New Yaqin 300B tube amp!

zingo

I completely agree, but it looks like it could be a better one. However, I am holding my judgement until I get it in my system for obvious reasons.

madmax

Its laid out rather nicely inside!

I played the Yaqin 300B some more last night and was totally impressed. I've been through a lot of different types of music on it and nothing falls down so far. I have not listened to any really big classical yet so that will be next. As I listen I notice nothing sticks out in the sound. Usually something is evident in most amps and you can fix it by changing tubes around but so far, nothing. The shuguang tubes seem pretty reasonable too but I guess I'll find out for sure once I try a few different ones. At this point I'm not really in search of anything different in its sound. I could be totally happy with this amp for a long long time but whats the fun in that! There is one annoyance, when first turned on it always reverts to source number one input, not what you had it set to previously.

zingo

madmax wrote: »

There is one annoyance, when first turned on it always reverts to source number one input, not what you had it set to previously.

I have a Shuguang 300B that does the same thing. It's a little annoying, but livable.

madmax

zingo wrote: »

I have a Shuguang 300B that does the same thing. It's a little annoying, but livable.

Maybe I'll get one of those devices that makes ocean sounds and hook that to input one. That way I could listen to the ocean while I wait for the thing to warm up before listening to music and then select my source when I'm ready.

Oh yeah, warm up time is about 30 to 40 minutes before sounding its best, pretty typical of tubes. One other thing I tested last night was very gently tapping the tubes to check microphonics. I got zero sound through the speakers. Weird, whether good or bad I've never been able to tap any tube without some small amount of sound reaching the speakers. And yes, once I learned a lesson about tapping a power tube too hard. Great fireworks inside!

I listened to some big classical last night. It was the LP version of this: http://store.acousticsounds.com/d/15140/Fritz_Reiner-Rimsky-Korsakov_Scheherazade_Stravinsky_Song_of_the_Nightingale-Hybrid_Multichannel_SACD
I had to look that up, can never remember the names. Anyway, on light parts that are moving along slowly at the lowest volumes I could easily tell I was listening to a recording. No matter how hard I tried I could not imagine myself sitting in the hall listening to the performance. When the intensity builds up just a little it is believable. When the intensity is high there is no doubt it is a live performance no matter how hard I try to remember it is a recording, eyes open or shut. I really don't listen to classical very much so will have to play the same material on other equipment before deciding whether the unbelievable low volume thing is reasonable or not.
madmax

zingo

I forgot about the 5 minute tube rectifier rule with my amp one night and accidentally feathered the ON button; I got some fire works and a loud buzzing from the transformer that luckily only lasted a second. :oops:

Since I have a PC hooked up to my rig, I just run a burn-in program that plays pink noise while the tubes warm up. It works great and gets a neutral signal running through all the equipment.

300B tubes are great for vocal and classical, but I'm excited to hear what a more powerful triode sounds like that wasn't designed for vocals.

zingo

Have you tried Shuguang Treasure 'Black Bottle' tubes? I have tried their 300B and 6CA7/EL34 and they are definitely a cut about the regular Shuguang tubes. They are not NOS and are a bit pricey, but one of the only new tubes worth paying a premium for IMO.

cnh

I'm not a tube man but I got to see dozens of Shuguang tubes recently. And some do look like pretty decent quality. QC is a problem for most Chinese companies that, use SHUGUANG primarily, but most of these companies go through a number of these tubes before accepting the ones they actually use in their products. I got to see a large box of 'rejected' Shuguangs in my journeys here. And was told that many Manley amps and even some of the vaunted McIntosh amps use Shuguang tubes--(oh MY GOSH, McIntosh!!)? To be fair Mc does tweak the tubes (but you guys know more about that than I. I'm getting some of my first exposure to tubes over here.

Like CDPs that use tubes as rectifiers and dual tube imputs and outputs, and dual Arc transformers, etc. Someone pass me the C-d glasses, please (i.e., the circuit dimensional viewing glasses that help a non-engineer understand circuit diagrams??).

In any case...the Shuguang tubes I heard here sounded pretty good! Of course I need to hear more?

hmmmmm.....Mr. Liang Audio....in Wuchang, Wuhan, Hubei. Wuhan has 3 areas one of which is the Wuchang (district). My wife is a native of that area! The world is 'small'?

cnh

madmax

I didn't know the black bottles existed. I'll have to look into it.

