I just found this Aiyima T9 “tube” amp for my desk. It say it is digital AND a tube amp. What gives? Any good?
https://www.amazon.com/AIYIMA-Bluetooth-Amplifier-Channel-Digital/dp/B09MLPC8X3
https://www.amazon.com/AIYIMA-Bluetooth-Amplifier-Channel-Digital/dp/B09MLPC8X3
Ok I did more research and deep deep in the web I found this in a great article on the amp.
“Aiyima T9 Design At the heart of the T9 is the AC6926C Bluetooth chip, which besides BT conversion performs all control functions (volume, tone controls, selector and relay). Digital Inputs go through the MS8412. The 6K4 tube is basically a buffer (the Aux Out does go through it). Amplification functions are carried out by first the NE5532 and, of course TPA3221 chips”
“Aiyima T9 Design At the heart of the T9 is the AC6926C Bluetooth chip, which besides BT conversion performs all control functions (volume, tone controls, selector and relay). Digital Inputs go through the MS8412. The 6K4 tube is basically a buffer (the Aux Out does go through it). Amplification functions are carried out by first the NE5532 and, of course TPA3221 chips”
Just the 100w/ch power rating. 🤣
Obviously, the tubes are just a marketing gimmick.
jeff
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Used to be, ALL fast digital WAS tubes. (We didn't have transistors yet; reliable relays were so slow that even with burnouts tube computers did more work per day.)
https://www.computerhistory.org/revolution/digital-logic/12/271/1342
I have seen 2x300 watts amps smaller than that with just 4x7 watts chip inside in bridged mode.
You do not understand xijinping watts?
Most digital products we use have some bits of analog in them. In this case a buffer to lower outpur impedance (and as Jeff says, given it is BlueTooth, highly marketing driven0.
dave
dave
digital is a marketing term and these days generally means anything with an IC or binary code. How ‘digital’ do you think the motor is in a dyson vac? It sounds like the T9 is a mostly ‘digital’ device with maybe a tube buffer in the line level output? We should probably be happy the tube is in the path at all. Maybe skip it and build a B1Korg? That “tube” is certainly in the path….