it is designed as a pre-amp tube not powe tube, the headphones are powered by that muses 02 opamp in that unit not by the nutube, and the noise is there because whoever made it didn't know how to implement the USB correctly in the circuit,it probably isn't isolated from the rest of the circuit on the power section
NuTubes haven't failed, they exist in CURRENT products like Vox amplifiers. They weren't created with hifi or headphones in mind, they were created for musical instrument amplification. I'm sure you could get more power out of them if they stacked multiple nutubes in there. They might be amazing with the right design, who knows. I know that they're highly regarded in guitar amplifiers, as far as getting close to the tube sound. The reason they only get close is because they're only used in the preamp section and typically paired with a class d power amp. They haven't created high power nutubes. Look up the miniature Vox nutube guitar amp head.
Yeah. I wouldn't say they failed. They just don't use them in consumer electronics. They are being utilized at in musical equipment. I was talking with a guitarist friend a while back, inquiring if they would ever put one in audio equipment.
They weren't even made for music either. They were made as display tubes for some car dash panel if I remember right. But then again, most tubes were never intended for audio.
@@tristanjones7735 what would be the point of making those for that when we're in the transistor era? Tubes, sure, not made for audio. Nutubes? Eh show me, i think it was instrument amplification.
The nutube hybrid by Pete Millet is amazing, Nutubes have microphonics so you need to give it a sec when plugging in and out. It is very tubey sounding its great and I recc it, it had the power to push bass eqed lcd2c so yea ;) He also now has a diy balanced differential pcb so the hardcore peeps out there
Build yourself the Pete Millet Nu-Tube headphone amp. That's a great example of good use of the Korg tubes. Korg, themselves, recommends a heavy steel plate to be placed atop the tube to help the ringing. If you don't manhandle the unit, it probably wouldn't bother you....but it's there and can happen when moving the gear around. The Nu-tube also has a long shelf life (so it says).
It ought to have a long shelf life based on display products using the same tech. So unless it’s made of crappy stuff it should last a pretty long time. Oven displays which often use this display tech stay on 24/7 for the life of the oven.
The NuTubes appear in a variety of guitar effects pedals. In tests, the difference between the all solid state and NuTube versions have been subtle. The implementations tend to be a lot more expensive than a standard solid state, and they do need to have a vibration fighting mounting point to function. I think the place where they succeed is not as a sole power source, but as step-up amplifier that adds flavor to a largely solid state device. As others have mentioned, Vox uses them in this way. I believe those use the NuTube as a pre amp, driving a class D power amp in mini guitar amps. For guitars, this does seem to allow for an amp that has a lot of the character of a vintage unit in a far smaller and cheaper device. The Joyo Bantamps do a similar thing, except using a traditional 12ax7 in the preamp, rather than the NuTube.
I feel like the cool factor is enough for me to want to buy something with one. It doesn’t have to be unbelievably amazing to be a gadget that gadget people would want.
Korg puts it in their instruments, it was designed for keyboards & guitar amps, not home audio. It does sound good though, I had an Apex Sangaku(full sized NuTube headphone amp.) It did the ding, needed an isolation platform, sounded nice and warm and rosy. Kinda like candlelight if that makes sense. Kinda regret selling the thing but I'm a treblehead & baby didn't sparkle.
It sounds like the more appropriate use for this technology would be the output-stage of a DAC, or inside a preamp, rather than an actual amplifier. Take a THX amp module, or a good Class D module, and put a NuTube on the input.
Cayin N8 is the best implementation of the Nutube currently. Has none of the noise problem (it is fitted on a suspended cage) , proper balance circuitry with 750mw output power, best of all you can see the Nutube. Ibasso one works well aswell doesn't have the noise problem, aside from the fact the player is quite laggy and slow, the dac inside it is also subpar. Nutube system is try and tested from these competent companies, the Nutube work perfectly fine just this "custom" made guy is over reaching his ability in implementing the system, he most likely don't have the technical skill to isolate the module properly, while charging a fair price for the product (working hrs and limited order) so he most likely gave up on an economic efficiency level.
@@barchetype6430 around that yea, official number is 8.5 hrs in balanced, but since I never do continuous play throughout the day (1hr commute, few hrs at work etc etc) I can do 2 days without charging it.
Ok. There are a loooooot of misconceptions here. None of these amps are tube amps. They are all hybrid amps. It honestly doesn't matter what type of headphones you plug into a hybrid amp since a proper hybrid design should have an output impedance of a few ohms anyways. Furthermore, this notion that "tube amps need higher impedance headphones" is total BS. SOME OTL tube amps can ONLY drive high impedance headphones because the output impedance is rather high. There are other OTL designs out there that are more than happy to run 16 ohm headphones (im actually building one right now). There are tons of other tube amps out there that use transformer or some type of hybrid design to run low impedance devices with ease.