Last night I connected the CD system to the Yaqin. Up to this point I've stuck to vinyl. The Yaqin mates very well to the CD sound. Norah Jones was a blessing to hear! I also played many other various CD's. The switch from LP to CD is normally a let down in many areas but the Yaqin did such a nice job I was quite pleased! I believe she is pretty much burned in and I am quite happy with the sound. This amp is a keeper!
madmax

michaeljhsda2

Nice to hear good things about the Yaqin brand. I bought a MC-10L used from Agon and it gets delivered this Thursday. Previous owner replaced the Chinese tubes with Russians. Can't wait to hear how it sounds on the SDA 1C's.

heiney9

So are you the one who bought the most recent one on Audiogon? I was thinking about it; but it's an older model and biasing it is PITA. The newer MC-10L has bias and meter points next to the tubes right in the chassis with access from the top, much, much easier to bias.

I have a 6V6 based amp righ now that I have to remove the bottom and bias and it can be a bit of the PITA. Soon I will be pulling the trigger on a brand new MC-10L from the same dealer in China as Madmax.

Let us know what you think of the MC-10L when you get it.

michaeljhsda2

Yes. I knew going in that it was the older model but after a bad experience trying to buy one from a bait and switch seller from China on *bay (long story), I decided to buy used from a reputable U.S. seller. Plus the fact that it included Russian tubes and it's burned in. He recently biased it and specifically labelled each tube so that I wouldn't have to rebias it when I put the tubes back in. Shipping was only 38 bucks delivered in 3 days...couldn't pass it up. Review to follow for sure.

heiney9

It was a good deal, and if it was the newer model I would have been all over it, because I tend to roll tubes quite a bit. I already have (2) tube integrated's and I want to try an EL34 based tube amp in the mix. I'll get one eventually.

Enjoy and give us a full review

H9

madmax

Been thinking of trying one of these phono/preamps: http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=250604410856
Has anyone else tried it?
madmax

zingo

madmax wrote: »

I didn't know the black bottles existed. I'll have to look into it.

I was swapping stock Shuguang EL34s with Shuguang Treasure 6CA7s last night and the improvement was smooth and more full across the board.

However as previously stated, stock Shuguang tubes are pretty good as far as stock tubes go, and not ever upgrading them would still make most people happy.

madmax

Do you think it is a reasonable upgrade for the price? I saw them for $430 each in Canada. I'd like to try something different in the preamp too. Right now I have sophia mesh plates in it.

zingo

I'm not sure how they would compare against NOS or other new boutique tubes, but they are an improvement over stock tubes.

Grant Fidelity has them for $375 a matched pair.



If you want, I can chat with Ian to see if they have a "demo at home" system or something similar.

madmax

At $375 for the pair they are a lot more reasonable! Maybe I was mistaken. If they had a "demo at home" program I'd be into it.

zingo

Grant Fidelity's Prices:

Shuguang Treasure 'Black Bottle' 300B-Z (Premium Grade A) USD $480
Shuguang Treasure 'Black Bottle' 300B-Z (Premium Grade USD $375

Premium vs. Standard; Grade A vs. Grade B

All Treasure tubes from Grant Fidelity is of Premium Grade export quality from Shuguang and they are superior to those sold out of China or Hong Kong - which are intended for Chinese market and are commonly referred as Standard Grade. Standard Grade treasure tubes have much wider variance in specifications and could deviate from the tube's designed specs by up to 40%. If you are looking for first class quality tubes and want protect your investment, we strongly recommend you to buy 'Premium Grade' only. The Treasure Premium Grade tubes imported by Grant Fidelity are further divided to Premium Grade A (perfect matching on every aspect and strong emission) and Premium Grade B (less than perfect matching in certain aspects such as plate current, transconductance or minor internal gas, slightly less emission. However we guarantee that none of these minor weakness will interfere with the tube's normal operation and pose no safety hazards to your amp. Grade A tubes are sold with a price premium over that for Grade B. Even if you purchase 'Premium Grade B' tubes from Grant Fidelity, you are getting better tubes than the Chinese 'Standard Grade' sold over eBay type of places. Buyer beware.

michaeljhsda2

I don't want to derail this thread but just a couple quick words about the Yaqin MC-10L....it sounds fantastic!!! I'll make additional comments later on this weekend in the other area of the forum that someone started about the MC-10L.

organ

Congrats! The 300B SET sound is incredible. Glad you're enjoying it. Also, check out sophiaelectric.com If you go to thetubestore.com, there are 3 types from Shuguang but they don't have the Treasure series mentioned above.

