Topic: Considering a Tube Amp

[balarila]

Been a few years since I last posted.  Been enjoying my HT since, thanks to this forum.

Now, I think I'd like to get into this nostalgic tube amp thing.  Considering getting a turntable, tube amp, and, since I am pretty handy on woodworking, possibly building my single-fr-driver backloaded horn speakers.  Been hearing that tube amps produce exquisite sound not possible with SS amps so would like to try that out.  Dabbled with a Sakura but that's not exactly the tube amp experience, I was told.

For the amp, been googling and thinking the Yaqin MC-84L could be a good choice.  It's not too expensive and, to be bluntly honest, it looks cool.  Of course, some good reviews, too.

Anyone have any better ideas? (I probably cannot afford a McIntosh, ST70, nor Cayin)

Is there a local source for this amp?

[Nelson de Leon]

Damay mo na din yun casing ng tube amp mo with your DIY speaker project. Hehe! Why not get a pre-owned one muna and see if the sound is to your liking.

Sent from my ASUS_Z012D using Tapatalk

[balarila]

Of course!  Tube amp case should be a nice little woodworking project.

Any suggestions where I should get a good used tube amp?  All I know are those shops in Cubao (used to be called Marikina Shoe Expo during my time).

Damay mo na din yun casing ng tube amp mo with your DIY speaker project. Hehe! Why not get a pre-owned one muna and see if the sound is to your liking.

Sent from my ASUS_Z012D using Tapatalk

[Nelson de Leon]

Of course!  Tube amp case should be a nice little woodworking project.

Any suggestions where I should get a good used tube amp?  All I know are those shops in Cubao (used to be called Marikina Shoe Expo during my time).

AFAIK meron ata sa Watt Hifi in Makati.

Sent from my ASUS_Z012D using Tapatalk

[ricky]

Ding, my go to guy for tubes is rene rivo, pag diy projects wala na iba kung hindi si master jojod. Text ne lang if you need anything else wink.

Exciting pag gumawa ka enclosures mo, you can ask timber din re that.

[onedown]

tubes? check out rod teope.

[balarila]

Thanks, ricky, onedown, and nelson.

Great leads.  Will be busy over the holidays chasing them.

[CoolTOYZPH]

Where is your location Sir?

[balarila]

Antipolo and Quezon City.

[rochie]

Are you handy with soldering iron and can read schematic diagram sir?

[balarila]

Built a Super-heterodyne when I was in high-school so, with some refresher, I can probably solder.  But, I don't think I can recall reading transistors nor interpreting the color bands of resistors.

Why do you ask?  Are there inexpensive but excellent amp kits here?

[rochie]

Built a Super-heterodyne when I was in high-school so, with some refresher, I can probably solder.  But, I don't think I can recall reading transistors nor interpreting the color bands of resistors.

Why do you ask?  Are there inexpensive but excellent amp kits here?

PM'ed you sir.

[balarila]

Emailed a bunch of shops and Audio Amplified responded.  Light traffic today so went I over lunch break and auditioned the Cayins.

Wow!  That's how I would condense all those adjectives and words that audiophiles use which I don't understand (rich, pleasing, soundstage, bottom end, etc).

I can see a tube amp in my future.  If only they weren't too expensive.

The Cayin MT12N sounded great and is within budget-striking distance.

The Cayin LA-34 sounded better but jumps quite a bit in price, not sure if the difference is worth it.

Will go on a listening adventure soon.

[ricky]

Audition audition audition .

[JojoD818]

Nakupo, I see a Timber-level speaker project in the future!

Advance congrats na Ding!

[JojoD818]

Been a few years since I last posted.  Been enjoying my HT since, thanks to this forum.

Now, I think I'd like to get into this nostalgic tube amp thing.  Considering getting a turntable, tube amp, and, since I am pretty handy on woodworking, possibly building my single-fr-driver backloaded horn speakers.  Been hearing that tube amps produce exquisite sound not possible with SS amps so would like to try that out.  Dabbled with a Sakura but that's not exactly the tube amp experience, I was told.

For the amp, been googling and thinking the Yaqin MC-84L could be a good choice.  It's not too expensive and, to be bluntly honest, it looks cool.  Of course, some good reviews, too.

Anyone have any better ideas? (I probably cannot afford a McIntosh, ST70, nor Cayin)

Is there a local source for this amp?

Audition audition audition .

Ding, this is part of the adventure.

[tony]

The Cayin MT12N sounded great and is within budget-striking distance.

based on the el84 output tubes, sweet sounding pentode.....

The Cayin LA-34 sounded better but jumps quite a bit in price, not sure if the difference is worth it.

based on the El34 output tubes, sweet sounding pentode
but about twice the power, so the spike in price is not surprising.....

