I purchased it but the adapter seems like it has a part missing, I cannot plug it in because it does not have the two male prongs. Should it come without that on the adapter.
I have been watching your video since the very beginning because the heading CheapAudio... and have thoroughly enjoy them since... only complaint I have is that you are about to bankrupt me because almost everything you reviewed I wanted to buy them, because they all seems to affordable plus the fact that you have a very practical way of evaluating the value of a gear for audience who does not have a golden ear.. Thanks for all the great video and I must say your video is becoming my daily bread.. Bravo..
I have one of these and enjoy it, very pretty bit of kit. I swapped the tube from the stock 6n3 to an GE5670 and it cleaned the sound up a lot. I would recommend doing that.
i tried both the GE and russian tube but they sound veiled compare to the chinese tube, chinese 6n3 tube sounds more spacious and open, the sound stage is much more balance while the russian and american tube the midrange is bit too forward
This device is really great. I just ordered it last week. I am so much impressed by build quality and what it made with my home audio station not onyl including headphones , but also my Logitech THX (z623) speakers is reborned. Litteraly everything sound so good now. Thank you for the review!
I also used this with the logi 623 while I was sorting out what to do with the rest of my setup. The T8 is amazing, nothing like it out there. I might get another.
You have a great channel, providing excellent information and advice and keep surprising me, it is a pleasure to watch your videos. Last year I bought this Aiyima t8 with the amplifyer Aiyima a07. It is coupled with a pair of polk T50 speakers and I also changed the lamp as the original sound was too 'metallic' to me. Now I am enjoying every day such incredible sound at 300 bucks. The details, the bass, it has the perfect sound to me. Thank you so much for your excellent advice!
Randy - I just bought this and I have to say that this thing is fantastic! I am coming fiber out -> Modius -> T8 -> A07 -> RB42's and it sounds beautiful! I had it the same way before but had a passive NS-05P pre-amp in place instead of the T8. The T8 made a HUGE difference. And I can't believe all the features they give you. They left nothing out. Hell, they even give you tone controls and let you turn off the display if you feel the need (I do not) all from the remote. The A07 and the T8 are in the top 5 best deals in audio. Right up there with the Koss KPH30i's, Neumi BS5's, and the Heresy!
Would you mind explaining why you are running fiber into the Modius then the T8? Why would you not just go fiber straight into the T8? (trying to learn)
@@yoster77 same here, I've also been looking into the modius but I want Bluetooth and a headphone jack in front, really wish schiit made the modius with those features
Man, this thing sounds awesome combined with a Foss Audio TB10D and a 1.5" set of "Worlds Best Cables" Preamp RCA leads using Directional Canare Star Quad cables. It adds an almost "LIVE" sound to Music, especially classic rock, which tends to sound harsh on modern Class-D stuff. Treble is very smooth, but also crisp and not harsh, then there's that unmistakable tube warmth. Roxanne by the Police is a new experience. I owe it all to the cheapaudioman, without whom I never would have discovered this affordable magic combo.
Did the T8 really make a difference in the sound of the A08?. I'm still on the fence to add a pre amp to my A08. I think it sounds great on its own so far. Thanks
Your review of the A07 lead me to research it more. I saw the Audio Science Review found it measured better than more than 50% of amps he tested, landing right in the middle of the green zone. He was SHOCKED something could measure so well for $70 and said it would be loudest with a 48 volt, 5 amp power supply. I bought it and love it. I have the Sanskrit 2 and Asgard 3 and after researching for 6 months, I still am confused what to up grade my headphones with (KRK KNS 8400s). I listen to classic rock and '90s rock and I would love one even more revealing with better sound stage and imaging. My impression is that the Sundara is more for classical and jazz and the the HD600 has weak sound stage. Oh well.
I'm sorry, but no, you do not want Monolith M570 headphones, I just bought them, and in my opinion, they are terrible, you'll just have to take my word for it. Hell, I'll sell them to you if you want, and for less than $200, they are in very condition, I barely listened to them, but I would not recommend them. Yeah, I know, I'm not a very good salesman.
Randy so you have talked me into buying two products so far...one with vent holes...and I must say as an ex subscriber to audio porn mags like Stereophile and Absolute Sound , bro you have recalibrated my mind and I get great sound and have some cash leftover for beer...plus old Steve Guttenberg keeps referring to your shtick.....nice work Randy a welcome fresh view of a hobby with an expensive dark side
There are two types of countries in the world- those that have won back-to-back world wars,and those that use the metric system. Many thanks to your sponsor. Happy 'Murica Day.
I wanted to make a withy wisecrack about American schooling and redoing some history classes, but I must have bin very hard concentrating on history with all those school shootings. So go ahead and do some firecrackers to remember... British or Vietnam or something.
Didn’t know the US won the Wars all by itself …oh well! On the other hand, your insistence on the Imperial system is inexplicable. Not even the Brits kept it, because it’s plain stupid.
Another great review Randy. Just a clarification regarding the tube signal. I emailed Aiyima and they told me that the tube affects the sound of not only the front 3.5mm headphone out, but also the rear RCA out. The audio signals goes from the audio input source, through the T8's tube, to either the RCA out or 3.5mm headphone out. In fact, if there is no tube inserted in the T8, there is no audio output at all. Anyway, just relaying to you what Aiyima themselves messaged me.
I've just ordered the Aiyima Tube Preamp T10. All these good(ISH) reviews with Aiyima. Now this one as an ESS Saber ES9038Q2M DAC, Coaxial, Optical, USB, RCA inputs, Bluetooth Aptx HD, Headphone amp, hi-res and tubes! Kinda crazy, I've taken a punt at £80 directly from Aiyimas site. This is for my pc set up, my HiFi set up as a VMV D1SE DAC which has two ES9038PRO chips and a whole lot of other good stuff, hopefully it can sound close (will be happy at 70%).
@@GatilloGuitarra hi there, I don't think you will have any issues with it. It's not better than my vmv d1se but I'm very happy with it. I've replaced the tubes with Millard's but in my pc set up, my end speakers aren't very resolving so I really can't tell if it's made a difference. It needs a few days of break in, both the tubes and the DAC, if connecting to a gaming pc, you might get a click or a pop when using the usb, but this is very dependent on the pc. I'd recommend using a better usb cable than what's supplied in the box. Great little DAC, with Aptx hd for Bluetooth too, which I use alot!
