Tube Buffers worth it?

In my experience with the MF, they don't make an improvement so much as change the character of the sound. That's strictly a matter of personal taste. If you want tube sound and an improvement as well, a better (but far more expensive) move would be to upgrade to a tubed preamp.

I guess if someone had edgy solid state gear at the budget end of the spectrum, it might make sense. But in your case, I question the wisdom of sending the signal through yet another device and set of interconnects in search of an "improvement."

The Z Man Tube buffer was better than the MF in my system.Search web for Z Man review.JD

The real purpose of a tube buffer is to match the driving component with a high input impedance and to output a low output impedance to drive long lines, or inputs with lowish input impedances. That's why it's called a "buffer" not a soundtubier. If the output stage on your CD player has a low output impedance, then you really don't need the thing. But sources with weak output stages, and higer output impedances, such as DVD players, cheapers CDs and tuners, can really benefit from such a device.

...But of course, people don't use it for its so-called intended purpose. And in fact, if a solid state device were marketed to perform the same function, it would sell in the single digits.

I've owned the MF X10v3, and auditioned the Yaqin single tube buffer. Currently using the Audio Horizons TB 5.0 tube buffer. What you get with this unit is the ability to try different tubes (not so with the MF), and gear designed by folks whose primary business is building high quality tubed preamps and phono stages. Running between my SS pre/pro and amps, it is a definite improvement. AH offers a 30-day in home trial, so you can check it out in your own system, in your own time. I'm not affiliated with the company in any way.

In my system, yes, for the digital front end. Analog not so much (vinyl into separate minmailist SS preamp).

Viridian is correct with respect to impedence matching & quality / 'oomph' of source(s) driving your amps.

I run the MF X10v3 into Levinson monoblocks and find improvements with all of the following DAC front ends: Theta DS Pre GenII (passive pre may explain why the buffer helps); TacT 2.0 RCS; Acurus ACT-3 & Oppo 980 for HT.

In my system / room, the improvements are: Less hardness / glare, expecially strings & piano when played dynamically; less sibilance on female vocals; deeper soundstage / better imaging. Most important, though, is a better sense of cohesiveness, more natural, more thereness without being in your face, more liquid, less fatiguing (not that it was so bad before - just better). I use it in conjunction with a Camelot 5.1 jitter reduction / reclocking device that has similar happy effects.

Like everything audio, it will depnd on the sum of all the parts, I suppose.

Hope that helps.

Ken

Thanks to everyone for the help! I'm going to try the Audio Horizons and take them up on the money back guarantee.

Will report back.

Dmm53 -- if you get the Audio Horizons TB 5.0, do yourself a favor and upgrade the stock tubes. Victor of AH recommends vintage gold pinned Siemens E88CC. I have some on order. In the meantime, I have auditioned about 5 or 6 types ... including Amperex orange globe logo gold pinned 7308's, Amperex Bugle Boy, Siemen-Rohr 7308 steel pins, '72 JAN Sylvania 6922, and a couple of other current production types - Chinese and Yugoslavian. BTW, contrary to what folks say, some of the new higher end Chinese tubes aren't bad. For my system, and my musical tastes the gold pinned Amperex 7308's sound the best ... great tonality, sound stage, imaging ... very smooth and musical - top to bottom. It's hard to imagine that the Siemen's can beat these. Another suggestion: pick up some tube dampers from Herbies Audio. Seems to tighten things up a bit ... making the sound a little more coherent. Good luck and happy listening.