Inside the cheapy chinky
 

For anyone who is interested, there are a few pix of the inside of one of
the new cheap, Chinese amps I have just bought.

http://www.apah69.dsl.pipex.com/keit...chineseamp.htm

The second one arrived with a little rattle inside it which gave me the
excuse to whip the bottom off!

Anyway, I think they are surprisingly good for the price and would be quite
satisfied if I had built one to the same standard myself. (I hope the pix
give sufficient indication.) Note the pound coin on one of the OPTs for
scale - to reassure those here who are ever prepared to condemn without
seeing/hearing......

;-)



Also, if anyone is interested, I have started a 'Busted Sub' page which will
hopefully plot the rescue of a 'curate's egg' Chinese subwoofer in the near
future, when the page will be updated:

http://www.apah69.dsl.pipex.com/keit.../bustedsub.htm

(At least, that's the intention atm - the daft thing is that it works quite
well enough for a bit of HT augmentation as it is!)

Inside the cheapy chinky
 

In article , Keith G
writes
For anyone who is interested, there are a few pix of the inside of one of
the new cheap, Chinese amps I have just bought.

http://www.apah69.dsl.pipex.com/keit...chineseamp.htm

The second one arrived with a little rattle inside it which gave me the
excuse to whip the bottom off!

Anyway, I think they are surprisingly good for the price and would be quite
satisfied if I had built one to the same standard myself. (I hope the pix
give sufficient indication.) Note the pound coin on one of the OPTs for
scale - to reassure those here who are ever prepared to condemn without
seeing/hearing......

;-)



Also, if anyone is interested, I have started a 'Busted Sub' page which will
hopefully plot the rescue of a 'curate's egg' Chinese subwoofer in the near
future, when the page will be updated:

http://www.apah69.dsl.pipex.com/keit.../bustedsub.htm

(At least, that's the intention atm - the daft thing is that it works quite
well enough for a bit of HT augmentation as it is!)

Umm... Just how many amps does a man need;))
--
Tony Sayer

Inside the cheapy chinky
 

"tony sayer" wrote


Also, if anyone is interested, I have started a 'Busted Sub' page which
will
hopefully plot the rescue of a 'curate's egg' Chinese subwoofer in the
near
future, when the page will be updated:

http://www.apah69.dsl.pipex.com/keit.../bustedsub.htm

(At least, that's the intention atm - the daft thing is that it works
quite
well enough for a bit of HT augmentation as it is!)

Umm... Just how many amps does a man need;))


Why, is there a limit?

(I'm told Shiny Nigel's brother uses five..... :-)

Inside the cheapy chinky
 

That build quality is truly excellent for the price. Especially impressed
by the way the leads have been dressed & routed neatly. As you're obviously
delighted by the way it sounds then you've certainly got a crackin' buy!!!
.....and there ain't no limit to audio equipment you can amass - the more the
merrier IMO :-)

Mike





"Keith G" wrote in message
...
For anyone who is interested, there are a few pix of the inside of one of
the new cheap, Chinese amps I have just bought.

http://www.apah69.dsl.pipex.com/keit...chineseamp.htm

The second one arrived with a little rattle inside it which gave me the
excuse to whip the bottom off!

Anyway, I think they are surprisingly good for the price and would be
quite satisfied if I had built one to the same standard myself. (I hope
the pix give sufficient indication.) Note the pound coin on one of the
OPTs for scale - to reassure those here who are ever prepared to condemn
without seeing/hearing......

;-)



Also, if anyone is interested, I have started a 'Busted Sub' page which
will hopefully plot the rescue of a 'curate's egg' Chinese subwoofer in
the near future, when the page will be updated:

http://www.apah69.dsl.pipex.com/keit.../bustedsub.htm

(At least, that's the intention atm - the daft thing is that it works
quite well enough for a bit of HT augmentation as it is!)

Inside the cheapy chinky
 

what the hell is a 6F2 valve - any equivalent?

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

Inside the cheapy chinky
 

In article ,
says...
For anyone who is interested, there are a few pix of the inside of one of
the new cheap, Chinese amps I have just bought.

http://www.apah69.dsl.pipex.com/keit...chineseamp.htm

The second one arrived with a little rattle inside it which gave me the
excuse to whip the bottom off!

Anyway, I think they are surprisingly good for the price and would be quite
satisfied if I had built one to the same standard myself. (I hope the pix
give sufficient indication.) Note the pound coin on one of the OPTs for
scale - to reassure those here who are ever prepared to condemn without
seeing/hearing......