Almost got this but went with the tube A5 instead. I don’t need the dac. I’m using it exclusively for bt on my nightstand with cheap speakers and decent iems. Source is iPhone. Nothing fancy at all but it does the job.
I’m running the T8 as a headphone amp into my sennheiser momentum’s as well as pre amp into my Arcam power amp via rca then into Cyrus speakers. To my ears the top end is often shrill and peaky whilst the bottom end often gets muddy with a lot of bloom. With more simple tracks it does reproduce percussion well and offers ok texture for vocals but seems to struggle with highs and lows on busier track, which only gets worse as the volume climbs. I find myself turning it up and up to try and find some presence and then all of sudden it’s just too bright.
I have a Cyrus soundkey which cost £100 about 5 years ago and it’s a much better headphone amp/DAC adding loads of detail and separation to the sound. If you need an all in one this is good value but if you value sound over convenience I’d recommend looking for separates. Can’t say I’m disappointed because the T8 is so cheap but I find it hard to enjoy the sound when I am used to better. I plan to roll the tube and see what that does and may relegate this to my office setup where frankly it’s designed to be.
Has anyone tube rolled this unit? I recently got this for a office room set up and I was pleasantly surprised how good it sounds. The T8 can use the GE 5670 and I was wondering if it made a difference. I was also seeing if someone tried an adapter and used 6922/ECC88 tube.
after about a year the OE 6N3 tube developed a very low level noise (not affected by vol. control), replaced it with a NOS GE5670 tube & the noise went away plus it sounds great .....
Thanks for your review, I went ahead and bought a T8 and mostly I like it. But I've noticed a slight buzzing noise through speakers or headphones which occurs if you turn off the T8 and turn it back on fairly quickly. There's also a separate high pitched whine noise which seems to get worse the higher you turn up the volume, but that appears to be connected with my Xbox. Additionally there's a barely detectable high pitch whine if I plug my headphones in but that might be due to my thin headphone cord. And finally I can just about hear a high pitch sound if I put my ear up to the LED display. Since I don't plan to use this with headphones I'll probably keep it, since I got a decent discount in the sales and Aiyama has given me a partial refund in respect of the problems.
Hi Dude, I saw your other video recommending the below $350 dollar setup, really helpful and straightforward video. too many audiophiles speak in riddles of specialist jargon, I really appreciate the more digestable explanations. I'll drop a comment with how they perform.
Randy - "A question fer ya here..." I've always enjoyed using various hybrid tube head amps/preamps and matching them with good solid state DAC's. As you know, there are some superb budget DAC's out there, like the SMSL Sanscrit 10 Mk II, the Schiit Modi 3+, the JDL Labs Atom DAC+, etc, along with outstanding budget hybrid tube head amps/preamps. I've been eyeing this Aiyima T8 hybrid tube unit on Amazon. Since I would not be using the internal DAC on the T8, and instead, matching it with another much more superb DAC, I know the sound signature would be different. I listen mostly to powered monitors, and my specific question would be, "Does the tube play a roll in the output sound coming out of the RCA output lines?" Remember, I would have an external DAC running to the T8 (which then becomes solely a head amp/preamp), with RCA lines going from the T8 out to my powered monitors. The other Hybrid Tube head amps/preamps that I use with solid state DAC's are the superb Douk Audio P1 (uses two tubes), the xDuoo MT-602 Hybrid tube head amp/preamp (uses two tubes also), and the Schiit Vali 2+ (uses one tube). In each case, these 3 units (when combined with external solid state DAC's) turn out absolutely superb, musical sound (and the tubes play a huge role in this). So I am really curious if the tube in the Aiyima T8 will affect the sound going to powered speakers?
This is just my opinion and it's really based on nothing, so take it with a grain of salt, and I suppose I probably shouldn't even be answering your question, but I hate to see a question go unanswered... so I would venture to say no, the tube probably would not play a significant role with the RCA outputs on this unit, in particular, I don't think it would greatly and beneficially affect the sound of your powered monitors. Well, this is based on what Randy has said in this video, he does briefly mention something about the sound quality from the outputs(something it looks like you gathered), some of the reviews I read on Amazon for the Aiyima T8, some question whether the tube is even real and not just a gimmick(I'd guess it's real, but not great), and from my experience with my own tube preamp, although, I cannot say that I have plugged it into powered monitors. Also, and this is just me talking, maybe out of my you know what, but personally, I don't think you'd get as much of an effect from a tube preamp, especially one with just a single tube(not a lot of power there), if you are going into powered monitors, I would guess the effect would maybe be a bit greater if you went from the tube preamp into a regular amplifier powering passive speakers. Personally, while this product looks interesting, if you're not interested in the DAC, I think you can probably find better stuff for the price.
If all you want is a PC Dac you can't go wrong with Aiyima $59 A4. Aiya ma A4 DAC/Bluetooth Receiver/Stereo Headphone Amp ES9038 Decoder CSR 8675 Bluetooth 5.0 LDAC/aptX-HD
Happy 4th Randy! I'm a big fan of your reviews and style. My Smart TV serves as my Source, since my 2.1 setup is mainly used for Home Theater. I am not interested in a 5.1 setup. TV feeds DAC Topping E30, I need the remote so I use the DAC in Pre-amp mode. XTZ A2-300 (Class D-Amp), ELAC Debut 2.0 B6.2, REL HT/1003 Subwoofers. I am looking to make an upgrade. As per your review I am planning to go with ELAC Unifi Reference for $1000. Do you think I could also benefit getting a Preamp for my Topping E30?
HI great channal, really helps to get a grip! Just wondering, bought the Aiyima T9, the AO8 pro and Ediffier s 880db speakers, anyway to connect the AO8 pro to a passive active set of speakers instead of non passive. Ediffier Speakers are great!!! Might have to junk the AO8 Pro unless you have some Ideas?
man this ali-express tech is honest, they show you exact whats inside...most time you wont find that when you buy in US or Europe..youll have to guess what chips are inside. At least with the lower priced stuff.
Another excellent review of a very interesting device Randy. Thank you 👌 Thinking about model numbers, will you be reviewing the new Sith Audio SH1-T APNS 👍😁?
