The Yaqin Tube Buffer was an impulse purchase as I had read a little about what it was supposed to be able to do. I had to find out on my own if it was really able to make a difference to my music listening experience.

Well, I can say with no reservations that this product is simply amazing.

You know when you have a CD that is a "digitally remastered" version of a "record" (you know, as in LP). I had Aerosmith Rocks as an LP back from the 1970's. Obviously, the record is now scratched and does not sound as good as it did back when new. I decided to purchase the "remastered" CD and enjoy that instead. I was hugely disappointed with the sound quality.

Simply put, the CD sucked. The sound was flat and lifeless. There was no soundstage, no warmth, inadequate positioning of the various musical instruments, etc. The record sounded better than the CD, scratches and all. Once you get past the "space" between songs, the record was not at all bad, especially after hearing the CD.

I put away the CD and searched out other music that I could play on my CD player without being let down.

Some time later, I was reading about the Yaqin Tube Buffer, and was intrigued by what I was "hearing" (excuse the intentional pun). I decided to try it, so off to eBay I went. I paid just over $100.00 which included delivery from Hong Kong. I received the item within 3 days. Not bad.

I hooked it up between the Sony CD player and my vintage solid state Zenith MC 7051 Receiver (1979). I was immediately noticing too much brightness. But overall, the sound was an improvement over what was there before. Over the course of the next few days, the brightness was gone and all that was left was beautiful clean, warm and spacious tube sound. I was, needless to say, very happy.

I decided to see what would happen if I played the Aerosmith CD that was "shelved" so long ago. What can I say, the music came to life. Almost like it was not the original CD that I was listening to before. The music was expanded, warm and almost "live" in it's sound.

I tried many of the CD's that I had retired and also found them "alive". This thing is like magic.

I tried the Yaqin Tube Buffer between my phonograph player and the phono stage. WOW!! I am going to buy another Yaqin Tube Buffer so I can have one for the CD player and one for the phono stage.

You can hear the difference in sound quality by switching off the Yaqin and then switching it on during playback.

I'm so impressed with this unit stock out of the box. I hear that the sound is even better if you tube roll and get a better power cord. Have not tried those yet. I will.

The build quality is there. The unit is heavy with point to point wiring. Well made indeed.

If you want to put "sound" into your sound, get the Yaqin Tube Buffer.


Recommended: Yes