Schiit Audio has introduced Buf, a new $99 tube buffer designed for listeners who want to add a bit of tube character to an existing audio setup without replacing their DAC, amplifier, headphone amp, or powered speakers.
That last part is important. Buf is not a DAC. It is not a headphone amp. It is not a full preamp with volume control and a remote. It is a small analog box that sits between two pieces of gear and adds a tube stage to the signal path. That means it gives you a relatively simple way to experiment with tube sound using the system you already own.
For example, you could place Buf between a DAC and an integrated amplifier, between a streamer and powered speakers, or between a DAC and headphone amplifier. Schiit is pitching it as a “tubes anywhere” product, and that is probably the easiest way to understand it. You drop it into the chain, listen, and decide whether that extra bit of tube flavor works for your setup.
A tube buffer is one of those audio products that sounds more complicated than it really is. It does not decode digital music files. It does not power speakers. It does not replace your amp. Instead, it takes a line-level audio signal, runs it through a tube-based circuit, and sends it along to the next component.
The goal is not perfect neutrality. Schiit is pretty open about that. Buf is designed to add low-order harmonic distortion, which is the kind of coloration many listeners associate with a warmer, rounder, or more “tube-like” presentation.
That means Buf is not aimed at someone who wants the cleanest possible signal path on paper. It is more for the listener who already likes their system but wants to play with its character a little. Maybe your desktop setup sounds a bit too dry. Maybe your DAC and amp are very clean but not especially inviting. Or maybe you are simply curious about tubes and do not want to jump straight into a full tube amplifier.
The nice thing is that Buf does not have to stay in the signal path all the time. When it is powered off, an internal relay bypasses the tube stage and connects the input directly to the output. That should make it easier to compare your system with and without Buf doing its thing.
Schiit says Buf uses its Coherence topology, with tube voltage gain and a discrete BJT inverter running in Class A. It ships with an NOS 6N1P tube, but users can also experiment with compatible tubes such as 6922, ECC88, and 6DJ8.
Here are the main specs:
The front-panel gain switch is one of the more useful details here. Many tube buffers are unity-gain devices, meaning they add their sonic character but do not increase the signal level. Buf can run at 0dB or add 12dB of gain, which may help in systems where the source output is a little low.
That does not mean everyone should automatically use the higher gain setting. In some systems, 12dB may be too much and could make volume control touchier than you want. But having both options gives Buf a little more flexibility than a simple one-mode buffer.
Buf makes the most sense as an add-on for people who already have a working setup. It is not trying to be the center of the system. There is no volume knob, no remote, no balanced input, no digital input, and no headphone jack.
That sounds limited at first, but it also keeps the product focused. You are not buying a new control hub. You are buying a way to add a tube stage to gear you already use.
Possible setups include:
Schiit also notes that tubes can pick up noise from nearby phones, routers, and other wireless devices. That is not unusual with tube gear, but it is worth keeping in mind if your desk is already crowded with chargers, hubs, cables, and Wi-Fi hardware.
Buf is probably not the right product for the listener who wants every component to disappear sonically and measure as cleanly as possible. This is not that kind of box. It is intentionally adding character.
Instead, Buf is for people who like to tinker. It gives you a relatively affordable way to hear what a tube stage can do in your own system, with your own speakers or headphones, without buying a full tube preamp or amplifier.
At $99, that is the main appeal. Buf is not asking you to rebuild your system around tubes. It is giving you a small, simple way to test whether that kind of sound works for you.
For listeners who have been curious about tube sound but hesitant to spend serious money on a dedicated tube component, Buf could be an easy place to start. It is small, simple, relatively affordable, and easy to remove from the chain when you want your system back to normal.
Related Reading:
Privacy Policy
Terms and Conditions - Affiliate Policy
Home Security
© Copyright 2008-2026.
11816 Inwood Rd #1211, Dallas, TX 75244
