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Have you ever brought a Chinese power amplifier?

crystallin

crystallin

New Member
I bought the latest power amplifier from China that uses Bluetooth digital technology. According to the sales introduction, this power amplifier has a built-in TL074 dual-core operational amplifier integrated with four operational amplifiers. It is a unique high-quality successor with a unique appearance design, simple and fashionable. Suitable for various home environments. High-quality materials and meticulous workmanship ensure a long and stable service life. When I receive the package, I will test it and give feedback.
 
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Look forward to your impressions. I find the recent wave of Chinese amps (an other devices) to be a fantastic value and a milestone toward the future of audio. Even though they have unproven reliability, the value will swing many users to begin to understand the value of SQ in a way reminiscent of the 70s silverface era.

I’m not saying it supplants high-end audio, just pulls others into the SQ game… 10 years from now, all bets are off…
 
I've got the cyber 800 monoblocks, don't get used much, prefer the slam of SS

Lusting after the Droplet CDP, ok it's a bit old now and modern day DAC's... but still nice imo
 
GChief said:
Yes

Pleasantly surprised by the build and SQ :thumbsup:
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Ditto. You might even call me a fan.

John Linsley Hood JLH 1969 Class A audio amplifier REPRO

New Krell amplifiers come from Southeast Asia and cost less than $200, right? Just checking Anyway, the new device discussed here arrived on Saturday. Looking sharp! Naturally, before hooking it up I had to open it to see if there was any obvious damage, loose connections etc from...
audiokarma.org

Beyond my satisfaction with my particular amp, I am pleasantly astonished at the liveliness of this new niche market, with the multitude of old and new circuit designs being resurrected (or copied), experimented with, and offered at affordable prices. Previous new Class A circuitry choices that I knew of ranged from small power amps from First Watt at around $2500 to $10,000+ Luxman integrated amplifiers, both quite an affordability stretch for me in retirement.

I don't see why I should deprive myself of one of the few benefits (IMO) of mass production and globalization, as if my choices could affect it whatsoever, or save anything, anyway.

So, bring on the $1K 'stats! :music:
 
Some years ago I had a pair of ASL Wave 8 mono tube power amps. I used them to drive the compression drivers of bi amped (real bi amping) horn systems, usually Altec. They were fine.

IMG_5285.jpeg
 
"Chinese power amplifier" is a bit ambiguous. Many "British" or "American" amplifiers may be British or American in so far as they are sold by British or American companies, but increasingly they are manufactured in China. It could be argued that their design and quality control is British or American too, and that is a guarantee of quality.
More recently there are products manufactured in China which do not come from British or American brands. Are they inferior? Are they designed to the same standard by people who care about audio sound quality? Who knows? Maybe each product, or each Chinese brand, should be taken on its own merits rather than lumping them all together under the banner of "Chinese" and treating them all as being the same.
I will say that if you're prepared to buy a no-name product from China you can get amazing value for money. I've seen Chinese-manufactured class A amps based on the famous John Linsley-Hood design which are cheaper than you could buy the components for in the west. It's got to be tempting.

However, I'm not in favour of Chinese companies trading on others' well-earned reputations by selling blatant copies of their of their designs and using their name to drive sales.
 
When I pulled my Dyna amps out of service to add the VTA mods I bought a small Nobsound integrated tube amp in the interim. It did surprisingly well for the year or so I had it. Not a great full time substitute if you're spoiled and fussy, but was really surprised how good a $235 amp could sound.
 

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The primary driver for Made in China is lower taxes and regulations,
the effect of labor is not significant in the product cost.
$1,000 I-phone the labor cost is only $20, so if it's 50% higher in the US or EU it's only $10.
Apple is the largest mfg of audio playback in the word aka streaming and $2 ear buds.
rothwellaudio said:
"Chinese power amplifier" is a bit ambiguous. Many "British" or "American" amplifiers may be British or American in so far as they are sold by British or American companies, but increasingly they are manufactured in China. It could be argued that their design and quality control is British or American too, and that is a guarantee of quality.
Click to expand...
Not really, contract manufacturers are famous for delivering quality batches, then over time substituting in lesser quality parts that go un-noticed until the failures begin.
Japanese companies, the first in for low low labor and reg costs, ended up up shipping in components in sealed containers to be assembled, then exporting the assembled products in sealed containers, with Japanese employees on site to supervise assembly every step of the way.
Still they pulled out to Malaysia and others.
rothwellaudio said:
More recently there are products manufactured in China which do not come from British or American brands. Are they inferior? Are they designed to the same standard by people who care about audio sound quality? Who knows? Maybe each product, or each Chinese brand, should be taken on its own merits rather than lumping them all together under the banner of "Chinese" and treating them all as being the same.
Click to expand...
If the selling price is less than the cost of quality components, how do you explain it ?
rothwellaudio said:
I will say that if you're prepared to buy a no-name product from China you can get amazing value for money. I've seen Chinese-manufactured class A amps based on the famous John Linsley-Hood design which are cheaper than you could buy the components for in the west. It's got to be tempting.
Click to expand...
How is this possible
rothwellaudio said:
However, I'm not in favour of Chinese companies trading on others' well-earned reputations by selling blatant copies of their of their designs and using their name to drive sales.
Click to expand...
Products sold in China, are not the same quality as exported products.

These are the facts, products are more than a spec sheet and list price
 
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rothwellaudio said:
I will say that if you're prepared to buy a no-name product from China you can get amazing value for money. I've seen Chinese-manufactured class A amps based on the famous John Linsley-Hood design which are cheaper than you could buy the components for in the west.
Click to expand...

Bubo said:
How is this possible
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I presume because the cost of parts and labour in China is very low compared to the cost of parts alone if bought in the west.
rothwellaudio said:
However, I'm not in favour of Chinese companies trading on others' well-earned reputations by selling blatant copies of their of their designs and using their name to drive sales.
Click to expand...

Bubo said:
Products sold in China, are not the same quality as exported products.
Click to expand...
I'm not sure how that is a response to my statement. There seems to be no connection.
In fact, most of your post confuses me.
 
sqlsavior said:
Ditto. You might even call me a fan.

John Linsley Hood JLH 1969 Class A audio amplifier REPRO

New Krell amplifiers come from Southeast Asia and cost less than $200, right? Just checking Anyway, the new device discussed here arrived on Saturday. Looking sharp! Naturally, before hooking it up I had to open it to see if there was any obvious damage, loose connections etc from...
audiokarma.org

Beyond my satisfaction with my particular amp, I am pleasantly astonished at the liveliness of this new niche market, with the multitude of old and new circuit designs being resurrected (or copied), experimented with, and offered at affordable prices. Previous new Class A circuitry choices that I knew of ranged from small power amps from First Watt at around $2500 to $10,000+ Luxman integrated amplifiers, both quite an affordability stretch for me in retirement.

I don't see why I should deprive myself of one of the few benefits (IMO) of mass production and globalization, as if my choices could affect it whatsoever, or save anything, anyway.

So, bring on the $1K 'stats! :music:
Click to expand...
That is the one I was typing bout.
 
Had a Yaqin MC-100b when they first came out. It may have been just mine but it was awful. A lot of people bought these and it was surprising how many of these new owners were tearing them apart to replace parts to improve them. I prefer an amp to be right from the factory and sold mine on.
 
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