Need Advice.....

[cartop]

I was wondering if this is a good deal and if anyone has this amp what do you think of it? No affiliation.

https://www.facebook.com/marketplace/item/389266522540081/?ref=search&referral_code=marketplace_search&referral_story_type=post&tracking=browse_serp:386c7835-1db5-42de-8ec6-8b91e80e6151

 

[TriodeLuvr]

I'd look for something that isn't made in China.

Jack

 

[cartop]

Thanks Jack. Can you elaborate about why?

 

[goodolpg]

What is it?
No facebook account.

 

[EastPoint]

What is it?
No facebook account.

Yaqin MC-13s Integrated Push-Pull Tube amplifier
$700

I have decided to sell my MC-13s to make room (in my budget) for a vintage receiver I recently purchased. I will include a set of Nichicon capacitors that the previous owner never installed, and a matched quad of J&J EL34 tubes. I also have three extra 6CA7 tubes that I’ll throw in if I can fit them in the box. As I have the original box and packing material, I’m willing to ship to North American addresses at buyers expense. Asking $700.00 +shipping. If you want this shipped, please message me with your Zip Code, and I can quote shipping for you. I recently tried to fit everything in the box, and the spare tubes and caps will have to be shipped in a separate box.

New price on eBay is $600-800, not sure why so much variation. $700 for a used one is not really great, even with the extras.

 

[cartop]

I talked to the gentleman that is selling the amp and he said he would add a phono pre-amp in the deal. I just need to hear from someone here that owns or owned this amp before I decide to buy it. Any opinion would be great.

 

[TriodeLuvr]

Thanks Jack. Can you elaborate about why?

Overall electrical quality, availability of replacement parts, unknown specs for output transformers, genocide by the country of origin, etc., etc. I never buy Chinese if there's any alternative. It costs me more, but I have less trouble with products and my conscience is clear.

Jack

 

[SaturationPt]

I bought a Yaqin integrated tube amp a few years back, wanting to make my way into tubes. It was a something 100 model, can't remember exactly, had a triode-mode switch, ran KT-88s, was pretty cool.

It sounded okay, but just not great. I tried rolling tubes to try and make it sound better, not a big change.

Looking on the Yaqin groups there were several changes to make it sound better, was commonly opined that the gain pot was substandard, as were many of the capacitors, so they all needed to go to improve its sound and remove some easy to see distortion.

In the end, I sold the amp, decided I should have started with something with better bones if I need to do all of the research and upgrading anyway, hoping it could sound at least as good as my son's ST-70 amp (which it did not). It didn't appreciate like good quality vintage tube amps either, depreciated and was harder to sell.

So it depends on what you want, and how good the deal is, but I believe that good quality iron and a circuit designed by people who truly understand rather than those good at cloning good circuits is going to be a better amplifier and sound better.

This experience is of course limited to one Yaqin amp model, and not the one that you're considering, so as they say YMMV.

 

[Lavane]

You probably would be better off finding something like a Dynaco or VTA ST-70 before buying that amp. You can find a nicely restored Dynaco, or even a newer VTA for the same money, or even less. Both used the EL34 family of tubes.
Plus there is lots of documentation and support for something like the Dynaco.
They pop up in bartertown pretty regularly at decent prices.

 

[eiraved]

Become a Subscriber and you can access BarterTown and find the occasional good deals on ST-70 amps. IMO they are a better deal than the Yaquin for all the reasons previously mentioned.

 

[cartop]

Thanks guys for the advice, I think I will pass on the Yaqin and try to save a few more bucks while I keep an eye out for something better. I really have to find something local because I don't want to buy something I cant audition.

 

[radioactive]

Thanks guys for the advice, I think I will pass on the Yaqin and try to save a few more bucks while I keep an eye out for something better. I really have to find something local because I don't want to buy something I cant audition.

Become a ak subscriber for $25 and youll get access to bartertown and other perks.You might not find anything local but you can also post a wtb ad .

 

[markshan]

Overall electrical quality, availability of replacement parts, unknown specs for output transformers, genocide by the country of origin, etc., etc. I never buy Chinese if there's any alternative. It costs me more, but I have less trouble with products and my conscience is clear.

Jack

I appreciate the issues of conscience but feel the need to point out that buying it used negates the economic ramifications but your other points are still valid.

 

[ETLS]

That last pic says it all.