Cheap tube integrateds

tonyb · January 2

Whats the forums take on thes cheap tube pieces from China ? Stuff from Dayton like the hca 200, Junsen, and a cast of others ? Gotta get more tubes back in the mess.

From what I gather, some people say they sound fairly good but the longevity factor is where your going to get hurt.

mhardy6647 · January 2

The Dayton stuff is all (or at least virtually all) of the hybrid kind. The tubes do something, but it's not always clear what. The power amplfier are normal chip amps.

There are "in betweeny" exceptions: Monoprice has or had an all vacuum tube integrated using PP EL84 outputs that at least once was cheap enough to be worthy of consideration.

https://www.monoprice.com/product?p_id=27222&srsltid=AfmBOopi6-YXUUOgH29Q1IucZOjGUsO9Xa9H1t9gF6Z6vwaFpqGhi1AB
Looks like it's NLA -- and the price at this link is double what they were originally.

Parts quality, tube choice (often weird Chinese versions of Russian tubes, often difficult or impossible to cross over to US or European equivalents), and general weirdness are, IMO, all good reasons to avoid most if not all of them like the plague.

mhardy6647 · January 2

Something like a restored Scott 222 family member -- or even something like this odd little kit-built Lafayette bare-bones PP 6BM8 integrated (with MM phono preamp), restored, would be a far, far better choice, IMO.

On the other hand, a quad of new, matched (or even good, used) 6BM8 will set you back considerably more than the cost of the whole danged amplifier!

Also: PP 6BM8 is good for about 8 watts per channel -- so there's that, too.

I really like the Scott 222 family! They're not uncommon, they aren't as well known (nor as powerful) as the bigger Scott integrateds, and they sound great. Might find a good one for a reasonable price even nowadays.
Someday I need to finish the rehab of my 222C...

It's actually prettier than it looks in that photo; there is some grubby grime on the front panel, though... and note the Minnie Pearl price tag, too!

tonyb · January 4

Thanks Mark, but those older tube integrated amps are not that cheap anymore. I hear ya on the Scott 222. But cheapest one by me was going for 600 with no work having been done to it. Unless you can find one with some work having already been done at a decent price, that cost can add up fast. Great sound, but will kill ya on the up keep as a daily driver. Scott 299's average a g note, same with Dynaco's. Scott has the sound I'm looking for though. Even their old receivers are going for a good buck these days.

Saw a Cayin for sale by me for 400. Reviews are great with everything but rock music....which means bass shy or too rounded. A tube pre amplifier would work also, but pickens are scarce under a grand.

newbie308 · January 5

Maybe something from Jolida? I don't know what your price range is.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/168057566328

displayname · January 5

You could avoid the cheap Chinese stuff and get an affordable quality Italian made Class-A tube integrated from me. I just listed my Mastersound Duventi of Facebook.

mhardy6647 · January 5

There have certainly been some JoLida/Jolida/Black Ice products of good quality that would (still?) be good values today. That said, some serious judiciousness will be required when shopping for one... since there was lots of skulduggery between two companies that, for a time, both claimed to be the real "Jolida".

SCompRacer · January 5

Scotts have a nice sweet sound IMO! Just a thought about older tube gear. I'm guessing a Scott 2xx or other tube gear of that era might be reactive to modern voltages we have today. Like the Scott 340 ('62-'63) and 399 ('59-'60, pre FM stereo) that I refurbed for Ed. They were designed at 115/117 line. Line voltage at our house can be 125VAC at times. Power transformer output increased at 125vac so tube heater and plate voltages exceeded max levels which would shorten tube life.

Two choices. One could increase resistance on all circuits affected at max line voltage. I opted for choice 2. I assembled a switchable bucking transformer to reduce line voltage. It displayed line in and out. Voltage choices were line out with two stages of reduction. The transformer selected had an amp rating to support both the 335 FM multiplexer and 399 receiver, like 4 or 5 amp IIRC.

Scott knew FM stereo broadcast was near, so they built a FM multiplexer for the 399. Prior to stereo, the 399 was designed for simulcast. One channel on AM, the other on FM. The 399 sent the FM signal to the 335 multiplexer which returned R and L channels back to receiver.

Above pic set to phono. It sported magic eye tubes for tuning. The input switch had an AM/FM and AM/FM MX Stereo setting.

tonyb · January 6

Beautiful Scott pieces Rich.

Yeah Jolida is a possibility. I'm going to wait and see what turns up

Still using a Grant Fidelity tubedac 11. Anyone have any insights to the best tube to use? Think i have a Sylvania in there now.

pitdogg2 · January 6

Tony, here's what I see.

single 6N11 vacuum tube (can be replaced with 6922, E88CC, 6DJ8, 6H23n and CCa tubes)

You have a pretty good selection with the e88cc, 6dj8 and 6922. I think @marvda1 also had a favorite, IIRC 7dj8.
Mullard, Philips and Amperex Holland would sweeten it up a bit.
This side Sylvania, RCA, maybe Raytheon. I've not used that particular tube so I'm not able to narrow it down better. Using only one will greatly reduce your cost to find one that tickles your ear bone.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/376771367523?

pitdogg2 · January 6

This would be a good bet as well, unfortunately it's in Belgium. Wonder what the tariff fee is?
https://www.ebay.com/itm/257296606696?

Cheap tube integrateds

Comments