Douk Audio Balanced EQ Preamp: 7-Band Equalizer - Vacuum Tube Preamplifier with XLR RCA Inputs & Outputs - for Home Stereo HiFi System, Amplifiers, Active Speakers (T8 PRO Silver)

I bought this in HiYO Silver(!) to use with my heaphone setup here in the Bat-Cave. It is excellent in doing what it says it does and that being allowing me to tailor the music I bought and paid for so that I can hear as I want and not just as so much fAdCopy today claims, "...as the fArteeest intended". The artist intended for you to buy and enjoy their music and this excellent performing (and looking!) EQ does just that. I use it with an Emotiva XDA-2, an S.M.S.L. smurtified THX headphone amp w/balanced and SE in/ouputs and a WONDERFUL Denon HEOS Link for my paid for music services: Pandora, SiriusXM and Amazon UHD Music. They all sound wonderful through this setup and It works superbly across the 5 'phones that to date I have used with it. You will not be disappointed. Well...Unless you enjoy straining to hear bits instead of music. I can't hear a single "bit", 0, 1 or otherwise. What I am hearing is MY soundtrack, beautifully reproduced and tailored to MY tastes by a compact, well built and good looking piece of audio equipment. I may get one for a relative for his headphone use. It is that good! Trust me. I know what I'm doin' when I'm reviewin'. Thanks! TheBatman

This preamp/EQ is really good, especially for the price. I'm a bit of an audio snob, but I can say that this preamp sounds great, no unwanted noise and gives you the ability to adjust the sound with the EQ. I've tried a few different tubes, not much of a difference but nice to have the option. If you need a preamp with the added tone adjustments and want to add a bit of warmth to your system, this unit is a great low cost option.

What we have here is basically a fun and functional device. The tubes are cool, but they are mostly for show. But what a show! The EQ is very functional and will definitely help you dial in more sparkle or thump, depending on how you set. It’s best when used for a little tweak here or there. Overall, I am pleased with my purchase. Tube rolling is fun!

I was torn between this and the Schiit Lokius, but this was less than half the price and did the job just about as well (I already have a Schiit Loki). The main thing I discovered was that the tubes actually colored the sound a little bit, giving all frequencies a warmer sound, which is what I was after. The main reason I got it was the balance adjusting screw ( I guess the design team ran out of space to give it a proper knob) on the far right end of the rank of knobs which I needed for a slight imbalance in my hearing when listening on headphones. This is also a pre-amp, giving it a feature that the Loki and Lokius don't have (and probably don't need). Also, I'm a sucker for fun-fi, Chi-fi gadgets and this unit looks really cool next to my Pro-Ject S2 tube phono pre-amp. It's a plus-value for us budget audiophile wanna-be's who can only afford to buy into tiny-tubeland. Works for me.

If noisy distorted sound is what you are after that this might be for you. I used a bunch of inexpensive Chinese units with mixed results and occasional gem to be found. This one is not it. Looks like I received open box or customer return unit as box was not sealed and no user manual inside. I needed such unit and now have to find something like that again. disappointed.

I cannot say enough good things about this awesome tube EQ. First of all, I love the frequency centers - I wouldn't have minded if the 50Hz band was a little lower, say 40Hz or even 30Hz for those of us that have subs (the Schiit Lokius's lowest band starts at 20Hz), however the rest of the frequencies are fantastically placed, at key areas that often need to be adjusted (such as 16kHz, 120Hz, I also find 315Hz to be really useful). The knobs feel fantastic, with a grippy non slip surface & pots that have just the right amount of resistance and are tight with no slop. The volume knob also has detents every 5-10 degrees or so which feels great & the balance adjustment is also a welcome addition. Having never owned a tube pre before, I wasn't sure what to expect in regard to sound quality. For the most part, I found the tubes to sound adequate for the price, however I was able to get a better sound replacing the tubes with this pair that was recommended by another reviewer: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08QG4ZC1V These tubes give a really open quality to the midrange & overall presentation, however so far both the stock tubes & these (unless it's an issue with the unit itself) have a side effect of rolling off the lowest octave of sub bass which is my only issue with this EQ. However, it isn't really noticeable on most speakers/headphones unless you have a sub that hits really low. Highly recommended!

Let me start with saying I love this product it works perfectly and the tubes light up great but it doesn't work well directly on a record player. This product does work well as a preamp but it's really only works as a EQ for a record player. The reason for this is it can't amplify the signal enough for it to work with a amp well which can be solved with phono preamp before it. Once I had it set up it sounds amazing and the control is perfect it add a warmth to the music I have yet to try the xlr outputs but it will just make it even better. Overall great product well made but just watch out if your buying this for a record player pre amp

excellent and gives you just what you need -- EQ and tubes. Looks great, solid build, and works with any album I throw at it.

Desde que decidí armar configuraciones de equipos con conexiones balanceadas XLR, estaba en busca de un nuevo preamplificador de tubos, ya cuento con algunos como Aiyima T1pro, T6 pro ambos en RCA y Douk Audio H8 XLR balanceado! Me llamo la atención que Douk Audio T8 pro sea Equalizador y preamplificador a la vez, con tubos, y que además tenga conexiones equilibradas, por este precio? Honestamente no pensé que fuera a ofrecer más que los que ya tengo, pero bueno, démosle una oportunidad y probemos, que no se pierde nada! Cuando llegó lo puse en el estante de mis equipos, y al día siguiente me entró curiosidad por ponerlo a prueba! Normalmente mi configuración empieza en mi fuente de audio, que es mi Smartphone, conectado a un DAC, en este caso está el Fosi Audio Zd3, al centro un pream. De tubos, ahora entro T8 pro, y en seguida algunos de mis Receptores en este caso quedó ZA3 de Fosi, también probé el nuevo Aiyima A20. Por principio de cuentas fue una grata sorpresa el nuevo miembro de la configuración central, el Douk T8pro, y a medida que encontré su balance a mí gusto de sus frecuencias más me fue gustando! Y aún hay más! En la medida que fue tomando temperatura, más detallado y calidez mostró en cada canción que escuchaba! La verdad quedé encantado con T8 pro! Es una ganga! Tomando en cuenta que sus tubos son el 50% del precio total! El otro 50% es la máquina! Douk Audio! Si en un futuro decides actualizar al T8 pro que sea para mejorarlo! Sino, déjalo así, que así está perfecto! Ahora T8 pro paso a ser un titular indiscutible en mi configuración de audio! No lo piensen mucho en adquirirlo! Este chico está indiscutiblemente recomendado!

Estuve a punto de devolverlo por qué no daba la suficiente salida para mí bocina amplificada, pero después de ver qué hay que subirle con un desarmador quedé maravillado del buen sonido. Yo lo compré para conectar un bajo electrico y sus frecuencias son muy buenas

I say it reviles the $1000 Schiit Freya+. I bought extra tubes to roll with including British MULLARD ECC 85's and Russian Voskhod Factory OTK1 6H1n-EB's ;o)