Has anyone any info on the Chinese valve amps floating around on e -bay? I
am thinking of going to valve amplification as I am predominately listening
to more mellow stuff and the hardest thing I listen to is the doors.
It would be powering a set of B&W CDM1 SE's and getting its IP from a
systemdek IIV and a NAD HDCD - currently amped with a NAD C320BEE.

Any advice/info much appreciated - there are no hi fi shops in N Wales with
any valve amps so auditioning is out of the question.

"StaffBull" wrote in message
...
Has anyone any info on the Chinese valve amps floating around on e -bay? I
am thinking of going to valve amplification as I am predominately
listening
to more mellow stuff and the hardest thing I listen to is the doors.
It would be powering a set of B&W CDM1 SE's and getting its IP from a
systemdek IIV and a NAD HDCD - currently amped with a NAD C320BEE.

Any advice/info much appreciated - there are no hi fi shops in N Wales
with
any valve amps so auditioning is out of the question.

**Would you buy a car without first driving it?
Would you marry a woman without first....(Well, you get the idea)?
Would you buy a tellie without first watching it?
Would you buy *any* audio equipment, without first listening to it?

You get the idea.

Why would you think a valve amp is a good idea, anyway?
Do you think that all valve amps are the same?
Do you think that all SS amps are the same?
Why do you think that people sell stuff on eBay?


--
Trevor Wilson
www.rageaudio.com.au

Trevor Wilson wrote:


**Would you buy a car without first driving it?

well, if you are getting a stock standard Astra/Corolla/Pulsar ...


Would you marry a woman without first....(Well, you get the idea)?

Hmmm ... the people in Regency House and Pride and Prejudice would!
(both shows were shown back to back on the ABC on Sunday night).
Actually, then again, they might not ... I guess I have to watch both
shows till the end to find out!

But then again, valve and SS amps didn't exist back in those days!

In article ,
Tat Chan wrote:
**Would you buy a car without first driving it?

well, if you are getting a stock standard Astra/Corolla/Pulsar ...

They are the equivalent of a music centre...

--
*Why isn't 11 pronounced onety one? *

Dave Plowman London SW
To e-mail, change noise into sound.

--
Best regards

Graham Holloway
WPS Electronics
(Tel/Fax 0(044)1233 662599)
"Dave Plowman (News)" wrote in message
...
In article ,
Tat Chan wrote:
**Would you buy a car without first driving it?

well, if you are getting a stock standard Astra/Corolla/Pulsar ...

They are the equivalent of a music centre...

--
*Why isn't 11 pronounced onety one? *
Or oneteen?

Dave Plowman London SW
To e-mail, change noise into sound.

Dave Plowman (News) wrote:
In article ,
Tat Chan wrote:
**Would you buy a car without first driving it?

well, if you are getting a stock standard Astra/Corolla/Pulsar ...

They are the equivalent of a music centre...

If by that you're trying to suggest the models listed are an 'inferior'
product then you're wrong... They're well made, well engineered mainstream
vehicles designed to appeal to a mass-market looking for well equipped,
comfortable functional transport at an affordable price where core
functionality is more important than image

It would, I suggest, be better to compare them to mass-market audio
separates from manufacturers along the lines of Rotel, NAD and Marantz

In article ,
Stimpy wrote:
**Would you buy a car without first driving it?

well, if you are getting a stock standard Astra/Corolla/Pulsar ...

They are the equivalent of a music centre...

If by that you're trying to suggest the models listed are an 'inferior'
product then you're wrong... They're well made, well engineered
mainstream vehicles designed to appeal to a mass-market looking for well
equipped, comfortable functional transport at an affordable price where
core functionality is more important than image

As is a decent music centre.

It would, I suggest, be better to compare them to mass-market audio
separates from manufacturers along the lines of Rotel, NAD and Marantz

You have to specify what you want with these - they're not a take it or
leave it package like your 'stock' Astra, etc.

--
*I can see your point, but I still think you're full of ****.

Dave Plowman London SW
To e-mail, change noise into sound.

Trevor Wilson wrote:


**Would you buy a car without first driving it?

Most people buying a new one do, having tested a demonstration model.

Would you buy a tellie without first watching it?

Most people buying a new one do, having tested a demonstration model.

Would you buy *any* audio equipment, without first listening to it?

Most people buying a new one do, having tested a demonstration model.

Would you marry a woman without first....(Well, you get the idea)?

Does she have a sister?

It all depends on whether you understand circuits a bit and have some soldering
skills. If you do, a Chinese amp may well represent good value for money. But
remember that if you have it shipped from abroad you are in some difficulty
regarding any manufacturing defects such as dry joints etc (which have been
reported). There again, if you are confident with circuits you might as well
build one, which is a different story, or rebuild a Leak amp like the Stereo 20
which are plentiful and £300 -ish. With that you have the benefit of a strong
user group to give you advice and help deal with any
problems.(hjleak@yahoogroups). To get up to speed with circuits, read Morgan
Jones "Valve Amplifiers" which is an excellent guide to the basics.
Now, if you are a novice with valve amps I'd suggest a working model bought in
Britain. Again, a refurbished Leak would be fine, by which I mean that any old
and dodgy resistors, capacitors or valves have been replaced and the amp
certified fully working. For this try ebay or http://www.emporiumhifi.com/ for
instance.
As for having a valve amp - well I haven't been without one for 45 years. And
by one, I mean usually several! Good luck, Andy

=== Andy Evans ===
Visit our Website:- http://www.artsandmedia.com
Audio, music and health pages and interesting links.

Thanks for the advice Andy - some helpful comments at last!!
Steve
"Andy Evans" wrote in message
...
It all depends on whether you understand circuits a bit and have some
soldering
skills. If you do, a Chinese amp may well represent good value for money.
But
remember that if you have it shipped from abroad you are in some
difficulty
regarding any manufacturing defects such as dry joints etc (which have
been
reported). There again, if you are confident with circuits you might as
well
build one, which is a different story, or rebuild a Leak amp like the
Stereo 20
which are plentiful and £300 -ish. With that you have the benefit of a
strong
user group to give you advice and help deal with any
problems.(hjleak@yahoogroups). To get up to speed with circuits, read
Morgan
Jones "Valve Amplifiers" which is an excellent guide to the basics.
Now, if you are a novice with valve amps I'd suggest a working model
bought in
Britain. Again, a refurbished Leak would be fine, by which I mean that any
old
and dodgy resistors, capacitors or valves have been replaced and the amp
certified fully working. For this try ebay or http://www.emporiumhifi.com/
for
instance.
As for having a valve amp - well I haven't been without one for 45 years.
And
by one, I mean usually several! Good luck, Andy

=== Andy Evans ===
Visit our Website:- http://www.artsandmedia.com
Audio, music and health pages and interesting links.