Musical Fidelity X-10 Tube Buffer Stage

Decware makes an item like this as well. It's called the ZBOX. I just bought a phono stage from them on a 30 day trial and saw the ZBOX while surfing their pages. I used to own the X-10 and it worked well with my Quad 77 CDP. When I upgraded my digital components I found I did not need it anymore.

Some differences I noted in the ZBOX include the use of a 12AX7 tube mounted externally so you could tube toll with it. It also has an IEC so you can use an upgraded PC if you like. The X-10 uses a wall wart, something I wasn't crazy about. The MSRP on the ZBOX is a few hundrd more, but Decware is offering an intro price of $399, same as the X-10. 30 day trial applies as well. I'd give Steve Deckert a call (his number is listed on the site) if you need more information. Might be worth a test drive.

So I ordered the X-10 from amusicdirect.com and blew $50 bucks on shipping so I could have it in time for the weekend.

My first reaction is: WOW.

Frankly I was very skeptical and thought I might just check it out and shamelessly send it right back if I didnt like it.

But even using a cheap cable from the SCD-1 to the tube buffer and then routing the tube buffer outputs through the CD section of the preamp:

this quirky little device has REALLY taken the edge off my system.

For the first time in a while, I found myself listening to music, tapping my toes etc, instead of squinting my eyes and ears while puzzling over the sound and feeling pissed off that it is not quite right, too loud and fatiguing.

I would not say that the imaging has changed dramatically and what I have so far perceived to be improvements might be at the expense of some "air" at the top.

But in general, everything is warmer and smoother - midrange great, no sense of veiling over vocals. Bass is not vice grip like in its control, but I am not sure it was before? ... and it now sounds satifyingly warm and quite full.

So I was thinking this might be a fun experiment only but so far on first impressions this is a pretty nifty device.

Good to hear , mine has been in my system for about 4 months , as it settles in it will sound even better , im not a big believer in burn in, but with this unit it now sounds different to the first day , it is just more open , well done and let me say to others out there that this unit is far better than the original , i had one so i know. Cheers.

install the device on a tape-loop of your SP11 pre. This way you won't have to suffer the additional degradation of that extra interconnect cable-pair when the X-10 is switched out, &/or you can buffer additional source equipment as desired. Bear in mind that the extra cables inline with your signal are a significant limiting factor; quality & synergy are both very important factors.

Bob Bundus

Record out to the X-10? And then "monitor" through the tape loop?

This will still require 2 sets of cables to the buffer but I guess just one coming off the SCD-1 which is better in your opinion?

This should also make for some easy and interesting A/B comparisons?

Thank you.