Are Tube Buffers for real or even worth it ?

@stereo_gen 

👍🏼 Folks shouldn’t ‘poo poo’ tube buffers until they actually hear the iFi Micro Tube2 and understand it’s capabilities. It’s an incredible little piece of equipment that can transform your rig, if that is what you are looking for. It’s also very well engineered and does not integrate distortion, it’s really quiet actually. But again, it isn’t cheap vs the crappy ones out there. 

It did it’s job for me quite well until upgrading my preamp by a significant amount. Could I still have it in the chain? Sure, but isn’t really necessary now, for me.

How about the Black Ice FOZ SSX? That’s a tube buffer ++ and it seems that lots of people appreciate it.

@twoleftears

Looking at it, the iFi does more. And at less cost.

Does that iFi have gain?

If you have stereophile class A equipment and are getting a characteristic sound, as you say solid state, rather than add on equipment, check your cables.  Else you will have another component and another cable to add to the problem and your result will be all over the place.