Nobsound NS-10P Mini Vacuun Tube Preamp Test and Review

[@mattmoreira210]

«Enjoy your knoby-knob sound.» Just marvelous...

[@razenby]

I returned it - it was a piece of junk.

[@richardwong1828]

I did some small modification in the Machine's Circuit board to put a GE triode 6C4W in replaced the pentode 6J1 . It is really surprise, The sound come out Much More details and crystal clear.

[@razenby]

Interesting. The pentode I was supplied with was a VHF TV tuner amplifier valve. Very low noise and low signal but wired as a triode. The suppressor and screen grids don't do much at low frequencies it must be the difference in gain/transfer curve.

[@stanisaw1903]

Thank you for your review! You're really helping redirect my amp choices 👍

[@razenby]

You are welcome.

[@rictusmetallicus]

Isn't that supposed to be a pre-amp for music? Why didn't you just play some music through it? All that lab-stuff doesn't really give an impression to normal people like me

[@razenby]

There would be no point as the quality of the KZbin audio sampling would not allow anyone with good hearing to discern any difference. Once it had been diced and sliced and compressed it is no longer itself. If I were to phone you and say listen to the quality of this superb top-end stereo system and play it down to phone to you what you learn about the stereo?. In layman's terms. It is junk don't buy it.

[@zx8401ztv]

Nob Sound ha ha, they are just taking the micky. Maybe the old valve radio audio was twisted by a speaker transformer, and the thick coned speaker. Plus the case created a warm sound. Pretty much like you said on the previous vid.

[@razenby]

Indeed. It is all nonsense.. Shame people will pay £45 for this...

[@jonsays3762]

Thanks soooo much for this educational content.

[@razenby]

You are welcome.

[@steve_seguin]

Thank you for the video; it's perfect! I just ordered one, along with a couple other tubes to play with, and so far no regrets. I have some HD 6XX headphones and was looking to add some vintage warmth to the sound. The 6XX really lacks that sub-110hz bass IMO, and this seems like an easy way to add some lower-end presence, plus I get tone control to boot! It's so hard to find tone control on DACs/headphone amps these days. In software I'm adding already +7db to the sub-110-hz range, so this *should* get me in the ballpark of that without needing the annoying software anymore. The upper end seems pretty flat, so no worries there. The valves are a gimmick for sure, but you can change them out and have some fun there I guess. Anyways, just my two-cents.

[@razenby]

You are welcome. Enjoy the valve sound!!

[@randomthoughts2589]

Great review! I almost bought this preamp until I saw your video. Have you ever tried/reviewed the Nobsound P-1 USB DAC tube preamp? It looks good, appearance wise. But I’m not sure if I’m listening to the music coming through the circuit or valves. I’d love to see a test and hear your thought. Thank you.

[@razenby]

I have tested many 'valvesound' amplifiers that employ tubes in the preamp. Putting the tubes in the low-level signal path doesn't do anything useful. In guitar amps with transistor power output stages the preamp valves are used to clip and cause the serious distortion. Definitely no good for music reproduction. Valve amplifiers gained their reputation for a soft sound due to their transformer coupled power output stages. The transformer saturates at high drive levels the soft clip (compression) the signal peaks. These days the DSP MBDRC modelling (Multi band dynamic range compression) gives so much more control allowing modelling of the signal to match the speaker characteristics, music type and listening level. The Nobsound thing I tested was basically just a tone control. No one here including my kids could hear any difference apart from bass-low level bass boost that is nothing to do with the valves. I might launch a new range of valve sound amps - How about 'Placebo Amplifiers - you will be convinced that you can hear the difference',?

[@randomthoughts2589]

@@razenby thank you for the clarification. That’s information is very useful. I’ve purchased a variety of Russian and Japanese 6J1 (and the likes) valves for my USB DAC tube preamp learning how they work on this little system I have. I’d say there’s a little difference in sound among different pairs. I guess it’s a placebo thing. Anyway, it makes my desktop setup look much cooler. Plus, I use it mainly as an EQ unit for my MacBook and my Bose Companion 20. Any valve preamp/USB DAC using 6J1 or EH90 tubes you’d recommend? I have plenty of them that I’d love to have a system actually producing sound through the valves, and all tubes won’t just sit idle. Really appreciate your response. And please keep up your good reviews.

[@dennisschnobrich9288]

I'm surprised you got any treble gain at all. Mine is very weak in the highs, it sounds muffled.

[@razenby]

The instrument doesn't lie. There are probably variations between units. It is a mass produced toy so there is probably a lot of variation between units. Personally I think it was piece of junk. I just present the evidence and let the viewer decide. The minerals that this were made from should have been left in the earth.

[@dennisschnobrich9288]

@@razenby Thank you for your response. The only reason I bought this preamp is because it's the only one I found that does not have those stupid op amps.

[@chandrakant1479]

Can I use it as an alternative to in built phono preamp of my Audio Technica turn table?

[@razenby]

If it has a magnetic pickup then no. A Phono preamp has RIAA compensation to account for the frequency response of the pick up.

