If Santa heard my request for the Yaqin tube buffer someone praised in another thread here, I'll report on the effects on the sound after Christmas.

Just make sure to get the Yaqin with the single twin-triode tube and not the dual 6J1 tube. Much easier to tube roll with the twin-triode by Pacific Valve and Electric Company. You can use either the 6DJ8 or 6922 tube which are a very popular size. I use the green label JAN Phillips 6922 tube with great results.

Slbenz

P.S. Hope Santa rewards you with one!

Where could the Yagin be purchased from?

Thanks

Alex,

Right here: http://www.pacificvalve.us/YaqinTB.html
This is where I bought mine and they have a 30 day return policy less 8% restocking fee.

Slbenz

Slbenz (or anyone else): Do you have any experience with the TADAC from Tube Audio Design? Seems like he's got quite a loyal following and a very highly regarded product. I had a few email exchanges with him today and I'm very interested in giving the TADAC a try, but like the Monarchy piece, it's a DAC and preamp in one chassis. But unlike the Monarchy, you apparently can't choose a line out for the tube DAC...in the TADAC, the signal passes through the volume control and on to the L and R analog outs. Paul of TAD said if I wanted to use another preamp and just run the TADAC as an outboard DAC, I'd just keep the volume (on the TADAC) set to one level, run the L and R outputs into the preamp, and then use the preamps volume control from there.

Is there an issue with running the signal through two volume controls? Or do you think this would be fine?

AJZepp,

Haven't heard the TADAC but judging on the components used from their web site they don't use the latest generation CS8416 chip but the CS8414 chip. Also, the DAC they use is an inexpensive Burr-Brown 1793 which specs less than your current DAC in your Denon. If you are really interested in an external DAC, you should try the Channel Islands ext. DAC which uses the CS8416 chip and the latest Burr-Brown 1794 DAC which equals or exceeds the 1792. I can tell you from experience the CIA ext. DAC will give your Denon extra detail with warmth. You may want to check out the modified Lite Audio DAC 60 from Pacific Valve and Electric Company. It sells for the same as the CIA.

Slbenz

Thanks, man...I'll definitely add the CI piece to my list!

I'll second products from Pacific Valve and Electric. I bought my Musiland MD10 from them. They are also very willing to talk to you if you have any questions or need guidance on what DAC to buy.

Thank you, slbenz.
I am currently bidding on eBay on a Musical Fidelity unit.

If I lose there, I'll go with the Yagin. Do you think Yagin is superior? My bid is not that high, I'll definitely lose if I don't go higher, thus I might let it die if Yagin is better.

What would you do?

Thanks

Alex,

I knew you were going to ask this question of me. Here is a review I did of the Yaqin tube buffer that I own comparing it to the Musical Fidelity that I own as well:http://www1.epinions.com/content_312424107652

Bottom line: if you lose the eBay bid, I would go with the Yaqin. More flexibility, better sound via tube rolling to customize the buffer to your system vs. the MF which forces you to only use the 6112 mil-spec tubes that are soldered in onto the board. Oops! Just realized that the one you are bidding on is original MF tube buffer and not the the one with the mil-spec tube. The one you are bidding on is supposed to be a lesser sounding one than the X10v3 that I own. So I would definitely go with the Yaqin instead.

Slbenz