Yaqin MS 12B pre w/phono

rromeo923

I ordered one of these used on Agon for only $155. They are only about $300 new. They have gotten very good reviews especially for the price. It has a phono and one line input.

I also bought some replacement tubes

Matched Pair RCA 12au7/ECC82 Clear Top Tubes
NEW Tung Sol 12AX7 Reissue TungSol Vacuum Tube

I already have a Yaqin Integrated amp that I have been very pleased with so I am not worried about the quality (again under $200 even w/new tubes)

I am going to pair it w/ a Parasound HCA 750 and run my SDA 1C's.

I will have it Monday. Looking forward to see how this little Pre sounds. Right now I am using a Carver Receiver as preamp and it is terrible!

cubdog

I have had one for a few years now. It's been very reliable and sounds very nice. I use it primarily with various class D amplifiers. I bought it when I was still running a turntable in my main system and it performed flawlessly there as well. It is a very versitile amp. I think you will enjoy it.

cubdog

rromeo923

What tubes are you using? How does it compare to other preamps you have used? Just wondering.

cubdog

rromeo923 wrote: »

What tubes are you using? How does it compare to other preamps you have used? Just wondering.

The only tube I changed was the 12ax7. I replaced the stock ones with Groove Tubes. Honestly I have never used this amp as my main pre amp. It's just kind of a backup that's fun to play with. All I can say is that I like it and I've always been happy with it's sound.

cubdog

rromeo923

Got it today. I couldnt even try it w/the Chinese 12ax7's as the pins on one tube were so badly bent. Luckily I had already ordered replacements. With less than 10 minutes on the new tubes I can already say that I am very happy w/this purchase. Havent tried the linestage yet.
Turned on the new pre, turned on amp (Parasound hca750), turned on turntable (Pioneer PL550), put on Paul Simon Graceland album. Listened to first two songs and was really starting to get into the music and how nicely the SDA 1C's were sounding with this set up when all of a sudden down the stairs comes the wife with vacuum cleaner in hand. Plugs in the Vacuum cleaner and starts vacuuming in the same room I am listening in. Jeez Louise! Turned off stereo and walked away.
Will listen more later.

audiocr381ve

Yea please update us! Looks like a great budget setup.

pietro944

rromeo923 wrote: »

Got it today. I couldnt even try it w/the Chinese 12ax7's as the pins on one tube were so badly bent. Luckily I had already ordered replacements. With less than 10 minutes on the new tubes I can already say that I am very happy w/this purchase. Havent tried the linestage yet.
Turned on the new pre, turned on amp (Parasound hca750), turned on turntable (Pioneer PL550), put on Paul Simon Graceland album. Listened to first two songs and was really starting to get into the music and how nicely the SDA 1C's were sounding with this set up when all of a sudden down the stairs comes the wife with vacuum cleaner in hand. Plugs in the Vacuum cleaner and starts vacuuming in the same room I am listening in. Jeez Louise! Turned off stereo and walked away.
Will listen more later.

Your WAF,just went down the tubes(literally).

cubdog

Sorry your listening session got interrupted but that's pretty funny. I hope you like it when you get to spend a little quality time with it.

cubdog

rromeo923

So after dinner. I say, "I'm gonna go downstairs and listen to an album, ok?" Wife says sure and heads upstairs to watch tv. I put on XTC Skylarking album (really great album) and listened to a side. Again, very happy w/sound (so much better than carver receiver as a pre and phone stage) (Hard not to be better) and a great recording for SDA''s. So I figure now I have to listen to the linestage input. Got my squeezebox and hooked it up. Flac files etc. Have the stock tubes in (Russian), I think they are stock, anyway put on Phish Billy Breathes and was really happy w/ the sound. The combo of the Parasound/ Yaqin ms 12b w/ the SDA's is definitely synergistic. The cost factor makes this a definitely awesome "budget" set up. I would definitely recommend this set up. Well I listen to some more tunes, notably "To Sir With Love" live performed by Natalie Merchant and Michael Stipe and there was a moment (many of you may have had a similar moment in your listening experience) when I was almost moved to tears by the beauty of the music. From there I listened to other selections and have to say that I am more than happy w/this set up. Looking forward to more listening and trying out my other tubes (RCA Cleartops) in the linestage. So much fun!!

gwg_97

Wow, XTC skylarking really brings me back. Fantastic album from the 80s! Thanks for the review. I've been interested in the preamps.

cubdog

Sounds great, glad your enjoying it. I need to hook mine up to my new Jaton amp and see how they sound together.

cubdog

audiocr381ve

cubdog wrote: »