[@chandrakant1479]

@@razenby Thank you so much for taking out time to reply me 🙂

[@razenby]

@@chandrakant1479 You are welcome

[@MarkWagner-zr1mz]

I've connected my TV headphone output to my stereo receiver RCA AUX input, it works but audio level extremely low. Could I connect TV headphone output to this amp's input then output to my stereo input ? Alternatively, TV digital or HDMI ARC output to a DAC to this amp's input then amp's output to stereo input???

[@razenby]

The output shouldn't be too low. Is there a separate head phone volume setting in the TV menus somewhere. It should drive and Aux input OK. However there are two standards for Aux levels: The most common one is 1 Volt and the other is 3 Volts. The 3 volt version is implemented on professional and high-end domestic audio gear. Are you sere the cable you are using is good? Best bet is to use a SPDIF optical link if your TV and Receiver have that connection.

[@penguinshoes6256]

15:05-15:10 You don't want your signal chain to go through this device lol I'm interested in getting into tube amps and thought this would be an ok start; guess I better start off with Schitt Freya+ I have seen videos where people will say that the cheap tube amps are all just for looks and that the tubes don't even work

[@razenby]

That why it takes 4 oldies to change a light bulb.... One to change it andthe other three to prattle on about how much better the old one used to be...

[@noanyobiseniss7462]

Only nobs would want this. :)

[@razenby]

By the time most people can afford audiophile gear their ears are already shot!! Then you need monolithic heavy blocks with big shiny knobs and blue LEDs - if you can see the tube heating glow then they sound 20% better in your mind's ear. I have some sympathy as I had the Covid recently and couldn't smell a thing. Pretty soon my mind was conjuring up symphonies of aromas as I was eating that were nothing to do with the food. I could taste salt, sweet, sour and feel the texture but the brain just stepped in and made it up the aromas. Maybe that is like being an Audiophile??

[@jonb5150]

You enjoying yours?

[@WardoUSA]

Is the software you’re using REW?

[@razenby]

REW?

[@stjohns0]

Huh?? A phono preamp isnt supposed to be flat. It's supposed to introduce the RIAA curve.

[@razenby]

Close but no cigar. True but only problem this device isn't a Phono preamp ...

[@goodsound4756]

1:29 LOL

[@razenby]

Th this is a joke of a product... Things sounded much better in the old days because ears work far better when you are young....

[@razenby]

I agree. Everything is better when you are young..

[@uncled39]

But how does it actually sound?

[@razenby]

The same as the input as there are no harmonic components. It is just a tone control. If you have bass and treble controls on your amp then this wont do anything. You will hear a slight difference when the controls are mid position because it isn't flat when it is supposed to be. Definitely a case of smoke and mirrors in a pretty case.

[@uncled39]

@Magic Smoke I ordered one just before seeing this video. It hasn't arrived yet. This video has not quite made me regret my purchase, but made me think a bit about it. Would changing to better valves help the tone controls?

[@CarlosGonzalez-up8nr]

What is your recommendation for a $50 pre amp with tubes?

[@razenby]

I don't know one but $50 sounds too cheap. There may be one available on the market but I have only tested pre-amps that are part of bigger power amps. Best have a look at some audio magazines. The problem is that mot AB and D class solid state power amplifiers quite badly at normal listening levels. All the THD is quoted at near or at full power. If you run a THD sweep at normal listening volumes the THD measures much higher. If you want to hear the benefit of tube distortion on a solid state power stage then see if you can find a class A power amplifier to couple it to. You need very good ears... and some audio tracks have distinct clear tones either vocal or instrumental. If there is clutter in the background then it drowns out the sonorous harmonics added by the tube distortion.

[@CarlosGonzalez-up8nr]

@@razenby thanks! Figured its probably too good to be true for the price. Keeping an eye on local vintage amps and receivers in the mean time.

[@soto44123]

I love tech stuff and people using meters and all kinds of bullshit . (sarcasm). Ears tell us whether the pre-amp is worth cost and effort. The demo should feature the pre-amp receiving a signal (music) sent to a solid state amp to hear how it sounds and if it worth while.

[@razenby]

haha. The measurements never lie. This is product that sounds terrible too... unfortunately not possible to demonstrate on KZbin as the sound sample speed wont allow you to hear the difference.. Buy one and try it and then see for yourself... A joke design.

[@cockneybrian]

Lol it’s pronounced. No B sound lol classic. I’m sure it’s your humour anyway how many more door stops, table wedges do yo need ? Classic

[@razenby]

It keeps making a slapping noise!!!

[@cockneybrian]

@@razenby it be interesting to see inside? Are the tubes even part of the audio circuit? Or just show

[@razenby]

I had that thought. The signal is via the valves - I pulled them out and there was no output.

[@cockneybrian]

@@razenby but what to say there not just a wire in tube to complete circuit? Anything possible be interested though 🤓

[@razenby]

@@cockneybrian That is the version you can buy on eBay. It would also have a timer to simulate the heater delay at power on..

[@hullinstruments]

I like my electronics the same way I like my women and lawn work…. Cheap but sexy on the outside. But most of all I like to watch someone else do it.

[@hullinstruments]

Please excuse me I did not mean to offend you or any of your viewers but I had that joke locked and loaded for a while.

[@razenby]

I prefer complex, interesting and very capable. If that looks good too then that's a bonus!

[@daikiryoku]

Nobsound is a subsidiary of Bellendaudio.

[@razenby]

Yh that brand is better than Wangtech!!