Try a different op amp for more power. The Nutube probably does the voltage gain and the opamp delivers the current and acts as a buffer. Some projects with Nutube uses soft wires to connect Nutube to the pcb and uses rubber bushings to fasten the Nubube. Check out diyaudio to see some projects :)
Most of these cheap tube amps actually just use the tubes as a cathode follower which is just a buffer. They follow that with what is a conventional opamp amplifier (gain and actually driving the output). They use the cathode follower tube config because they can throw any old garbage tubes in there and it'll probably work. Because the tubes are working as a buffer and not driving any significant load they impart very little 'tube sound' if at all so some might consider it 'cheating'. They also don't use much power configured like that so they save money on the powersupply. You get the nice tubey sound from a common cathode gain stage and/or cathode follower which actually drives the output load. If your amplifier only has 1 or 2 physical tubes, it's probably the former. If it has 3 or more it is probably the 'real deal'.
Korg the rock dude from Thor I have only seen the nutube been used in 2 diy preamps One designed by Nelson Pass and another I can't remember that was a desktop headphone amp combo with nutube as a preamp Would like to take up both projects, any opinions or has anyone used these as a preamp?
@zeos - I have the ibasso DX220 with AMP9 and they released a firmware update that gives you the option to drive it in hi-gain mode to get more output out of the nutube. Powerwise it's comparable with output of the stock Amp1MkII when nutube is in highpower mode. No problem with higher impedence phones in high power mode. In low powermode there's plenty of power for my Andromedas and minimal noise. Ringing is pretty well tamed as well although not perfect, the tubes definitely don't ring anywhere near as long as your video, maybe 2-3 secs worst case if bumping really hard. Carrying in pocket not a problem at all. :) I have a Q5 too and would love to see FiiO do a nutube module but i cant see them doing that since it seems they maybe moving away from modules now - at least with their DAPS anyway.
dc power doesnt need to be "cleaned". the sine waveform cant be noisy, because dc power doesnt have a sine wave. theres not going to be ripple or anything. usb is a low voltage, low current power standard. there can be lack of current, but thats about it, and a cheap extension cable with a second power source would solve that. audiophiles will buy anything if you charge high dollar for it.
I think it was a bold and interesting move to try this out for Korg. I want one for the neat gadget factor alone. You talk anything up and your expectations get high the thing that will actually satisfy you is heroine. So, there’s that. But I want one because it’s a neat idea. It’s like buying a gun that is cool and having another gun that is tried and true for everyday carry. Why not? Collectors love shit like this. Even if it’s “pretty good” it’s not a failure in my opinion. Trying new things is rare these days.
I have the little bear, great tube amp, but I have learned to keep it in an empty pocket. Even if there is a small Ikea pencil in it, then the tube will ring. It's worse with metal. I have bought some other op-amps, cheap ones from China. Would the Burston op-amps be better? I've seen somebody on Reddit has done this. Your opinion?
VOX use this tubes on guitar amp, and ibanez new screamer pedal compare old tube screamer pedal, same screamer pedal ,only difference is nutube and old tube, both sound same to me, if put them side by side to compare ,yes can hear very little difference, but dont know use on hifi whats sound like. just hard to know old and nutube which better or same, you cant swap nutube on old tube socket to compare.
Ibanez makes a tube-screamer with a nutube in it. Box makes several guitar amplifiers with nutubes as well. Ringing and microphonics hasn’t been a major complaint from anyone I’ve seen review it. I’m interested in making things with this technology as well but I don’t know how to order these and at the price, doesn’t sound like it’s worth the money, unfortunately.
This was interesting. So, is there any manufacturers out there that can duplicate the Bob Carver challenge? How many manufacturers can make a solid state amp sound like a tube amp, and why haven't we witnessed anything like it since?
