6J1 Tube Buffer vs AIYIMA T2 6K4 Tube Preamplifier. Can They Drive Headphones?

 June 29, 2026

#545

Gentle reader,

I have two readers whom I have become friends with AND met. One, Bob B. lives in the West ("The Far West").* The other, Bruce W. lives north of where we do. Both have become dear friends whom I truly love as brothers. *A line from the epic film, RANGO starring Johnny Depp as the title character, below on the left.

Longtime readers of this blog may remember articles in which I mention one or the other of my blog friends. For instance, Bob owns and runs the Dynaco Museum. Plus, he lives in the same town my Aunt Beverly does. Bruce and I might have crossed paths in 2002 when I attended the Inaugural Cadillac Grand Prix of Washington D.C.

A week long racing event put on by the American Le Mans Series. I attended the races and Bruce was working as a corner marshal. It was being relatively local which brought Bruce and us together twenty years later.

Anyway, Bob thought it was a good idea that all three of us build Tube Buffers from kits. He outfitted all of us with everything we needed. I wrote about it here: The Robb Collections: UPDATE Inexpensive Chinese-Made TUBE BUFFER amplifiers. A Review of One using 6J1 Tubes Upgraded to GE JAN 5654W Tubes

This image is from one of the eBay sellers of these kit and prebuilt tube preamplifiers.

Well, Bruce and I got together earlier this month at a car show in which I was one of the judges. 122 cars showed up, including Bruce's brand new Porsche 911 GTS. Wow, what a car! Anyway, it was "old home week" for Bruce, Nancy and I. 

Bruce brought me the 6J1 kit Bob sent him and other things since he was never going to do anything with them and gave everything to me. I decided to do a comparison of the two of them by seeing if they could drive headphones and whether I could hear any improvements in the sound of the music as a result of it passing through tubes.
Headphones are small speakers, sometimes incredibly small drivers in the case of ear buds. I have owned many since the 1970's. I have Audio-Technica AIR ATH-AD700X, an improvement over the ones I first tried years ago which are pictured below.
Image courtesy of i.ratings.com

I had an earlier iteration which were designed to rest ON your head rather then clamp onto your head, shown below:
Much more colorful too.


The present ones I only bought when one channel stopped working in the old ones after many years. Their plug appeared to be solid machined brass and 1/4" only. But, Audio-Technica were clever in machining it to seem that way. The 1/8" plug was inside, but one unscrewed the bigger plug to get to it. The new one's plug is not as fancy, nor are the headphones, visibly, by comparison. They do clamp a little bit, but not excessively. And they sound fantastic!

I know that headphone's impedance varies, but, rather than try and explain it to you, if you want to learn more about it, here is an excellent site: Headphones Impedance Explained: Why Ohms Matter in Your Audio Experience (2025) Mine are nominally 40 ohms.

In order to use each of the tube preamplifiers with headphones, I had to find well made cables. I looked on eBay, but was not finding what I needed. I always sigh when I have to turn to "The Jungle Site" to buy things. They LOVE Nancy and she loves them! Anyway, these are from different companies in China and are both well made. The OCD in my brain is trying to make the fact that the left cable on the female unit on the left is a shade too long is a problem. It should not have left the factory like that! Do they not have Quality Control people??? Okay, I feel better now.

What's inside the box holding the AIYIMA T2 6K4 Tube Preamplifier. 
The front panel, nicely laid out and neat.
The rear terminals. Red rubber cap is over the Bluetooth antenna terminal.
I was surprised to see an assembled 6J1 Tube buffer board in the box with the unassembled one and all of it's parts. That is what gave me the idea to try this experiment. Note the transformer I found to make it work. These preamps require 12 volts AC to work. DC will fry them. Note the beefy but compact transformer above.
Years ago, in order to get them to work, I found three of these landline Telephone transformers. There seemed to be ONLY three of these on the entire Internet, back then.
There was exactly ONE 12 VAC transformer on eBay this time. It cost me almost forty bucks. It puts out 40 amps(!) with a choice of 12 VAC or 24 VAC depending upon the output terminals used. Input wires are two black and one green. I had a short piece of grounded heavy duty 120VAC 16 gauge wiring cable with one green, one white and one black. Since it's AC, it did not matter choosing black or white in this case.
Fortunately, I saved the images which include the schematic of the board. The RCA terminals are not marked for input or output. They are now.
I tried the 6J1 preamplifier first. There was definite distortion if the volume was too high during crescendos. So, this little tube preamp is not improving the sound.
Next up was the AIYIMA T2 preamplifier.
The difference was startling in just how much better the AIYIMA T2 preamplifier sounded! No distortion unless overdriving it by too much input volume.
On the converse, once I removed the AIYIMA T2 preamplifier and associated cabling, and listened to the same music via the B&K Components Sonata PRO10 preamplifier's built-in headphone circuit, I realized that adding anything between it and a pair of headphones was NOT going to be an improvement. Still, despite the work and cost to put it all to a test, I did enjoy doing so. 


