FX-AUDIO TUBE-05 Preamplifier – Power of A Single ECC82 Void Lamp
fx-Audio Tube-05 is a $99 USD Tube Preamplifier / Headphone Amplifier designed around a single ECC82 Tube. Today we will review and explore the FXAudio Tube05 and see how it sounds.
Introduction
FX-Audio is a company that offers entry-level products with good performance and simple construction. They consider the Tube-05 part of their “Good Time” series of products, and it promises to use high-quality components including Wima and Nichicon Capacitors, a JRC NJW1194 volume control chip with output selector and tone control. The front panel features a control wheel and you also should receive a remote for a simpler user experience. HIFI College is a shop operating on Amazon and Aliexpress, which helps bring those nice entry-level products to music lovers all over the world.
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Product Link
Amazon – https://amzn.to/46bK5qv
Build Quality – Design
At the core of the FX-Audio Tube-05 Preamplifier / Headphone amplifier you can find a PSVane ECC82 Tube, around which the whole AMP is built. You can choose a different tube compatible with the socket, and Tube-05 supports any ECC82, 12AU7, 6N10, 7316, CV003, 5814, B749 and 6189 tubes.
For volume control Tube-05 uses a JRC NJW1194 digital volume control, which is a digital controller with output selector and tone control. It is not R2R, but the marketing materials promise a similar low-noise and low-distortion characteristic comparable to an R2R chip.
Digging a bit deeper into the device, we can see that it is both a headphone amplifier and a preamplifier, and it has just one Stereo RCA input, but it has one stereo RCA output, one 3.5mm single ended headphone output and one 6.3 headphone jack single ended output.
There are two modes for sound, Direct and Tube modes, with the Tube Mode having a much higher THD+N, of 0.6% and Direct mode having a 0.1% THD+N. The line output has a 105 dB SNR while Direct mode has a 113 dB SNR. Theoretical driving power is immense with a 960 mW power for a 32 OHM impedance, 750mW for a 64 OHM impedance and 125mW for a 600 OHM impedance, with the scaling of the power relative to the impedance being fairly scalar.
Power is provided by a simple 12V DC 2A Switching Power Supply and the whole unit weights 369 grams. Inside the package you can find the Tube Amp / Pre, ECC82 PSVANE tube, Mains adapter and remote control. Although not mentioned anywhere in the marketing materials, there is a mini display at the front which allows you to configure the Tube-05.
Subjective Usage
Tube 05 does not have a rating for the output impedance, but I can tell you it is fairly high as you can hear hissing and background noise, including tube noise with most earphones and headphones, especially if you allow the volume to go louder. As Tube05 handles volume really well, you can set the DAC to max output, with them expecting most DAC to push a high volume, it will sound excellent even with a powerful DAC that is pushing a line 2V signal, and have zero distortion.
The little display is good, and you can fine tune the sound with extra bass and extra treble, which actually works well. Bass uplift happens between 30 Hz and 90 Hz, which is a good range, while treble lift happens in between 5 kHz and 14 kHz, which will affect the upper midrange too.
Besides needing a DAC and you setting it up, FX-Audio- Tube05 works by itself. You can even select the input to be tube or default, which would theoretically act as a tube bypass, but I personally feel like it does not really change the sound much, noise levels and tuning are both fairly similar between the two, with minor changes to texture. All in all, the unit gets hot as expected for something with a tube inside, but the power brick design and power are great and will keep you free of distortion and playing more and more music.
Sound Quality
Pairings – For testing it as a headphone amplifier, have paired the FX-Audio Tube-05 Amp / Pre with a selection of headphones and IEMS, including Raptgo LEAF D01, Palma DHS-1, KBEar Cepheus, Crosszone CZ-10 Enhanced, Erzetich Thalia, TinHIFI T7, BQEYZ Winter II, HIFIMAN HE600, HIFIMAN Ananda Unveiled, Noble Knight, NFAudio NE4, Sivga Peng, Moritz Dragon, Crosszone CZ-8a Enhanced, Tangzu TianPeng, Soundz Flame, YanYin Canon PRO, Dunu Vulkan 2, Letshuoer Mystic 8, and HIFIMAN Isvarna
For testing it as a preamplifier, I have used the Luxsin X9, FiiO K17 and HIFIMAN Serenade as DACs and I have used separate speaker stereo systems and headphone AMP, with the stereo AMP systems including Pylon Monitor 18 driven by a combo of Topping B100 Monoblock amplifiers, Fosi Audio ZA3 Monoblock Amplifiers driving a set of Elipson Heritage XLS7 Bookshelf HIFI Speakers, and a Keces S300+ Amplifier driving a set of Audience ClairAudient 1+1 Stereo HIFI Bookshelf Speakers.
