I bought this amp from eBay and did some tube rolling. Have some 5654RTC tubes along with some GE Jan 5654W (got 8 of them for an awesome price). Also have a pair of Voshkhod 6ZH1P-EV tubes.
The really AWESOME thing about the tubes for this amp is that they're the same tubes used in the APPJ mini2013 amp (https://www.massdrop.com/buy/appj-mini2013-6j1-6p1). (The driver tubes are the same but the power tubes are different .... be careful of that)
I should mention that this amp sounds great with the K7XX headphones. (I switched out the tubes with the 5654RTC tubes and it sounds much better. Well, it sounds much better to me anyway.)
DynomuttWell they're actually different. I use this one for headphones and the appj for a record/phonograph setup (ie speakers) . Apples to oranges, I think. This thing sounds great with headphones and the appj sounds great with speakers. The appj, i think, sounds awesome with an analog input (like a record player). The Little Dot sounds good with a digital input. Haven't tried the LD with an analog input.
Guess it depends on what you want to use something for. This one's for headphones and the appj is for a setup using speakers. Haven't regretted buying either. (once i figured out the quirks of the appj that is)
JerboxOk I replied but, for some reason I replied to myself? Anyway, you can see my comments on the appj and the LD. Both good purchases for me. No regrets.
JerboxThe Voshkod tubes ARE good. They should give you a better sound than the stock Chinese tubes. If you can find them, apparently Mullard NOS are just the best for the driver tubes. (I haven't found any or, when I've found them, I'm not willing to pay the price!)
Just remember to burn the tubes in! The sound stage on the Voshkods, when burned in, is quite good.
Are you using it with an analog source or are a DAC?
DynomuttSaw some Mullard NOS on ebay and they are around $100 price range, i agree with you i'm not willing to pay also haha, i think Voshkod Tubes are bang for the buck tubes and the reviews i've read are great (http://www.head-fi.org/t/563884/little-dot-tube-amps-vacuum-tube-rolling-guide)
What is the burn in process? just leave it on? and how long does the burn in takes?
I currently have the Fiio E17K, but i'm planning to add Mayflower Objective2 and ODAC Rev. B DAC & Amplifier.
JerboxYeah... They may sound awesome but paying that kind of money sounds insane...
Look at head - fi for recommendations on how to do burn in. I had music playing through the amp, not just leaving it on. Burn in can take awhile!
I have the ODAC DAC and amp but am not using the amp. I like the sound out of the LD better.... And yeah, with the K7XX cans.
The really AWESOME thing about the tubes for this amp is that they're the same tubes used in the APPJ mini2013 amp (https://www.massdrop.com/buy/appj-mini2013-6j1-6p1). (The driver tubes are the same but the power tubes are different .... be careful of that)
I should mention that this amp sounds great with the K7XX headphones. (I switched out the tubes with the 5654RTC tubes and it sounds much better. Well, it sounds much better to me anyway.)