Hi Phil - how's the Debut going? :-)

It's still on my main system, sounds as good as the P3 and not worth the
effort to cart it up the stairs so it'll probably stay there for a while
yet! I'm very pleased with it :-)


But, much as I love my KiT88, I think the WAD kits are getting a bit on the
expensive side (for 'kits') - too flash, IMO. Speaking to them one time I
said why don't they tone them down and make them a bit cheaper (to get
people started off) and offer cosmetic upgrades for those who want them at a
later date? The reaction to that was that they were considering doing just
that, but I don't think they've done anything about it??

Much like Caterham cars, I always wanted one as a kid when they were
cheap, simple, not much to look at and went like stink anyway. I prefer
stuff to look understated but still do the job where possible.


I notice their auction for one of these starts 2 quid below your winning
price this time round too.


Hmmm, prices creeping up already then! (There was one at £289 + P&P 'Buy It
Now' when I was bidding for mine!)


I reckon he's just testing the water a bit seeing if he can get the same
price as last time. No one has bid on it yet and it runs out tomorrow so
I'm going to see if the price drops again next time round. I assume they
get re-entered weekly as it's the same place you got yours from. Hope so!


Are there any cheap Chinese valve phono amps worth looking at?

I'm not aware of any myself, but it's still only Friday afternoon....!!! ;-)

Seems a bit of a waste feeding a valve amp through the basic Project phono
box that I have at the moment.


The Pro-Ject Phono Box is fine (in a fairly weedy sort of way - I've got one
here) but not *impressive* and the first upgrade to a vinyl system, in my
book, is a valve phono. But, having said that, I don't believe you've
*gotta* have valve on valve on valve to get away from the 'SS
sterility/greyness' - a valve amp will go a long way to getting the best
from your vinyl!

Hmm, perhaps I'll wait a while for the Chinese to start making phono
amps too then.
I'll have a look round the link you posted when I get a quiet day next week.

"Phil North" wrote in message
...

Hi Phil - how's the Debut going? :-)

It's still on my main system, sounds as good as the P3 and not worth the
effort to cart it up the stairs so it'll probably stay there for a while
yet! I'm very pleased with it :-)


Excellent!! :-)


Much like Caterham cars, I always wanted one as a kid when they were
cheap, simple, not much to look at and went like stink anyway. I prefer
stuff to look understated but still do the job where possible.


Yes, my philosophy entirely! I value function over form any day!



I notice their auction for one of these starts 2 quid below your winning
price this time round too.


Hmmm, prices creeping up already then! (There was one at £289 + P&P 'Buy
It Now' when I was bidding for mine!)


I reckon he's just testing the water a bit seeing if he can get the same
price as last time. No one has bid on it yet and it runs out tomorrow so
I'm going to see if the price drops again next time round. I assume they
get re-entered weekly as it's the same place you got yours from. Hope so!


They seem to be a pretty well organised substantial organisation:

http://www.proelektra.de/


I've since bought a cheapo sub on the basis 'it'll be good enough for HT'
from them (fingers crossed) - not due yet! (Tomorrow or Monday, I expect.)



Hmm, perhaps I'll wait a while for the Chinese to start making phono amps
too then.
I'll have a look round the link you posted when I get a quiet day next
week.


Two of them:

http://cattylink.com/

http://www.kwangwoo.co.kr/en/index.html

feature very attractive-looking phono stages, but I'm not sure how much they
would cost or how easy they would be to get hold of (a lot of these sites
are looking for importers, I suspect)??

"Phil North" wrote
Are there any cheap Chinese valve phono amps worth looking at? Seems a bit of a waste feeding a valve amp through the basic
Project phono box that I have at the moment.

Well there is the Pro-ject Tube Box, at 300 quid. I have one.

There are other types, too. Look on Ebay uk.

That guy in Hong Kong, 18audioguy or whatever TF he calls himself
has some, ISTR.

I have to back up Keith's recommendation for the cheap Chinese amps
though. The Value For Money is just STUPENDOUS. You look at all the build
you get inside, the amount of metal, transformer, valves, etc. for 300-odd
quid, and you wonder how the HELL do they even do it for that price.
Amazing, really.


Martin
--
M.A.Poyser Tel.: 07967 110890
Manchester, U.K. http://www.fleetie.demon.co.uk

Keith G wrote:
"Tat Chan" wrote



Btw, I wouldn't have a clue about Chinese amplifiers ... both of my amps
are "designed and made in England"!



Which are what - just out of 'noseyosity'...??



Arcam Alpha 3 (early 90s vintage)
Audiolab 8000S (only made between 1996 - 1998)

The Alpha 3 is now in storage, as the 8000S has replaced it in my system.

