6J1 Tube Preamp Board vs Rockville TubeHead Headphone Amplifier

Buy the Rockville TubeHead if you want a finished, plug-in tube headphone amp with real power figures and a warranty. Buy the 6J1 board only if you are a builder who wants a bare assembled preamp board to mount in your own case and power yourself. The TubeHead is a complete product with a 6.35mm output, RCA and 3.5mm inputs, and a 12V supply; the 6J1 kit is a board with no case, no power supply and no headphone jack. Owners of the TubeHead describe a warm, clear sound and note the low noise floor; the 6J1 board gets praise for working as intended, but it is a DIY part, not a finished amp.

• Choose the 6J1 board if you are building or modifying gear and want an assembled tube preamp board to wire into your own enclosure and power supply.
• Choose the Rockville TubeHead if you want a ready-to-use tube headphone amplifier with inputs, a headphone jack and a power supply in the box.