And also you can use this to listen to records without an amplifier. What's missing in this whole description is that this is a small pre-amplifier with a volume knob, not just a "phono stage." It's totally common to put headphone jacks on a pre-amplifiers.
I have the iFi in a second system and, for the price, it punches well above its weight. Well featured and very quiet. Also very well built. Like most phono preamps and tables the grounding needs to be right, though.
The gain and capacitance loading DIP switches on these units are a big feature, in my opinion. The gain is obvious, and the capacitance loading is to adjust the treble extension of your cartridge. If the cartridge and all the wiring to the preamp are very low capacitance, then you only need a low capacitance to have extended treble. So by adding more capacitance loading, you can increase the treble extension. This is a feature that really improves the sound you get from any given cartridge.
A lot of Chinese brands share the same DNA. There's a lot of rebadging and rebranding goes on and a lot of gear comes out of the same factory. Not a big deal though can be confusing. Best to go by price and feature set and see if a pattern emerges from different reviews as to which version might be better. Often you will find that the products look the same but things like accessories and, especially power supplies are different.
I got a Magnius Modius stack and a balanced XLR and called it a day for my PC. Got a qudelix 5k and balanced 2.5mm for my phone and called it a day for my phone. Personally this will be all I ever need for my Ananda Stealth. If I want I could get a balanced 2.5mm to XLR cable and connect my qudelix to my stack for streaming my phone to my Schiit stack but I don't think I need that.
That turntable is too low end to waste money on even a $70 preamp. Just select and use the internal preamp until you can afford a better turntable/cartridge combo. 👨🏻
I'm very happy with mine. Using it with a Rega P1, Aiyima T9 and Q Acoustics 2020i/Tannoy Mx 10 sub in a home office. Sounds great to me and the ability to set tone controls independently of the Amp (which is also connected to my PC via usb) is awesome. Pricey, though.
@@martinrichards6683 No reference for the impact of your statement.. what preamp were you using before the A1 in that setup? Or did you just piece that lineup together straight away?
No you don't "need" one (note it is a phono amp or "stage", not really called a "preamp" - that is a mistake I see even hi-fi dealers make) if your receiver has a phono input. Just make sure if your turntable has one built in that you disable it. You don't want the audio going through TWO RIAA EQ curves or amplification. Now, many people say a "good" outboard phono amplifier can sound better than most built-in ones in receivers. YMMV on that. For instance I like my cheap Art Audio phono stage or amplifier just fine for use in my den, but I plan on getting - maybe - a Moon Audio $600 one just to make sure I'm not limiting the sound I can get out of my living room system. Oh, you probably know to do this, but always ground your turntable to the receiver or phono amplifier using the grounding lug to prevent a possible ground loop that can cause hum.
A phono input on a receiver or integrated amp is usually for a moving magnet phono cartridge. If you have a moving coil phono cartridge, then you will need a phono preamp that supports moving coil voltage generation if your amp or receiver’s phono input doesn’t support it with additional signal gain and the proper input loading. 👨🏻
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My wife has limited me to only two of your videos per day.
Something about drinking too much coffee.
SO,,,, does the Douk Audio T3 Plus suck or not? It's on the way. I know it was not covered in this vid but just wondering if you have listened to it? Thanks.
Buy 2nos American classic valves and get phono stage for free another China bargain
Craziest thing is you can snag the T4 Plus for $45 after tax if you're in China...
Hey Randy :) Recent subscriber, and the first component I picked up after watching some of your videos was a phono preamp ! I actually ended up buying TWO of them, because they were pretty inexpensive and I was super curious to try a tube component with my vintage table. Soooo…I picked up the Fosi Box X2 AND the iFi Zen Air. While I think BOTH sound great and worth more than their cost in terms of effect on my sound, I like to use both for different reasons but don’t like moving all the wires from the one to the other when I switch them out. MY question is, do you know of/use a component when you are comparing phono preamps that enables you to wire them up and simply switch between one or the other using buttons or a switch? Basically an A/B switch but for phono preamps. For example, I’d ideally like to be able to power both of these up and start listening right away with the iFi ZEN, and then once the tubes have warmed up on the Fosi, switch over to that one. Thanks for being here and providing such solid reviews/information !!!