regular vac tubes = incandescent light bulb tech. nutube = fluorescent we had high hopes for this . . . THis nutube has a lot of promise but Korg isn't telling people how to get past the shortcomings. I agree . . . with the power the standard tube can use way more power (W) than the nutube .. . The bf also agrees w/ the monitor (he's a gamer, he said the best gaming monitor he's every had was a 30 in sony triniton? he also has another CRT with three parrots on it . . . I think CRT, heavy and its at his parent's house . . THe problem is its microphonic, my bf's friend is into building amps, he actually bought a vox mini amp with that nutube and took it apart, and he speculates they installed certain chipsets or even have modeling to control the microphonics, plus it had actual rubber dampeners on it. He tried to build a pre n power amp that uses nutube (korg sent him a pack of 4 to play with), but doesn't get the tone or overdrive like the comparison Vox's nutube amps . . . the OD is kinda weak . . . and the microphonics of it when setting on top of a cab is crazy high ring like the mic too close speaker scream only worse and its machine gun like icepicking. He asked Vox (pwned by Korg now), for a schematic of the vox mini to see how they figured out the microphonic / low power issues, but they wouldn't they only sent the schem for the nutube itself. But from what your saying maybe Korg hasn't figured it out . .. The main issue is amp builders have had 50+ years dealing with tube amps, plus there was a whole industry and test done, so that tech is figured out, so that's why amp builders don't want to move on. If it ain't broke don't fix it? Well how about improving it a bit? But regular tubes are heavy, they are finicky (anyone that ordred a set of tube that hasn't been pretested / pre matched), but oh they sound so good. But we've stopped gigging with our tube amps (heavy and we don't have John Mayer, oh blow out with sparks n smoke on dis dumble, welp, reload the dumble 2 of 9 , yeah owning two of the new reissue magnatones, that's a car price there ) and use SS or modelers . .. Given that korg doesn't want to release its secrets in dealing with the issues of nutube low power and microphonic to hobby amp builders (and probably this means boutique) builders, I think this will keep it as a niche VOX item . . . Vox has figured out how it worx. Or maybe they have a newer versions that don't have the microphonic . . . or maybe Korg realizes its good and wants it for them own use only . . . Our other friend has valve Vox AC30 reissue and a cambridge (nutube based), and he A-B them. THe cambridge comes close. It does have tube response (like string touch on guitar / bass). Of the solid state amps, the one with the valve like response is the boss nextone (AC30 guy has that too), most peeps would say katana is best SS / modeler but the katana doesn't have the same touch response (he has that one as well).
I think Korg knew this problem since their own NuTubes DIY headphone amp basically has the NuTubes flow inside the case and use foam to keep it in place.
Do you even know how a tube, no, thermionic valve work? Saying it's a failure without even looking at its datasheet? In fact, nutube is a huge success considering how it performed in the Ibanez nutube screamer and VOX mv50 amplifiers.
NoThemeReviews say that it's basically the same as Little Bear B4X with just a touch less background noise (that you obviously never hear when you actually play music).
TBF is more of a filter than a proper "amp" since it doesn't actually have a proper amplification stage, its fixed at 350mw per channel at 32ohm load. Big reason why its 4.4 in and 4.4 out, is because it acts more of a pass-through, and .... possible cost cutting.
They tried putting those in guitar amps and drive pedals. I don't think they sold very well, and it seems any amps or other devices they made with them were either never released, or were quietly discontinued.
You are just being silly making shit up. The nutube technology is many guitar amplifiers and nutube is a tube screamer pedal. Vox has A Beatles amp that's awesome ! That's only 2 but there's more. Lol oh kooky right !?
Nutube in guitar amps can be great and given the current state of old style tube manufacturers I doubt it has already failed. The tech for audio purposes has only been around about about six years and you seem to be making a lot of assumptions based on limited sample size of a diy
Huh I didn't even know nu-tubes were made for things other than guitar amplification to get a "tube-like" overdrive in the same space as solid state components. Is that primarily what they were intended for? (I'm not actually sure. But they seem to make more sense in that application.)
At 13:35 I could hear the ringing when you tapped it even though the headphones were on your ears and not on the GoPro. That ringing is also a slightly higher pitch than the permanent ringing I have in my ears.
I don't think the NuTubes failed they just arent developed enough yet, theres still plenty of potential, but there just hasnt been any complete products using them yet that are powerful enough
Cayin C9 is a non-DAC amp using similar tech as their N8 but with 2 Nutubes instead of 1 (1 per channel, has SE and true Balanced inputs and outputs) and a secure suspension system to minimize the micro-phonics; and includes solid state class A and class AB op amps in combination with tubes or alone so 4 sound signatures (class a SS, class A tube, class AB SS, class AB tube)- Very expensive ($2000) though reviewers and users rave about it on Head-Fi
So, they’re cool and they still exist so they haven’t failed yet, is that what you’re saying? This isn’t the movie business. Sometimes new things take a while.
I knew KORG made fantastic synths, I was aware of the nu-tube in instruments but this is the first time I’ve seen it in personal audio use. Also KORG M1 synth is best synth don’t @me
I should have bought one 5 years ago. (M1) before they became a classic. I mean, they were a classic while they were still being manufactured but 5 or ten years ago I’m sure you could get one cheaper. I would just use those 80 pre sets. Maybe mess with them a little and use a pedal board to make post vaporcore
The tube isn't failing however application it is used in is WRONG. This tube is for preamp and a big beefy power supply in an second box and the box for the tube is heavy duty type. So you can blame the guy who choose this configuration / application and furthermore the guy who bought it / ordered it. 😉
Things I bought this year because of Z: 1. Tin T2 - satisfied as fck 2. KOSS KSC 75 - not totally satisfied (a bit harsh treble) 3. KOSS KPH30i - satisfied as fck 4. Sennheiser HD 58X - on their way to me Might buy because of Z: 5. Topping MX3 - it would be my 1st dac/amp. I was thinking about Fiio K3 but Topping seems to be a more solid option for the desktop setup if I won't find anything better in this price range. God damn you Z! 0_O
I wish someone would make a nutube computer. They are tiny and cheap. If they were modified and used in a computer I bet someone could possibly make the fastest tube based computer ever built. Imagine recording and mixing a song on a tube computer. Lol
If you could slap those large power wires strung out all over earth they would probably modulate into your house and cause a coupling effect by your microwave through the door and into your brain.
