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Budget Chinese Tube amps - any good?

In the midst of searching for a budget tube amp. Lots of chinese made models keep popping up. The price on these amps are often really low and would give someone like me a chance to try the tube sound for cheap.

Do you guys have any good experiences with them?

Reason I'm asking is that I hear many conflicting experiences online on each amp. Some say their amps are really good, some say they are really bad - each model might have 5 good reviews and 5 bad reviews. I guess this is par for course with audio, where subjectivity is the rule of the game. However, chinese amps tend to have the largest disparity of opinions.

The models I've read up on so far are: Mingda amps, Miniwatt N3, Yaqin amps etc.
milesandcoltrane
nonoise's avatar
nonoise
10,891 posts
 
Trelja & Ghosthouse,

Nothing like testimonial from credible and sound sources such as yourselves.
That Forbes article on the trials and tribulations of Michael Allen made me wince. Lesser men would have folded. He saw something in that product and persevered. And your cost/enjoyment ratio explanation strikes an inner chord.

You two are like little devils on my shoulder urging me on. Shame on you. :-)

All the best,
Nonoise
wolf_garcia
6,711 posts
 
I spoke to Michael Allen on the phone a couple of times when calling Jolida about my amp...minor questions regarding KT120s and like that...and it appears that Maryland Jolida is doing very well in spite of what might be a long, drawn out litigation with the "other Jolida"...all the Jolida guys are accessable, helpful people, including Allen, who often answers the phone and doesn't mind chatting about this stuff.
glenfihi
525 posts
 
When buying some gear, the who you purchase from perhaps as important as the what. Solid product and a great person to deal with, Stephen from Quest for Sound. There SQ-88 integrated is great, and Steve is tops.
leatherneck1812
116 posts
 
I have had 2 Jolida integrateds, the 502 and the 801. Although both had been modified by Response audio. I liked them both and don't remember having any issues with them. I would certainly buy Jolida products again.
ghosthouse's avatar
ghosthouse
4,316 posts
 
Disclaimer- I don't have golden ears and absolutely not the depth of experience of many here. Do consider the TNT Audio review of the JoLida 502. They don't accept advertising.

Nonoise - prefer the role of unfallen angel. Good luck in your choice.
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