AUDIO 101: Should YOU Try Tube Amps? ft. xDuoo MT-602
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- Äas pĆidĂĄn 4. 07. 2024
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Today we're talking about a very confusing segment for audio beginners - tube amps. With so many variables, it can get deep quick. We'll help shed some light on this complex topic talking about when you should and shouldn't use tubes, tube rolling, and a couple budget options to get your started.
â Check out the xDuoo MT-602(affiliate link):
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â Check out the Riverstone Matched Tubes(affiliate link):
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â Check out the Loxjie P20 at Amazon(affiliate link)
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â Josh Valour - / @joshuavalour
â DMS - / @dms3tv
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#tube #xduoo #mt-602 - VÄda a technologie
Thanks for the shout! - Great video as usual!
This video has three purposes, entertainment, knowledge and my alarm today
300 dollar keyboards.....Tube Amps. This channel isn't helping my addictions.
Tell me about it. My illegal addictions are cheaper than this.
Dude I'm pretty knowledgeable on PC components and parts but when it comes to audio you are a godsend. Helped clear up so much confusion on my part.
Thats what I shoot for - glad it hit the mark for you!
The mt602 is definitely the way to go. Especially if youâre just trying to get started down the long road of tube amps. Awesome video my dude!
Thanks so much brother! Iâm afraid Iâve fallen down another very expensive rabbit hole.
@@badseedtech it was only a matter of time bro.đ
@@badseedtech Hi man great work but i have one question. I have dt 1990pro with asus STX II soundcard what would be best improvement over this around 300$. I'm from EU. This card when i was buying it was around 200$ and have additional power connector so it can power upt o 600 oms. I just want to know can something in this price range improve sound quality.
OHHH my favourite time of the week: a badseed tech upload!
My man đ€đŒđ€đŒ
You can definitely use Planars with a tube hybrid! It's the OTL amps that don't play well with low impedance headphones
I just got the big brother of this, the 604, and I love it. I was skeptical at first that there even was a difference between the 604 and my Topping L70, but at a certain point, it clicked. Tubes are just......smooth. That's the only way I can describe it. It's not just a change in specific harmonics or tone characteristics, it's a little more subtle and deals more with the entire presentation of the music.
I blame you, josh, DMS and Zeos for my crippling addiction to custom keyboards and headphones. You're all doing the lord's work.
Rocking a topping d10 and a liquid spark right now looking to add a tube amp to the loop. I think this may be a contender.
Thanks for the hard work B.
Thank *you* and Iâm sorry aaaaand youâre welcome
This is now going to be my go to explainer video for how tube amps are different, simple yet makes sense how you explain it. You should review more tube amps, Iâd really like to see the Schiit Vali reviewed by you.
I always love watching your reviews on mid - budget tier audio gear that the larger audio reviewers tend to shy away from. I purchased my now old Fidelio X2HR on the advice of your review and I am seriously looking at this amp as my first foray into tubes. Great Video!
*I try very hard to convince myself that I don't need a tube amp*
Brian: "Should you try tube amps?"
Oh Schiit, here we go again.
.
.
The MT-602 looks lovely đ
Same here. I cancelled my order a month ago. Now I want it again.
Ya, he has that affect. I wasn't even considering getting an amp, but now I want one.
Your b-roll is always INSANE! Would love to get a tutorial video and/or reviews of camera and lighting equipment
God damnit. You and Optimum Tech just dropped banger videos on 2 products I've been really excited for. I'm gonna go broke.
Hahaha dude, same shit here. I watched the monitor review and then BAM! This video. I NEED all of these things.
On god
Far out, your lines of discussions give me exactly what I want to know exactly when I think it - it's like you're reading my mind. Such great flow. Echoing the other commenter about loving the audio related videos you've done - any plans for Amps and DACs 102?
I've always wondered what tubes did without the confusing jargon, thanks for the informative video!