Question on Douk T-3 pro phono preamp which tube would you recommend for the upgrade? Thanks
You're on fire this weekend. Thank you for your time and effort in sharing these products with us all. Enjoy your Easter weekend with your family. Take care.
Randy is close to hitting 200k and celebrated by the industry and his colleagues.
@@gunnerdunbar
all of them
I would go with the Schiit Mani 2 at $149 over either of these.
Just landed the Nobsound AV-525 amp. So far it is respectable. Currently using the T4 Pro pre phono amp.
Looking at the Douk pictures I see they are using Op Amps from back in the 80's TL071 is single TI Op Amp and NE5532 is from back in the day Signetics and too bad they are surface mount so UPGRADE will involve some major surgery NOT for the faint of heart, or unskilled. I'm sure it's quite good I know several companies are still using them with obviously excellent results. The fact that Douk puts a headphone amp on it should have NO effect on the sound, it's probably isolated (Buffered) off the line output. What I'd like to see is a level set for the headphone amp so you could set it to a comparable level to what your room volume would be. Don't even need another control on the front just a one time adjustment located by the Meter adjust. Just a Thought. I need to get ahold of you with "AN OFFER YOU CAN'T REFUSE".
What is the point of the VU meter? Seems an unnecessary risk of noise to me. I have the Douk T3 Plus with Mullard M8100 tubes and it sounds great.
Can’t take any company seriously if they think it’s okay to fasten a speaker into the same rack as the turntable.
this
Love your reviews, recent subscriber. Still stinging from the T15 hitting the floor in the sub-$100 review, but I do listen rather than being butthurt. 🙂 Proof of my listening is how much I like the Aiyima T9, but I digress. Wondering very much however, what do these options (on this review) bring me that my $25 Behringer phono preamp to my tube amp does not? I give a lot of credit to amps and speakers in the audio stream, but hadn't much considered this component.
douk of hazzards , daisy douk, yes i could really see that 😁 . Andover bendsover to douk of hazzards daisy douk, yes i really could see that too 😁. TOO TOOS, flesh out with plenty of clarity, yes i really get the picture now, i can can really see this, now that really does move me physically and emotionally 😁 .
Douk Audio T4 Plus looks ugly as hell. What's the point of putting a VU meter there when it just sticks out like a sore thumb.
I'm your Jenny :) Where the headphone output comes in handy is if you have a pair of Sennheiser wireless cans like I do for late night listening when you don't want to bother people sleeping. Sounds like the Andover should be called the Bendover..lol
Does anyone know how this compares to the t4 pro or know if the pro is any good as a preamp?
I really like the products of this company douk, the price is very good. I bought the douk tube headphone amplifier three years ago and I am still using them!
Giving examples of what matches the best with each component is awesome.
Synergy is King and this is going to really help people get the most for their money
Would the Douk be a good match for my Audio Technica VM540ML and Denon DL-110?
The Douk Audio unit may offer better bang for the buck, but it's so butt ugly that I would want to keep it hidden.
Anyone on here have the Audio Parks Puffin? Debating weather to get one of these or saving and getting the Puffin. Just curious if anyone on here thinks the extra money is worth it?
Carly Simon, Nobody Does it Better from the Spy Who Loved Me, innit? 😃 Thanks for all your videos, matey. Hope you're having a lovely Easter break
I have been in love with Carly since the '70s.
Coffee started to kick in half way through the video 😂
How do y’all feel about a turntable, a pre amp and powered speakers.
Great video
Thank you 🙏🏾
My Outlaw Audio receiver has a built in phono preamp with an MM, MC switch. It sounds great. I prefer that to having extra boxes, and cables all over the place.
Outlaw Audio has the receiver market nailed down. That thing sounds fantastic!
