$169.99 Price may change
3 videosHector Balaguer
Aiyima t20 a fantastic preamp it is super clean sounding no hum dead silence it is clinically sounding than pure analog tubes and reveal a bad recording so I have it hook up to a single ended 6v6 amp with RCA 6j5 input tubes and 5y3gt rectifier and 93dB speakers I can enjoy this setup for hours
J G
It's a great preamp/ volume control/buffer. I installed a pair of late 60s Toshiba Hi-S 12ax7 tubes, and never used the Chinese. It introduces no noice into the chain. Great remote that's simple to operate as long as it's pointed directly at the sensor. If you're looking for a simple preamp/ volume control/ buffer, grab this. It's a solid option.
eduardo
This little preamp is a gem. Anyone looking to upgrade it to sound like at $3k preamp. Please hit me up. I have upgraded mine and it beat a 4k preamp i had
Puzz
I really didn't know what to expect when I received it, but all I can say is "WOW".. This is the quietest preamp I've ever used before. And for all of those haters saying the stock tubes and op amps are junk, don't really know what they're listening too.. Blaming this instead of the source they're using. I've owned tube gear for years and these tubes sound perfect. NOT rolled off in the top end, like so many have noted, but very balanced. Also paired with a BRZHIFI A1S Chinese clone of a low-powered Musical Fidelity class A amplifier, is an incredible and shocking duo. I was using my beloved McIntosh MA5300 Integrated amp just before this pairing and can't believe I'm actually not going to miss the Mac. That's how good this modern day, budget audio gear sounds. Stereo balance is perfect, absolutely no hiss coming from tweeters.. Just music. I'm completely impressed. Excellent job Aiyima.
Ves
Aiyma T20 is new experience for me but in a good way. Connected to my computer set up using Cambridge Audio DAC AMP and Triangle Bro3 for speakers connected as a buffer between defiantly can hear more soft and clear vocals.
Remote control are very poor quality but works.
will defiantly upgrade the power supply and the tubes!
Matthew
I purchased the T20 out of curiosity & the Black Friday $135 price. This was my first purchase of any of these budget priced Eastern made audio components.
My initial thoughts were nice packaging. Solid little unit in weight & construction. Has a nice feel to it. I hooked it up to my living room T.V./Streamer set up.
I had a spare Sbooster 12v linear power supply so I used that. I've used '60's Telefunken & Mullard 12ax7's & currently running a pair of early '50's GE 5751 black plates. I have not tried any additional opamps yet.
I do a lot of DIY, have numerous tube preamps I've built & purchased..a couple being more expensive near the $3k range.
For $135 bucks the T20 is a good preamp. Balanced in/out, remote control is nice with decent response. Love the legit mute button & the fact that when you turn the unit off & back on the preamp memorizes the last volume level you used.
The sound is pretty clean & transparent. The tubes being used seem to dictate the noise floor. 12ax7's aren't the quietest of tubes but pretty quiet in this T20. I could detect a slight uptick in tube hash when switching from the ultra quiet Tele's to the Mullards. Nothing I could hear unless ear was to the tweeter though.
The T20 is not chock full of tube harmonics though. Compared to a simple circuit no feedback design the T20 is more solid state like. I'm not saying that the T20 sounds like your regular budget solid state preamp..it's just not pushing or showcasing everything that tubes can bring to the table when the circuit is designed/biased correctly.
But the soundstage is good, there is depth & focus/placement. Has a nice, just a smidge of softness to take off any hard edges to uncomfortable sounds..lessen that treble bite. I think it sounds good. Running the T.V. thru it gives great clarity & detail. I use a Laiv R2R dac with this streamer & T.V. set up. I also preferred the T20 with a tube power amp over solid state..both being out of the T20's league. I'm in no rush to switch my other preamps back in but the Aiyima does not have the weight to notes, extension & decay, or holographic soundstage that I get with more pricier tube preamps. You would think that I shouldn't even need to mention or say something like that but we have some reviewers who get a little carried away.
