Justin wrote:
Hello everyone! I am a newcomer to the world of tube audio. I've
loved my Peavey Classic 30 guitar amplifier for the last 6 years and
I'm looking into getting started in the world of tube stereos. I know
a little bit about amplifiers (I'm a recent EE grad) and I collect
vinyl as well.

I'm considering purchasing the amplifier listed he

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Nice-300B-6CA7...QQcmdZViewItem

Yo, Justin, welcome! Don't let the choleric mouthfoamers like Wilson
put you off; they count it a day wasted in which they don't ruin
someone's pleasure in being alive.

The amp you want to buy is a bit expensive by Chinese standards. Go to
the newsgroup uk.rec.audio and search for posts by Keith G. He has
bought several Chinese amps and he shows photographs and gives prices
on his site. I seem to remember he bought in Germany; your advertiser
must have quite a few bad responses from customers, so I would view him
with care; I have good experience buying from Germany myself (not amps
because I build my own but other stuff).

If you want a US built amp, how about building it yourself? Go to the
site of Electronic Tonalities of Poulsbo, WA,, who sell good kits, and
have a look around. I built one of their original SEX kits and found it
good.

The thing about buying or building a small amp is that it can easily
turn out to be a misery unless you consider your speakers first. At my
site JUTE ON AMPS
http://members.lycos.co.uk/fiultra/JUTE%20ON%20AMPS.htm
you will find a lot of information about how one decides which amp to
buy or build, including a lot of background about 300B amps in THE KISS
AMP
http://members.lycos.co.uk/fiultra/T...mp%20INDEX.htm
A pair of chapters you must absolutely read before you buy an amp, or
speakers for that matter, is The Myth of the Watt
http://members.lycos.co.uk/fiultra/K...dre%20Jute.htm
Calculating the Power your Amp requires to Drive the chosen Speakers
http://members.lycos.co.uk/fiultra/K...dre%20Jute.htm
The Impressario is an inexpensive, easily built, point source speaker
that requires less than 2W to sound great:
http://members.lycos.co.uk/fiultra/K...Impresario.jpg
and here is an a very inexpensive 2W ZNFB SE amp I designed for my son
when he was a student
http://members.lycos.co.uk/fiultra/Jute-EL34-SEntry.jpg
which you can build with the inexpensive US-made UBT or Hammond output
transformers.

Follow your nose and your heart. Hi-fi is only a hobby, not a crusade.
The single-focus fanatics will leech all pleasure from your hobby if
you let them. **** 'em.

HTH.

Andre Jute
Visit Jute on Amps at http://members.lycos.co.uk/fiultra/
"wonderfully well written and reasoned information
for the tube audio constructor"
John Broskie TubeCAD & GlassWare
"an unbelievably comprehensive web site
containing vital gems of wisdom"
Stuart Perry Hi-Fi News & Record Review

I was drawn to this amp because it is integrated (I don't currently
have the funds to purchase a
preamp and power amp combo - but I would like an all-tube sound),
class-A, has all-tube
rectification, point-to-point wiring, and comes with electro-harmonix
tubes in the preamp stage.

Does anyone have any thoughts or opinions about this amp? I realize it
is Chinese and a USA-made amp would be better, but of course this
contributes to the lower price. I also realize I will probably have to
purchase a phono preamp to hook my record player to this amp
effectively. Anyway, suggestions/opinions/criticisms anyone?