The only tube I changed was the 12ax7. I replaced the stock ones with Groove Tubes. Honestly I have never used this amp as my main pre amp. It's just kind of a backup that's fun to play with. All I can say is that I like it and I've always been happy with it's sound.

cubdog

Try it in the main rig and let us know how it stands up

vcwatkins

Skylarking. EXCELLENT choice! One of my all time fave's. Glad you're enjoying the combo. Sounds pretty sweet.

cubdog

audiocr381ve wrote: »

Try it in the main rig and let us know how it stands up

It's a bad match with my Bel Canto stuff. I think it is going to work great with my new Jaton amp. The Jaton is a LM3886 based modular amp. I just got it back from Jaton where they did some upgrades. I'm going to set it up in the livingroom with a Squeezebox Touch I'm waiting on.

cubdog

audiocr381ve

cubdog wrote: »

It's a bad match with my Bel Canto stuff. I think it is going to work great with my new Jaton amp. The Jaton is a LM3886 based modular amp. I just got it back from Jaton where they did some upgrades. I'm going to set it up in the livingroom with a Squeezebox Touch I'm waiting on.

cubdog

Would it be to noisy or something?

cubdog

Bad impedance match plus my Bel Canto DAC 1.5 is both my DAC and pre so I don't want to remove it from the system.

cubdog

rromeo923

This is the MS 12B. No hum issues whatsoever.

Can you get a better pre? I am absolutely sure you can. Can you get a better phono pre? I am absolutely sure you can. Can you get a tube pre/phono pre combo anywhere near this price that sounds this good? I highly doubt it!!

Actually,this little thing sounds great!! (even with tubes w/very little hours on them )
I would highly recommend to anyone. Especially if you are looking to not hurt the wallet.

audiocr381ve

rromeo923 wrote: »

This is the MS 12B. No hum issues whatsoever.

Can you get a better pre? I am absolutely sure you can. Can you get a better phono pre? I am absolutely sure you can. Can you get a tube pre/phono pre combo anywhere near this price that sounds this good? I highly doubt it!!

Actually,this little thing sounds great!! (even with tubes w/very little hours on them )
I would highly recommend to anyone. Especially if you are looking to not hurt the wallet.

Glad to hear you like it! If you don't mind me asking, what other pre's do you have experience with?

rromeo923

Not Many. I had a B&K ref 50 for a long time as my pre. The Yaqin sounds at least as good and possibly better. Just prior to this I was using a Carver Receiver as a pre and thatwas god awful. I was initially considering a bit more expensive Tube pre such as the Dared SL 2000, Conrad Johnson 5 (used), etc. However I found the Yaqin used for $150 and decided that I probably couldnt go wrong for that price.

TNHNDYMAN

^ are you rotating speakers thru your system or do you have a set that is the main one? Curious if you had the KLH's on the tubed pre and your impressions.

shadowlight

Do you have to swap ic when you want to go back and forth when you want to use it straight as a cd pre v/s phono pre? I only see one input.

cubdog

shadowlight wrote: »

Do you have to swap ic when you want to go back and forth when you want to use it straight as a cd pre v/s phono pre? I only see one input.

The cd connection is in the back. I don't love that design feature although some do.

cubdog

shadowlight

@cubdog,

Thanks and I agree it is crumy design. Will research some more and find out if it can do both mm and mc of just mm.

rromeo923

@ Shadowlight
I believe it is not MC.
I also do not like the design but again it was the right price.
@Tnhandymn
I have not tried the KLH's w/this. However, the KLH's have been seeing main duty with my Yaqin MC-10L integrated tube amp and it isa match made in heaven!

naturallight

150 bucks is a great price for that. I'd love to try one out. But don't think i can get past the design setup.
For it to sit in my rack..it would have to be sideways, have cables comeing out of both ends, and i have to reach my hand into the rack , next to the tubes to adjust the volume. Just not a great setup.

Now there Music Angel stuff..which seems to be made in the same place. There Marantz 7 is a more normal setup. Altho how they can use that name..I have no clue. It has no phono set up. But the prices on this stuff..are close to stupid.

Now i am really gunshy about any of this stuff, made in HK. Yes it's tubes, you would think it should be better..but..not so sure. Is this really better then an Adcom 565 preamp? I'm not really so sure........

tonyb

Better than an Adcom 565.....about a thousand cheap pre amps would fit that bill. No offense......

naturallight

Well the Adcom 565 was not cheap, nor bad. It had the best Phono section Adcom ever made. It over all is not the 750, but for Phono, it's the best.

rromeo923

Just put in a couple of 12AU7 bugle boys (circa 1962) in the Yaqin MS-12b.
WOWSA!!