Inexpensive Tube Amps

Foremost we are dealers, not of the amps you have listed but I have come across them since we service and take trade ins. We have had a very similar Yaqin traded in and I have a few customers who have tried the others you listed. As some have said and I feel it is incredibly true, you get what you pay for. Do these amps sound bad, not at all, for $200-300 they sound like they should at that price. Cannot compare them to a $2000-4000 amp because that is not what they are. Bargain of the century, absolutely not. With that said if your looking for a small inexpensive bookshelf system and want to roll the dice, maybe.

There is so much made in China animosity which for political reasons I can understand along with safety being a concern. We rebuild many 1970s solid state units which the same attitude was there against Japanese built units then. Today many of these are prized pieces for some vintage collectors today, however many of them were junk as well back then and are forgotten.

The one piece of advise I can offer is tube amplifiers tend to sound as good as the transformers they are built with and the quality of parts in the circuit. The iron on all these amps are tiny which I've seen many fail within monthes of buying. With that saving for a better amp makes more sense. Even if Amazon reviews are truthful, they are usually written shortly after purchase. A quality tube amp should last decades, not years which is what I feel you get with these inexpensive amps. 

Good luck with your audio journey!

addyson really does have his head up his addyson!

Will, I got it the first time. Sorry I don't have any experience with these either but I won't try to sell you something else.

Leonard, no one is trying to sell anyone anything. Just offering sound advice and other options to a tube rookie on a limited budget. The only reason i am posting this is because of your attack on one of the people that wanted to help. A little more civility why dontcha.

Hi Will, I don't have any experience with the amps you've listed but I do have a Yarland FV-34c that probably retailed for less than US$400. I use it as an office system with a pair of kef q1 bookshelf speakers (91dB) and it sounds great. I've also tried it with my ProAc D38's as an experiment, pretty extreme ends of the price scale but they're also 91dB efficiency and can be driven by as little as 10w but the little yarland just doesn't have a grunty enough power supply to drive them.

I'd imagine you might find the same with the amps you're looking at. Pair them with some easy to drive bookshelf speakers and a sub and they'll be fine, but they will likely struggle to drive floor standers without sounding thin and harsh.

Hope that helps.

Will afterthoughts to my post. Check places like , The Tube Store Parts Express , Madison Sound too. The DIY stuff is cool and at least gives you a better understanding of circuits. I was lucky to be in high school in the early seventies . I took three years of Electronics and played with basic circuits and tube related radios and stereos . I think one of the Chinese amps you listed will be great . Then when your budget allows play with inexpensive full range driver speakers and DIY enclosures . Paper cones , no caps , no crossover, Belden bulk wire . This will sound great , be affordable and be perfect in a smaller room . I have $8k in a SEP, full range system . And it sounds better in a medium room and you must sit in “ The Sweet Spot “. My point is , with careful planning and some home building you can enter into the secret world of Single Ended ( like ) , Full Range tone and clarity for pennies . What you will find with your little amp and the paper cone speakers , is a headphone like Nirvana that people with a Mac 275 don’t comprehend. Will you’re the “ Soul Surfer “ in a world of Ocean Liners . Welcome to the “ Locals Only Break “! Check other chat sites that specialize in DIY single driver and you’ll meet the 60-70 year old geeks that love this stuff and don’t spend tons of money . Also if you come across a pair of ASL Wave 8’s , get them and restore them . I’ll close with this . About a year ago I was talking to Dennis Had , founder of Cary Audio . He was having a blast with some cheap paper cone drivers that he bought used for $20 , and he can have anything . Happy Listening , Mike B.