Thank you SO much for taking the time to read this article. When I first began blogging way back in 2008, I had no idea if anyone was going to read it. It was just something different to do. Well, it took a while, but the word spread and as of this writing, there are 783901 of you out there reading it! I am truly humbled. 

Feel free to leave a comment below or via Facebook. I write two other blogs, in case you are interested:  Pictures of Nancy. The Love of My Life. And: People Say I'm Special. But I Don't Know Why

Scott Robb 
June 29, 2026
#545

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Are CDs, like Cassettes and LPs making a Comeback? Japanese Pressed CDs + Rare Recording

June 20, 2026

#544

Gentle reader, 

I am in my 70th year on this planet we call Earth. Which means that I have lived in eight decades. I have seen a lot of changes in my lifetime. Somethings have remain constants, and that is I prefer REAL things to pixels on a screen.

Yes, I AM typing this into my PC and I am about to be talking about digital music discs. The point I am making is that I prefer a real book, made from paper which was once a tree. I am not trying to start an argument with anyone, I am, you will likely say, "old fashioned." And, I am okay with that statement. To use the technical terms, I prefer "physical media".

Don't get me wrong, I LOVE digital things! By that I mean, like the majority of the people in the world, I have embraced digital technology. NOT in the same way so many have. 
For example, 99% of the time, my smart phone sits in my pocket unused. Occasionally, I will find myself about to get up and go look something up on my PC when I remember that I have computer in my pocket. But, other than that, I use it to make or receive calls and texts. Sure, I will take some pictures, but the camera in my phone pales in comparison to what my digital cameras can do. Nope, no video watching, no following Instagram, for me. Just talk and text most of the time. You see, I am always seeing people who just can't seem to do anything without watching a video or something on their phones at the same time. Including DRIVING! Not this guy. But, if one points out to another that they may be addicted to their phone and watch out!
In other words, since I have lived 90 per cent of my life before the existence of the Internet and cell phones, if some "Bad Actor" managed to somehow disable the Internet, I would not be nearly as put out as so many people around the world would be. For crying out loud, I still have MAPS in my car, and they are made of paper. Do I love WAZE? You betcha! 

Anyway, here's an interesting book I have:
And books, oh, so many books I have bought and enjoyed since learning to read! Such as this one which I bought because the majority of recordings in my collections are of Classical Music, I bought this to see what the "experts" decided are the best performances ever recorded up to that time the book went to Press.
While I can understand the author's logic in starting with the very oldest recorded works, I am very glad there is also an index of composers too. 
As you can see, the first half of the book has no pages marked. While there is much excellent earlier music, I prefer later compositions, especially full orchestral music. 

This YouTube video is what inspired me to write this article. Buy CDs Now before Collectors Ruin the Best Kept Secret - YouTube

I like this man and his videos. HE does a great job and is very personable. I don't begrudge him and all of the things he has which I do not. His talent and abilities have allowed him to make a good living creating YouTube videos. I am very happy with my life. I'm not looking for "pats on the back" or validation of any kind nor hoping that some of my articles "go viral". In fact, I have rarely made any videos. I certainly could not create a YouTube channel. I have no interest in doing so. What he mentions in this video about "Japanese pressings" of certain CDs having better sound intrigued me. Since I only have these two Japanese ones and have no way to do an A/B comparison with their western versions of the CDs I will just tell you about these two.

This, alphabetically, is one of two Japanese created CDs that I own. Here is the back of it:
Note "NIPPON COLUMBIA" below the man's feet. Yet, on the front and spine is clearly DENON. Until seeing this CD in a thrift store, I did not know that DENON dabbled in making commercial recordings. I only know them for audio equipment.
The inside of the CD's "liner notes". A term from the pre-digital days of recorded music when the LP record's paper sleeve which protected the record, had photographs and writings about the music or in the case of pop and rock records, they often have lyrics to the songs. The term carried over into CDs.
I can't imagine what countries and peoples which have so many different symbols which put together form words, used for formal writing similar to the Western world's typewriters we had before the digital world came along.
From the front, the sleeve's front page is no different than in the West.
The back tells a different story.
The first page of the CD booklet. 
The second page. Many more are all in Japanese.
What I was alluding to in the title of this article was my delight in being able to find what must have been a very limited release CD created in 2005 of what the book says is THE best performances of these piano concerti. BTW, in Italian, words which end in O are singular, ending in I are plural. One piece of spaghetti is a spaghetto. Therefore more than one concerto is not concertos, it is concerti.
Naturally, when I read about this CD, I immediately went on eBay to look for one. Yep, there's a brand new, sealed (still holding the factories air inside) CD for $150!! I looked on Amazon, zip. Other searches came up empty, then I remembered Discogs. Sure enough, there was ONE available and the seller only wanted $35. I bought it. It turns out the seller was right here in Virginia! It arrived a couple days later and I could not wait to listen to it!
Since I am not familiar with the Gewandhausorchester, I did not know which of the two gentlemen on the cover was the conductor or the pianist. This old school black and white photo solved that puzzle for me.
LIVE recordings can either be great or not so good, depending upon many factors. Well, the Decca recording engineers know their trade because the sound is outstanding! I'm listening to it right now. Loudly, because my wife is not home.
The Presbyterian church of which we are members is blessed by our pianist/organist holds a Doctoral in Music and is outstanding! Her husband also is a musician with the United States Navy. Our Pastor is a music lover and has arranged to have a brass quintet (two of the players are church members and the pastor plays trumpet, but not in the quintet) which is awesome! There is nothing like LIVE music. Especially when the performers are mere feet from you. But, I digress.

To conclude, I do not know if CDs are going to be snatched up by greedy collectors or not. Perhaps the video's title was click bait. Nor, do I know whether they are making a comeback. Locally, the only place to find new recorded music is our local TARGET. And those recordings are pricey! I prefer to haunt the several thrift stores around here. Something we both enjoy but don't do as often as we used to. 

I have, frankly, too many records, digital discs and even 100 audio cassettes. I retired nine years ago, having vowed to listen to every recording I own when I retired, and have been working my way through listening to them all. But, I wonder if I will be able to listen to them all. In doing so, I have been removing the ones I don't care for and donate them for others to find and enjoy. My oldest grandson, Kyle, is going to inherit all of my audio equipment and recordings. He's so much like me in some ways, which is wonderful! One time, he came walking into the living room after looking through my records with a grin on his face, "Mom, he has Chicago Transit Authority!" like he'd found the Holy Grail! I said, "No, YOU have Chicago Transit Authority." 

Thank you for taking the time to read this article. I am truly grateful that you do so. When I began this blog back in 2008, it was just for something different to do. I had no idea whether anyone would read it. So, thanks again. I write two other blogs: Pictures of Nancy. The Love of My Life. and People Say I'm Special. But I Don't Know Why. Take a look, if you like. Feel free to Comment below or via Facebook.

Scott Robb
June 20, 2026
#544

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Worn-Away 1976 Fifty-Year-Old Snap-On™ Tools Bicentennial Key Chain Plus

 June 1, 2026

#543

Gentle reader,

As the United States of America heads to it's Semiquincentennial in one month and three days from this writing, I noticed on my housekeys ring the Snap-On™ Tools Bicentennial key chain fob they were giving away. Then, I realized that it had been on that same ring for fifty years, I thought, "Wow, where has the time gone?"

That was me, in 1973 at my first job at a Mobil™ Gas Station in Denver, Colorado. I was SO skinny back then. This was before I had bought my first car. I rode my 3-speed bicycle which I'd had for a few years back and forth to work.
In searching for 1970's pictures of a Mobil™ gas station, I came across this one a seller was selling on eBay. It's a little older, based upon the 1958 Chevrolet being filled up. I seem to recall ours having round pumps...
Yes, that's better. Note the price of 55.9 cents per gallon. It was selling for 34.9 cents when I began working there. Yes, that is CENTS not DOLLARs per gallon.
Since I couldn't read what was on the back of my fob, I looked for one on eBay and got the one on the left, (above and below) for less than ten bucks.

If you compare the two of them, fifty years of rubbing against keys and the ring, clearly shows on my original fob, thus, my desire to find one in nicer condition.

I bought a total of TWO Snap-On™ tools during my 44 year career working on first automobiles and trucks then on Washington, D.C.'s Metro subway cars. Regardless, that earned me a bronze key fob.

I had great difficulty lighting the fobs so that details could be seen. Below, I will show you the various ways I tried to get the best images.

I tried swapping them left to right and upside down, then flipping them in Photoshop™.

Note the background color changing with every image.
Note the way the angle of view changes with these below.
See? None of the backgrounds are beige, which the folder is.
In each case they were resting on a manila folder. 

AS you can see by comparing each sets of photos, that none are shadow free for best clarity. Plus, you, the reader, have no idea their size.

"Ah!", I thought, "I'll scan them!"
But, the scanner cut of edges here and there. Sigh.
Ah, but they are shadow-free and much easier to see just where time and keys rubbing on them has worn details away. In each case of these two scanned images, the new-to-me fob is on the left. Look at the fob's wrenches, the Snap-on™ logo is clearly seen on the left one. Also, look at the patriot's face and both hands. Each is worn away on the right one. Even the stripes on the rolled up sleeves are gone from the worn one. The left shoe's buckle on the right one's toe is worn away as well.

One thing I noticed when editing all these images is that white dot on the old fob. I looked at it closely in my hand. It seems to be a tiny piece of white Styrofoam. I removed it.

Yes, this article is different than my usual fare. But, since I have two of them, that comprises a collection.

Thanks for taking the time to read this article. Looking around the house, there are still collections, mostly Nancy's, which I can share with you. Feel free to leave a comment below or via Facebook.

Scott Robb
June 1, 2026
#543

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6J1 Tube Buffer vs AIYIMA T2 6K4 Tube Preamplifier. Can They Drive Headphones?

  June 29, 2026 #545 Gentle reader, I have two readers whom I have become friends with AND met. One, Bob B. lives in the West ("The Far...