If you’re looking for fun, background noise is generally minimal, you can hear it with most headphones and IEMS, but it is not loud or disturbing. Driving power is sufficient for easy to drive IEMS and it simply does not have the juice for too hard to drive headphones, like HE1000 Stealth, but it is ok for Ananda Unveiled.
Overall Signature – Although I started this review with literal minimal expectations, as FX-Audio is not necessarily known for sonic quality, I am surprised to say that I like it a lot. Not only has it excellent control and low distortion, but the Bass and treble enhancements work really well. Tube05 can put kick and punch into music regardless of the DAC that is juicing it. It also sounds natural, with a slightly wet sound and tuning, almost like trying to emulate the iBasso PB5 Osprey but on a budget.
Bass – Bass is deep, powerful and has a lush tone, with minimal distortion and big impact. By minimal distortion, I mean that Tube05 can handle songs with a LOT of distortion and too much bass like Apashe songs. It can also sound brilliant when you use the extra bass enhancement even with said songs. Furthermore, bass is deep, reaches 20 Hz, and has no limits. At default, it is not uplifted or colored in any way, but it is powerful. It feels a bit like the power delivery increases power faster than voltage, so most headphones have headroom to create a powerful low-end and low distortion despite not getting that loud easily.
Midrange – Mid is sweet, soft and wet sounding with a clear splashy tendency, which I noticed with iBasso’s PB5 osprey as well. This kind of tuning is very easy to notice, and I would call it a long post-impulse decay in the upper midrange and treble, but it sounds good to my ears, creates an upper midrange and lower treble emphasis, and gives some extra sharpness to the sound without making it crisp. All in all, it works a bit better for female voices than male voices, and emotion music is more expressive than happy music, but it still is close to neutral.
Treble – Treble sounds sharp and extended, reaches 20 kHz easily, with most energy between 6 kHz and 16 kHz, a wide range to have of a peaking point. This makes Fx audio tube 05 bright, sharp, revealing and airy. It is one of the few tube amps / pres that actually do sound detailed and do not force the sound to cancel treble in light of a tube sound.
Dynamics And Textures – dynamics are different between default and tube modes, tube sounds splashy, bright and airy, with a strong upper midrange and treble. All sound is free of distortion and this tune is enjoyable, takes away harshness but allows in metallic resonance and sharpness. Dynamic range is natural, neither compressed nor relaxed or widened, which is to be expected from a tube amp / pre.
Loudness Saturation Gradient – Loudness saturation gradient is interesting as judging from the overall bass punch and headroom, it feels like Tube05 powers a bit more power for a lower voltage, allowing all headphones and iems to stay controlled and distortion-free for higher volumes.
Soundstage – Staging is natural, not overly wide or deep, but it is not intimate either. I would call it rounded and natural, depth is similar to width, and all dimensions are just even and natural. Instrument separation is also natural, it does not feel surgical, but in tube style, it is not scattered nor blended together, just a good balance of separation and soundstage size. This tuning works best for more modern music.
Value and Conclusion
For 99 USD you can get a good headphone amplifier and speaker preamplifier with a tubey sound, not warm and smooth, but the splashy, musical type of tubey sound that has a high resolution and clarity, so value is excellent with even a remote being included in the package of the tube-05.
FX-AUDIO and HIFI College made a good package for music lovers and Tube-05 is a nice preamplifier with a good headphone amplifier and a solid build quality, comes with a remote, tone controls and it is an excellent choice if you’re in the entry-level range and want a better way to enjoy music , but are not ready to pay the asking price for a higher priced pre or H-amp. Today I feel it is a fully recommended purchase especially if you are budget bound.
PROs
- Small and nifty
- Tube gets hot and works well
- Spalshy, musical sound that takes away dryness and harshness from music
- Excellent top treble extension
- Excellent bass extension
- High headroom that allows for a big bass with low distortion
- Clean and neutral sound
- High value for the sonic performance
Cons
- Runs quite hot
- Audible background noise and hissing
Product Link
Amazon – https://amzn.to/46bK5qv
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Full Playlist used for this review
We listened to more songs than those named in this playlist, but those are excellent for identifying a sonic signature. I recommend trying most of the songs from this playlist, especially if you’re searching for new music! The playlists are different for Spotify, Tidal and Youtube, and based on the songs I enjoy and are available on each!
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL_cjBXGmwSHSdGcwuc_bKbBDGHL4QvYBu
https://open.spotify.com/playlist/5J3oloz8Riy9LxEGenOjQ0?si=979ba4f082414be7
https://tidal.com/browse/playlist/330fd544-8e5b-4839-bd35-676b2edbb3d5
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