silk audio 100b tube amp

marvda1

just got one of these in tonight and will be doing a review. the seller also has upgraded tubes on the way.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Silk-Audio-MC100B-KT-88-Tube-Integrated-Amp-from-same-factory-as-Yaqin-/221451117027
killer,this box weighs 72lbs.

Dennis Gardner

Awaiting review. I hope it sounds as good as it looks. Strong presence without the cage, looks powerful for the $$$.

Wow!! 72lbs, no lightweight here.....

marvda1

it's the same as the yaqin 100b thwere is another company that gives you upgraded tubes but charges you a $1000 more!

zingo

I thought I recognized that design; enjoy!

pitdogg2

marvda1 wrote: »

it's the same as the yaqin 100b thwere is another company that gives you upgraded tubes but charges you a $1000 more!

I actually know the guy who owns that company...very good people and yes its a Yaqin as he told me in a discussion a few weeks ago..Baby steps to his own designs and others stuff coming down the pipe.
I bought my Yaqin CD3 from him they now say Silk Audio. I told him to send me a face plate to rock for my CD3.

marvda1

just got the amp unpacked and set up, all tubes are marked for placement. everything about this amp says quality at least from the outside. i will be getting in some pictures of the inside as i don't want to open her up since i don't own it (yet?).

sounds very impressive out the box. some say it is bright with the stock tubes but it does not seem to be to me. the seller sent me a set of upgraded tubes to put in later. beginning to think the people who say the amp sounds bright out the box are not use to extension.
being that this amp can be used as integrated or power amp and the affordable price, if you are looking to get into tubes look no further.

Mikey081057

I guess it's the same as my Yaqin MC-100b.... I think you'll like it... I have my tubes upgraded to KT-88 shuguang treasures, and 6sn7's to the treasures also but what really made it for my ear was a pair of NOS Tesla e83cc's ... happy listening.

marvda1

i understand it can use 12ax7,12at7, and 12au7. have you tried any of the other tubes?

the upgraded tubes that were sent are gold loin reissue kt-88, tung sol 12ax7, and tung sol 6sn7gtb.
i also hear that eh kt-90 sound great and boost the power to 75 watts.

beats the ms 20l. noticed there has been any yaqin used products for sell on audiogon in a while.

skip you have to hear this.

marvda1

here's a few negatives i came across.
1 owners manual does not instruct the novice on how to bias the power tubes.
2 manual does not mention the pin key on the power and 6sn7 tubes as to the alignment.
3 switch on the front to change to power amp mode has a pop heard through the speakers even when volume is all the way down, should be on the rear or top of amp. what happens if the volume is turned up and someone hits the switch?
so far these are the only nick picks.

cnh

Sexy piece of equipment. At a bargain price, too! Pretty impressive looking.

Enjoy!

As far as biasing, that's why I like the "easy bias" on my Jolida, all you need is a screwdriver and you're good!

cnh

marvda1

i owned the yaqin ms 20l and the 100b is better in every way. you lose the remote and headphone jack but save up the extra $100 bucks or so and go for the 100b.

voltz

Hey Marvin

So the silk is a good deal? have you figured out how to bias it correctly & easily ?

I have a good headphone amp (WOO WA3) to use and not having a remote never bothers me. I like the fact that it is a integrated Amp.

Mikey081057

So i plugged my sda's into my 100b and am wicked impressed. easily reaches reference levels in triode mode and rocks the hood!

voltz

^^^^

LOL you know Mike, its because of what you wrote in the other thread that sent me scurrying over here!

I know the silk is really the same and its sold by a vendor over here in Illinois. so I was hoping Marv was ready for a full review and maybe could help with some tricks like setting the bias and proper pin alignment.
and or maybe you could if I get one someday soon <EG>

Mikey081057

voltz wrote: »

^^^^

LOL you know Mike, its because of what you wrote in the other thread that sent me scurrying over here!

