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Using a solid state amp as tone control with Reisong A10 tube amp??

G

gurdyp

New Member
I was looking at getting the Reisong Boyuurange A10 tube amp. I'm really interested in testing the tube sound (since I'm after a warmer sound) and I've heard good things about it.

I currently have a Sansui AU-4900 and a Kenwood KA-7100 amplifier.

My question is: Can I run the Sansui (for example) into the aux on the Reisong, and then use the Sansui to control tone/source?

I'd like to listen predominantly to vinyl (my turntable has no preamp), but would also listen to digital files (i.e. on my iphone or iMac) from time to time.

So if I set it up like this: turntable + iphone, etc > Sansui > Reisong > speakers — could that work??

I'm such a noob, sorry if this is a ridiculous question! I've been trying to do research here and online, and I can't seem to track down exact answers for this. A lot of people use a dac, or a pre-amp.... but I haven't seen anything about a vintage solid state amp being used as a kind of source selector/tone control unit. Is that a dumb idea??

Thanks for any and all expertise on this!
 
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At first blush, No the Sansui does not have pre-outs nor does the Kenwood.

I'm not sure about this but you might be able to use the tape out on either but I'll let others more knowledgeable about that chime in.

gurdyp said:
I was looking at getting the Reisong Boyuurange A10 tube amp...I've been trying to do research here and online, and I can't seem to track down exact answers for this. Is that a dumb idea??
Click to expand...

Not a dumb idea in my book if you're just looking to experiment with something that has pre-amp capabilities. Here's a thread addressing what you're thinking of accomplishing

https://audiokarma.org/forums/index.php?threads/reisong-boyuu-a10-as-a-power-amplifier.936595/
 
You could use either one of them to drive the amp via tape outs. However my experience with a boyurrange A50 will keep me from ever considering the brand.
After holding one in my hands and listening to it, then putting it on the test bench, its obvious they are bribing people for positive reviews. We had a room full of guys over who all were totally unimpressed with the cheapest lowest price point amp currently on the market. On the test bench it failed to put out 2 watts. Others have verified this performance on their units, so it wasnt my amp, or my distortion analyzer making things up.
The bass output was completely gone under about 500hz due to the lack of feedback.
It didn't even have the power to make flabby bass, it could not muster the power to even move the cone.
I would caution the OP to avoid this brand.
Buy a Rogue, or something built with any degree of pride in workmanship.

Other Boyurrange "features" include randomized power transormers.
Will you get the 100v version or the 240v version when the 120v version is back ordered?
That will help you decide where to live when it burns your house down, simply move somewhere where the correct voltage is available.

Then theres the power supply caps.
They exceed the rating of the tube rectifiers they use, which leads to hum problems and rectifier failure. "Due to extreme high performance level of amplifier, replacement often of rectifier tube in most demanding systems"

Then theres the trend of immediately throwing out the tubes it shipped with to put in some brand new premium name brand tubes. It always sounds vastly different with different tubes, or they try and convince you it does...
Problem is, good amps sound exactly the same with different tubes. Especially so in a power output stage. (These, objectively don't qualify as good amps")
The reviewers are as predictable as gravity and their claims are based in nonsense, that leads me to believe there is something deeper afoot.

So in summary, read the critical threads, not just the marketing hype. Read about what people who design tube gear, have to say about the practices used in the design of these amps. Read the thread @StepheK wrote about "fixing" hers.

Your Sansui output stage will outperform the single ended stage 7 days a week and twice on Sunday. Put it on a distortion analyzer, I personally guarantee it.
I'm not going to sit here and wax poetic about single ended power amps. I find them real hard to like in most cases.
 
trainbuftony said:
You could use either one of them to drive the amp via tape outs. However my experience with a boyurrange A50 will keep me from ever considering the brand.
After holding one in my hands and listening to it, then putting it on the test bench, its obvious they are bribing people for positive reviews. We had a room full of guys over who all were totally unimpressed with the cheapest lowest price point amp currently on the market. On the test bench it failed to put out 2 watts. Others have verified this performance on their units, so it wasnt my amp, or my distortion analyzer making things up.
The bass output was completely gone under about 500hz due to the lack of feedback.
It didn't even have the power to make flabby bass, it could not muster the power to even move the cone.
I would caution the OP to avoid this brand.
Buy a Rogue, or something built with any degree of pride in workmanship.

Other Boyurrange "features" include randomized power transormers.
Will you get the 100v version or the 240v version when the 120v version is back ordered?
That will help you decide where to live when it burns your house down, simply move somewhere where the correct voltage is available.

Then theres the power supply caps.
They exceed the rating of the tube rectifiers they use, which leads to hum problems and rectifier failure. "Due to extreme high performance level of amplifier, replacement often of rectifier tube in most demanding systems"

Then theres the trend of immediately throwing out the tubes it shipped with to put in some brand new premium name brand tubes. It always sounds vastly different with different tubes, or they try and convince you it does...
Problem is, good amps sound exactly the same with different tubes. Especially so in a power output stage. (These, objectively don't qualify as good amps")
The reviewers are as predictable as gravity and their claims are based in nonsense, that leads me to believe there is something deeper afoot.

So in summary, read the critical threads, not just the marketing hype. Read about what people who design tube gear, have to say about the practices used in the design of these amps. Read the thread @StepheK wrote about "fixing" hers.