Can you access all functions without the remote control via the front panel? Those cheap Chinese rcs have the tendency to stop working after a while. I would hate to have to throw the pre-amp away then
confused but learning here... but doesn't feeding an amp from the headphone jack reduce the dynamic range of the audio because of it's ohms or something like that??
I have this model and it is a great value as Randy said. I have the matched amp incoming through the mail...the Aiyima A8...looks just like this one in form factor. For some reason it has no internet mentions or reviews...but I would assume it is designed to be matched with the T8...so it should be interesting once it arrives. Not sure about the statement of adding a Dac to the T8 though...how? It only has digital inputs...all the RCA are outputs. Any DAC had analof outputs only...so perhaps I am missing something here...because I would instantly slap a JDS Atom Dac in front of this...if I could.
Hi there. Just a question, is it ok to leave the T8 turned on even when not in use? I heard also heard that tube preamps need to be warmed up for 30 mins after turning it on, is this true? Thank you
I have mine set up as a soundboard replacement. I just turn it off at night and on whenever the TV gets used the next day. That way it is always warm when I need it, but not just wasting hours overnight.
Was messing with various settings and it seems to work best with my headphones and PC if I use 2.5 to RCA into it then out from headphone port. One of my big issues is I tend to switch between music and youtube commentary while playing games which goes badly when you have no sound equalization. (I toggle it off for music and games)
Quick question I bought the Aiyim a07 and t8 based on your reviews I have them connected through rca cables but when I connect the aux cable to run a active subwoofer from the amp it cuts the left channel and causes static the only way I’m able to get around this is to connect the aux to the t8 is there a way to connect to the amp with out losing the left channel and causing interference
Am using the cayin at88t tube intergrated amp, am thinking of converting it to a power amp using this ayima as pre amp , do u think will improve the sound ?
so does this have a wall wart power supply?probably 12 volt if so bet the tube is a con and somewhere inside you can find a 8pin ic, a dual op ampm now thesecansound good, but not like a tube the cathode heater in tube may be 6 or 12 volt but the plate voltage that runs the tube is usually 3 or 4 hundred volts tubes that rum on low voltages are specialized sub miniature types with a diameter similar to a cigarette
I'm moving into a new apartment and am getting rid of my stereo speakers. I also own Sennheiser HD598SE's (get them from my first paycheck nearly 5 years ago), the problem I've got is that my Front Audio jack on my PC is acting funky and I don't want to plug in my HD598s into the back of my PC, the cable just isn't long enough. So I thought of getting a good DAC. Would this DAC work for this need? I don't know a single thing about Audio and also checked some Forums, but people seem to recommend loads of different things and that's why I'm a bit lost. I would also really like the bluetooth on the DAC, comes in handy.
How would this compare to the ifi zen air blue, or the xduoo mu-603. Seems this will do everything the xduoo would do, but with optical, PC and other connections for future expansion to something like WIIM. Also, could the tone controls on on the amp I connect this to be used?
Randy, I want to add tube sound to my system. Is this the device I should get? I have two receivers, two TT and a CD changer. I'd like to be able to switch back and forth with everything so I can have the tube sound or not. Hope to hear from you soon!!!
Very informative review. I also watched your review on the FX Audio D01 and I am wondering which DAC to buy. Which one would you recommend between the two DACs ?
Was hoping to have this and the a07 by now, ordered both 6 weeks ago, but unfortunately I ordered direct from Aiyima (t8 wasn't available on Amazon canada). Their support has been all but useless and neither they or the logistics company seem to have a clue where the shipment is. Can't imagine them being any better if there was an issue with their products. Now to scour videos to choose alternatives. Guess my KEF q150's and Polk psw108 will be decorative for a couple more weeks.
As the owner of the Loxjie d30 i would probably roll with this. Its a legit tube pre (better for class D). I believe I like the Douk p1 better than the loxjie d30 as well.
@@ufarkingicehole even with the apparently 'lesser' DAC? The thing that stuck me on the loxjie has been reviews saying how good the DAC is, especially at the price.
@@nadtz what speakers are you using? Amp? Headphones? If you are going with a more laid back amp (or A/B) I would say the Loxjie may be the best option. If you are going with something like the Aimya 07 (I am super impressed by this amp for what it is) get the Douk p1. You honestly can't go wrong with either and ALL of this is subjective. Knowing what I know, I would get the Douk p1 and Aimya 07 as the pre and amp (under $200) . I would either do DIY speakers or wait for the JBL 507s studios to go back on sale for $399 for the pair. I have not heard speakers around the $400 mark that sounds better. I have experienced dozens of setups and components and for $600 for an entire system, good luck beating this setup.
@@ufarkingicehole Micca rb42x with SMSL SA-50. I grabbed these because I had nothing (long time laptop user + road warrior till 2020 did it's thing) and I had a credit + they were slightly discounted on amazon, very happy with them for the price but in the long run they will end up somewhere aside of my desktop. I'll take a look at the douk, not one that was on my list but I had been staying away from tube amps because my understanding is they aren't the best for planars and a friend gifted me some HE 400's when he upgraded to Sundaras (which is what started me looking for a dac+headphone amp). That said for the price of the douk and after quickly looking at some reviews I'm kind of interested.
@@nadtz lol. I have the Micca rb42 and drop Hifi he 4xx headphones. The Douk Drives them louder than I can take. I also hooked up my HD 6xx Headphones and both drive them well. My Miccas have been back in their box for a while. I bought the Sony SSCS5 and I actually wasn't impressed even for the value.
Hi Randy, first of all thank you for your budget recommendations which have literally saved me a lot I would like to ask you which way to better having a better hifi experience while listening music via T8+headphone USB or RCA cables? My other questions are do you have any experience with T6 pro as a headphone preamp ,because i recently got a T8 for my A04 amp and i also need for my beyerdynamics dt990 pro in my office. I also want to upgrade their tubes with GE 5654W(T6pro) and GE 5670W (T8) do you have any audible upgrade experience with them?
I think USB is better, I've tried both mobile phone with adapter and a laptop, being able to get the dac to go into 192 mode with USB. Via RCA, Bluetooth, Optical and Coax, I have only been able to get 44 and 48. It sounds great with any of them though.
Why do majority of preamps don't have sub preouts? I run 2 mono blocks and 2 subs so splitting off the RCA's and only getting half the voltage to each sub and amp isn't cool with me. I had a hard time finding a preamp with sub outs that's why I chose the NAD C658.