I know the silk is really the same and its sold by a vendor over here in Illinois. so I was hoping Marv was ready for a full review and maybe could help with some tricks like setting the bias and proper pin alignment.
and or maybe you could if I get one someday soon <EG>

It's an easy setup and all the sockets are keyed so you cannot screw up.... great bang/buck amp and can drive just about anything. I've liked this amp since the day I got it but today it really opened my eyes...BTW the yaqin manual is online and you can just print the pdf...I would see if the guy would sell it without tubes and get your own...

voltz

COOL! I may start treasure hunting! I thinking once my M10's are finished and broke in this would be my indulgence setup

it beats using my peachtree (though I really like it) I'm wanting something different and you just showed me the light!

marvda1

the bias was easy, you can go to you tube for help. unless you have replacement tubes already I would get the stock tubes to see if you like the sound because if you start out with more expensive tubes and don't like the sound you have actually spent more for the amp to start. with the stock tubes you change out various tube sets one at a time to your liking.
I can't reveal too much here on the amp as I'm writing the review for stereomojo. get the amp you won't go back and if you don't like it or want a more expensive tube amp you can sell it easy. it's been a long time since I have seen a yaqin for sale on audiogon.

marvda1

after living with this amp for a while i have come to the conclusions that upgrading the power cord is a worth while investment.
i replace the stock 12ax7 with tung sol 12ax7 and there was not much of a change.
might try tungsol ecc803-s as they were great in a jolida amp i had.
changing the stock shuguang 6s8p for tung sol 6sn7gtb increased the mid range and tightened the bass some. the sound had a more mellow sound and less punchier than the stock tubes.
adding the gold lion kt88 to the tung sols made the sound heaven. i still want to try kt90 tubes and don't know if kt 120's would work but have read that some have tried them.

Faustin

Just picked up the amp from Silk. Spent about an hour and a half at his house auditioning the amp. Great guy and had a nice time listening and talking. Have about 40 hours or so on it and to me it seems like the chinese tubes have calmed down. I have run my SDA 1c's and RTA 12c's in triode mode and it has more than enough power for me. I believe the SDA's are more efficient and the bass is better than the 12's. Just replaced the stock 6n8p's with some RCA 6sn7's. Used but good price and test very good. Tone is very nice. Planning to replace the 12ax7's in the next few days. Looking at some Raytheon black plate made for Baldwin organs. Used but the price is great and they test close to nos and pretty closely matched. All in all I am pretty darn happy with my entry level amp. And yes....it is HEAVY. Would highly recommend checking it out if you are ready to jump into the tube arena.

marvda1

these gold lion kt88's sound sweet but i still want to hear the kt90's.

Mikey081057

Found this old thread:

http://www.diyaudio.com/forums/tubes-valves/48210-kt88-vs-kt90-bench-test.html

I have the Treasures KT88's in my MC100B, and they sound sweet... Lacking in no sonic property that I can find.

I am curious tho of KT 90/120's; personally i think the KT's sound great in stereo...

marvda1

from what I've read the kt90 sounds better than the 120/150.
the guy at upscale audio calls the kt 90 a big ole el34 (soundwise)

marvda1

the ei kt90 was the original, I am considering the eh kt90 new production.

Mikey081057

marvda1 wrote: »

from what I've read the kt90 sounds better than the 120/150.
the guy at upscale audio calls the kt 90 a big ole el34 (soundwise)

Perhaps... I am not sure that any KT90 is going to sound better than any KT88...

voltz

My Kt88's are now the Treasures, I'm also using the Tung-sol 6SN7GTB's that Marvin is using cause the price was right someday I may buy some CV-181's to replace them with but so far I'm really liking the sound I have going. my 12ax7's are Mullards.

voltz

Marvin, my treasure came in a really nice box from Darren. I'd mail them to ya and let you put your ears on them for awhile as I'm not going to get any time to listen to anything till Christmas, we are 10hrs a day & Saturday till then. I still have a set of Mullards KT-88's that sound pretty good I think.

marvda1

bring them in may (lsaf), they'll add to the fun.

dhart86

voltz wrote: »

Marvin, my treasure came in a really nice box from Darren. I'd mail them to ya and let you put your ears on them for awhile as I'm not going to get any time to listen to anything till Christmas, we are 10hrs a day & Saturday till then. I still have a set of Mullards KT-88's that sound pretty good I think.

Voltz....glad the Black Treasure Tubes arrived safely. Was wondering what your impression was. I love the black treasure tubes, myself

voltz

I'm liking them and my current set-up very much, I ran them all day long Saturday with my Monitor 10's I change a bunch of things to soon to know how much of a change they made so when I have more time I'll do more a comparison with my Mullard 's so I can see more of the difference.

voltz

marvda1 wrote: »

bring them in may (lsaf), they'll add to the fun.

I'll bring them along with me to LSAF!. Marv are you going to have a set-up there with your MC100b ?

marvda1

DSKIP will have one and i will just bring the amp.