Chinese Tube Amplifiers

[AudioFilet]

I have been looking at some of these things and wondering if anybody here has had any experience with any of them. They look great, and have some nice specs, but do they sound good??

[AudioFilet]

I guess nobody here has fooled with any of these. They sure are pretty, here is a pic of another one.

[dorokusai]

ChiFi is the new Hi-Fi....some are winners, some are losers. The problem with most Chinese gear is the resale end. Unless that manufacturer gets some solid stateside representation and marketing, it's a dead product with very limited resale potential.

You can go to CES and see a hundred companies trying to get picked up and they all look pretty.....you just have to take a leap.

[BlueMDPicker]

Hi,

There are lots of folks here who have fooled with Chinese tube gear. What particular names/models are you interested in?

Morningstar Audio in Chicago is a reputable importer/distributor of Asian tube gear. The Jolida gear is highly thought of here (there's a great integrated for sale in the Flea Market right now.) Be a bit more specific. The pics don't mean much since a lot of the Asian gear is branded in several ways.

[RuSsMaN]

It's the iron that makes a GOOD tube amp cost so much (vintage or new), much of the Chinese stuff has taken the cheap route in that department. Sometimes it works, more often than not, it's just a pretty face at the end of the audio day.

Cheers,
Russ

[Midnite Mick]

I love mine.

[RuSsMaN]

That's cool Midnight, what is it? A black box out of a B-24? ;)

[Midnite Mick]

You don't like the look? Too industrial?

[zingo]

I have the SoundStage Vacuum Two Class A Tube Preamplifier. It is a good sounding pre that I am very happy with. I don't really worry about the resale, but I also paid a lot less than comparible non-Chinese tube pres. I haven't had any problems with it and would recommend it as a "brand". There is also an integrated version of this pre if that is your flavor. I, as you, would also be interested in trying other Chinese equipment since I have had such good results with this one.

[RuSsMaN]

You don't like the look? Too industrial?

No, I do, it just looks like it could survive a plane crash.

Cheers,
Russ

[zingo]

That is a big picture...

[beardog03]

MM...isn`t that unit for sale ?
I thought I saw it on the Gon..


**sorry for the derail**

That`s a nice little (not the pic) Pre Amp....not to into the gold knobs, but ...
How does she sound ?

[dorokusai]

I saw that "Soundstage" pre-amp 2 years ago for 3 times the price. Rock on!

[zingo]

I was just checking e-bay for chinese tube amps, and they do look PRETTY. Some of them are pretty cheap too, but there is that question of sound quality. The only thing you need to lookout for is some of them have out of this world shipping price. (most of them are coming from China) If you buy one, try to get it from a US or Canada buyer.

[RuSsMaN]

A member here was selling the preamp, and 30w int amp version. Probably the same ad.

[Phasearray]

Do these chinese tube gears contain lead?

[zingo]

It is the same Russman. I bought one from him! It's Gator in Canadia.

I don't know if they contain lead, but I'm not planning on eating it or licking it repeatedly, so I'm not too worried.

[AudioFilet]

It's the iron that makes a GOOD tube amp cost so much (vintage or new), much of the Chinese stuff has taken the cheap route in that department.

Cheers,
Russ

Would the weight of the unit be a good indication of the quality of the transformers?

[Midnite Mick]

MM...isn`t that unit for sale ?
I thought I saw it on the Gon..

Sonny from Audiocircle had a pair that he was selling.....not sure if he sold them or if he just changed his mind and pulled the add.

[mhardy6647]

Would the weight of the unit be a good indication of the quality of the transformers

umm, no... the sound quality would, though.

There are so many good vacuum tube amplifiers (especially extending into vintage products) available at all price points, I really cannot see why anyone would "invest" in one of the new-production amps from China.

Just my NSHO, of course (and not borne of anti-China sentiment, just pragmatism).

For the price of new-production (edit) "Cayin" or "Vincent Audio", I could buy some pretty phenomenal vintage Scott, Sherwood, Fisher (or maybe even Marantz or McIntosh) equipment, or somewhat less-vintage but very nice Audio Research or conrad-johnson.