"Tat Chan" wrote in message
...
Keith G wrote:
"Tat Chan" wrote



Btw, I wouldn't have a clue about Chinese amplifiers ... both of my amps
are "designed and made in England"!



Which are what - just out of 'noseyosity'...??

Arcam Alpha 3 (early 90s vintage)
Audiolab 8000S (only made between 1996 - 1998)

The Alpha 3 is now in storage, as the 8000S has replaced it in my system.



OK, interesting - so we've got an Englishman with a Chinese amp 'talking'
to......

:-)

"Fleetie" wrote in message
...
"Phil North" wrote
Are there any cheap Chinese valve phono amps worth looking at? Seems a
bit of a waste feeding a valve amp through the basic Project phono box
that I have at the moment.

Well there is the Pro-ject Tube Box, at 300 quid. I have one.

There are other types, too. Look on Ebay uk.

That guy in Hong Kong, 18audioguy or whatever TF he calls himself
has some, ISTR.

I have to back up Keith's recommendation for the cheap Chinese amps
though. The Value For Money is just STUPENDOUS. You look at all the build
you get inside, the amount of metal, transformer, valves, etc. for 300-odd
quid, and you wonder how the HELL do they even do it for that price.
Amazing, really.


You'll love this - got a bit of (fairly low-level) 'roaring' through the
speakers, playing vinyl the other night. I thought 'uh-oh' but gave the EAR
phono a smart rap and, guess what? - Silence again!!!

:-)

Keith G wrote:

"Tat Chan" wrote in message
...

Keith G wrote:

"Tat Chan" wrote




Btw, I wouldn't have a clue about Chinese amplifiers ... both of my amps
are "designed and made in England"!



Which are what - just out of 'noseyosity'...??

Arcam Alpha 3 (early 90s vintage)
Audiolab 8000S (only made between 1996 - 1998)

The Alpha 3 is now in storage, as the 8000S has replaced it in my system.




OK, interesting - so we've got an Englishman with a Chinese amp 'talking'
to......

:-)


Bingo!



From what I know about Chinese amps, they seem to concentrate on valves or
valve-SS hybrids.

No 'wire with gain' amp types among the Chinese manufacturers.

"Tat Chan" wrote in message
...
Keith G wrote:

"Tat Chan" wrote in message
...

Keith G wrote:

"Tat Chan" wrote




Btw, I wouldn't have a clue about Chinese amplifiers ... both of my
amps are "designed and made in England"!



Which are what - just out of 'noseyosity'...??

Arcam Alpha 3 (early 90s vintage)
Audiolab 8000S (only made between 1996 - 1998)

The Alpha 3 is now in storage, as the 8000S has replaced it in my system.




OK, interesting - so we've got an Englishman with a Chinese amp 'talking'
to......

:-)


Bingo!



From what I know about Chinese amps, they seem to concentrate on valves or
valve-SS hybrids.

No 'wire with gain' amp types among the Chinese manufacturers.


Refreshing departure from the usual (and physically impossible) bull****
isn't it? :-)

Contrary to what you might see posted here, at the end of the day, in a
given price range cosmetics and appearance will usually be the ultimate
deciding factor in choosing amps, speakers, any other AV/audio gadget,
curtains, cars, motorcycles, lawnmowers, wives, girlfriends...... ;-)

Right, just put a bid on the one currently on auction. Everybody else
bugger off this ones mine! Wait for the next one in a couple of days :-)

Phil

"Phil North" wrote in message
...
Right, just put a bid on the one currently on auction. Everybody else
bugger off this ones mine! Wait for the next one in a couple of days :-)

Phil


:-)

Where were you last night? - I grabbed that one yesterday before it slid off
the table with no bids! (At the price, these things could almost be regarded
as 'disposable' and a second one for backup/spares/playing about
with/****nose yet is neither here nor there!!)

Anyway, let's hope you don't get some clown trying to bid it up. (Why TF
*do* they do that on brand new gear in plentiful supply? - Beats the crap
outta me!!!)

If you can be bothered to haul yourself up here (wot - 10 miles??) you can
check my own one out for yourself and I'll let you play with my knob
(.....*volume control* you wattocks!!) where you will see for yourself that
running a computer into it, into a pair of very modest Wharfedales, that
Atomic Kitten 'Tide Is High', for example, (MP3 played straight off the
motherboard sound) is *loud* at the 9 o'clock mark and INTOLERABLY LOUD at
the 12 o'clock mark!! ;-)

One condition only - that you report here *exactly* what you thought of it
and of the 'sound quality' I'm getting from it! (Come up tonight and you'll
meet Shiny Nigel who's keen to see it himself and, incidentally, who sold me
the Debut in the first place!! - Email me first though, if you are
tempted...)

Note to the newly-emergent gob****e/'keyboard hardcase' faction:

That, gentlemen, is *me* putting my mouth where *my* money is.........