FX Audio TUBE-01 JAN 5654W Tube Buffer HiFi Preamplifier (TUBE-01S-BK)

I have this set up with the stock GE tubes between a Rotel CD Player (output to a Modi 3 DAC) into a Rotel Pre Amp and it adds a really juicy layer of 3dimesionality to the music. The amp is an upgraded Hafler 220 and the speakers are Sonus Faber Toy Towers which are above 90db sensitivity and have turned out to be a perfect match with the tube stage. I tend to listen to quieter music like jazz and classical and the system is perfect for that. I was going to order some expensive Telefunken tubes to improve the sound but after a few hours of thoroughly enjoyable listening I don't see a need to do that anymore.This stage would work great with any high efficiency speakers so if you're looking for a budget build I'd suggest Klipsch Synergy speakers (or any horn speaker really) and a Yamaha or Denon integrated amp and you'd have a great starter system that sounds excellent.If a channel cuts out you may need to jiggle the tubes around a bit as only gravity is holding them in place. I had a channel cut out, turned off the unit, sprayed the tube sockets with compressed air to remove any debris and then sprayed the pins of each tube with Deoxit. It's worked flawlessly since then.It did seem to take a while for the package to arrive in the mail and the Chinese postal tracking system seemed to show that day after day the package keep leaving the post office and then coming back, kind of going around in circles for 2 weeks, which drove me up the wall. But it did arrive in the specified time frame and it does work great so all's well that ends well.

This preamp works great and it comes with the great G.E. tubes. It's a steal at this price. I had bought another before for the same price but it came with stock Chinese tubes. This is a very good deal in my opinion for $46.99.Update 1/22/19I kept on noticing the left channel cutting out. I didn't know that this preamplifier was causing it. Luckily, I have two of these. I changed this one out with my old one and now I don't have the problem anymore. So either this piece of equipment is defective or one of the tubes it came with is bad. I ordered two new tubes and will test this preamp again after they arrive.Update: 2/2/19I received the new tubes, installed them and tested it again for a few days. It has the same problems with the new tubes. So, the preamplifier itself is defective. Too bad. Kind of disappointing. I guess I can still use it in an emergency. The volume level will cut out on the left channel though. Unfortunately, I have to reduce my rating of this product.

I bought this unit as a cheap holdover until I could find something better but it has exceeded my expectations. I’m using this with Elac unifi ub5 bookshelf speakers and a sonamp amplifier. Before I added the fx audio tube preamp my speakers sounded thin and were lacking detail and depth and at least for my system this unit pulled it all together. I tried the fx audio with 4 different sets of speakers and they were all improved. Cheapest upgrade I’ve ever made. The build quality is excellent and this unit comes with the upgraded G.E tubes and although I do not see it listed, it comes with an upgraded power supply that looks like a laptops power supply instead of the cheap wall power supply. If you are looking for an fx tube preamp this is definitely the version you want to get.

Ordered this setup so that I didnt have to order the GE tubes. Unfortunately for me I was sent the regular unit with the Chinese tubes at a premium of an extra 15 dollars. Will be returning