VTA Tube Buffer

I finished assembling a buffer kit that I bought from Roy. It uses a pair 12AU7 tubes in an Aikido Cathode Follower design. Was easy to build (with a little support from Roy)  Sounds great and its absolutely quiet. Thought I would share a couple pics. The bottom one shows it plugged into my workshop system for testing:

Very nice!
What is your opinion of its performance and what exactly does it do compared to not having it in your system in comparison of employing an external dac?

Well, its too early to say much about performance since I have not done any A/B listening. So far, when placed in line between CD player and receiver, it does not add or subtract anything to or from the overall sound.

Some people use tube buffers to add some 'tube sound' to their digital or solid state systems. However, my need for a buffer is to make sure my SP13 with built in PH12 sees a proper impedance load when a recorder is connected to TAPE OUT. Optimum is 100k ohms. However, most recording devices I have looked at are 22k or less.

When I find the right recorder, I plan on ripping vinyl to FLAC.

How much is this kit? I've been wanting something like this for a long time.

The kit is very customizable. Best to get in touch with Roy to discuss your needs...

That sure looks exactly like the Akido Tube Buffer that's available here:

http://glass-ware.stores.yahoo.net/acpcbandusgu.html

The PCB in the photos in this thread looks exactly like the Glass-Ware PCB, right down to the printing on the board. I bought that board and all the components from Glass-Ware and a transformer from Edcor and put it together with very few problems.