AIYIMA Tube Preamp T5 review

AIYIMA T5 is an affordable tube preamp with Bluetooth and a headphone amp. This is a full video review. Also, check my website for detailed written reviews - iiwireviews.com/
AIYIMA T5 at AMAZON: amzn.to/2Ogj2lV
Ali-Express: s.click.aliexpress.com/e/_AriFNY
4:39 Sound Quality Line-out.... vs Dragonfly Black
7:59 Sound Quality Headphone-out.... vs Dragonfly Black
11:07 Bluetooth
12:53 File support and Conclusion
Listening setup:
Integrated Amplifier: Cyrus 8vs2
Speakers: KEF LS50
Headphones: Takstar Pro 82, AKG K92, Tin Audio T2, Senfer DT6
#audiophile #hifi #budget #preamp #dac

[@doriarama]

Congratulations for the new site! Will be nice to see scores too:)

[@veedub95]

Tubes in these generic CHi-fi unit are normally used in the amp section or heard phone section. These are none by op-amps. If you have to use this item and think you need to decode hi res files you need to use the appropriate DAC. Like the Topping D3

[@mariorodriguez5197]

I have this item, it sounds very nice, when it works, it continually jumps to headphone setting without a headphone being plugged in... does anyone know how to fix this? Thanks

[@lhelvete3720]

Hello. I've tried 3 cd players( philips cd 723, tangent exeo and one harman kardon HD980). Same thing with a sony minidisc player and a pioneer bdp 150 player. clipping for all of them(RCA or jack input on the preamp). As you said it's the signal level in cause because with a phono preamp plug to the rca input of the preamp, there was no saturation. If other owner could test the 2 analog inputs with a cd player or a streamer, it would be great to have their feedbacks.

[@SeeTeeShock]

Does this device support the ability of the incorporated pt7314 4-channel input audio processor chip to adjust balance as well as bass and treble?

[@riooctav8256]

Thanks for the review I was wondering if I paired this with my topping e30, would it better? Thanks you for the reply 🙏🙏

[@iiWiReviews]

If you already have E30 than go for the pure headphone amp such as L30 or xDuoo Ta-05... This one is affordable all in one, you don't gain much by attaching external DAC.

[@glenngogoll6166]

Make sure a transformer is included, sub $100. I just bought a T9 for $98, but I had to add a transformer + freight, came to $150 Australian.

[@Sonu666]

I have it. Have you tried tube rolling? matched pair JAN tubes? it improves sound greatly and this thing beats DX3Pro easily.

[@iiWiReviews]

I haven't tried that but it's good to hear you managed to squeeze out that much improvement.

[@trulyblessed5236]

hi can u review the Aiyima A08 and Aiyima DAC A6. thank you!

[@douglasbonner6543]

Love your reviews but tell us more about your system please.

[@iiWiReviews]

Thanks! My main system is currently this: PC -> Burson Playmate -> Cyrus 8vs2 -> KEF LS50 On PC I use Album player (free - albumplayer.ru/english.html) and some additional software to help clean the OS for best sound - Fidelizer (free version) and Minority Clean (free - www.mics.ne.jp/~coolverse/MinorityClean/). Interconnect cables are from Serbian manufacturer FTA (Final Touch Audio) and speaker cables are DIY. Hope this sheds some light. :) Cheers!

[@lhelvete3720]

Hello. Have you try the analog inputs ?. I've ordered one in the begining of the year, and i couldn't use these inputs, too much saturation, or distorsion, i don't know, but unlistenable. USB works perfectly, bluetooth two.

[@iiWiReviews]

I don't remember hearing distortion but I tried it out only with my phone and very low signal level. What is your input device for analog signal? Just guessing from the top of my head, it may be that the signal level is too high and causing clipping.

[@achan7396]

Hi, need advice about this T5 connecting to my Topping PA3 integrated Amp without remote. Can I use the T5 remote to control my system volume instead of using the topping PA3 volume knob? And wonder how to hook these 2 up. Thanks.

[@veedub95]

Only if the Topping PA3 has and amp in (input). Using the aux input or any other line input will result in you using the PA3 volume knob.

[@iiWiReviews]

You already have volume attenuation on your PA3 so I would just use pure DAC without any volume control in your case. But strictly technically you could do it this way - put volume on your PA3 to tha max (no attenuation like power amp) and attenuate the volume over T5. But again, I would not do that personally.

[@achan7396]

Thanks for the advice

[@SahinurUK]

Man this is the 2nd product I've ordered based on your reviews. 🤣 How is the "tube" sound effect on this unit?

[@iiWiReviews]

Just a bit warmish base that's all... Other than that it's nice detailed sound...

[@DaniIrwan]

Link to buy?

[@iiWiReviews]

Amazon: amzn.to/2Ogj2lV AIYIMA Store: www.aiyima.com

[@lawrence9706]

Did you test this device without the tubes installed and connected using aux2 or rca? I just did and the device still produces sound, so the tubes aren't doing anything in that stage. Waste of money if used that way.

[@iiWiReviews]

I didn't and that is a very interesting find. I don't have this preamp with me anymore to try it myself, unfortunately.

[@lawrence9706]

@@iiWiReviews I can't figure what the tubes are doing. What I mean is this... Without them in the device it produces sound, but the gain is minimal. Adding the tubes, gain is there but compared to other devices like the FX audio, the gain is maybe 2/3s. So the device is doing something with the tubes, but how much are the tubes a factor, sound wise, hmmmm.

[@2HatHudders]

@@lawrence9706 hi Laurence, sorry could you explain a little more? So the DAC/preamp works without the tubes? How is the sound effected when tubes are back in the circuit? Cheers.

[@piotrzakrawacz]

@@2HatHudders I'm not sure how it works, but I bough this piece mainly to use it as a rather complicated form of an input switcher (I have two macs connected to the AUX and RCA inputs and one pair of headphones to the jack socket). The USB port is free, but the tubes ar glowing with delicate red light and the case is very warm, almost hot. I can agree that the gain is minimal. Even my relatively easy to drive Takstar 82Pro headphones are barely playing. They are a lot louder when connected directly to the mac mini headphone socket. Strange.

[@2HatHudders]

@@piotrzakrawacz interesting set up, shake it hasn't worked for you

[@ahmedsafa91]

Still dont know the benefit of preamp while amp exists.

[@iiWiReviews]

If you're using just power amp than you need a preamp to control volume somehow and select inputs. Integrated amp on the other hand has it all (pre amp + power amp in one box).