It's not a portable tube, it's a much smaller, much lower power draw, much less heat, higher life, less extreme distortion tube for musician electronics, nothing failed accept someones idea to put it into a portable amp.
Hey there, I’m looking for some great closed-back imaging gaming headphones under $150 with extras. I want to pin point players with exactly where they are while also being able to enjoy some more bassy music. I’ve been playing alot of rainbow six siege lately and will get into some newer things soon. Thanks!
Failed because they drove Vox into the ground over the last few decades and people see them as cutesy hipster kind of things. Simple fact is it would have done a lot better if Roland had released it through boss, or one of the big current amp makers offered it…. Affordably. If fender put this into one of their combo amps on a switchable circuit people would have lost their dhit
its about time some chinese company made a "tube" amp with an EQ chip which actually does all the work and just put a warm led to fool people into thinking its doing all the work. I won't be surprised if its already there.
There is a Chinese Monoprice tube amp that some guy opened up. There were no output transformers for the tubes or a high voltage supply. The tubes just sat there and glowed while Op-amps and transistors did all the work underneath and out of sight.
Nutubes have ridiculously bad specs, forget the fluorescent displays make it like a real tube. It will be at least 10 times better. Just use a bigger battery.
Tube amps aren't back, they never left. The only reason you think they're "back" is because we have the internet and now people are talking about them en masse
![If you can't hear this then you're not an audiophile [See description for link to followup video]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/48PxwspDvrE/mqdefault.jpg)
it is designed as a pre-amp tube not powe tube, the headphones are powered by that muses 02 opamp in that unit not by the nutube, and the noise is there because whoever made it didn't know how to implement the USB correctly in the circuit,it probably isn't isolated from the rest of the circuit on the power section
You can use them as a power tube, but you do need one as a preamp tube also, so you'd be using 2 x NuTube to make a power tube
@@calamityjaycantebrigge maybe, but that would mean u can only drive high impedance headphones or use output transformers
You can use a 3S4 to get 250 milliwatts output power. Until supply runs out.
NuTubes haven't failed, they exist in CURRENT products like Vox amplifiers. They weren't created with hifi or headphones in mind, they were created for musical instrument amplification.
I'm sure you could get more power out of them if they stacked multiple nutubes in there. They might be amazing with the right design, who knows. I know that they're highly regarded in guitar amplifiers, as far as getting close to the tube sound. The reason they only get close is because they're only used in the preamp section and typically paired with a class d power amp. They haven't created high power nutubes.
Look up the miniature Vox nutube guitar amp head.
Ibanez made a Tubescreamer pedal with a NuTube in it.
Yeah. I wouldn't say they failed. They just don't use them in consumer electronics. They are being utilized at in musical equipment. I was talking with a guitarist friend a while back, inquiring if they would ever put one in audio equipment.
@@keithhatlak4325 yep saw that.
They weren't even made for music either. They were made as display tubes for some car dash panel if I remember right. But then again, most tubes were never intended for audio.
@@tristanjones7735 what would be the point of making those for that when we're in the transistor era? Tubes, sure, not made for audio. Nutubes? Eh show me, i think it was instrument amplification.
Korg was the funny rock guy in Thor Ragnarok voiced by Taiki Watiti, the director of the movie
The nutube hybrid by Pete Millet is amazing, Nutubes have microphonics so you need to give it a sec when plugging in and out. It is very tubey sounding its great and I recc it, it had the power to push bass eqed lcd2c so yea ;)
He also now has a diy balanced differential pcb so the hardcore peeps out there
Build yourself the Pete Millet Nu-Tube headphone amp. That's a great example of good use of the Korg tubes. Korg, themselves, recommends a heavy steel plate to be placed atop the tube to help the ringing. If you don't manhandle the unit, it probably wouldn't bother you....but it's there and can happen when moving the gear around. The Nu-tube also has a long shelf life (so it says).
It ought to have a long shelf life based on display products using the same tech. So unless it’s made of crappy stuff it should last a pretty long time. Oven displays which often use this display tech stay on 24/7 for the life of the oven.