Your Sansui output stage will outperform the single ended stage 7 days a week and twice on Sunday. Put it on a distortion analyzer, I personally guarantee it.
I'm not going to sit here and wax poetic about single ended power amps. I find them real hard to like in most cases.
Click to expand...

Awesome, thank you for all the insight here! I'll definitely hold off for now, and do a good deal more research. Thanks again!
 
gurdyp said:
Awesome, thank you for all the insight here! I'll definitely hold off for now, and do a good deal more research. Thanks again!
Click to expand...

Here is a good thread with measurements and suggested modifications on the A10.

https://www.diyaudio.com/forums/tub...tube-amplifier-5z4p-rectifier-review-mod.html

I own this amp, and enjoy it very much. I use it with the FXAudio Tube01 preamp - a nice combo.

The A50 is not the same design. Keep in mind that trainbuftony has never heard the A10, and is making assumptions about it based on his experience with the A50. Obvious that he prefers higher powered amps with feedback. I, on the other hand, like having a single ended amp without feedback. Everyone has their own preference.
 
BMC said:
Here is a good thread with measurements and suggested modifications on the A10.

https://www.diyaudio.com/forums/tub...tube-amplifier-5z4p-rectifier-review-mod.html

I own this amp, and enjoy it very much. I use it with the FXAudio Tube01 preamp - a nice combo.

The A50 is not the same design. Keep in mind that trainbuftony has never heard the A10, and is making assumptions about it based on his experience with the A50. Obvious that he prefers higher powered amps with feedback. I, on the other hand, like having a single ended amp without feedback. Everyone has their own preference.
Click to expand...

Thanks for the tip here (re: A10 + preamp combo) — happy to hear from someone who has the A10 and enjoys it! I'm still very curious about it. ;)

One question I have, though, is: Do you miss the lack of tone controls? I have trouble with treble — as in, I often find that "clarity" or "brightness" means way too much treble (for me personally) and I'm always turning it down on whatever system I listen to. Is this where I would have to get into tube rolling... ?? ;)
 
Haven’t really missed the tone controls, to be honest. The treble is not hot on this amp in my room with my Klipsch towers. I’ve actually tube rolled a lot the past year, mainly due to pandemic boredom. Gold Lion KT77 for the power tubes, RCA or Telefunken for the driver tubes.
 
BMC said:
Haven’t really missed the tone controls, to be honest. The treble is not hot on this amp in my room with my Klipsch towers. I’ve actually tube rolled a lot the past year, mainly due to pandemic boredom. Gold Lion KT77 for the power tubes, RCA or Telefunken for the driver tubes.
Click to expand...

Ditto on not missing tone controls. I actually tried one of those Schitt LOKI tone control boxes people rave about. It created a "veil" to the sound to my ears. Even when neutral balanced, it sounded better bypassed. I would just feed the source into the amp and see what it sounds like.
 
I've had A10 for nearly 2 years. Not tried a preamp with it. I've rolled new Tungsol EL34 and Voskod Rocket pre tubes. I don't think it's bright with my speakers, ADS L470/2; L880/1, or Canton Karat 200. Efficiencies range from 89 to 92 db spl. But, I'm old with some treble hearing loss. Don't have more efficient speakers to try.
I nice Amp, IMO.
 
gurdyp said:
I was looking at getting the Reisong Boyuurange A10 tube amp. I'm really interested in testing the tube sound (since I'm after a warmer sound) and I've heard good things about it.

I currently have a Sansui AU-4900 and a Kenwood KA-7100 amplifier.

My question is: Can I run the Sansui (for example) into the aux on the Reisong, and then use the Sansui to control tone/source?

I'd like to listen predominantly to vinyl (my turntable has no preamp), but would also listen to digital files (i.e. on my iphone or iMac) from time to time.

So if I set it up like this: turntable + iphone, etc > Sansui > Reisong > speakers — could that work??

I'm such a noob, sorry if this is a ridiculous question! I've been trying to do research here and online, and I can't seem to track down exact answers for this. A lot of people use a dac, or a pre-amp.... but I haven't seen anything about a vintage solid state amp being used as a kind of source selector/tone control unit. Is that a dumb idea??

Thanks for any and all expertise on this!
Click to expand...

Try the vintage Pioneer SA-1000. I connected the Pioneer (which has pre-out) to the Reisong A10 and it sounded excellent. I currently use an Alan Eaton 45 tube amplifier that sounds much better.
 
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Yesterday I installed a secondary setup: Reisong A10 amplifier, Yamaha EQ-70 equalizer (as "preamplifier" tone control), Samsung DVD-HD841 disc player, and Pioneer SP-BS22LR speakers...Sounds excellent!
 
Dswankey said:
At first blush, No the Sansui does not have pre-outs nor does the Kenwood.

I'm not sure about this but you might be able to use the tape out on either but I'll let others more knowledgeable about that chime in.



Not a dumb idea in my book if you're just looking to experiment with something that has pre-amp capabilities. Here's a thread addressing what you're thinking of accomplishing

https://audiokarma.org/forums/index.php?threads/reisong-boyuu-a10-as-a-power-amplifier.936595/
Click to expand...
If those amps have a tape out jack that provides signal to a tape recorder, that would work.
 
I do use an old Realistic 9098 equalizer and that's perfect. i have a Yamaha DSP 100 before the equalizer that drives a Sub with a LFE output.

So i put -3db @60hz and -12db @30Hz into the A10 and the sub (100w class D) makes the job.
 
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