Thats what I aim for. Those forums will put you to sleep trying to find layman info
I refuse to get sucked down the rabbit hole of tubes. There's just too many options for an obsessive-compulsive individual. But if you're not one of those individuals, then abso-frigging-lutely. Tubes are an incredible way to alter the sound characteristics of higher impedance headphones. Especially when your cans steer analytical and you want to inject some life and love into the equation. It's like feeding an accountant gummies.
Sweet video, I don't know if the audiophile community is paying attention to your content but they should. Your stuff is extremely informative and produced exceptionally well. Keep up the good work Sir!
Man I ordered one of these a month ago and Iâve been waiting. It always feels great when you justify my purchases! đ€
I'm feeding my 602s with an ifi zen dac which has a variable output option. This way I can use any IEM or sensitive headphone with the 602 set at 50%volume or more. For the less sensitive I can bump the output of the zen dac and or use the boost button. For $200 bucks I have a great headphone system that is tough to beat at twice the price. I did replace the stock tubes with matched GEs and agree with your experience. Great review. Thanks
This hybrid is actually okay for planars since it has a solid state output which can drive high current to low impedance loads. OTL tubes are the ones that don't pair well due to a very high output stage.
Agreed, been using Hifiman HE4XX planars with mine and it sounds wonderful to me, especially with the GE tubes I just plugged in.
They stay permanently attached to my PC as my main audio output because it's such a nice sound to relax to an enjoy no matter what I'm doing
Damn Brian, your backdrop for the talking head bit, and the camera movements for the B-roll are absolutely fantastic!! Great work, love to see your skills improving!
Thanks!
I gotta compliment you on the luscious lighting of your product shots.
It really made me happy when you said, that it works to you really good with HD560S, theyâll be arriving to my house next week and i was searching for a affordable amp for them đ
Thanks
Really liked this video it reminded me of an old little dot tube amp I used to have but sold because it didn't play well with my headphone upgrades. Still really rate the little dots, great with some tube rollin
I absolutely love how you apricate other content creators/reviewers ! Cheers !
Its community. Collaborative.Thatâs what itâs all about. Josh specifically really helped me reign this video in.
@@badseedtech I love Josh, DMS and ofcoz Z reviews
Man I just found this channel and it has cleared up so much information for me.
Wow, I just find the number headphone guys on CZcams!!! Great content, and really good video quality!!! 9 mins video just flew through so quickly!!!
Really loving the audiophile segments mate.
I have had a lot experience of the hybrid technology with my bass Amps. Though in the same breath, You really canât beat a fire breathing Bass Valve head (Marshal VBA 400) for me is the best amp on the planet....Though Christ you need a forklift truck to carry it about.
Over the last 10 years or so, Class D (Solid state) and Tube pre amps have massively changed the Amplification market. They Still have that warmth In tone with loads of headroom to boot...and it doesnât break you back or bank balance in the long run!
Thanks for the great video, as always. I'd love to see your review of the new Sound Blaster GC7 if you have time.
Mine arrived on Thursday. I'm impressed with it! Ordered the Russian tubed which are supposed to have more bottom end.
Loving the new setup!!
Xduuo said the output stage is Class A with transistors, not digital. Really good video though. Very clear and concise. My 602 arrived this week. I am using it as a preamp between a Topping D10s DAC and a restored Hafler DH-200 power amp driving large ported two-way Tabor speakers with Audax 8 inch woofers and silk dome tweeters. It sounds good but with no hi/lo gain switch on the 602, the speaker volume gets loud at 9 oâclock on the 602âs dial and it is very sensitive to adjust. The knob is smooth and precise though. I definitely hear some tube warmth that my NAD 302 lacked. But not sure yet if the 602 is a keeper. It feels like I canât get to the 602âs output sweet spot without it being too loud. At 9 oâclock it seems to lack fullness. I tried using the NAD as the power amp instead of the mighty Hafler but got the same problem: too loud too soon. Anyone else notice this and find a solution?
