Fatman itube valve amp question.

[ihatesissycars]

Hi all,

I'm toying with the idea of getting the base model itube.

I have a question re an ipods sound quality that being unless you load songs onto itunes in apples lossless mode you'll not get a cd quality sound?

The reason I ask is I'm thinking of just getting the bare amp and running my ps3 and tv through it and listening to cd's through the ps3, doing without the ipod aspect but enjoying valve amp sound. A ps3 seems to kick out a decent signal so that combined with the itube qould seem a recipe for good music, does that sound correct?

[900T-R]

Yes - if you're not fussed about having iPod playback facility in se, this sounds like a promising way forward for the outlay.

[ihatesissycars]

Fantastic!

Thank you for your help

[Mr_Yogi]

I don't know anything about the iTube amps, but do they have a DAC and a digital input?

If you connect a PS3 to an amp via the stereo analogue audio outputs (red and white RCA plugs) they doesn't sound too good, if on the other hand you connect it via optical digital it can sound pretty spiffing

[900T-R]

The PS3s analogue output CD quality is reasonable - comparable to a high street brand dedicated cd player (if you can still find such a thing) for say £150-180, and streets ahead of mp3 quality. To go for an amp with inbuilt DAC and USB input would be a bit beyond the scope of this little system. of course, one could always add a USB DAC at a later date (Cambridge DACmagic still a steal even at its current £230 price but there's a couple of pretty reasonable ones out there at 150 notes or so).

[ihatesissycars]

Whats a DAC magic thing?

Would it go inline between the ps3 and amp, an upscaler?

[900T-R]

Digital-to-analogue converter - instead of the analogue outputs of your PS3 you'd use the digital output and let the outboard DAC do the number crunching before it goes into your amp. There's also a USB connection for your computer so you can reproduce the music files on there in a better quality than with the comparatively crappy soundcard on it - which you might want at some point as CDs are being replaced with downloads as the main music source (i've never bothered so far, though).

For now I'd just plug the PS3 directly into the amp and see what it's like, though.

[Driller]

For God's sake, couldn't they think of something more original than "iTube"?

And you do realise that the valve is only there so that they can call it "iTube" and get you to pay more money for it don't you? It doesn't actually make any difference to the sound.

You'd have to pay considerably more money for something where the valve actually did something.

ETA Of course if you just want a bit of audio gear with a valve in it because you like valves then fair enough. Valves are great

Edited by Driller on Tuesday 12th January 20:29

[ihatesissycars]

I believe the valves are a pre-amp to a transistor amp but from what I've heard, they do sound a bit better.

I've just been looking at teh DIY aspect, I feel a project coming on!

[Driller]

ihatesissycars said:

I believe the valves are a pre-amp to a transistor amp but from what I've heard, they do sound a bit better.

I've just been looking at teh DIY aspect, I feel a project coming on!

Go for it, excellent idea! In fact I think I might do one to. There are some very handy looking low power class A guitar amp projects out there. [/lurk]

[ihatesissycars]

Where to start though!?

[ihatesissycars]

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&am...

Good starting point?