New Yaqin 300B tube amp!

zingo

Get it on!

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.

The Velvet Rope sounds pretty bass heavy with my 300Bs and Klipsch Fortes. I could see how it could be running out a little soon of the low low stuff, but if you wouldn't have said anything, I wouldn't have noticed.

I just got the conformation that my 845 shipped, so I am excited to compare the two tubes. We should have a SET party with our 300Bs, your FU13s, and my 845s.

madmax

I got the FU13 yesterday! I'll start a new thread on it but things started out fine.

I received in perfect condition, plugged the tubes in and started warming it up. After about 20 minutes I turned the volume up to 4 or 5 clicks out of maybe 25, pretty low volume. What I heard was perfection through some very inefficient speakers, my DQ10's. Even with the low volume I found myself being startled when percussion hit at several places. Not drums but other percussive instruments. This normally only happens at much higer volume on the best of gear. I got through half of one CD then part of another.

The power from the left speaker faded out quickly, one of the power tubes turned blue and I instantly shut it off. There was a small crack in the glass. The tube was defective... Oh well, it happens. Now we will see what it takes to get a new one.

What I got out of this short listening session is the amp is worth pursuing from the sound quality standpoint. With only an hour or so on the tubes (including factory biasing) it is showing signs of really high quality sound.
madmax

doctorcilantro

I hate to say that makes me a bit worried. You've got 900volts on the plate too IIRC. I have the Shug. FU13 are really good too.

Glad to hear it sounded good though, while it lasted.

madmax wrote: »

I got the FU13 yesterday! I'll start a new thread on it but things started out fine.

I received in perfect condition, plugged the tubes in and started warming it up. After about 20 minutes I turned the volume up to 4 or 5 clicks out of maybe 25, pretty low volume. What I heard was perfection through some very inefficient speakers, my DQ10's. Even with the low volume I found myself being startled when percussion hit at several places. Not drums but other percussive instruments. This normally only happens at much higer volume on the best of gear. I got through half of one CD then part of another.

The power from the left speaker faded out quickly, one of the power tubes turned blue and I instantly shut it off. There was a small crack in the glass. The tube was defective... Oh well, it happens. Now we will see what it takes to get a new one.

What I got out of this short listening session is the amp is worth pursuing from the sound quality standpoint. With only an hour or so on the tubes (including factory biasing) it is showing signs of really high quality sound.
madmax

madmax

doctorcilantro wrote: »

I hate to say that makes me a bit worried. You've got 900volts on the plate too IIRC. I have the Shug. FU13 are really good too.

The power tubes are the FU-13, not sure of the manufacturer. I'd guess this could happen with any tube of this size?

doctorcilantro

madmax wrote: »

The power tubes are the FU-13, not sure of the manufacturer. I'd guess this could happen with any tube of this size?

Right, I heard Shuguang makes a good FU13; that's probably what you have there.

I would ask the seller if they do any testing of the tubes in circuit. You think they would. There are quite a few threads on this amp on AudioKarma and DIYAudio.

madmax

I don't know how long they have it on, long enough to bias at least. It lasted for awhile. I doubt they do any real "burn in". I'm a little bummed just because now I have to wait to listen to it.

doctorcilantro

madmax wrote: »

I don't know how long they have it on, long enough to bias at least. It lasted for awhile. I doubt they do any real "burn in". I'm a little bummed just because now I have to wait to listen to it.

Yeah that sucks. Have you contacted them for any directions to inspect for damage to any of the internals? Or have you already taken a peek?

zingo

Here is where you can buy those tubes: http://thetubestore.com/shuguang813.html

However, I would talk to the selling and have then send you a new one. It was obviously defective or damaged in shipping.

madmax

My tubes must not be shuaguang, the markings are different. I emailed the seller to see what he has in mind. I saw the tube start to turn blue and turned off before anything should have been damaged. I was standing there staring at the beauty of the tubes when it happened.

zingo

Sad day buddy... Never what you want from a new piece of equipment you've been waiting for.

madmax

Once I get new ones from the seller (if I do) I will put them in, burn in to make sure the amp is ok then I will order the shuaguangs in your link. Not bad at $50 each! I've been a fan of other shuaguang tubes for quite some time.

zingo

Any update?

madmax

I emailed the seller and he said to ship the tube back and he will replace. If it is cheap enough to ship I will do that but if its very expensive I'll probably just order the ones linked above. I'm not really sure how to bias it. There is no manual and the seller says to measure where the blue dots are. The dots are on 4 capacitors, 3 each have one dot and one has 2 dots. Seller says its a small company and they don't have a manual. I guess with one good tube in there I could figure out where exactly to measure...