@@cheapaudioman maybe I'm just crazy because I'd still run a sub at a desk if I were to build a desktop system. 😂 It's a good thing I don't want a desktop system because I never use the computer and I'd be broke.
@@dicmccoy ha. Another option is a sub that has an rca out and in. Then go source to sub and the sub to amp. This is really a product for desk top or something to replace a sound bar
@@cheapaudioman that would work. And probably better than into my amps then out to my subs, because there could be delay with the subs from what I've heard. I haven't personally tried it to see if it's true or not. Have you tried both ways and if so, did you hear any delay or not?
Aiyama and fosi are owned by the same company but different divisions. I can’t remember the parent company right now. You can cross shop many of their products to find the look and price you like best.
I bought Fosi myself, I think they're just a bit cheaper, and I prefer the understated simple styling a bit more than the Aiyima. Thanks for the info though, I didn't know that. What about FX audio, they look similar to Fosi, different, but similar.
for blue tooth you can just get a rca splitter out of a dac that has volume control and then get a couple of these amzn.to/3k4Zlya and set their volumes and keep the volume the same and then control volume from your dac. that amps will run you 150 for the pair and you'd need a dac/bluetooth receiver and the T8 would fit that bill as well.
Hey Randy! Love your videos! I have been looking into a relatively cheap amp/preamp with bluetooth for a while. I've also seen your video on the SMSL AD18. Which one would you recommend out of the two? I already have a relatively good amp, but no DAC and no headphone amp... From what you have said in the SMSL AD18 video, the AD18 is more analytical, which fits my listening better... I'm at a loss here. Thanks for putting out these quality reviews!
0 Thank you Randy for your awesome vids. I have the smsl sa 300 amp with the AE 100. (This combination works pretty amazing) Can it work with Aiyima T8?
I just received t8 and I have mixed feelings... It's great in some aspects, but bass is kind of too warm... Don't know the language of audiophiles... but this tubish sound makes great work in upper frequencies, at the same time making low too juicy. For me and my setup rap and deep bass songs sounds much worse now, but finaly I can properly listen to Rammstein Amerika or Radio which are very hard to drive. My setup Audiovector m3 Super Pioneer a-80 Prev. Dac Argon dac1 I can say it was tottaly different but only a little worse
@@justinjager8412 depend on what you want. If just DAC, then you can spend your money better I guess. But if you want remte control or pre amp for your cheap power amp as I needed, then it's worthy. Sometimes as I press vol- on remote it instead increases the volume... Otherwise it's good piece
I haven't heard the douk. I've heard good things about both though amzn.to/3qYJ8fg or amzn.to/3yDSD5W the T8 has a remote which is really convenient but the Douk looks pretty awesome
Aiyima reached out to me and let me know that the tube actually affects all outputs on the T8. I apologize about any confusion.
Yes I does...forgot to mention that below.
Have you tried the T6 Pro preamp? Which one do you think sounds better, T8 and T6 Pro?
I purchased it but the adapter seems like it has a part missing, I cannot plug it in because it does not have the two male prongs. Should it come without that on the adapter.
But you said it sounded different?
Hi everyone!
Has anyone tried the Aiyima T9 tube amp?
I have been watching your video since the very beginning because the heading CheapAudio... and have thoroughly enjoy them since... only complaint I have is that you are about to bankrupt me because almost everything you reviewed I wanted to buy them, because they all seems to affordable plus the fact that you have a very practical way of evaluating the value of a gear for audience who does not have a golden ear.. Thanks for all the great video and I must say your video is becoming my daily bread.. Bravo..
Thanks so much!
I have one of these and enjoy it, very pretty bit of kit. I swapped the tube from the stock 6n3 to an GE5670 and it cleaned the sound up a lot. I would recommend doing that.
I bought a second one and about 250 tubes cheap for back up. :)
Have the same tube - amazing combo.
i tried both the GE and russian tube but they sound veiled compare to the chinese tube, chinese 6n3 tube sounds more spacious and open, the sound stage is much more balance while the russian and american tube the midrange is bit too forward
This device is really great. I just ordered it last week. I am so much impressed by build quality and what it made with my home audio station not onyl including headphones , but also my Logitech THX (z623) speakers is reborned. Litteraly everything sound so good now. Thank you for the review!
I also used this with the logi 623 while I was sorting out what to do with the rest of my setup. The T8 is amazing, nothing like it out there. I might get another.
You have a great channel, providing excellent information and advice and keep surprising me, it is a pleasure to watch your videos.
Last year I bought this Aiyima t8 with the amplifyer Aiyima a07. It is coupled with a pair of polk T50 speakers and I also changed the lamp as the original sound was too 'metallic' to me. Now I am enjoying every day such incredible sound at 300 bucks. The details, the bass, it has the perfect sound to me.
Thank you so much for your excellent advice!
Happy 4th of July and Thanks to all the veterans for the freedom we have.
you too, brother. missed on the zoom tonight. hope you have a great day
@@cheapaudioman I was on for a little bit, great day 🎆🎇🎆✨🎆
I've paired T8 with Edifier Active speakers. I bought T8 just for bluetooth but I'm finding new ways of using the same. Thanks for the review!
Awesome review! Something extra in the coffee tonight? lol.
Nice review, Randy. Congrats on going over 30K subscribers! Hope you had a great 4th!
sqeeeeee! I just spotted this yesterday and I am intrigued, but hadn't found any reviews yet. Thank you!
Randy - I just bought this and I have to say that this thing is fantastic! I am coming fiber out -> Modius -> T8 -> A07 -> RB42's and it sounds beautiful! I had it the same way before but had a passive NS-05P pre-amp in place instead of the T8. The T8 made a HUGE difference. And I can't believe all the features they give you. They left nothing out. Hell, they even give you tone controls and let you turn off the display if you feel the need (I do not) all from the remote. The A07 and the T8 are in the top 5 best deals in audio. Right up there with the Koss KPH30i's, Neumi BS5's, and the Heresy!
How coloured does it sound with tube compared to another one you’ve used without a tube?
Would you mind explaining why you are running fiber into the Modius then the T8? Why would you not just go fiber straight into the T8? (trying to learn)
@@yoster77 same here, I've also been looking into the modius but I want Bluetooth and a headphone jack in front, really wish schiit made the modius with those features
Man, this thing sounds awesome combined with a Foss Audio TB10D and a 1.5" set of "Worlds Best Cables" Preamp RCA leads using Directional Canare Star Quad cables. It adds an almost "LIVE" sound to Music, especially classic rock, which tends to sound harsh on modern Class-D stuff. Treble is very smooth, but also crisp and not harsh, then there's that unmistakable tube warmth. Roxanne by the Police is a new experience. I owe it all to the cheapaudioman, without whom I never would have discovered this affordable magic combo.
i tried changing the tube to ge 5670 and russian tubes but they sound veiled compare to the chinese tube
I swapped in a JAN GE 5670W/2C51 tube. A nice improvement.
I heard an improvement, but it is hard to quantify. I didn't want to keep switching tube's to compare, but it seems excellent with it.
I bought this t8 and the aiyima a08 pro thanks to your videos. It's a nice pair with c note speakers and a sub even.
Did the T8 really make a difference in the sound of the A08?. I'm still on the fence to add a pre amp to my A08. I think it sounds great on its own so far. Thanks
@MrSaxman66 it does make a difference if you have a subpar DAC. I use it to play music off my laptop and the t8 makes things more defined imo.
@MrSaxman66 I also use it as an optical input for my TV.
Running a modi 3+ dac to the ao8 pro. Sounds great but would like remote. And curious if the t8 would improve on the sound stage w only one tube …
Your review of the A07 lead me to research it more. I saw the Audio Science Review found it measured better than more than 50% of amps he tested, landing right in the middle of the green zone. He was SHOCKED something could measure so well for $70 and said it would be loudest with a 48 volt, 5 amp power supply. I bought it and love it. I have the Sanskrit 2 and Asgard 3 and after researching for 6 months, I still am confused what to up grade my headphones with (KRK KNS 8400s). I listen to classic rock and '90s rock and I would love one even more revealing with better sound stage and imaging. My impression is that the Sundara is more for classical and jazz and the the HD600 has weak sound stage. Oh well.
Sundara is a detail monster. It's great but not a lot of bass. Check out the Monolith M570. At $200 its a steal. amzn.to/2TA6kEg
I'm sorry, but no, you do not want Monolith M570 headphones, I just bought them, and in my opinion, they are terrible, you'll just have to take my word for it.
Hell, I'll sell them to you if you want, and for less than $200, they are in very condition, I barely listened to them, but I would not recommend them. Yeah, I know, I'm not a very good salesman.
Just got the t8 and am running it into the AO7 to Kef qs5. Sounds great.
Randy so you have talked me into buying two products so far...one with vent holes...and I must say as an ex subscriber to audio porn mags like Stereophile and Absolute Sound , bro you have recalibrated my mind and I get great sound and have some cash leftover for beer...plus old Steve Guttenberg keeps referring to your shtick.....nice work Randy a welcome fresh view of a hobby with an expensive dark side
Singh is King 🍻😂
Why Randy's scripts seem like he just makes up 20% to 50% on the fly? Ha ha! Love it. Thanks for the great advice, Randy.
I'm with some of the other viewers... you are going to bankrupt me with your gem recommendations. 😅 Another great review!
Happy 4th Brother!!!! And HAPPY 30K! 👍👍👍
Thanks, brother!
There are two types of countries in the world- those that have won back-to-back world wars,and those that use the metric system. Many thanks to your sponsor. Happy 'Murica Day.
I wanted to make a withy wisecrack about American schooling and redoing some history classes, but I must have bin very hard concentrating on history with all those school shootings. So go ahead and do some firecrackers to remember... British or Vietnam or something.
Didn’t know the US won the Wars all by itself …oh well! On the other hand, your insistence on the Imperial system is inexplicable. Not even the Brits kept it, because it’s plain stupid.
Grats on the 30k Randy, happy 4th of July!
Another great review Randy. Just a clarification regarding the tube signal. I emailed Aiyima and they told me that the tube affects the sound of not only the front 3.5mm headphone out, but also the rear RCA out. The audio signals goes from the audio input source, through the T8's tube, to either the RCA out or 3.5mm headphone out. In fact, if there is no tube inserted in the T8, there is no audio output at all. Anyway, just relaying to you what Aiyima themselves messaged me.
Happy 4th brother!
I've just ordered the Aiyima Tube Preamp T10. All these good(ISH) reviews with Aiyima. Now this one as an ESS Saber ES9038Q2M DAC, Coaxial, Optical, USB, RCA inputs, Bluetooth Aptx HD, Headphone amp, hi-res and tubes! Kinda crazy, I've taken a punt at £80 directly from Aiyimas site. This is for my pc set up, my HiFi set up as a VMV D1SE DAC which has two ES9038PRO chips and a whole lot of other good stuff, hopefully it can sound close (will be happy at 70%).
Any is it better than t8? Planning to get t10
@@martinbern4761 not heard the t8, T10 arrives today so I'll need to spend some time with it!
@@2HatHudders hello! Also planning on getting the T10, your thoughts?
@@GatilloGuitarra hi there, I don't think you will have any issues with it. It's not better than my vmv d1se but I'm very happy with it. I've replaced the tubes with Millard's but in my pc set up, my end speakers aren't very resolving so I really can't tell if it's made a difference. It needs a few days of break in, both the tubes and the DAC, if connecting to a gaming pc, you might get a click or a pop when using the usb, but this is very dependent on the pc. I'd recommend using a better usb cable than what's supplied in the box. Great little DAC, with Aptx hd for Bluetooth too, which I use alot!
Almost got this but went with the tube A5 instead. I don’t need the dac. I’m using it exclusively for bt on my nightstand with cheap speakers and decent iems. Source is iPhone. Nothing fancy at all but it does the job.
I bought this DAC. It sounds so good.
Was about to pick this one up for a Review. Good review buddy 👍💯👌💪
Greetings from Brazil!!!
Happy 30K Randy. A sponsor suggestion, Studebaker!
Thanks, man
I’m running the T8 as a headphone amp into my sennheiser momentum’s as well as pre amp into my Arcam power amp via rca then into Cyrus speakers. To my ears the top end is often shrill and peaky whilst the bottom end often gets muddy with a lot of bloom. With more simple tracks it does reproduce percussion well and offers ok texture for vocals but seems to struggle with highs and lows on busier track, which only gets worse as the volume climbs. I find myself turning it up and up to try and find some presence and then all of sudden it’s just too bright.
