iLoungeiLounge
  • News
    • Apple
      • AirPods Pro
      • AirPlay
      • Apps
        • Apple Music
      • iCloud
      • iTunes
      • HealthKit
      • HomeKit
      • HomePod
      • iOS 13
      • Apple Pay
      • Apple TV
      • Siri
    • Rumors
    • Humor
    • Technology
      • CES
    • Daily Deals
    • Articles
    • Web Stories
  • iPhone
    • iPhone Accessories
  • iPad
  • iPod
    • iPod Accessories
  • Apple Watch
    • Apple Watch Accessories
  • Mac
    • MacBook Air
    • MacBook Pro
  • Reviews
    • App Reviews
  • How-to
    • Ask iLounge
Font ResizerAa
iLoungeiLounge
Font ResizerAa
Search
  • News
    • Apple
    • Rumors
    • Humor
    • Technology
    • Daily Deals
    • Articles
    • Web Stories
  • iPhone
    • iPhone Accessories
  • iPad
  • iPod
    • iPod Accessories
  • Apple Watch
    • Apple Watch Accessories
  • Mac
    • MacBook Air
    • MacBook Pro
  • Reviews
    • App Reviews
  • How-to
    • Ask iLounge
Follow US

Reviews

Reviews

Review: Solis SO-8000 Stereo Bluetooth Vacuum Tube Audio System

Last updated: May 14, 2021 3:28 pm UTC
By Guido Gabriele
Review: Solis SO-8000 Stereo Bluetooth Vacuum Tube Audio System

Hi-fi nostalgia is on the rise. Vinyl, despite its undeniable lack of convenience compared to streaming services, is becoming more popular every day — audiophiles love the tactile experience and warm sound. Turntables aren’t the only way to experience the audio tech of yesteryear, however — vacuum tube amplifiers add just a bit of pleasing distortion to the sound. The Solis SO-8000 is a compact speaker amplifier with a tube preamp section and, in addition to two analog inputs, also allows streaming over Bluetooth.

Advertisements

Review: Solis SO-8000 Stereo Bluetooth Vacuum Tube Audio System

In the box you’ll find everything you need for a bookshelf system — a set of dual-driver rear-ported 4ohm speakers, speaker cables, RCA cables, a brush for cleaning dust around the tubes, and a pair of gloves for handling the tubes. The SO-8000’s amplifier has a distinctively un-modern look, with its two 12AX7 tubes and transformer tube exposed. In front of the preamp tubes is one thing that wasn’t featured in 1970s amplifiers — a single 6E2 tube that features a VU meter that responds to bass frequencies. All the components are clad in a gooey gloss-black finish.

Advertisements

Review: Solis SO-8000 Stereo Bluetooth Vacuum Tube Audio System

The SO-8000’s amplifier is rated at 17 watts of power RMS.

On paper, the amp may seem underpowered, but it’s plenty for a near-field setup, especially its bundled speakers. Pairing lossy Bluetooth streaming (SBC, aptX) with a tube amp is an unusual choice, but it works as it should. We were not terribly impressed by the SO-8000’s bundled speakers, however. These feature a familiar 5-inch woofer and 1.25-inch tweeter, but their bass extension is lacking even compared to speakers of similar size; out of the box, they sounded bright and at times, nasal.

Advertisements

Latest News
The 16-inch M4 MacBook Pro 48GB 512GB is $300 Off
The 16-inch M4 MacBook Pro 48GB 512GB is $300 Off
1 Min Read
Apple Releases New ‘Hold That Train!’ Ad for Apple Arcade
Apple Releases New ‘Hold That Train!’ Ad for Apple Arcade
1 Min Read
Apple Launches New Apple Card Promo
Apple Launches New Apple Card Promo
1 Min Read
Facebook Gains Passkeys Support
Facebook Gains Passkeys Support
1 Min Read
The Anker Nano II 65W Compact Charger is $25 Off
The Anker Nano II 65W Compact Charger is $25 Off
1 Min Read
New ‘Shot on iPhone’ Short Film Debuts
New ‘Shot on iPhone’ Short Film Debuts
1 Min Read
Apple Camp for Kids Program Starts in June
Apple Camp for Kids Program Starts in June
1 Min Read
Apple to Start iPhone Foldable Production This Year
Apple to Start iPhone Foldable Production This Year
1 Min Read
The Apple Watch Series 10 is $100 Off
The Apple Watch Series 10 is $100 Off
1 Min Read
AirPods Pro 3 May Debut in 2026
AirPods Pro 3 May Debut in 2026
1 Min Read
Oakley Smart Glasses Announced
Oakley Smart Glasses Announced
1 Min Read
The Apple Watch Series 10 is $100 Off
Apple Watch Ultra 3 Might Arrive Soon
1 Min Read

iLounge logo

iLounge is an independent resource for all things iPod, iPhone, iPad, and beyond. iPod, iPhone, iPad, iTunes, Apple TV, and the Apple logo are trademarks of Apple Inc.

This website is not affiliated with Apple Inc.
iLounge © 2001 - 2025. All Rights Reserved.
  • Contact Us
  • Submit News
  • About Us
  • Forums
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms Of Use
Welcome Back!

Sign in to your account

Lost your password?