The NuTubes appear in a variety of guitar effects pedals. In tests, the difference between the all solid state and NuTube versions have been subtle. The implementations tend to be a lot more expensive than a standard solid state, and they do need to have a vibration fighting mounting point to function. I think the place where they succeed is not as a sole power source, but as step-up amplifier that adds flavor to a largely solid state device. As others have mentioned, Vox uses them in this way. I believe those use the NuTube as a pre amp, driving a class D power amp in mini guitar amps. For guitars, this does seem to allow for an amp that has a lot of the character of a vintage unit in a far smaller and cheaper device. The Joyo Bantamps do a similar thing, except using a traditional 12ax7 in the preamp, rather than the NuTube.
I feel like the cool factor is enough for me to want to buy something with one. It doesn’t have to be unbelievably amazing to be a gadget that gadget people would want.
@Joey Mormann is very cool and it's sounds so good in my vox mini Beatles amp.
Worthwhile thing to note. Ibasso amp 9 and Cayin n8 have the nu korgs and they solved the ringing issue while moving the DAP
Korg puts it in their instruments, it was designed for keyboards & guitar amps, not home audio.
It does sound good though, I had an Apex Sangaku(full sized NuTube headphone amp.) It did the ding, needed an isolation platform, sounded nice and warm and rosy. Kinda like candlelight if that makes sense. Kinda regret selling the thing but I'm a treblehead & baby didn't sparkle.
It sounds like the more appropriate use for this technology would be the output-stage of a DAC, or inside a preamp, rather than an actual amplifier. Take a THX amp module, or a good Class D module, and put a NuTube on the input.
B1 with Korg Triode
Cayin N8 is the best implementation of the Nutube currently. Has none of the noise problem (it is fitted on a suspended cage) , proper balance circuitry with 750mw output power, best of all you can see the Nutube. Ibasso one works well aswell doesn't have the noise problem, aside from the fact the player is quite laggy and slow, the dac inside it is also subpar. Nutube system is try and tested from these competent companies, the Nutube work perfectly fine just this "custom" made guy is over reaching his ability in implementing the system, he most likely don't have the technical skill to isolate the module properly, while charging a fair price for the product (working hrs and limited order) so he most likely gave up on an economic efficiency level.
And a 6 hour battery life
*Correction in 4.4 balance at highgain it will do 750mW "per channel", it will power the Argons on the go :)
@@barchetype6430 around that yea, official number is 8.5 hrs in balanced, but since I never do continuous play throughout the day (1hr commute, few hrs at work etc etc) I can do 2 days without charging it.
Korg? Maybe you were thinking of Zorg, the bad guy from Fifth Element.
Ok. There are a loooooot of misconceptions here. None of these amps are tube amps. They are all hybrid amps. It honestly doesn't matter what type of headphones you plug into a hybrid amp since a proper hybrid design should have an output impedance of a few ohms anyways. Furthermore, this notion that "tube amps need higher impedance headphones" is total BS. SOME OTL tube amps can ONLY drive high impedance headphones because the output impedance is rather high. There are other OTL designs out there that are more than happy to run 16 ohm headphones (im actually building one right now). There are tons of other tube amps out there that use transformer or some type of hybrid design to run low impedance devices with ease.
Try a different op amp for more power. The Nutube probably does the voltage gain and the opamp delivers the current and acts as a buffer. Some projects with Nutube uses soft wires to connect Nutube to the pcb and uses rubber bushings to fasten the Nubube. Check out diyaudio to see some projects :)
Most of these cheap tube amps actually just use the tubes as a cathode follower which is just a buffer. They follow that with what is a conventional opamp amplifier (gain and actually driving the output). They use the cathode follower tube config because they can throw any old garbage tubes in there and it'll probably work. Because the tubes are working as a buffer and not driving any significant load they impart very little 'tube sound' if at all so some might consider it 'cheating'. They also don't use much power configured like that so they save money on the powersupply. You get the nice tubey sound from a common cathode gain stage and/or cathode follower which actually drives the output load. If your amplifier only has 1 or 2 physical tubes, it's probably the former. If it has 3 or more it is probably the 'real deal'.
Headphones were not meant to be yellow unless you buy them from Five Below.
Lemon jello is yellow
Korg the rock dude from Thor
I have only seen the nutube been used in 2 diy preamps
One designed by Nelson Pass and another I can't remember that was a desktop headphone amp combo with nutube as a preamp
Would like to take up both projects, any opinions or has anyone used these as a preamp?
@zeos - I have the ibasso DX220 with AMP9 and they released a firmware update that gives you the option to drive it in hi-gain mode to get more output out of the nutube.
Powerwise it's comparable with output of the stock Amp1MkII when nutube is in highpower mode. No problem with higher impedence phones in high power mode. In low powermode there's plenty of power for my Andromedas and minimal noise.
