1st full tube amp Oldchen EL34

I agree with the Quicksilver amp recommendation! The Horn Mono amps are great.

Mike

Great have fun with it

I have 2 hybrid amps (ss amp with tube pre) and really like them. This was my first attempt at a pure tube amp and didn’t want to spend a bunch. This presented itself for sub $200. Jasonbourne I understand that you generally get what you pay for and could possibly have far more experience with china manufacturing than 90% of  Americans, but this was perfect for my value proposition to tinker without toasting a $1000 plus amp. I also have my own concerns about safety which is why I plan to do some upgrades. I had a chance 2 years ago to buy quicksilver monos but hesitated and missed them. Really just looking for feedback on known weaknesses, possible safety issues, and simple mods to improve beyond its current state- not equal to a multi thousand dollar amp - just improve this limited amp. 

Oldchen brand-does that indicate it's run by old guys from the CCP, instead of young, rebellious anti Xi Jinping millennials?

Seriously, if you have access to a legit tech that knows tube amps to point out potential safety concerns, that's maybe to best move. They need a schematic to really know what's going on. I'd see if the company can provide one.

The transformers and quality of the parts, obviously are going to limit just how   much it can be tweaked to sound "better."

That could add up quick.$$

Understood and again this was an opportunity but not a nirvana situation. I have the top of the Line LSA HYBRID that drives my Thiel CS5s and totally pleased. I have a bardominium playground for my grandkids and this is where I like to tinker. Heresy’s, Chorus 1s, and Quartets are the available speakers at this location. I change between Bryston, Mitsubishi, Lexicon, NAD, and other assorted amps. Most I have brought back from dead. And most sound better today than when new due to better parts. Never opened a tube amp and I have a significant amount of respect for the damage they can do if mishandled. Variac on-site and have still smoked some things in the past. 😉