@@markflitz1772,
I have the RR2160, and it’s loaded with features ( 3 USB inputs,
phono amp, headphone amp, internet radio, AM/FM. You can use it as just an amp, or as a preamp. 110 watts/channel, and great sound.
The new RR2160 MK II has even more features.I keep hoping Randy can get one to review. He might be able to throw half of his other gear out.
@@markflitz1772 I don''t understand why some of the other TH-camr channels never review their products. Terrible missed opportunity and to throw some light on an American brand.
How do they sound?
Like 60+ paid/referral links.
Douk T4 Plus is GOOD ?
Thanks for the reviews. I purchased these items based on the review. Unfortunately, the build quality is poor. One Douk amplifer lasted about 15 minutes...Made a huge screeching noise, and quit. Only headphone out worked after that. So, my take is this....You always get what you pay for. Cheap Douk and Andover hifi stuff works, but doesn't work long.
Another great video. A great way to start my Saturday.
Glad you enjoyed it
Problems in some of the chifi is that they have some terrible aesthetics. This douk product is horrible
Yeah they look cheap and nasty even if they perform ok. I only use chifi in the spare room for that reason
Missed Star Wars Two Tubes T-Shirt opportunity here.
Good Morning Sir,
Am Prashant from India, Need your suggestion on speakers? I hv newly buy a Onkyo AVR TX RZ - 50. Pls advice me 5.1 speaker sets which is small in size, good in sound quality ( bass & vocal) and budget freindly.
Awaiting your reply n will be highly appreciated.
Keep it up, good going your channel and best of luck for future.
We love you Cheapaudioman.
Happy weekend.
Thanks.
Hi, newbie here! Why do you think it would be better to lose the headphone jack? Does this have effect on the sound quality? And why? Really interested!
Thanks!
There's a theory that every added circuit in a component can conceivably add noise and distortion, depending on how well it is electrically isolated within the casing. Therefore, the simpler the better. Stick to the primary function.
I think, "why would ANYTHING ever come WITHOUT a headphone jack?!" They're very inexpensive to implement and it increases the flexibility of everything. Headphone jacks on EVERYTHING! . . especially phones.
Headphone jacks don’t belong on PHONO preamps!
Additional electronics can cause signal interference needlessly with the main reason for a device such as a phono stage. Adding proper shielding and such would add to the costs and let's face it, most people would never need one on a phono stage but would rather use the one on their receiver or preamp instead. I'd rather the extra $25 go to better internal components or power supply.
@@rosswarren436 Of course, but that's all mere logic! With such inexpensive gear it is not typical to focus on that level of marginal degradation to the signal.
But seriously, the true cost of putting something in a budget product like this is usually design. A proper design and good manufacturing systems will produce a practically flawless product at lower prices than something with none of the extra features that's made from a design that requires low tolerances, or in a manufacturing process that produces lots of waste or defects. As soon as a machine can reliably kerchunk something, penny parts have little effect on the ultimate cost. Even packaging can add more cost and more significantly impact the seller's profits more than an additional feature, jack, or chip on a circuit board. This thing has guitar amp tubes in it for goodness sake! Obviously fun, and not audio fidelity, is the priority with a product like this.
I say at this level of price and precision, if it makes sound, put a headphone jack on it!
Of course on good equipment you want things to be made to do exactly what they need to do and nothing more. Keep the path short and as clean as possible. Thanks for the replies Ross and @Ships Ahoy.
@@AndyBHome it adds unnecessary cost and manufacturers have to compete. Adding a headphone amp to a device that normally doesn't get one like a phono stage would put that manufacturer at a disadvantage over one who didn't.
@@rosswarren436 But they actually sell more because people buy products with more features over ones with fewer features. People want "more" even when it doesn't make sense. And also you can use this to listen to records without an amplifier. What's missing in this whole description is that this is a small pre-amplifier with a volume knob, not just a "phono stage." It's totally common to put headphone jacks on a pre-amplifiers.
+1 for spontaneous Forrest Gump impression. I was gonna ask about iFi, and then you said it. TY!
I have the iFi in a second system and, for the price, it punches well above its weight. Well featured and very quiet. Also very well built. Like most phono preamps and tables the grounding needs to be right, though.