;-)


Thanks for this Keith, I've been looking at these for a while now and wondering..

T.
--
Please Tony, NO!! You'd look dreadful in a basque and fishnets..

Inside the cheapy chinky
 

"Mike Gilmour" wrote in message
...
That build quality is truly excellent for the price. Especially impressed
by the way the leads have been dressed & routed neatly. As you're
obviously delighted by the way it sounds then you've certainly got a
crackin' buy!!!
....and there ain't no limit to audio equipment you can amass - the more
the merrier IMO :-)



Agreed! ;-)

You certainly get your money's worth of cable ties with these little
buggers!

Kinda got me worrying about the conditions under which they're built
now....???

(Why do I just *know* it's under 'sweatshop' conditions?? - The loose screw
dropped in and sealed up because there was no time to fish it out? Or was it
some young person who didn't have the nouse to cope with a little drama like
that?)

Inside the cheapy chinky
 

"Andy Evans" wrote in message
...
what the hell is a 6F2 valve


A neat looking little triode/pentode combi


- any equivalent?


Not that I'm aware of - I'll be getting a few spares in the near future!

Inside the cheapy chinky
 

"Tony Gartshore" wrote in message
t...
In article ,

says...
For anyone who is interested, there are a few pix of the inside of one of
the new cheap, Chinese amps I have just bought.

http://www.apah69.dsl.pipex.com/keit...chineseamp.htm

The second one arrived with a little rattle inside it which gave me the
excuse to whip the bottom off!

Anyway, I think they are surprisingly good for the price and would be
quite
satisfied if I had built one to the same standard myself. (I hope the pix
give sufficient indication.) Note the pound coin on one of the OPTs for
scale - to reassure those here who are ever prepared to condemn without
seeing/hearing......

;-)


Thanks for this Keith, I've been looking at these for a while now and
wondering..


You're very welcome, I do these pages as it seems quite a few people find
them interesting/useful - a bonus for me when someone on the group does!

I reckon you can *not* go wrong with one of these amps, just bear in mind
they are single input only and you would need an external switch box for
multiple sources. QED do a good range.


T.
--
Please Tony, NO!! You'd look dreadful in a basque and fishnets..


Ooh, bugger (oops) - better switch that off or you'll be drawing a bit of
attention from certain quarters!! ;-)

Inside the cheapy chinky
 

Keith G wrote:
"Andy Evans" wrote in message
...

what the hell is a 6F2 valve



A neat looking little triode/pentode combi


- any equivalent?


Not that I'm aware of - I'll be getting a few spares in the near future!





Looks like a ECF82 would do.

6F2's are $4 from

http://www.diyhifisupply.com/diyhs_nos_china_tubes.htm

--
Nick

Inside the cheapy chinky
 

Keith G wrote:

For anyone who is interested, there are a few pix of the inside of one of
the new cheap, Chinese amps I have just bought.

http://www.apah69.dsl.pipex.com/keit...chineseamp.htm

The second one arrived with a little rattle inside it which gave me the
excuse to whip the bottom off!

Anyway, I think they are surprisingly good for the price and would be quite
satisfied if I had built one to the same standard myself. (I hope the pix
give sufficient indication.) Note the pound coin on one of the OPTs for
scale - to reassure those here who are ever prepared to condemn without
seeing/hearing......

What did you pay ?

And what's the 4th transformer lurking inside the chassis for ? Just the heaters
? I can just about see 6.3V marked on it.


Graham

Inside the cheapy chinky
 

If 6F2 is a triode-pentode the circuit must be a lot like the WAD ones, pentode
first into a concertina with feedback wrapped around it. Can't say that's a
choice I'm nuts about. I'd certainly pop in a 6922/6N1P and tweak the circuit
for starters (maybe zero global NFB) or drill out the holes for octal sockets.
One good thing is the layout - looks like there's room to mod it and add
componants. Mind, I tend to get the drill out at the first opportunity.........
Andy

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

Inside the cheapy chinky
 

In message , Andy Evans
writes
If 6F2 is a triode-pentode the circuit must be a lot like the WAD ones, pentode
first into a concertina with feedback wrapped around it. Can't say that's a
choice I'm nuts about. I'd certainly pop in a 6922/6N1P and tweak the circuit
for starters (maybe zero global NFB) or drill out the holes for octal sockets.
One good thing is the layout - looks like there's room to mod it and add
componants. Mind, I tend to get the drill out at the first opportunity.........
Andy

How would you get an adequately low output impedance with no global NFB,
given that the output is pentode connected?
--
Chris Morriss

Inside the cheapy chinky
 

How would you get an adequately low output impedance with no global NFB,
given that the output is pentode connected?

