Tube Buffers worth it?

The Z Man Tube buffer was better than the MF in my system.Search web for Z Man review.JD

...But of course, people don't use it for its so-called intended purpose. And in fact, if a solid state device were marketed to perform the same function, it would sell in the single digits.

I've owned the MF X10v3, and auditioned the Yaqin single tube buffer. Currently using the Audio Horizons TB 5.0 tube buffer. What you get with this unit is the ability to try different tubes (not so with the MF), and gear designed by folks whose primary business is building high quality tubed preamps and phono stages. Running between my SS pre/pro and amps, it is a definite improvement. AH offers a 30-day in home trial, so you can check it out in your own system, in your own time. I'm not affiliated with the company in any way.

In my system, yes, for the digital front end. Analog not so much (vinyl into separate minmailist SS preamp).

Viridian is correct with respect to impedence matching & quality / 'oomph' of source(s) driving your amps.

I run the MF X10v3 into Levinson monoblocks and find improvements with all of the following DAC front ends: Theta DS Pre GenII (passive pre may explain why the buffer helps); TacT 2.0 RCS; Acurus ACT-3 & Oppo 980 for HT.

In my system / room, the improvements are: Less hardness / glare, expecially strings & piano when played dynamically; less sibilance on female vocals; deeper soundstage / better imaging. Most important, though, is a better sense of cohesiveness, more natural, more thereness without being in your face, more liquid, less fatiguing (not that it was so bad before - just better). I use it in conjunction with a Camelot 5.1 jitter reduction / reclocking device that has similar happy effects.

Like everything audio, it will depnd on the sum of all the parts, I suppose.

Hope that helps.

Ken