This is very cool of Ian to do!

i got the buffer today.the 1st album was Heart grea-*test*-('") hits. I had problems with this cd by it lacking something even with the tone controls as far as they go. after the 1st song i turned everything flat. After Heart I went to AC/DC. The sound stage with the Onkyo CD player and the Proton 200 amp just reached out and grabbed me.
So I emailed Ian and asked why its called a buffer and its totally the opposite. He told me to ask you guys. So I am.

Being probably the LEAST qualified to discuss audio equipment, I will throw out my two cents.

Not knowing the quality of your equipment (ignorance), I do know that, in his description of the unit, that the higher the quality of the equipment, the lesser (or lack of) positive results using it.

It also wouldn't surprise me in the least that there are probably some systems that actually sound WORSE because of incompatibility. You may have one of those.

Larry, i took speakermans post as the tube buffer improving his sound.

i dont know why its called a buffer ... does it do any buffering and what exactly is buffering anyway?

I see what you mean.

I think I'm confused with the "opposite of buffer".................

yes it did improve the sound. i just cant put it into words. i like to jam so its some rock tonight and blues tomorrow. oh by the way the speakers are cerwin vega d1s just alittle 2 way. im just a little surprised.im a cynic when it comes to equipment.

Some guys call it just Valve Passive Preamps but because of the warm sound of the valves they common name it buffers, imo because it's a kind of buffer to some "digitalis’s edges" and impedance mismatch...

I guess what he meant by "opposite" is that it removed the harsh edge?

Basically, yes.
But you could know a little more about that sweet little thing here.

yea thats what i meant.

I call it a tube processor, here's what it looks like now

cool, does that little doodad around the tubes do anything for the sound or is it for protection?

Possibly "sex appeal"?

It's the magnetic flux generator Scotty, beam me up. Pure decoration, but give me week to come up with some nonsense on it

I was right!