The 300B is my favorite tube. My CDP has been in the shop since Jan. Being modded to have 300B as buffers. I'm told it will be done any day now. The wait is killing me. I also have a 300B amp at the shop which will take another month or so. Eff man, I just got new horns and I have no effin tubes! My cdp uses X7's but I really miss my 300B's.

Enjoy your new amp.

zingo

You will have to post pictures of the 300B tube CDP; wow.

Still enjoying the Yaqin madmax?

madmax

zingo wrote: »

Still enjoying the Yaqin madmax?

Yes sir! Finally I found something it will not do, at all. While playing some Janet Jackson I noticed it will not pass extremely low synthesized sub bass. I'm talking about bass that is only used on 4 or 5 CD's I own. The 300B's just don't go there. The sound is no different, just doesn't shake the crap out of you when the few notes hit. This is a place where the Transcendent amp and Manleys really deliver. Oh well, I will play that CD on a different system. I forget the name of the song with the really low notes but it takes you into about 30 seconds of unbelievably low frequencies. Eh, with everything else it delivers who really cares anyway.
madmax

zingo

If you can find out the names of those tracks/albums, I'll give them a try on my 300B and see what happens. I'd be interested to see if it's the tube or the amp; and nice ears hearing that one.

madmax

zingo wrote: »

If you can find out the names of those tracks/albums, I'll give them a try on my 300B and see what happens. I'd be interested to see if it's the tube or the amp; and nice ears hearing that one.

I will check it out and get back to you. Nice ears nothing, these sounds are so low you can't hear them however my floor has been known to vibrate with a vengence. Its almost like a ride in an amusement park.

doctorcilantro

I'd wait for the New Sensor Genalex 300B re-issue as I doubt they will cost as much as Treasure series, and may sound as good or better...

doctorcilantro

madmax wrote: »

Well RT, I got a big FU for you. As in FU-13, see the link.
I just ordered this one yesterday. There are a bunch of great reviews for it and I was a little trigger happy. So this uses a 100W transmitter tube strapped down to class A single ended 20 to 30 watts and 900 watts of energy wasting heat. It should be a winner over the winter! I figure I'll get it burning in while playing with the 300B.
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=310228519837&ssPageName=ADME:X:AAQ:US:1123

Have you got this amp yet? Could be VERY promising.

madmax

The song with the really low sub bass is Janet Jacksons "The Velvet Rope" CD, song is track number 2. It gets about half way through the song with a little pulse here and there then really gets into it. On a system which can't do anything with the low bass it sounds like a normal song, on one which can produce the sounds it is quite entertaining.

I have not received the FU-13 yet, probably the end of the week. 20 to 30 watts will give me some pretty amazing sound pressure levels. If it has the right quality of sound it could be the perfect amp for me. Then again, I've been through a lot of amps.

zingo

madmax wrote: »

The song with the really low sub bass is Janet Jacksons "The Velvet Rope" CD, song is track number 2. It gets about half way through the song with a little pulse here and there then really gets into it. On a system which can't do anything with the low bass it sounds like a normal song, on one which can produce the sounds it is quite entertaining.

I'll check it out.

madmax wrote: »

I have not received the FU-13 yet, probably the end of the week. 20 to 30 watts will give me some pretty amazing sound pressure levels. If it has the right quality of sound it could be the perfect amp for me. Then again, I've been through a lot of amps.

That's what I'm hoping with the 845 amplifier; twice the SET power of 300b!

polkfarmboy

michaeljhsda2 wrote: »

I don't want to derail this thread but just a couple quick words about the Yaqin MC-10L....it sounds fantastic!!! I'll make additional comments later on this weekend in the other area of the forum that someone started about the MC-10L.

If you could do that it would be awesome

I realy want to hear your thoughts and others would too I'm sure

Feel free to add comments here http://www.polkaudio.com/forums/showthread.php?t=103470

madmax

The FU13 is due in today. Hopefully I'll get home in time to accept it, its one of those damn signature required things... What a hassle.