Tuuuuube goodness! Been eyeing something like this for a while. Last time I *had* tubes myself was when I didn't, because they were my dad's and I was too young and too clumsy to be allowed near them lol.
Great stuff, B.
Not for a planar or sensitive IEM's. Thank you for that statement. You saved me a lot of time.
Got one of these for Xmas and everything you said was spot on. Any suggestions / links to videos for a companion power amp at a similar budget price point ?
Thinking I might have to pick up an MT-602. Great video, as always!
Thanks very much đđŒ
I'm so glad you mentioned not liking the Meze 99s on this. Now I need not worry about getting a tube
Grabbed one on a spree but worth it..loving it with hd600 and 58x
Love your content bro. Keep it up!
I just ordered a pair of the 99 noir mezes. I also have dt 990 open backs and porta pros. Is this a good collection to experiment with tubes?
I know you said the 99s are too dark but I still want to try it with a hybrid tube amp. Ive been looking at tube amps ever since I got my 990s and I'm glad I waited for the xduoo. Thanks for the fun reviews!
One of the best use cases for tube hybrid amps is with planar magnetic headphones because of the low output impedance. Especially with bright sounding hifiman headphones.
listening the review on my xDuoo MT-602,sounds good for the price :D
Alright, I haven't be able to get a solid answer so I'm asking here. I recently purchased a PC38X - strictly for gaming, is it worth getting any aftermarket dac/amp, vs just running through the board outputs on my PC? Maybe something like the Schiit Fulla?
Dear Brian,
I am looking to upgrade from my HD 598's. In a horrible limbo between the HD 560S and the HD 6XX.
I will use the headphones for music listening and gaming. Currently I drive my cans of a SoundblasterX G6, so I should probably upgrade if I went with the 6XX's. Or should I upgrade regardless? The pair from Drop will be quite a bit more expensive for me since I live in Europe. I really can't decide, what should I do?
Thanks in advance!
Thanks for the great info!
Awww yes, an amp video. That setup with the colours looks siick.
Thanks!
Another good hybrid headphone amp may be the Bravo Audio v2 i have it for years and never let me down. I could even power planars with it. Its around 50-60 bucks and is regularly on drop's website
Considering the DT 1990s are your favourite headphone I was wondering if you'd be willing to give the HD 599's a try; very similar V shaped profile but with less sub-bass extension and more controlled treble (think 560s with excessive WARMTH). I honestly enjoy them as much if not more than my X2HR's.
Listening to this video using my MT-602 amp!
Just got this and the stock tubes actually do something on this. Quite like it.
Any recommendations for upgrade tubes?
Hey Brian do you still consider the 58x as your go to all around headphone Recommendation or has your opinion changed?
The video I've been waiting for... LET'S GO!
I miss when you made videos about audio. It's what original brought me to the channel
Iâll let you in on a little secret. I love making them, but they perform TERRIBLY lol
@@badseedtech yeah lol
Im using MT602 with IEM's basically locked it to 1/3rd power and regulating voleume with source even most sensitive iem's dont His !!! This thing is fantastic :) Also it goes to my Superlinear sony amp for my TDL studio 5 speakers. Iw bought it for Tubing sound up :)
Hey! Love your videos. Just wanted to ask...i have the 560s and ifi zen v2 coming soon, would this be compatible with this setup? Or would i need to return the zen dac/amp and get a solo amp in addition to this product? Thanks for any help. (I'm really new to this)
@BadSeed Tech
As always fully informative and separating out the garbage info for the important
I like the way you give the emphasis on "your tastes" when it comes to this type of amp
Non stop great content and it is finally audio 101 day!!!!!!!!!
Thanks Larry, glad you enjoyed it!
Which dac would you recommend for this amp?
Awesome video as always! I have a shciit stack with the HD58X ( due to you, much appreciated) waiting for my Dan Clark aeon open x to come in now. Would you recommend this with that setup? Thanks
Thatâs a good setup.