Ringing is pretty well tamed as well although not perfect, the tubes definitely don't ring anywhere near as long as your video, maybe 2-3 secs worst case if bumping really hard. Carrying in pocket not a problem at all. :) I have a Q5 too and would love to see FiiO do a nutube module but i cant see them doing that since it seems they maybe moving away from modules now - at least with their DAPS anyway.
dc power doesnt need to be "cleaned". the sine waveform cant be noisy, because dc power doesnt have a sine wave. theres not going to be ripple or anything. usb is a low voltage, low current power standard. there can be lack of current, but thats about it, and a cheap extension cable with a second power source would solve that. audiophiles will buy anything if you charge high dollar for it.
Oooo Flash and the Pan playing at the start, just as I think I'm all capped out on respect for you, you manage to squeeze a bit more out of me
I think it was a bold and interesting move to try this out for Korg. I want one for the neat gadget factor alone. You talk anything up and your expectations get high the thing that will actually satisfy you is heroine. So, there’s that. But I want one because it’s a neat idea. It’s like buying a gun that is cool and having another gun that is tried and true for everyday carry. Why not? Collectors love shit like this. Even if it’s “pretty good” it’s not a failure in my opinion. Trying new things is rare these days.
I have the little bear, great tube amp, but I have learned to keep it in an empty pocket. Even if there is a small Ikea pencil in it, then the tube will ring. It's worse with metal.
I have bought some other op-amps, cheap ones from China. Would the Burston op-amps be better? I've seen somebody on Reddit has done this. Your opinion?
VOX use this tubes on guitar amp, and ibanez new screamer pedal compare old tube screamer pedal, same screamer pedal ,only difference is nutube and old tube, both sound same to me, if put them side by side to compare ,yes can hear very little difference, but dont know use on hifi whats sound like. just hard to know old and nutube which better or same, you cant swap nutube on old tube socket to compare.
Just out of curiosity what would the life span be for these tubes?
Very long time, low voltage so boy l no worry about burning up.
Ibanez makes a tube-screamer with a nutube in it. Box makes several guitar amplifiers with nutubes as well. Ringing and microphonics hasn’t been a major complaint from anyone I’ve seen review it. I’m interested in making things with this technology as well but I don’t know how to order these and at the price, doesn’t sound like it’s worth the money, unfortunately.
12:00 holy crap it actually does sound like tinnitus. Get it about once in a blue moon.
They are being used extensively in VOX guitar amps, full size and exceptionally small amps that do more then they should ;)
Their implementation could be used for an interesting small speaker amp... hmmm, like the size of a smsl 36a but tube...
Perhaps a portable fully tube amp
Ibanez joined up with Korg nutube and did Tubescreamer with nutube.
I feel like I saw a kit that involves these.. Nelson Pass? I think it was Nelson Pass
Now how about using them as preamp tubes instead
This was interesting. So, is there any manufacturers out there that can duplicate the Bob Carver challenge? How many manufacturers can make a solid state amp sound like a tube amp, and why haven't we witnessed anything like it since?
regular vac tubes = incandescent light bulb tech. nutube = fluorescent we had high hopes for this . . . THis nutube has a lot of promise but Korg isn't telling people how to get past the shortcomings.
I agree . . . with the power the standard tube can use way more power (W) than the nutube .. . The bf also agrees w/ the monitor (he's a gamer, he said the best gaming monitor he's every had was a 30 in sony triniton? he also has another CRT with three parrots on it . . . I think CRT, heavy and its at his parent's house . .
THe problem is its microphonic, my bf's friend is into building amps, he actually bought a vox mini amp with that nutube and took it apart, and he speculates they installed certain chipsets or even have modeling to control the microphonics, plus it had actual rubber dampeners on it. He tried to build a pre n power amp that uses nutube (korg sent him a pack of 4 to play with), but doesn't get the tone or overdrive like the comparison Vox's nutube amps . . . the OD is kinda weak . . . and the microphonics of it when setting on top of a cab is crazy high ring like the mic too close speaker scream only worse and its machine gun like icepicking.
He asked Vox (pwned by Korg now), for a schematic of the vox mini to see how they figured out the microphonic / low power issues, but they wouldn't they only sent the schem for the nutube itself. But from what your saying maybe Korg hasn't figured it out . ..
The main issue is amp builders have had 50+ years dealing with tube amps, plus there was a whole industry and test done, so that tech is figured out, so that's why amp builders don't want to move on. If it ain't broke don't fix it? Well how about improving it a bit? But regular tubes are heavy, they are finicky (anyone that ordred a set of tube that hasn't been pretested / pre matched), but oh they sound so good.
But we've stopped gigging with our tube amps (heavy and we don't have John Mayer, oh blow out with sparks n smoke on dis dumble, welp, reload the dumble 2 of 9 , yeah owning two of the new reissue magnatones, that's a car price there ) and use SS or modelers . ..