[ricky]

Ding is a phycicist btw, and he is building a boat in his place for leisure. Masisira ulo nya sa audio hahaha

[ricky]

Kanta  nga ni adele "tube rolling in the deep"

[tony]

the best sounding el84 amp i ever heard was the sca35 clone by AMX or andrew sevilla, some one sold a used unit for 1500 and then we refurbed it for another 1500.....the best deal in pdvd history.....

you may also want to check out john poscablo at libertad in pasay....

[tony]

sawa na sa sakura av200?

[CoolTOYZPH]

We can meet up and I can lend you a Tube AMP and full range speakers as introduction to tube + Full range.
If interested PM me for details.

Antipolo and Quezon City.

[JojoD818]

Ding is a phycicist btw, and he is building a boat in his place for leisure. Masisira ulo nya sa audio hahaha

Graduate na sa HT kaya sa audio naman muna... dami pwede gawin ni Ding na project diyan for sure

[balarila]

Dami pala mangkukulam dito!

Tony mentioned Andrew Sevilla.  Got in touch with him when I came across his name in some thread, too, and got his number from Ricky (Thanks!).  We traded several text messages and it's exciting.

He recommended an EL34 Single Ended Amp, 10W/ch, 3 line inputs.  Well within budget.  Extra if I wanted it pimped out.

I'm leaning towards having it done by Andrew.  Aside from being cost-effective, there's the certain pride in having a Filipino designed-and-made excellent amp.  Only problem with this approach is that I don't get to hear before I buy so I will just have to rely on what people say about his work.

@Tony
Still in love with the Sakura.  But the selector switches and volume knobs are starting to act up.  Need replacing.  I think I stowed have some good pots somewhere and will just have to source the selector switch (Deeco?).  But I'd rather tinker with wood for now than soldering; unless I stumble into a cheap ST-70 kit.  Know anyone who can do this for me?  Or soup it up?

@CoolTOYZPH
Thanks very much for the offer! Hiya naman ako manghiram.  I think Hi-Fi is also your business(?) so I would hesitate to take advantage of your generosity without a commitment of sale.  How about if I drop by your shop and hear your goodies there?

Some questions, if you don't mind:

I plan to build my speakers on a Fostex FE126En (will order and ship thru Forex).  I'm thinking Frugel-Horn MarkIII(http://www.frugal-horn.com/FH3.html) is simple enough to build.  But there's also the Olson-Nagaoka (http://www.frugal-horn.com/spawn.html) cabinets.  Suggestions?

I am limiting my amp selection to 15W because the Fostex is rated at 15W input and SPL of 93db.  My listening room will be enclosed and quiet so I don't need all that oomph.  Am I right in this matching?

• Are the words sensitivity, efficiency, and SPL equivalent?
• What output power should I specify for the amp given a certain input power rating of my drivers?

[onedown]

balarila,
when you get an offer to home audition n equipment, consider it. there's nothing better than auditioning equipment in your own room. the room after all, plays a big factor.

[tony]

balarila,
when you get an offer to home audition n equipment, consider it. there's nothing better than auditioning equipment in your own room. the room after all, plays a big factor.

true, in your listening position is the best place to audition...
i have had stories about how the gear sounded magically in the store
only to lose the magic once tha amp is brought home....

[tony]

@Tony
Still in love with the Sakura.  But the selector switches and volume knobs are starting to act up.  Need replacing.  I think I stowed have some good pots somewhere and will just have to source the selector switch (Deeco?).  But I'd rather tinker with wood for now than soldering; unless I stumble into a cheap ST-70 kit.  Know anyone who can do this for me?  Or soup it up?

i use a lighter fluid(carbon tetrachloride) to clean those,
bought mine in 2010 and still lives....
my brother swapped it with his audiolab 8080...
markrenz can help you....or Ronald de Jesus
from caloocan is also one good tech....you can catch him on facebook....

your fostex speakers can use a 2A3 set, and for that
John Pocablo is the best guy to go to....

[ricky]

Ding, amx amps are value for money talaga and tama ka buy Pinoy made is the best. Ikaw na gumawa ng cabinetry. I also think he can do that st-70 kit for you, or maybe jojo

[tony]

Rey Luis sells traffo kits, power traffo and two OPT's for the st70.........09323858831......he winds traffo for rene rivo and john procablo
and sometimes mang rod....

if you are after world class traffo, the Edrel Sison also makes those
at a slightly higher cost because of the virgin
 materials used....

[balarila]

true, in your listening position is the best place to audition...
i have had stories about how the gear sounded magically in the store
only to lose the magic once tha amp is brought home....

Sounds like good advice.  Thanks.

@CoolTOYZPH
Mind PM-ing me your conditions on the home demo?  I would like to try buy, since I am in the window-shopping stage, I cannot commit to a buy-if-I-like yet.  Salamat!