Thanks for the great break down. I have a pair of DT 990, which are treble cans. What other Headphones in the similar or same price range would you recommend to compliment this Tube amp?
very good revision!, and Is good for Philips Fidelio X1S?
Would there be any point running my hifimen Sundara's into a Valhalla 2 tube amp? Or should I just use my multibit/magni3+ combo?
Can it be connected to an audio interface?
yep!
I love the video i hope this channel get what it deserves
So with a jds stack, i can still use my atom amp, jds dac and this at the same time as 3 connected devices?
I have a pair of ath1000x so i figured this may make them sound more fun. Is that not right?
Hey Brian P, any $100ish DAC recommendations for this amp? I have a schiit stack so have a modi but want to experiment
Is it fine if I use the Philips Shp 9500 with this or is it too much? I wana know if this is a good option or will it be too much bass or something like that and Iâd be better off with other amp that isnât tube amp?
I'm really curious about the new Vali 2+ hybrid amp because I like to buy one of these..
I really wanna get this, but I don't know how I'd go about getting the mic from my headset to work. Will it just plug in? Will I have to get a splitter and run an aux extension cable alllllll the way down to the back of my PC? Any tips on how this would work?
i have this amp, and iâll say it adds a little bit of air to the sound, alittle unclean, but not in a way that feels lacking, rather in a way that makes my midfi solid state amp feel alittle boring, oddly. worth the price tag
Nice Review, short and punchy đ would like to use my IEMs (56 Ohm) with this Amp but you dont recommend ? I Play Live Drums to Requests on Twitch and get my Final Mix from a tiny analog Mixer. Any other Amp for my purpose ? đ cheers
Any thoughts on the new xDuoo MT604 Balanced Headphone Tube Amplifier?
I want a good gaming mouse under 70 grams and preferably wireless, I use a part claw part fingertip grip and play mostly fps games. I was think about getting the razer orochi but idk. Any suggestions?
I canceled my p20 in favor of these specially for the power output since i want to drive the power hungry DT 770 pro 250 Ohm, for the price tag I really didn't find anything with that much power!
From other comparisons I saw that may worth noting is the volume knob on the MT-602 feels way better than the P20 as well as powering it up has much more fun with the vintage touch of the toggle switch compared to the knob clicking on the P20, and some may think the screen of the P20 is an advantage for navigating through menus with a fancy digital manner but in truth that was really badly designed because once you enter the menu you must cycle through all of the options to go back to the volume adjustment, with the MT-602 there's no such bullshit, you're paying on a budget you should not care to fancy digital displays and stuff, you want to switch it on and rock'n roll.
There is a part of me that wants to hook my NT Mini Noir (Fancy FPGA NES Console) into this to hear how it sounds. I bet the lows on the FRC 6 add in chips sound interesting.
Amazing review! But I have a question. For a person who have never used a open back headphone and is planning to pick up a pair of 560s do you recommend a tube or a schiit stack?
Thanks man love ur vids
Always start with solid state amps (schiit stack qualifies) first. You need to have a good foundational understanding of the qualities of the headphone before you go complicating it with things that change the way it performs. Solid state amps generator provide the truest experience of a headphone.
@@badseedtech thanks for the reply man really helped me a lot. Love you and ur vids.
Almost hit the purchase button on the Massdrop x Alex Cavalli Tube Hybrid amplifier this morning. Been researching the tube effect for the last week , then this video pops up this morning. Any thoughts on the Cavalli Tube Hybrid compared to this?
I own it. It sits in a box. It just didnât do anything particularly noteworthy for me.
Crazy that the MT604 came out right around the time you released this. Are you going to review that one?
Probably not. This video flopped so hard I just donât see the interest in it.
I really love my xDuoo TA-05 for pretty much any oldschool headphones, not so much for modern low impedance ones, my v-moda m100 is way worse on it than on built-in amp in my yamaha crx-040
I got this a month ago and it cuts out any point the audio gets intense, for example, playing apex and a gun fight breaks out. Any idea why sound would cut out and then come back on? i have a dac connected into the aux in of the amp. any help is much appreciated before I return it.
