Question 1

Do I have to buy anything additional to have this work with my laptop? Not sure I understand what amps need a DAC and which ones don't.

Accepted Answer

This is just an amplifier so you can use it with or without a DAC. your laptop has a DAC in it which it will call a "sound card" but, for all intents and purposes the words "DAC" and "sound card" mean the same thing. I use a Macbook Air running straight into mine and it sounds great. When I also use a high end USB DAC (a Simaudio D500), it sounds incredible but that starts running into a lot of money.What I would recommend, though, is that you get the Ocean Mini version of the amp. It's about $20 more than the V1 and it's a pure tube amplifier rather than just a tube pre-amp with solid state amplification.

Question 2

Hi,How long time does it take to preheat the tube? I hooked them up for 1 hour and still didn't see it heated, nor  with any sound. Thanks.

Accepted Answer

HelloThe tube preheats and sound should be present in the headphone within 30-60 seconds. if the tube doesn't heat at the end of 30-60 seconds, you have a malfunction. You should send it for repair and ask for a replacement unit. If you insit, they might send you a replacement unit before they receive the faulty unit back (can take a few weeks, as it is in China).

Question 3

Can this be used as a pre-amp? say audio source>bravo>hafler dh220>speakers

Accepted Answer

It could be possible; you could browse through some blogs on the Bravo Audio V1 and see if someone else has tried it.  There are two RCA connections on the right side and a 3.5 mm on the front both are for audio in, so the only output is for the headphones.  Not to say you couldn't modify a quarter inch headphone wire terminating in two RCA plugs to go in to the power amp.  Could be worth a try?  Hopefully someone else with more technical background will also respond.

Question 4

Hi,How long time does it take to preheat the tube? I hooked them up for 1 hour and still didn't see it heated, nor  with any sound. Thanks.

Accepted Answer

I think you might have a bad tube. It should light up and work instantly.

V1 Tube Driven Headphone Amplifier

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