• The move to the new server is done. There are some software and database maintenance updates in process. This has us passing the hat around to help out. We appreciate any donations. Seriously, even a dollar helps. The payment page may be found here - https://www.audiokarma.org/support.html

Jumping into tubes

Tube warmth you should get with any of them. Also a richer more lush sound that's less fatiguing due to the absence of transistor glare.

The Music Angels are push pull tube amps while the other two are SET amps. You can read about the differences but the main one is that SET's don't use negative feedback and run in class A. SET's tend to resolve greater detail at lower levels with efficient speakers but at the expense of producing less power.
 
I'm really liking what I am seeing. My research is in full swing, hahaha. I really appreciate all of the info from here!!!!! Like I said Earlier, I am going through several threads to learn what I can. I have several sets of high efficiency speakers at the house so I will be able to try different configurations as well to fine tune what I am hearing.
 
You are travelling a well worn path. Welcome to the fun.

As has been said, a good place to start is anywhere from 15 to 35 watts per channel. You'd be surprised how good those watts sound because of the benign way in which tubes clip and the transformer coupling to the speakers.

You have lots of options. Once you decide you like tubes, you can get specialized speakers (94db+ efficient) and an SET and another chapter will open up for you but that will involve a 1000 dollar investment or so, well worth it IMO.

Getting tubes to rock the house is spendy, and powerful tube amps can sound too "brittle" if they are not designed right. I'd stick to doing what tubes do best at first - lower level, detailed listening of the midrange frequencies and the human voice. Can't lose there. I would not get rid of your SS stuff yet.

By the way, at your price point (500) you should not be afraid of a used Dynaco ST-70 if you can secure one from Barter Town. They are pretty easy to maintain.

With ALL tube equipment there is a little more maintenance than SS stuff because tubes fail, but it is not a common thing. You just need to get used to recognizing the signs. A normal output tube life is 2000 hrs plus so you can get quite a bit of use out of a set but do plan for their replacement. This is a reason not too get too esoteric on the output tubes in the beginning, with the EL34, EL84 and similar tubes being good choices because they are being manufactured new and can be bought for less than a hundred for four.

Good luck.
 
goldleaf said:
You are travelling a well worn path. Welcome to the fun.

As has been said, a good place to start is anywhere from 15 to 35 watts per channel. You'd be surprised how good those watts sound because of the benign way in which tubes clip and the transformer coupling to the speakers.

You have lots of options. Once you decide you like tubes, you can get specialized speakers (94db+ efficient) and an SET and another chapter will open up for you but that will involve a 1000 dollar investment or so, well worth it IMO.

Getting tubes to rock the house is spendy, and powerful tube amps can sound too "brittle" if they are not designed right. I'd stick to doing what tubes do best at first - lower level, detailed listening of the midrange frequencies and the human voice. Can't lose there. I would not get rid of your SS stuff yet.

By the way, at your price point (500) you should not be afraid of a used Dynaco ST-70 if you can secure one from Barter Town. They are pretty easy to maintain.

With ALL tube equipment there is a little more maintenance than SS stuff because tubes fail, but it is not a common thing. You just need to get used to recognizing the signs. A normal output tube life is 2000 hrs plus so you can get quite a bit of use out of a set but do plan for their replacement. This is a reason not too get too esoteric on the output tubes in the beginning, with the EL34, EL84 and similar tubes being good choices because they are being manufactured new and can be bought for less than a hundred for four.

Good luck.
Click to expand...
Thank you!! I am looking for a lower volume nice sounding set up. I have the Yamaha and Klipsch to annoy the neighborhood, lol I've just come to the point where I am dying to try something new (Old) I definitely not afraid of used but it would have to be from AK if it is used.
 
:guitar::guitar: So far I have it narrowed down to Music Angel XDSE EL34 x 4, the Music Angel MINI L3 EL34 x 4, the YAQIN MC-13S, the YAQIN MC-5881/6L6A, the YAQIN MS-20L EL34B, the YAQIN MC-100B (used), or last but not least Music Angel YAYI XDSE YC-808MK KT88.
Like I said, I have 3 to 6 weeks to decide. Any opinions on these models?
 
There were early reports of China-sourced amps being wired incorrectly. I have not heard of problems recently, but others will chime in. I own mostly vintage and diy at this time.
 
goldleaf said:
There were early reports of China-sourced amps being wired incorrectly. I have not heard of problems recently, but others will chime in. I own mostly vintage and diy at this time.
Click to expand...

Not sure I'm ready or knowledgeable enough to jump into diy yet but I have no problems buying the right vitage amp. The idea of vintage appeals to me if I could find the right unit. A BT ad when my funds are there seems in order...
 