While the FU13 is in flux I've been switching back and forth between the 300B and the Transcendent amp. The Transcendent is more detailed and has a technically better sound, acutally does an amazing and perfect job. The 300B is more pleasurable and makes me want to listen a lot more. I haven't run the Manleys back through the mix so I won't comment other than to say I think they are somewhat in between the sounds of these two amps. I won't know for sure until I rotate them back in. Wow what a difference amps make!

zingo

Your good experience with the Transcendent makes me interested in their line of OTL amps, which is not a good thing. I think I'll be putting them on the back burner of my mind, especially since this arrived yesterday:



It weighs 80lbs, 20" deep, and 12" tall including tubes. Earlier you were asking about the bias adjustments, and they are done on the side pots you see in the picture, with the measurement being made by the mV meters on the front; very easy. The included tubes were metal, Russian 6Ж4 which seem decent enough (but I do have glass 6J4P alternatives already on the way), cheaper Chinese 300Bs, and upgraded brass base Shuguang 845B tubes.

doctorcilantro

I would get a new tube ASAP from the USA before any return period runs out so as to rule out a problem with the amp. You never know. I think it's pretty crazy they want you to return a BROKEN tube that failed within hours of burn-in. You could always file a complaint via eBay if need be. 1st Class mail will only cost 6-8 to China no doubt.

madmax wrote: »

I emailed the seller and he said to ship the tube back and he will replace. If it is cheap enough to ship I will do that but if its very expensive I'll probably just order the ones linked above. I'm not really sure how to bias it. There is no manual and the seller says to measure where the blue dots are. The dots are on 4 capacitors, 3 each have one dot and one has 2 dots. Seller says its a small company and they don't have a manual. I guess with one good tube in there I could figure out where exactly to measure...

While the FU13 is in flux I've been switching back and forth between the 300B and the Transcendent amp. The Transcendent is more detailed and has a technically better sound, acutally does an amazing and perfect job. The 300B is more pleasurable and makes me want to listen a lot more. I haven't run the Manleys back through the mix so I won't comment other than to say I think they are somewhat in between the sounds of these two amps. I won't know for sure until I rotate them back in. Wow what a difference amps make!

heiney9

Jon makes a great point about unit issues, but the Chinese tubes aren't known to be reliable and actually failure right out of the box is more common than you think. But do make sure there is nothing wrong with the unit before the warranty runs out............IIRC though that's atleast a year or two.

H9

zingo

doctorcilantro wrote: »

I would get a new tube ASAP from the USA before any return period runs out so as to rule out a problem with the amp. You never know. I think it's pretty crazy they want you to return a BROKEN tube that failed within hours of burn-in. You could always file a complaint via eBay if need be. 1st Class mail will only cost 6-8 to China no doubt.

That sounds like good advice that I did not think of. Probably better to find out whether it's the amp or tube before the dust settles.

madmax

I couldn't see the pic for some reason. What type of amp?

zingo

Audio Renaissance 845 Integrated Amplifier

I watched the tubes like a hawk last night in my 30 minute electrical test session after your experience. So far so good...

madmax

I will watch mine much closer from now on too. You know any tube could do this, even EL34's, although the smaller the tube the less likely. I am going to go to the effort of evaluating my enviroment for all my equipment to make sure too much heat, sparks or other forms of failure could not pose a problem. Even SS equipment can catch fire although it doesn't happen often.

doctorcilantro

Any updates?

I had an OD3 voltage regulator, and it's purple glow started to seep into a different spot on the tube. These are funky, not the blue-glow, but bright purple - maybe I could get a pic.

madmax

Just got some new tubes, need to bias them and see what I get.

zingo

Sweet. What tubes did you get?

organ

madmax wrote: »

Even with the low volume I found myself being startled when percussion hit at several places. Not drums but other percussive instruments. This normally only happens at much higer volume on the best of gear. I got through half of one CD then part of another.

That's the beauty of SET. I noticed the exact same thing when I got SET or Single Ended. My average spl is much lower with SET. It allows me to appreciate the dynamic swings and contrast. And the great thing is, with tubes, it sounds full even at low volume.

How's the new tubes working out for you? Sorry to hear about the cracked tube.

brian t

Hi guys i know some of you have theAudio Renaissance 845 amp can you let me know where you got it from as i can only find it on chinese web sites i am in the uk. cheers brian

zingo

brian t wrote: »

Hi guys i know some of you have theAudio Renaissance 845 amp can you let me know where you got it from as i can only find it on chinese web sites i am in the uk. cheers brian

You have to contact Mrs. Jiang through their website http://lsyx.com/cn/index.asp unless you can find a used one in a local market. She is fairly easy to work with, but does not speak good English.

brian t

zingo, ok cheers for info