I have a Cyrus soundkey which cost £100 about 5 years ago and it’s a much better headphone amp/DAC adding loads of detail and separation to the sound. If you need an all in one this is good value but if you value sound over convenience I’d recommend looking for separates. Can’t say I’m disappointed because the T8 is so cheap but I find it hard to enjoy the sound when I am used to better. I plan to roll the tube and see what that does and may relegate this to my office setup where frankly it’s designed to be.
Has anyone tube rolled this unit? I recently got this for a office room set up and I was pleasantly surprised how good it sounds. The T8 can use the GE 5670 and I was wondering if it made a difference. I was also seeing if someone tried an adapter and used 6922/ECC88 tube.
after about a year the OE 6N3 tube developed a very low level noise (not affected by vol. control), replaced it with a NOS GE5670 tube & the noise went away plus it sounds great .....
Thanks for your review, I went ahead and bought a T8 and mostly I like it. But I've noticed a slight buzzing noise through speakers or headphones which occurs if you turn off the T8 and turn it back on fairly quickly. There's also a separate high pitched whine noise which seems to get worse the higher you turn up the volume, but that appears to be connected with my Xbox. Additionally there's a barely detectable high pitch whine if I plug my headphones in but that might be due to my thin headphone cord. And finally I can just about hear a high pitch sound if I put my ear up to the LED display. Since I don't plan to use this with headphones I'll probably keep it, since I got a decent discount in the sales and Aiyama has given me a partial refund in respect of the problems.
OMG! I just got this few days ago and was wondering if you'd do a video about it. Thanks!!!!!
Hi Dude, I saw your other video recommending the below $350 dollar setup, really helpful and straightforward video. too many audiophiles speak in riddles of specialist jargon, I really appreciate the more digestable explanations. I'll drop a comment with how they perform.
Randy - "A question fer ya here..." I've always enjoyed using various hybrid tube head amps/preamps and matching them with good solid state DAC's. As you know, there are some superb budget DAC's out there, like the SMSL Sanscrit 10 Mk II, the Schiit Modi 3+, the JDL Labs Atom DAC+, etc, along with outstanding budget hybrid tube head amps/preamps.
I've been eyeing this Aiyima T8 hybrid tube unit on Amazon. Since I would not be using the internal DAC on the T8, and instead, matching it with another much more superb DAC, I know the sound signature would be different. I listen mostly to powered monitors, and my specific question would be, "Does the tube play a roll in the output sound coming out of the RCA output lines?" Remember, I would have an external DAC running to the T8 (which then becomes solely a head amp/preamp), with RCA lines going from the T8 out to my powered monitors.
The other Hybrid Tube head amps/preamps that I use with solid state DAC's are the superb Douk Audio P1 (uses two tubes), the xDuoo MT-602 Hybrid tube head amp/preamp (uses two tubes also), and the Schiit Vali 2+ (uses one tube). In each case, these 3 units (when combined with external solid state DAC's) turn out absolutely superb, musical sound (and the tubes play a huge role in this).
So I am really curious if the tube in the Aiyima T8 will affect the sound going to powered speakers?
This is just my opinion and it's really based on nothing, so take it with a grain of salt, and I suppose I probably shouldn't even be answering your question, but I hate to see a question go unanswered... so I would venture to say no, the tube probably would not play a significant role with the RCA outputs on this unit, in particular, I don't think it would greatly and beneficially affect the sound of your powered monitors.
Well, this is based on what Randy has said in this video, he does briefly mention something about the sound quality from the outputs(something it looks like you gathered), some of the reviews I read on Amazon for the Aiyima T8, some question whether the tube is even real and not just a gimmick(I'd guess it's real, but not great), and from my experience with my own tube preamp, although, I cannot say that I have plugged it into powered monitors.
Also, and this is just me talking, maybe out of my you know what, but personally, I don't think you'd get as much of an effect from a tube preamp, especially one with just a single tube(not a lot of power there), if you are going into powered monitors, I would guess the effect would maybe be a bit greater if you went from the tube preamp into a regular amplifier powering passive speakers.
Personally, while this product looks interesting, if you're not interested in the DAC, I think you can probably find better stuff for the price.
One wonders how much better this would sound if the Chinese 6N3 stock valve on the Aiyima were replaced with (say) a GE 5670 military grade.
I did just that and it does sound better, but mainly because the OE tube became noisy .....
Greetings from India !
If all you want is a PC Dac you can't go wrong with Aiyima $59 A4. Aiya ma A4 DAC/Bluetooth Receiver/Stereo Headphone Amp ES9038 Decoder CSR 8675 Bluetooth 5.0 LDAC/aptX-HD
How is the sound quality compared to the T10?
Do you have plans on reviewing the new A8 amp?
Let's hope he does, I'm very impressed so far, silent USB input and seems pretty damn good for the price.
Happy 4th Randy! I'm a big fan of your reviews and style. My Smart TV serves as my Source, since my 2.1 setup is mainly used for Home Theater. I am not interested in a 5.1 setup. TV feeds DAC Topping E30, I need the remote so I use the DAC in Pre-amp mode. XTZ A2-300 (Class D-Amp), ELAC Debut 2.0 B6.2, REL HT/1003 Subwoofers. I am looking to make an upgrade. As per your review I am planning to go with ELAC Unifi Reference for $1000. Do you think I could also benefit getting a Preamp for my Topping E30?
so i guess this would be a pretty good place to start if i would primarily be using it with headphones?
absolutely. I really like this little thing.
HI great channal, really helps to get a grip! Just wondering, bought the Aiyima T9, the AO8 pro and Ediffier s 880db speakers, anyway to connect the AO8 pro to a passive active set of speakers instead of non passive. Ediffier Speakers are great!!! Might have to junk the AO8 Pro unless you have some Ideas?
Does that mean, that tube only works with headphone out and not rca out?
man this ali-express tech is honest, they show you exact whats inside...most time you wont find that when you buy in US or Europe..youll have to guess what chips are inside. At least with the lower priced stuff.
Can I hook this up to my Denon receiver and use the control still from the denon remote?
Another excellent review of a very interesting device Randy. Thank you 👌 Thinking about model numbers, will you be reviewing the new Sith Audio SH1-T APNS 👍😁?