Great and honest review, as always!
JAN... Joint Army Navy
The gain and capacitance loading DIP switches on these units are a big feature, in my opinion. The gain is obvious, and the capacitance loading is to adjust the treble extension of your cartridge. If the cartridge and all the wiring to the preamp are very low capacitance, then you only need a low capacitance to have extended treble. So by adding more capacitance loading, you can increase the treble extension. This is a feature that really improves the sound you get from any given cartridge.
Yeah, but the Barry White version is nice.
How come so many Douk audio's recent products look like they're mods of Aiyima's products?
A lot of Chinese brands share the same DNA. There's a lot of rebadging and rebranding goes on and a lot of gear comes out of the same factory. Not a big deal though can be confusing. Best to go by price and feature set and see if a pattern emerges from different reviews as to which version might be better. Often you will find that the products look the same but things like accessories and, especially power supplies are different.
So my question is, on the douk how do you select between the aux input and the phono input? Or are they both active all the time
I got a Magnius Modius stack and a balanced XLR and called it a day for my PC. Got a qudelix 5k and balanced 2.5mm for my phone and called it a day for my phone. Personally this will be all I ever need for my Ananda Stealth. If I want I could get a balanced 2.5mm to XLR cable and connect my qudelix to my stack for streaming my phone to my Schiit stack but I don't think I need that.
review suggestion the Wharfedale diamond 220
Again, Douk Audio is hitting above their weight class, thanks for the reviews.
What about connecting the headphone out into the line in on your amplifier adjusting the volume accordingly
Why do you think having the headphone out is problematic ?
I don’t think I could use that product from Douk, no matter how good it is. It’s hideous!!
The Moving Mohel: He does circumcisions on the go!
Can you use your vintage receiver as a phono pre-amp? And hook up an external headphone amp on to the tape out rca connectors of the receiver?
What do you guys think of the Ampapa A1 Vacuum Tube Phono Preamp? I'm considering it to pair with the Audio-Technica AT-LPW30TKR.
The A1 sauce..
Another even cooler looking paperweight. 😵💫
That turntable is too low end to waste money on even a $70 preamp. Just select and use the internal preamp until you can afford a better turntable/cartridge combo. 👨🏻
I'm very happy with mine. Using it with a Rega P1, Aiyima T9 and Q Acoustics 2020i/Tannoy Mx 10 sub in a home office. Sounds great to me and the ability to set tone controls independently of the Amp (which is also connected to my PC via usb) is awesome. Pricey, though.
@@martinrichards6683 No reference for the impact of your statement.. what preamp were you using before the A1 in that setup? Or did you just piece that lineup together straight away?
Do you need a preamp if your receiver has a phono input?
you sure don’t. but make sure you understand the difference in a preamp and a phono stage! :)
No you don't "need" one (note it is a phono amp or "stage", not really called a "preamp" - that is a mistake I see even hi-fi dealers make) if your receiver has a phono input. Just make sure if your turntable has one built in that you disable it. You don't want the audio going through TWO RIAA EQ curves or amplification. Now, many people say a "good" outboard phono amplifier can sound better than most built-in ones in receivers. YMMV on that. For instance I like my cheap Art Audio phono stage or amplifier just fine for use in my den, but I plan on getting - maybe - a Moon Audio $600 one just to make sure I'm not limiting the sound I can get out of my living room system. Oh, you probably know to do this, but always ground your turntable to the receiver or phono amplifier using the grounding lug to prevent a possible ground loop that can cause hum.
No. Only if you want to try and get better sound out of your turn table. Do not plug one into the phono input. Instead use any of the aux. Inputs.
A phono input on a receiver or integrated amp is usually for a moving magnet phono cartridge. If you have a moving coil phono cartridge, then you will need a phono preamp that supports moving coil voltage generation if your amp or receiver’s phono input doesn’t support it with additional signal gain and the proper input loading. 👨🏻
All Phono-Preamps without changeable capacity (uF) for MM, are completely useless.