Little Dot MK2 Headphone Amplifier Tube Review

The Little Dot MK2 Headphone Amplifier Tube is presently among the bestselling tube amplifiers on the market. Many buyers prefer this over other available options since it is portable and lightweight. It is made of durable materials and designed to efficiently produce more natural and warmer sound.

Little Dot MK2

It is popular among stereo enthusiasts since it is user-friendly and can be conveniently used even by those who have no sound-engineering experience, making it one of the best tube amplifiers for home use.

Specifications of the Little Dot Mk2

  • Comes with dimensions 8.5×4.2×4.3 inches
  • Weighs about 5.5 pounds
  • Sold as a SEPP OTL circuit that operates in Class-A
  • Equipped with a gold-plated unbalanced phono RCA input jack
  • Has a ¼-inch gold-plated stereo headphone out
  • Equipped with 6JI driver tubes and 6N6 power tubes
  • Offers a frequency response rate of 20HX-50HZ
  • Features a pre-amplifier output impedance of 10K ohms
  • Works well with headphones with an impedance rate of 32-600 ohms
  • Consumes an average of 28 watts of power
  • Offers a power output of 300mW into 300 ohms, 200mW to 200 ohms and 100mW into 32 ohms
  • Includes three blue jumpers, a user’s manual in English and power cord

Pros

The Little Dot MK2 MKII 6J1 X2 6N6 X2 is a must-have among stereo enthusiasts. This is because the amplifier comes with a very functional and decent exterior design. The product is admired for its lightweight construction and durable high-grade components.

Like the Nobsound 6J9, it is also portable enough to be conveniently brought on the go. Thus, a many sound engineers usually go for the Little Dot MK2 MKII 6J1 X2 6N6 X2 since they can use it for work while travelling.

In terms of performance, the Little Dot MK2 MKII 6J1 X2 6N6 X2 is also an achiever. First off, it comes with a number of controls and knobs that are user-friendly. Second, it includes RCA input jacks that allow it to be connected to compatible audio devices without hassle.

Third, the product is power efficient and can be used for extended hours without worrying about overheating. On top of that, it is capable of conveniently producing warm and natural sounds when properly set.

Cons

Aside from its long list of useful features, the Little Dot MK2 MKII 6J1 X2 6N6 X2 also suffers from a number of flaws. First, it is quite expensive compared to some of its similarly-equipped rivals. Second, product availability is quite limited.

Thus, it easily runs out of stock and this prevents potential buyers from obtaining one. Third, the product might not be eligible for shipping in some countries. Finally, it is not backed by an applicable warranty.

Comparison

Aside from the Little Dot MK2 MKII 6J1 X2 6N6 X2, many consumers consider the Nobsound® Little Bear P8 SEPP Pure valve Tube Headphone Power Amplifier and the Gemtune APPJ PA1501A mini tube amplifier with 6AD10 tube as their other top options. This is because both of these are reliable, durable and made of high-grade materials.

The Nobsound® Little Bear P8 SEPP Pure valve Tube Headphone Power Amplifier comes with dimensions 13.9×10.4×8.3 and a weight of about 7 pounds. It is equipped with a number of RCA input terminals along with output terminals made of an RCA output that works as a pre-amplifier and a 6.35 earphone socket.

It is capable of providing a maximum power output of 300mW into 600/300 ohm, 350mW into 120 ohm and 250mW into 32 ohm. It can provide an output impedance of 32 ohm and 600 ohm.

The Gemtune APPJ PA1501A mini tube amplifier with 6AD10 tube is sold with dimensions of 9.4×8.4×8.3 inches and weighs about 5.3 pounds. It is equipped with a 6AD10 tube and a power output of 3.5W+3.5W at 8 ohms.

It has an estimated power consumption of 38W and input impedance of 10K ohms. On top of that, the device is equipped with RCA input jacks and banana output jacks.

Upon looking at the features of the products discussed above, it is quite obvious that these are definitely the best of the best. But out of the three, the Little Dot MK2 MKII 6J1 X2 6N6 X2 proves to be the top option since it is equipped with a long list of useful features responsible for producing natural and warm sounds.

The Nobsound® Little Bear P8 SEPP Pure valve Tube Headphone Power Amplifier is a close second because it comes with some of the useful features that the Little Dot has but at a lower price. Finally, the Gemtune APPJ PA1501A mini tube amplifier with 6AD10 tube gets the third spot by offering almost the same set of features at the Little Dot but at a much higher price.

 

Verdict

Despite its flaws and relatively higher price, the Little Dot MK2 MKII 6J1 X2 6N6 X2 still remains a preferred option for many sound enthusiasts because it is user-friendly and efficient in making warm and natural sounds. Aside from that, the product is lauded for its durable, lightweight and high-grade construction.

It can also be conveniently taken on the go, a characteristic that makes it a favored choice for sound engineers who want to work even while travelling.

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1 thought on “Little Dot MK2 Headphone Amplifier Tube Review”

  1. I am using this amplifier “The Little Dot MKII” with upgraded Russian power tubes and GE jan 5654W driver tubes to power my Sennheiser HD-6XX and It is an absolute treat to the ears. I am using FX Audio DAC-X6 as my DAC because this amplifier requires good input power from a DAC or any other source to sound good. My mobile phone or lapttop is unable to provide the input this requires. I think it is minimum 2VRMS, so i highly recommend to use a standalone DAC for this.

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