Can you access all functions without the remote control via the front panel? Those cheap Chinese rcs have the tendency to stop working after a while. I would hate to have to throw the pre-amp away then
Hi Randy,
Any plans to review the Aiyima T9? It looks very cool. Would really like to hear your impressions. Been really enjoying your vids.
would you suggest the FX DO-1 DAC or this T8 ?
confused but learning here... but doesn't feeding an amp from the headphone jack reduce the dynamic range of the audio because of it's ohms or something like that??
I have this model and it is a great value as Randy said. I have the matched amp incoming through the mail...the Aiyima A8...looks just like this one in form factor. For some reason it has no internet mentions or reviews...but I would assume it is designed to be matched with the T8...so it should be interesting once it arrives. Not sure about the statement of adding a Dac to the T8 though...how? It only has digital inputs...all the RCA are outputs. Any DAC had analof outputs only...so perhaps I am missing something here...because I would instantly slap a JDS Atom Dac in front of this...if I could.
What's better t8 or t10 almost same spec?
is the tube only for headphones or also at the output for the amplifier?? tnx
Does anyone know how to connect this thing to AirPods directly?It doesn't want to pick up it's bluetooth.
Does the AIYIMA A08 PRO have a remote?
also how will this work with the AIYIMA T8?
As the AIYIMA T8 comes with a remote.
Boom!!! sold
Hi there. Just a question, is it ok to leave the T8 turned on even when not in use? I heard also heard that tube preamps need to be warmed up for 30 mins after turning it on, is this true? Thank you
I have mine set up as a soundboard replacement. I just turn it off at night and on whenever the TV gets used the next day. That way it is always warm when I need it, but not just wasting hours overnight.
Randy was drunk in this one XD hahahahaha realy funy goin' drunk to work, sir hahaha
The t8 vs a t6pro?
Can you review the Aiyima T6 pro also? :)
Was messing with various settings and it seems to work best with my headphones and PC if I use 2.5 to RCA into it then out from headphone port. One of my big issues is I tend to switch between music and youtube commentary while playing games which goes badly when you have no sound equalization. (I toggle it off for music and games)
Quick question I bought the Aiyim a07 and t8 based on your reviews I have them connected through rca cables but when I connect the aux cable to run a active subwoofer from the amp it cuts the left channel and causes static the only way I’m able to get around this is to connect the aux to the t8 is there a way to connect to the amp with out losing the left channel and causing interference
Am using the cayin at88t tube intergrated amp, am thinking of converting it to a power amp using this ayima as pre amp , do u think will improve the sound ?
The RCA inputs on this actually offers phono RIAA correction??
so does this have a wall wart power supply?probably 12 volt if so bet the tube is a con and somewhere inside you can find a 8pin ic, a dual op ampm now thesecansound good, but not like a tube the cathode heater in tube may be 6 or 12 volt but the plate voltage that runs the tube is usually 3 or 4 hundred volts tubes that rum on low voltages are specialized sub miniature types with a diameter similar to a cigarette
I'm moving into a new apartment and am getting rid of my stereo speakers. I also own Sennheiser HD598SE's (get them from my first paycheck nearly 5 years ago), the problem I've got is that my Front Audio jack on my PC is acting funky and I don't want to plug in my HD598s into the back of my PC, the cable just isn't long enough. So I thought of getting a good DAC. Would this DAC work for this need? I don't know a single thing about Audio and also checked some Forums, but people seem to recommend loads of different things and that's why I'm a bit lost. I would also really like the bluetooth on the DAC, comes in handy.
How would this compare to the ifi zen air blue, or the xduoo mu-603. Seems this will do everything the xduoo would do, but with optical, PC and other connections for future expansion to something like WIIM. Also, could the tone controls on on the amp I connect this to be used?
Can the 3.5mm output be used as a sub out?
Randy,
I want to add tube sound to my system.
Is this the device I should get?
I have two receivers, two TT and a CD changer. I'd like to be able to switch back and forth with everything so I can have the tube sound or not.
Hope to hear from you soon!!!
So if this a tube amp then you can’t get any tube sound when connect to an amp for external speakers, am I correct?
Hi. Can you recommend a good budget cd player to connect to this amp.
So can you use this unit by itself? Or it has to be connected to something else?
needs to paired to an amp if ya want to use speakers otherwise the headphone port works great .....
Tried to change my t8 to Yamaha wxc-50 and my short first impression is that I lost half of the details...
Very informative review. I also watched your review on the FX Audio D01 and I am wondering which DAC to buy. Which one would you recommend between the two DACs ?
Was hoping to have this and the a07 by now, ordered both 6 weeks ago, but unfortunately I ordered direct from Aiyima (t8 wasn't available on Amazon canada). Their support has been all but useless and neither they or the logistics company seem to have a clue where the shipment is. Can't imagine them being any better if there was an issue with their products.
Now to scour videos to choose alternatives. Guess my KEF q150's and Polk psw108 will be decorative for a couple more weeks.
Hi, thanks for the review. Is it possible to listen to the BT input or Line in RCA while using the USB connection from the PC ?
If I wasn't so set on the loxjie d30 I'd grab this just to be done with my "budget" desktop setup... *sigh*.
As the owner of the Loxjie d30 i would probably roll with this. Its a legit tube pre (better for class D). I believe I like the Douk p1 better than the loxjie d30 as well.
@@ufarkingicehole even with the apparently 'lesser' DAC? The thing that stuck me on the loxjie has been reviews saying how good the DAC is, especially at the price.
@@nadtz what speakers are you using? Amp? Headphones? If you are going with a more laid back amp (or A/B) I would say the Loxjie may be the best option. If you are going with something like the Aimya 07 (I am super impressed by this amp for what it is) get the Douk p1. You honestly can't go wrong with either and ALL of this is subjective.
Knowing what I know, I would get the Douk p1 and Aimya 07 as the pre and amp (under $200) . I would either do DIY speakers or wait for the JBL 507s studios to go back on sale for $399 for the pair. I have not heard speakers around the $400 mark that sounds better. I have experienced dozens of setups and components and for $600 for an entire system, good luck beating this setup.
@@ufarkingicehole Micca rb42x with SMSL SA-50. I grabbed these because I had nothing (long time laptop user + road warrior till 2020 did it's thing) and I had a credit + they were slightly discounted on amazon, very happy with them for the price but in the long run they will end up somewhere aside of my desktop.