Given that korg doesn't want to release its secrets in dealing with the issues of nutube low power and microphonic to hobby amp builders (and probably this means boutique) builders, I think this will keep it as a niche VOX item . . .
Vox has figured out how it worx. Or maybe they have a newer versions that don't have the microphonic . . . or maybe Korg realizes its good and wants it for them own use only . . . Our other friend has valve Vox AC30 reissue and a cambridge (nutube based), and he A-B them. THe cambridge comes close. It does have tube response (like string touch on guitar / bass). Of the solid state amps, the one with the valve like response is the boss nextone (AC30 guy has that too), most peeps would say katana is best SS / modeler but the katana doesn't have the same touch response (he has that one as well).
I think Korg knew this problem since their own NuTubes DIY headphone amp basically has the NuTubes flow inside the case and use foam to keep it in place.
Tubes are bulbs with springs like old lightbulbs. Tubes will always ring when those springs are moving around.
'Was Korg a bad guy?'
You're thinking of Borg
Do you even know how a tube, no, thermionic valve work?
Saying it's a failure without even looking at its datasheet?
In fact, nutube is a huge success considering how it performed in the Ibanez nutube screamer and VOX mv50 amplifiers.
The Pete millet design goes hard
Oriolus BA300s portable balanced tube amp with 4.4 pentacon input and output.
NoThemeReviews say that it's basically the same as Little Bear B4X with just a touch less background noise (that you obviously never hear when you actually play music).
@@frykauf The Ba300s is true balanced the Little Bear is not.
If you're a fan of balanced. With a 4.4 input and output.
Little bear b4-X Is the balanced version as stated in the video, has both 3.5 and 2.5mm (4 pole) outputs.
The non-x version is not balanced
@@ezg8448 It's not fully balanced circuitry all the way through.
TBF is more of a filter than a proper "amp" since it doesn't actually have a proper amplification stage, its fixed at 350mw per channel at 32ohm load. Big reason why its 4.4 in and 4.4 out, is because it acts more of a pass-through, and .... possible cost cutting.
Tube amps never went away.
Korg is the Kronin Rock man played by Taika Waititi from Thor Ragnarok and Avengers Endgame.
They tried putting those in guitar amps and drive pedals. I don't think they sold very well, and it seems any amps or other devices they made with them were either never released, or were quietly discontinued.
You are just being silly making shit up.
The nutube technology is many guitar amplifiers and nutube is a tube screamer pedal. Vox has A Beatles amp that's awesome ! That's only 2 but there's more. Lol oh kooky right !?
Korg has a power amp sim pedal, that uses those, and it's great!
Nutube in guitar amps can be great and given the current state of old style tube manufacturers I doubt it has already failed. The tech for audio purposes has only been around about about six years and you seem to be making a lot of assumptions based on limited sample size of a diy
Huh I didn't even know nu-tubes were made for things other than guitar amplification to get a "tube-like" overdrive in the same space as solid state components. Is that primarily what they were intended for? (I'm not actually sure. But they seem to make more sense in that application.)
At 13:35 I could hear the ringing when you tapped it even though the headphones were on your ears and not on the GoPro. That ringing is also a slightly higher pitch than the permanent ringing I have in my ears.
I don't think the NuTubes failed they just arent developed enough yet, theres still plenty of potential, but there just hasnt been any complete products using them yet that are powerful enough
"Plasma TVs" are vacuum flat panel technology.
Cayin C9 is a non-DAC amp using similar tech as their N8 but with 2 Nutubes instead of 1 (1 per channel, has SE and true Balanced inputs and outputs) and a secure suspension system to minimize the micro-phonics; and includes solid state class A and class AB op amps in combination with tubes or alone so 4 sound signatures (class a SS, class A tube, class AB SS, class AB tube)- Very expensive ($2000) though reviewers and users rave about it on Head-Fi
Sorry Cayin “C9” not N9
Germanium transistors have a lot of the characteristics of tubes. I don't know why they aren't more common.
So, they’re cool and they still exist so they haven’t failed yet, is that what you’re saying? This isn’t the movie business. Sometimes new things take a while.
I knew KORG made fantastic synths, I was aware of the nu-tube in instruments but this is the first time I’ve seen it in personal audio use.
Also KORG M1 synth is best synth don’t @me
I should have bought one 5 years ago. (M1) before they became a classic. I mean, they were a classic while they were still being manufactured but 5 or ten years ago I’m sure you could get one cheaper. I would just use those 80 pre sets. Maybe mess with them a little and use a pedal board to make post vaporcore
Actually they are pretty cheap. Like under $500
The tube isn't failing however application it is used in is WRONG. This tube is for preamp and a big beefy power supply in an second box and the box for the tube is heavy duty type. So you can blame the guy who choose this configuration / application and furthermore the guy who bought it / ordered it. 😉
If can teach me how to keep my desk that clean I’ll give points on my next record
Things I bought this year because of Z:
1. Tin T2 - satisfied as fck
2. KOSS KSC 75 - not totally satisfied (a bit harsh treble)
3. KOSS KPH30i - satisfied as fck
4. Sennheiser HD 58X - on their way to me
Might buy because of Z:
5. Topping MX3 - it would be my 1st dac/amp. I was thinking about Fiio K3 but Topping seems to be a more solid option for the desktop setup if I won't find anything better in this price range.