I've had it almost a couple weeks & I'll keep it. It's transparent & detailed enough, has balanced options & a remote. In my system there is nothing bright or fatiguing to it. Switching tubes isn't an extreme difference but I can detect it. If you don't already own NOS tubes I wouldn't suggest spending a small fortune acquiring them. If the rest of your system is in this price range you will probably love this thing. You know, I have a schitt freya noval that I pull out from time to time & this T20 is kind of on that level soundwise...before I switched out the output caps. The Noval having a little better tube attributes/characteristics.
In order for any preamp to sound good the source of your music must be equally as transparent or better. If your music source has distortion or power supply noise, or a poor recording or Bluetooth it's just going to get amplified even louder by the preamp & amp..really showing off the poor quality or compression of the source. Everything starts upstream & works its way down.
I gave the Aiyima 5 stars for its price to performance ratio.
Edit* after having the T20 for almost a couple months & trying different set ups it should be noted that using both outputs on the T20 at the same time will have a negative effect on the overall sound.
In my case using a powered subwoofer & power amp connected at the same time was not a good match. I had one of those SVS line level devices laying around that you hook up to your power amplifier's speaker outputs. Using this device fixed the problem if you want to add a subwoofer & don't like using RCA splitters. There are other devices such as this one on the market.
Other than that this preamp is still working well. I tried a few budget type power amps with the T20 & if you have the speakers for it the BRZHIFI A1s clone amp pairs very well. If you need a little more juice the Cambridge MXW70 is a great match. I posted a video using the Node Nano (I like it better than my Icon when used as a transport only) with a RME dac, Arcam PA240 power amplifier. Fritz bookshelf speakers.
Customer
I’ve been using this preamp in my home setup, and installation was quick, just plug in the tubes, connect via XLR or RCA, and it’s ready to go. It powers on with a soft-start warmup, and the included remote makes it easy to control volume and inputs from across the room. Connections are stable and clear, with no hiss or interference, whether paired with a DAC, CD player, or streaming source.
Build quality and overall functionality are excellent. The unibody aluminum chassis with a sandblasted finish looks right at home in any hi-fi rack. The volume knob turns smoothly, and the unit stays cool during long listening sessions. The trigger output automatically powers on connected amps for a cleaner, integrated setup.
Sound quality has that classic tube warmth, smooth, rich mids, and a pleasant sense of depth without adding distortion. It pairs well with powered speakers, CD players, or DACs, and the balanced XLR connections keep noise to a minimum. The option to swap out tubes or op-amps lets you tailor the sound, which adds long-term value for anyone who likes to fine-tune their system.
soundman2
After watching many YouTube reviews as well as reading some of them here, I took the plunge. I don't regret it at all especially when compared to my Schiit Jotunheim which has been used as a preamp. Both are transparent with great tonality, however, if you want that tube warmth go for the Aiyama T20. I would say it's currently the best value in this price category. A few tips: use balanced connections with quality source components and run in the tubes for a few days.
McKenzie Penworks
I tried my first tube headphone amp a few years ago and got hooked... For some of the classic rock I listen to, it's just hard to beat that sound. So, when given the opportunity to try this out, I had to jump on it. Aiyima is new to me, but apparently they make quite a few rather affordable audio pieces and this pre-amp might be one of the better deals in their catalog.
Having swappable op amps and tubes gives you a TON of flexibility with this, and with RCA or XLR in/out you're pretty much covered for every scenario. It also supports a 12v trigger.
It sounds like a silly thing but... the remote is definitely nice to have. With a preamp you're basically controlling your volume here so while the dial is a joy to turn, sometimes I don't want to have to get up to move it. Along that silliness, who doesn't love the look of audio equipment with tubes sticking out the top?! It's a sharp looking piece of kit that fits darn near anywhere and certainly completes any audio setup.
Now.. is this going to blow away things that cost hundreds more? Nah... but it really is an excellent value and a perfect gateway into hearing the difference a good audio setup can make. If you're in the market for a pre-amp under 200 bucks, you'd be crazy not to have this at the top of your list.
Jose
No tweeter hiss or any noise, excellent build quality, nice sturdy volume knob, balanced conections, awsome to scratch that tube itch, gorgeous sound.
Nice adition to the team 5/5
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