Vintage is nice but there is a price to pay in terms of time to get them in tip top shape. You end up having to own some simple tools (a meter, soldering iron, etc) and in my case, 50 or 60 year old electronics can be tricky sometimes. But if you enjoy learning, the rest you can get from AK help. The converse is to buy new and enjoy a couple of years of next to no hassle, hopefully. Unlike SS stuff, the chances of zero maintenance for 15 years are next to nil. That's why simple is good.
 
I am thankful for the info and am fairly certain I will go with a new unit unless something pops up that is too good to pass. The hunt is half the fun for me and every step is another chance to learn. What is the difference between utlra-linear and triode modes??
 
goldleaf said:
There were early reports of China-sourced amps being wired incorrectly. I have not heard of problems recently, but others will chime in. I own mostly vintage and diy at this time.
Click to expand...

Well my experience has been just the opposite with Chinese gear bought off ebay. I've owned the following: Bada tube hybrid, Yaqin tube hybrid, APPJ/Miniwatt SET, Dared SET, Jolida tube phono, MHZS tube CDP and most recently a Guanzo tube preamp and found them all to be of the highest quality. Never had a problem with any of them and they were shipped with great care. You buy a heavy amp from a dealer in the US and shipping it back for a repair will cost more than a local tube tech.

Buy from an established Chinese ebay seller who has a high feedback score over several years. Ebay and Paypal now give great recourse should a problem arise.
 
Poultrygeist said:
Well my experience has been just the opposite with Chinese gear bought off ebay. I've owned the following: Bada tube hybrid, Yaqin tube hybrid, APPJ/Miniwatt SET, Dared SET, Jolida tube phono, MHZS tube CDP and most recently a Guanzo tube preamp and found them all to be of the highest quality. Never had a problem with any of them and they were shipped with great care. You buy a heavy amp from a dealer in the US and shipping it back for a repair will cost more than a local tube tech.

Buy from an established Chinese ebay seller who has a high feedback score over several years. Ebay and Paypal now give great recourse should a problem arise.
Click to expand...

Excellent point, I have had all issues handled very quickly lately. It is a lot better than it has been in the past on that site.
 
That's good to hear Poultrygeist. The mom and pop operations in China are either learning or getting sidetracked by more professional firms. Not unlike what happens elsewhere as industry matures. I've noticed a marked improvement in Hong Kong sourced components lately as well. About time.
 
goldleaf said:
That's good to hear Poultrygeist. The mom and pop operations
in China are either learning or getting sidetracked by more professional firms. Not unlike
what happens elsewhere as industry matures. I've noticed a marked improvement in
Hong Kong sourced components lately as well. About time.
Click to expand...


There may appear to be mom & pop shops, but one can pull the curtain aside to reveal
that mom and pop are in deep servitude under the repressive yoke of the Master cylinder.
 
The Chinese merchants on ebay bend over backwards as their livelihood depends on high scores and repeat business. I like to see gear listed for a price and then a "make offer" button. I usually go low ball and work upwards but you can only make 3 offers. You'd be surprised what good deals are out there.

China is the world leader in audio and most high end gear is designed and made there. Mark Levinson's amp is Dussun and my Bada Tube Fidelity amp was a Musical Fidelity. Fostex drivers were once Japanese but now are Chinese. The list goes on...
 
They are the only ones that carry a wider selection of affordable new equipment as well. The Canadian Yaqin dealer has some nice units as well but as far as sellers go the choices are limited. I'm confident that I wont have issues as fart as the seller goes.
 
Poultrygeist said:
The Chinese merchants on ebay bend over backwards as their livelihood depends on high scores and repeat business. I like to see gear listed for a price and then a "make offer" button. I usually go low ball and work upwards but you can only make 3 offers. You'd be surprised what good deals are out there.

China is the world leader in audio and most high end gear is designed and made there. Mark Levinson's amp is Dussun and my Bada Tube Fidelity amp was a Musical Fidelity. Fostex drivers were once Japanese but now are Chinese. The list goes on...
Click to expand...

In the early part of the 2000's a lot of my friends in high tech had horror stories of their QC rejects being resold as private labels to unscrupulous merchants who would relable it and sell it out of Hong Kong. Guess those days are coming to an end.

A friend that did work for IBM said the factories would often run extra production of a part or subassembly without telling the western customer then sell it out the back door to other OEM's. Wild times indeed.

Thankfully we hear fewer and fewer of these reports lately and seem to have more native-labeled equipment trying to make it on its own merits.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom