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Aune T1 Headphone Tube DAC and Amp
RunTheJewels
0
Jul 8, 2013
Does anyone know if this amp is compatible with the audioengine a5+ speakers? Or is it strictly a headphone amp. I have my audioengines hooked up to my at-lp120 turntable but it doesn't sound as amazing as I believe it could.
MyTea
0
Jul 8, 2013
RunTheJewelsIt's a headphone amp, you should take a look at the Emotiva A-100 if you need a speaker amp
Adama
21
Jul 8, 2013
RunTheJewelsIt should be fine for use with your A5+ speakers. Especially if you use the T1 as a DAC, using the RCA outs into your A5+ setup. This only works if you hook the T1 up to your computer via USB.
If you use the T1's RCA in jacks (for example hooking your AT-LP120 up to it) you'll bypass the DAC portion of the T1 and therefore bypass the tube. In that configuration it's completely pointless to use the T1.
The A5+ are self powered, meaning they have an amplifier built into them. They are capable of pushing plenty of energy at you.
Using something like the Emotiva A-100 would effectively bi-amp your Audioengine speakers which are not designed for that purpose. You would likely damage your speakers by attaching the A-100 to them.
There are a number of variables with turntables. What is it sitting on? Look up vibration dampening for turntables. Using things that can absorb a lot of energy to set your turntable on top of will reduce the external vibrations that your needle picks up. There are some decent DIY methods involving wood boxes packed with sand and capped with a marble/concrete slab.
Are your records clean? Have you tried cleaning them?
What kind of needle are you using? Have you tried different needles and/or cartridges?
Most of the "audiophile" turntables use belt drives, not direct drives because they're more concerned about isolating the needle from vibration using a belt. The LP120 is a direct drive.
Are you using the line level RCA outs on the LP120?
shrimants
64
Jul 8, 2013
RunTheJewels@RunTheJewels The audioengine A5 (not the plus) expected a "headphone level signal". IE not 2Vrms line level signal. The Aune T1 is a DAC and AMP. The A5+ may expect the same headphone level signal or they may have made it less sensitive on its input so that it could expect a 2vrms line level signal. Either way, the Aune T1 is both a standalone DAC with a lineout, and an amp with a volume knob. So TLDR: yes.
shrimants
64
Jul 8, 2013
MyTea@MyTea @RunTheJewels please do your research before misleading others. The A5 is an active speaker. Dont tell him to get a speaker amp for active speakers (which have an amp built in).
Side_Comment
0
Jul 8, 2013
RunTheJewels@RunTheJewels
The way I understand it (and someone please correct me if I have the wrong idea) is that the "audio out" is only available when running through USB. The "audio in" runs straight to the headphone amp.
So you'd be able to use your Audioengines with the Aune T1 by running an rca cable from It's "audio out" to the Audioengine's "audio in"...but they'd only be given a signal when you're connected to your computer through USB. So they'd work for any music you'd be playing through your pc.
Connecting your turntable to the Aune T1's "audio in" would only run through the headphone amp though.
bilditup1
80
Jul 8, 2013
RunTheJewels@RunTheJewels
If you describe what's wrong with the sound and give more information about your turntable, it would be easier to make a recommendation.
Will
8470
Chief Product Officer
Jul 8, 2013
RunTheJewels@RunTheJewels
Looks like your question has been answered pretty thoroughly, that said, I've got that EXACT setup on my desk right now. Thinkpad (running Windows 7) -> USB -> Aune T1 -> RCA Interconnects -> Audioengine A5+.
The thinkpad sends audio to the tube DAC in the Aune T1 which passes the un-amped signal to the A5+ which uses it's own amplifier to produce sound.
The result is tube color in your A5+ and all volume control happens through the A5+ (good thing it has a remote control to make your life super easy).
Hopefully this helps along with the other responses.
bilditup1
80
Jul 8, 2013
Will@Will @RunTheJewels
Two notes: the output of the Aune T1 audio out, while not exactly 'amped' is obviously much louder than your typical sound card. With the A2, this resulted in distortion at lowish volumes, and I had to adjust the volume at the source.
The other thing is - he's talking about a turntable. If he is connecting the turntable to his computer via USB, and then outputting that data back to the Aune and then the A5+, well, he'd be doing a needless (and of questionable quality) Analog to Digital and then Digital to Analog conversion, and should consider getting a good phono preamp - perhaps one that uses tubes. Unfortunately it seems like the turntable he got has a preamp built-in, so I'm not sure that it's bypassable.
Actually one of these could be a good if niche candidate for a drop:
http://www.phonopreamps.com/index.html#Preamps
And here's one that uses tubes:
http://www.amazon.com/Bellari-VP130-Preamplifier-Headphone-Amplifier/dp/B002TD4GME/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1373315529&sr=8-2
Alternatively, I guess he could get the Little Dot MKIII, assuming that drop hasn't ended, and use it as a general purpose preamp.
He really didn't specify what he didn't like about the sound he was getting, so it's hard to make more specific recommendations.
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