Illuminatti said:
It seems that there are no current user of this tube line buffer.................
I'm up and running with a new v3. After about 100 hrs of break-in, the results are, in a word, incredilble.
I have mine placed between my DAC and pre-amp, which is just one of many placement options users have found for this box. NOTE: the v3 is a BOX, not a CAN like it's predecessor. And it's a pretty good-looking box, too--extruded aluminum, I believe.
I was not unhappy with the sound of my 2 admittedly mid-fi players (Rotel single-play and NAD changer), but started hearing the rave reviews for the X10-D. In search of one of those on the used market, I stumbled across a like-new demo of the v3. After seeing some -D's go for as much as 110% of their original retail value, I figured I had nothing to lose by dropping $300 on the "new and improved" box. After 2 weeks in my system, it's worth every penny, even if I'd have paid full retail (I think they're $399, if you can find one).
The X10-v3 seems to unleash the trapped potential of many (not all) CD's. The bass, including bass drums, is punchy and tight, and much more pronounced. That difference came with hook-up on day one. I was less impressed with the rest of the frequency ranges, noticing a certain "tinny-ness". Cymbals had a grainy, almost harsh sound; vocals (male/female--didn't matter) had some sibilance that made me cringe. I suspected (turns out rightly) that a new piece of equipment coupled with new interconnects might be the culprit, so I let my changer play non-stop for a couple of days, and ignored the temptation to check it.
Upon returning for a critical listening session, everything had balanced out. Net result: the soundstage expanded; those same cymbals now sound crisp and clean; sibilance is non-existent. Probably the most notable effect for my money is the separation of instruments. Being able to hear a snare drum separate from a tom, separate from a bass drum gives you a sense of "presence". That effect works across the spectrum, and it's hard to describe. Words like "warm", "smooth", or "velvety" just aren't adequate.
So, my recommendation is if you can find a X10-v3, buy it. Like I said, I feel like I stole mine for $300. If you find a used one, and you have the extra interconnects already broken-in, you'll notice a huge difference on day one.
One caution: this was the rub for the X10-D, and I suspect it's true for the v3: the improvement may not be noticed on higher-end players or systems. Lo- and mid-fi systems might be the domain of the X10, regardless of version.