Is it pentode or UL? If UL it may work fine. I run my amp in UL without global
NFB - sounds OK. I prefer to let the sound breathe, whatever the beneficial
effects of NFB on distortion. If you use the lowest distortion triodes you can
get hold of in the input stages it certainly helps. Bass is OK for my needs. I
have no need of 'bass slam' - on the contrary I prefer a warmer bass, which
sounds more like the real thing to me. I'm probably hopelessly biased in all
this since I'm a professional double bass player, and as the saying goes "the
cobbler's children have no shoes" Andy

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

Inside the cheapy chinky
 

"Andy Evans" wrote in message
...
How would you get an adequately low output impedance with no global NFB,
given that the output is pentode connected?

Is it pentode or UL? If UL it may work fine. I run my amp in UL without
global
NFB - sounds OK. I prefer to let the sound breathe, whatever the
beneficial
effects of NFB on distortion. If you use the lowest distortion triodes you
can
get hold of in the input stages it certainly helps. Bass is OK for my
needs. I
have no need of 'bass slam' - on the contrary I prefer a warmer bass,
which
sounds more like the real thing to me. I'm probably hopelessly biased in
all
this since I'm a professional double bass player, and as the saying goes
"the
cobbler's children have no shoes" Andy

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

Just wondering..as a pro double bass player who likes the warmer bass
sounds, do you happen to have any particular preference in mics when sound
reinforcement is required for your bass?

Cheers,

Mike

Inside the cheapy chinky
 

I don't play so much now - I was an active pro for around 20 years. I never
used mics - In jazz terms it's more usual to use a pickup on the bridge of the
bass. I played bebop and post bop mostly (after a classical training). Andy

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

Inside the cheapy chinky
 

"Andy Evans" wrote in message
...
I don't play so much now - I was an active pro for around 20 years. I never
used mics - In jazz terms it's more usual to use a pickup on the bridge of
the
bass. I played bebop and post bop mostly (after a classical training).
Andy

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

The double bass has such a lovely rich sound that I find the bridge pickups
don't do justice. When recording db I like a nice omni condenser mic,
trouble is thats no good for SR The modern long n' narrow (electric) basses
with DI'd string pickups just don't sound as nice IMO.

There must be some stories to tell being a pro bassist....(leading question
:-)

Mike

Inside the cheapy chinky
 

In article ,
Mike Gilmour wrote:
Just wondering..as a pro double bass player who likes the warmer bass
sounds, do you happen to have any particular preference in mics when
sound reinforcement is required for your bass?

Since feedback is likely to be a major problem with using a conventional
mic in a decent position, a contact type is usually the best bet.

If you want to try with a proper mic, a U87, etc, takes some beating. Try
it in figure of eight and omni as well as the obvious cardiod.

Sadly, they're very expensive.

A decent half way house is a good small *omni* condenser - normally for
high quality hand mic use (not where high level PA is required). Wrap the
body in foam and insert in an F hole. Calrec and AKG made plenty of these
for TV use which can be bought quite reasonably secondhand. Under 100 quid.

Calrec also made an oddball version which isn't balanced output and
doesn't use phantom, but had its own external 50 volt power supply. Easy
to make one if it's missing. These aren't much sought after, so can be
very cheap. And since really an 'amateur' mic, usually in good condition.
Sound pretty well the same as their pro range.

--
*Horn broken. - Watch for finger.

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

Inside the cheapy chinky
 

There must be some stories to tell being a pro bassist....(leading question
:-)

It's not specially the bass, but I could write a film about being a jazz
musician (actually - I've written about 15 pages already!)

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

Inside the cheapy chinky
 

"Nick Gorham" wrote


6F2's are $4 from

http://www.diyhifisupply.com/diyhs_nos_china_tubes.htm


Thanks Nick - 8 of these are on their way to me even as I type (?? ;-) for
only £21+ on Paypal!!

Ya canna beat it, can ya?

:-)

Inside the cheapy chinky
 

"Pooh Bear" wrote

Anyway, I think they are surprisingly good for the price and would be
quite
satisfied if I had built one to the same standard myself. (I hope the pix
give sufficient indication.) Note the pound coin on one of the OPTs for
scale - to reassure those here who are ever prepared to condemn without
seeing/hearing......

What did you pay ?


The second one (featured) cost £238 inc carriage. (The first one was £245 I
think...)



And what's the 4th transformer lurking inside the chassis for ? Just the
heaters
? I can just about see 6.3V marked on it.


That's just the belly of the main power trannie.

Inside the cheapy chinky
 

Andy Evans wrote:
I prefer to let the sound breathe, whatever the beneficial
effects of NFB on distortion.

WTF is that supposed to mean?

Inside the cheapy chinky
 

Keith G wrote:
"Nick Gorham" wrote



6F2's are $4 from

http://www.diyhifisupply.com/diyhs_nos_china_tubes.htm



Thanks Nick - 8 of these are on their way to me even as I type (?? ;-) for
only £21+ on Paypal!!

Ya canna beat it, can ya?

:-)


Good. :-)

Well, actually bugger, If I had thought, I would have sent you some cash
to add a couple of blackgates to the order and combine shipping, not to
worry.

--
Nick

Inside the cheapy chinky
 

Nick Gorham wrote:
Keith G wrote:

"Nick Gorham" wrote



6F2's are $4 from

http://www.diyhifisupply.com/diyhs_nos_china_tubes.htm




Thanks Nick - 8 of these are on their way to me even as I type (??
;-) for only £21+ on Paypal!!

Ya canna beat it, can ya?

:-)


Good. :-)

Well, actually bugger, If I had thought, I would have sent you some cash
to add a couple of blackgates to the order and combine shipping, not to
worry.


In fact I am suprised you didn't get a pair of Valve Art 2a3's as well,
for $36 a pair. Lot to be said for the current exchange rate :-)

--
Nick

Inside the cheapy chinky
 

"Nick Gorham" wrote

Thanks Nick - 8 of these are on their way to me even as I type (?? ;-)
for only £21+ on Paypal!!

Ya canna beat it, can ya?

:-)


Good. :-)

Well, actually bugger, If I had thought, I would have sent you some cash
to add a couple of blackgates to the order and combine shipping, not to
worry.


Bugger.

Inside the cheapy chinky
 

"Nick Gorham" wrote


Well, actually bugger, If I had thought, I would have sent you some cash
to add a couple of blackgates to the order and combine shipping, not to
worry.


In fact I am suprised you didn't get a pair of Valve Art 2a3's as well,
for $36 a pair. Lot to be said for the current exchange rate :-)


Aargh! If had any inkling you wanted summat we could *easily* have ramped it
past the $100 Free Shipping mark!! (7 bucks of that 21 quid was postage!!)
I've got a spare pair of EH Golds but some Chinese valves would have been
good to try - notice that the '6F2' (??) can drive 2A3s and 300Bs - hence
getting a small ****load.... ;-)

Got the second Chinky amp on as I type and listening to 'A Soldiers's Tale'
as I type - wot a truly fabulous sound. So *direct*, so *wireless*!! (I
really cannot recommend these amps highly enough at the price!!!)

Ay oop - Bob Harris coming up now. How long will that last before I gotta
put a Divvy on! ;-)

Inside the cheapy chinky
 

Regarding 2a3s, if you ask Edicron nicely they'd probably sell them for around
£16 each. Mind, that would be Sovtek, but that's not shabby.

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

Inside the cheapy chinky
 

"Andy Evans" wrote in message
...
Regarding 2a3s, if you ask Edicron nicely they'd probably sell them for
around
£16 each. Mind, that would be Sovtek, but that's not shabby.


No, bugger them - I'd sooner have a pair of these

http://www.diyhifisupply.com/tubes/t...mesh-large.jpg

at $239 :-)

and a pair of these:

http://www.diyhifisupply.com/tubes/va-2a3-large.jpg

at a heady $36 a pair!!

(I've got two pairs of EH Golds, so I don't need any more Russian...)

Actually, I was told the other week that a whole batch of Edicrons, that I
revalved an amp with, had virtually all failed, apparently??

Inside the cheapy chinky
 

Actually, I was told the other week that a whole batch of Edicrons, that I
revalved an amp with, had virtually all failed, apparently?

Doesn't matter - Troy will replace them, no questions asked. I had an EH 7591
go down and it was back and matched within days.

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