Rockridge Sound's VTS-384 tube amp and speaker dock for iPod

Check it vacuum tube buffs, Rockridge Sound has a new iPod speaker dock boasting a trio of vacuum tubes per stereo channel. As a result the VTS-384 delivers "full analog" sound out a pair of 2x2W (8ohm) speakers. The kit ships with a remote for controlling the iPod, wire protectors for those precious tubes, and RCA and USB jacks for sourcing non-iPod music or connecting USB speakers. Now, we're not so delusional as to consider ourselves audiophiles, but any benefit achieved by that single-ended triode vs. digital amp will likely be nullified by its compressed audio, iPod source, dontchathink? Still, sometimes it's not how the gear sounds, it's all about the looks. But for an expected MSRP of between ¥70-80,000 (about $604-$777) when these hit in February, you might rightly wonder if she's really all that.

[Via Impress]

[strider_mt2k @ Nov 27th 2006 8:32AM]

It's retro beautiful.

I wish it was made for Sansa.

[Mr. Tips @ Nov 27th 2006 9:14AM]

The iPod's ability to play Apple Lossless and AIFF files says, "Hi!"

[treetrunk @ Nov 27th 2006 10:45AM]

The iPod's preamp about the size of your fingernail also says, "Hi!".

[Gadget Extremist @ Nov 27th 2006 9:39AM]

The tube amp may be highend, but those speakers attached to that box look like they leave a lot to be desired.

[nicholas paredes @ Nov 27th 2006 10:01AM]

Holy vibrating valve, Batman...

I think that separating the speakers may help. BTW, I have these very small spherical speakers from Japan that are incredible. They may even be smaller than these, but encased in aluminum.

[Brandon West @ Nov 27th 2006 10:17AM]

That's kinda neat, too bad you can't easily put FLAC audio on an iPod.

Personally I'd prefer a Z-Vex Imp Amp (http://www.impamp.com/) since you can use it for a lot more than just an ipod and it's slightly cheaper. It's 1w per channel, but with tube overhead you probably won't notice a huge difference between it and the 2w of the one posted.

No, I don't work for Z-Vex, I just think the Imp Amp is a cool gadget.

[eric @ Nov 27th 2006 6:26PM]

The "preamp" (headphone circuitry/volume control) does not pass through the ipod's dock connector. Through the dock connector, you get a line-level output. Use of the line out coupled with lossless audio is what has bought the ipod cred with audiophiles.

[kadajawi @ Nov 27th 2006 11:48AM]

It looks cool, but damn are the speakers SMALL. I mean... maybe the mids will be ok, but especially in the bass region they should be totally lacking about everything. And I love good, clean, deeeeep and controlled bass.

[Jeff Foster @ Nov 27th 2006 12:57PM]

that is rad,

[Russ @ Nov 27th 2006 2:57PM]

I'm using a tiny integrated tube amp with my computer. I built it in one night from a kit (just requires some soldering skills, no schematic reading necessary). The total cost of the amp was $140 from Antique Electronic Supply (www.tubesandmore.com). It sounds terrific, and the 8W per channel is more than enough for my living room using some normal speakers. I've been using the amp for years now. Since building, I've upgraded the power cable, capacitors, and speaker binding posts. I have to replace tubes every now and then (perhaps one every 4 months or so, and I use the amp every day).

Much (unfortunately, not most) of my audio is in a lossless format (right now, FLAC). I take the audio directly out of my computer via optical digital output ($30 Turtle Beach USB device), and send it to an external tube DAC (California Audio Labs). I don't think it's possible to get much better sound for the money (OK, the DAC was expensive), and the great thing is that if the amp breaks, I can fix it myself. The only real downside is having to get up to change the volume (haven't yet figured out what to do yet about a remote for volume control).

[Lauren @ Nov 29th 2007 2:27PM]

Hi. Was wondering which kit you were referring to. I am currently looking for a present for my bf and this sounds like a great idea since he has a love for tube amps. Please tell me which one you got so I can get it as well. Thank you.

[Davin Peterson @ Nov 27th 2006 3:53PM]

Another speaker for the iPod, but still none for the Creative Zen

[GJP303 @ Nov 28th 2006 7:50PM]

yup, i'm a fellow zen-er and i feel your pain completely. Thats why i'm buying and downgrading to an iPod nano. lol, what a monopoly, wouldn't you agree?

[Richard @ Nov 27th 2006 6:15PM]

That's because the iPod rules and the Zen is busted.

[Brain21 @ Nov 28th 2006 12:55PM]

???
Eric, you say that via the dock connector you get no pre-amplification, but you get line-level out.

Line-level *IS* pre-amped.

A pre-amp takes a weak signal (like a mic or guitar) and boosts it up to a specific level (-10dB for consumer line-level, and +4dBu for pro audio line-level, generally speaking). Then it gets run to a power amp for boosting up to levels for the speakers. So, ts either NOT pre-amped, OR it is line-level.

As far as the article stating "any benefit achieved by that single-ended triode vs. digital amp will likely be nullified by its compressed audio" this is not necessarily true...

It is true, "Garbage in, garbage out," but a tube amp can actualy HELP the sound. A tube amp will "warm" the sound coming out of the iPod, and the way that tubes respond to sound (voltage across the plates) it can actually smooth out some of the digital hardness, and warm up some of the cold digital charactaristics. Your average Joe isn't going to hear the difference, esp. since the sound will be only as good as the weakest link in the chain (usually the speakers), but with exceptional equipment (read, very expensive) you should be able to hear the difference. Of course this also depends upon how the tube amp is designed.

I too would probably get the z-vex imp amp over this one though. Not as nice looking, but probably better sounding in the end, for the same price.

[Brian @ Nov 27th 2006 6:37PM]

For this money the prefered box is undoubtely the the Geneve Labs Sound Systems L or XL. In addition to the iPod dock, you get a slot-loading CD player and FM radio. The thing is twice the height and depth of the iPod HiFi and has none of its shortcomings.

http://www.genevalab.com/

[chris @ Nov 28th 2006 11:08AM]

sending a pure digital signal through a pure analog device seems pretty pointless to me, can I plug my turn table or guitar in?

[Kara Snyder @ Mar 7th 2007 12:09PM]

Where can one buy the VTS-384 vacuum tube stereo system? The company is in Japan and their website is all in Japanese??

[Kenny @ Apr 13th 2007 2:40AM]

This is my new design of the ipod amp.

The sound is very good.

http://www.transcendere-audio.com/

[Steve Schumsky @ May 5th 2007 3:41PM]

I've got a Harmon Kardon Drive + Play for my iPod and car stereo. The Drive + Play runs a wire to the dock connector. Unfortunatly, I almost prefer my old setup of running a mini audio plug out of the top iPod headphone jack to a tape deck through a cassette adaptor because the sound is more robust and louder. This robustness is through benefit of the pre-amp before the audio out plug.
My Question is: Has anybody heard of (or would it be easy to build)a compact, in-line pre-amp(No Speakers) that would fit between the iPod dock connector and the male cable that plugs into the dock connector. I know there are aftermarket pre-amps (boost-a-roo) that go in-line between (and split)the iPod audio jack and headphones or speaker system, but there got to be a pre-amp option for mobile head units and ? connecting through the dock. Anybody know?

Thanks,