Does tube amp (and for that matter DACs) add latency to the sound?
Can we just appreciate the shot at 0:20
Should I go for the Valhalla or the Asgard to pair with 6xx
I have this and it's amazing.
Would this be okay for the sundaras?
Well, the problem of a big Clac in headphones can also concern solid state amplifier like the portable amplifier Auglamour. I was turning it on before connecting my headphones and disconning it before turning power off.
Same problem with High end Hi Fi amplifier Apertura RC50, I was leaving it on all the time to protect my Proac speakers.
It seems it's a problem of conception of the device.
Received this amplifier last week. Very powerful, almost too much for my AKG K701 QJ. Sound is very analytical, not sweet as I Expected. For me the problem not mentioned is the "Clonc" in the headphone when you turn off the MT-602. I take care for my headphones and remove them before turning off the power. I do not have the problem with my Fiio K5, A5 and xduoo X5, all transistors.
That's the problem with tube amps. Some more expensive ones have a mute feature that disconnects your headphones but this doesn't.
Can you review the ayima DAC a3 or the ayima DAC a5 pro
Wonder out of curiosity to use this device and interface with my LG V60 Bluetooth. I might have to push back and maybe wait for a DAC Bluetooth phone device?
Could it be this won't work? đŹđ€
Yeah, youâd need a dac that could receive BT. ifi makes some good ones. Then from there to the tubes and then onto your wired headphones. But, if I found myself in that spot, Id figure out a way to get a line out off my phone and into my dac.
This would look nice on top of my Focusrite Scarlett Solo. I'm wondering if it would play nice with it for my guitar? Time to do more research.
i was wondering the same, i'm tempted tu buy this to amplify the headphone output of my interface, for practicing guitar.
Been eyeing on these for a while. But stock people said it sounds similar to the Fiio k5 Pro which I am not a fan of compared to my hidizs s9 + atom combo.
Edit: Damn Brian, your "temporary" setup is a banger!
Hmm I didnât get an immediate reminder of the k5 Pro. But I wouldnât have thought to a/b those two.
Possibly a dumb question but deciding between this or Magni 3+ to power a pair of 6xx's, will be a pretty even use split between fps gaming and music listening.. im guessing the Magni without the added warmth would be better for the gaming side of things but the MT602 will be better for the music side of things, especially if I experiment with different tube setups.. any advice on which route I should take? Will be my first foray into audiophile territory in the slightest. Thanks! Great video, as always!
Youâre on the right track already. Solid state first if youâre going to be gaming. For exactly the reasons you said.
@@badseedtech thanks man, I figured as much but always love a second opinion, cheers lad thanks for the reply!
What setup do you recommend for HD560s? The schiit stack or a tube amp?
The short answer is both. If *I* personally picked one, Iâd go tubes. But the safer recommendation is the Schiit stack. Tubes will skew a lot of what people like about HD560s - its general neutrality.
Thanks for this review! I've got TONS of compatible tubes from when I had a Little Dot and have been looking for something decent to use them with. This might just be what I was looking for!
you should try the harmonic dyne zues headphones , i have quite a feeling that you will like them alot
Thanks, Iâll put them on my list!
You would make a great tech-rep for LTT, with segways like that . . .
Itâs been said that the P20 with Riverstone tubes running fully balanced and with an upgraded power supply like the 15V low noise IFI iPowerX sounds great. But then youâre spending a lot more money compared to this. The MT-604 is more similar to the P20 as it runs balanced at $169 which looks like a steal.
Amazing as always. Also is that the Hifiman HE400se I see?
It is indeed. Got some entry level planar mag content coming out in the next couple days
Can't wait!
@@badseedtech That's exactly what I was hoping you'd say. :)
This with a schiit magni 3+ versus a shiit stack for DT 1990s used for gaming and listening mostly to metal, pop punk and EDM?
Have u tried the vali 2?