I'll take a look at the douk, not one that was on my list but I had been staying away from tube amps because my understanding is they aren't the best for planars and a friend gifted me some HE 400's when he upgraded to Sundaras (which is what started me looking for a dac+headphone amp). That said for the price of the douk and after quickly looking at some reviews I'm kind of interested.
@@nadtz lol. I have the Micca rb42 and drop Hifi he 4xx headphones. The Douk Drives them louder than I can take. I also hooked up my HD 6xx Headphones and both drive them well. My Miccas have been back in their box for a while. I bought the Sony SSCS5 and I actually wasn't impressed even for the value.
Hi Randy, first of all thank you for your budget recommendations which have literally saved me a lot
I would like to ask you which way to better having a better hifi experience while listening music via T8+headphone USB or RCA cables? My other questions are do you have any experience with T6 pro as a headphone preamp ,because i recently got a T8 for my A04 amp and i also need for my beyerdynamics dt990 pro in my office. I also want to upgrade their tubes with GE 5654W(T6pro) and GE 5670W (T8) do you have any audible upgrade experience with them?
I think USB is better, I've tried both mobile phone with adapter and a laptop, being able to get the dac to go into 192 mode with USB. Via RCA, Bluetooth, Optical and Coax, I have only been able to get 44 and 48. It sounds great with any of them though.
Needs a few gears on the side to complete the Steam Punk look.
Why do majority of preamps don't have sub preouts? I run 2 mono blocks and 2 subs so splitting off the RCA's and only getting half the voltage to each sub and amp isn't cool with me. I had a hard time finding a preamp with sub outs that's why I chose the NAD C658.
Emotiva has a really good two channel with a sub out.
I also think this one is really meant for desk top usage but it would have been awesome to have a sub out
@@cheapaudioman maybe I'm just crazy because I'd still run a sub at a desk if I were to build a desktop system. 😂
It's a good thing I don't want a desktop system because I never use the computer and I'd be broke.
@@dicmccoy ha. Another option is a sub that has an rca out and in. Then go source to sub and the sub to amp. This is really a product for desk top or something to replace a sound bar
@@cheapaudioman that would work. And probably better than into my amps then out to my subs, because there could be delay with the subs from what I've heard. I haven't personally tried it to see if it's true or not. Have you tried both ways and if so, did you hear any delay or not?
Aiyama and fosi are owned by the same company but different divisions. I can’t remember the parent company right now. You can cross shop many of their products to find the look and price you like best.
I bought Fosi myself, I think they're just a bit cheaper, and I prefer the understated simple styling a bit more than the Aiyima. Thanks for the info though, I didn't know that. What about FX audio, they look similar to Fosi, different, but similar.
Sorry for dumb qustion. Does it help to connect PROZOR DAC to this Aiyima DAC to improve sound?
How do I get 192khz from my PC? Only reading 48khz currently.
Make sure you turn up the settings on your computer. It's generally defaulted to 48.
What amp do u recommend for my four patio speakers they are kef Ventura 6
for blue tooth you can just get a rca splitter out of a dac that has volume control and then get a couple of these amzn.to/3k4Zlya and set their volumes and keep the volume the same and then control volume from your dac. that amps will run you 150 for the pair and you'd need a dac/bluetooth receiver and the T8 would fit that bill as well.
@@cheapaudioman oh k what amplifier do you recommend
I was looking for something that’s a four channel what do you think
Hey Randy! Love your videos!
I have been looking into a relatively cheap amp/preamp with bluetooth for a while. I've also seen your video on the SMSL AD18.
Which one would you recommend out of the two?
I already have a relatively good amp, but no DAC and no headphone amp...
From what you have said in the SMSL AD18 video, the AD18 is more analytical, which fits my listening better...
I'm at a loss here.
Thanks for putting out these quality reviews!
So can you use this to go from computer to speakers, or do you need an amp also?
Decided I will drink an Imperial Gallon of Fosters to celebrate your Commonwealth Measurement
0 Thank you Randy for your awesome vids. I have the smsl sa 300 amp with the AE 100. (This combination works pretty amazing) Can it work with Aiyima T8?
I just received t8 and I have mixed feelings... It's great in some aspects, but bass is kind of too warm... Don't know the language of audiophiles... but this tubish sound makes great work in upper frequencies, at the same time making low too juicy. For me and my setup rap and deep bass songs sounds much worse now, but finaly I can properly listen to Rammstein Amerika or Radio which are very hard to drive.
My setup
Audiovector m3 Super
Pioneer a-80
Prev. Dac Argon dac1 I can say it was tottaly different but only a little worse
One more thing... Bt is not so good... Just compared tidal+bt and NAD DCD 545bee + CD on dire straits and there is huge gap between those two
I actually almost only listen to deep bass (dnb, techno) and rap so would you not recommend it then for that use?
@@justinjager8412 depend on what you want. If just DAC, then you can spend your money better I guess. But if you want remte control or pre amp for your cheap power amp as I needed, then it's worthy. Sometimes as I press vol- on remote it instead increases the volume... Otherwise it's good piece
Need help! Aiyima t8 or douk P1?! Thank
s
I haven't heard the douk. I've heard good things about both though amzn.to/3qYJ8fg or amzn.to/3yDSD5W the T8 has a remote which is really convenient but the Douk looks pretty awesome
Can they drive sennheiser hd 650?
I'm confused what to get t6 pro. Or t8
Noticed that it doesn’t go over 48kHz regardless. It’s either 44.1 or 48. I think it downsamples my hireses.
It goes to 192kHz.
@@AntPDC thank you for this dreamy glimmer of wishful thinking. But it’s just a $120 piece of cheap pile of plastic to go up to 192kHz.
@@Duc_hunter Its case is solid, milled aluminium. Calm yourself. Did you pay a ton more $$$$ for the same or similar performance or something?
I’ve noticed this too. Whether streaming to my Wiim and connecting via optical or using pc usb cable it always reads 44…am I doing something wrong?
How does this one fare against the t6 pro or the t9?
How do I connect A07 to T8?
RCA cables
Can you plug this into an old vintage amp?
Is that the Claudia Schiffer of class d amps at the moment....I want it regardless of how it sounds!
Does the Tube affect the pre-amp?
Yes it does fortunately