God damn you Z! 0_O
I wish someone would make a nutube computer. They are tiny and cheap. If they were modified and used in a computer I bet someone could possibly make the fastest tube based computer ever built. Imagine recording and mixing a song on a tube computer. Lol
Microwavemont makes some cool Nutube stuff
If you could slap those large power wires strung out all over earth they would probably modulate into your house and cause a coupling effect by your microwave through the door and into your brain.
Ummmm. Upgrade your op amps on your Little Bear 🐻
Well Schiit, I needed one of those USB scubbers for my speakers. Oh well SMSL SU-8 fixed the issue, just cost a bit more.
When is it better or ok to run bookshelves instead tower’s? Debating on 530s or 580 590s
If you want to know something about failure you definitely ask a guy with pedo anime on his sideways laptop.
In a few years…
*Why NuTubes took off*
Is there going to be 8 more episodes?
0:53 The M40x are still on the wall! AHHHHH-
Korg also made the Hatsune Miku guitar pedal and it is glorious.
I own one, best money I ever spent
It's not a portable tube, it's a much smaller, much lower power draw, much less heat, higher life, less extreme distortion tube for musician electronics, nothing failed accept someones idea to put it into a portable amp.
In fact it hasn’t failed there either see the Cayin C9- but it is VERY expensive,
Hey there, I’m looking for some great closed-back imaging gaming headphones under $150 with extras. I want to pin point players with exactly where they are while also being able to enjoy some more bassy music. I’ve been playing alot of rainbow six siege lately and will get into some newer things soon. Thanks!
Do NuTubes reach 1.21 gigawats?
no listening to the sound just random guy talking too much. 21:33 wasted of my life.
Only good for pre amp tubes
4:37
That's what she said! 😎
Failed because they drove Vox into the ground over the last few decades and people see them as cutesy hipster kind of things.
Simple fact is it would have done a lot better if Roland had released it through boss, or one of the big current amp makers offered it…. Affordably. If fender put this into one of their combo amps on a switchable circuit people would have lost their dhit
you gotta admit the mv50 series and the mini super beatle sound killer. the mv150 shouldn't exist, however.
@@andrewgarcia3136 agreed, I personally have a mini superbeetle and I’m not missing anything
Where you find that badass portrait monitor?
Its an NEC 21x9 on end. Just have to get an ultrawide with a nice bezel.
You should try the Zishan DSD
Sounds like your device is microphonic we deal with this in guitar amps.. not a good thing.
its about time some chinese company made a "tube" amp with an EQ chip which actually does all the work and just put a warm led to fool people into thinking its doing all the work. I won't be surprised if its already there.
There is a Chinese Monoprice tube amp that some guy opened up. There were no output transformers for the tubes or a high voltage supply. The tubes just sat there and glowed while Op-amps and transistors did all the work underneath and out of sight.
I had a guitar amp with nutubes
okay soooo my tab read "Why NuT"....god i love google xD
Nutubes are used in guitar gear :)
PC 37X REVIEW PLEASE ?
Le freak, see'est Chic
Freak out!
“KOSS LAPTOP”
Tube the Koss ESP/95X or not?
Like running an amplified tube signal into the energizer? Could work.
Nutubes have ridiculously bad specs, forget the fluorescent displays make it like a real tube. It will be at least 10 times better. Just use a bigger battery.
Tube amps never disappeared.
woah woah woah wait, my hd600s dont bend like that, is that a mod for the cup retaining arms or something?
It should bend like mine.
@@ZReviews hi Z, dont know how to message you so messaging you here, i have a cayin N8 for you to test if you are interested.
Buy a tripod, Never thought I would get sea sick watching a video.
nuuuuu
Buyers remorse yet?
Chubes
Tube amps aren't back, they never left. The only reason you think they're "back" is because we have the internet and now people are talking about them en masse
Ouch no thanks
Just be honest, you just like staring at the pretty glowing bulbs, that's why nobody wants nutubes.
Because it wasnt nudetubes thats why they fail
Space saving?
Zeos is a loli
6th
So it's a fail... bummer. 😪🙄
Man, talk about rambling! Have you, ever in your life, gotten to the point?
HWWHUAHT? B1 with Korg Triode is one of the best selling HI-FI amp kits. They're still using them.