These Hong Kong amps have me bummed

TubeMack · 17th June 2009, 03:10 AM

Look at this $500 amp!

I know many here don't care, but I like nice looking gear. Speaking strickly of aesthetics How could a DIY compete with that $500 amp. Case work like that would cost over a grand here even if you could get it which you can't. If the transformers were decent, I would be tempted to buy one just for the parts, throw the PCB away and P2P it! Hell it might be fantastic with just a few upgrades?

stoc005 · 17th June 2009, 03:14 AM

Sort of insane. Hard to buy'm that cheap.

Steve Eddy · 17th June 2009, 03:23 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by TubeMack
Look at this $500 amp!

Yes. And be thankful you're not a Chinese laborer.

se

Jeb-D. · 17th June 2009, 03:40 AM

Most of the time shipping is several hundred dollars.

With that in mind, a very good (both performance and appearance) DIY amplifier could be built by an experienced DIY'er for an equivalent amount.

It is a good price and probably a decent amp, but when buying from China/HK, you never really know what your getting. It's a gamble. It may be legitimate. Or those transformers could be 80% epoxy, the internal wiring could be tin or steel, ect.

Also, your supporting the exploitation of cheap labor.

Wavebourn · 17th June 2009, 04:26 AM

It sounds very strange: I contacted one Chinese manufacturer to order much simpler details (actually, finned right and left walls-heatsinks) for the chassis than the whole this amp is, he quoted me $150 for 2 sides only if I order 100 parts minimum!

TubeMack · 17th June 2009, 04:43 AM

Yeah, I was going to order a preamp chassis from Hong Kong, and the Price was over half what this amp costs

BTW, shipping on that amp is free!

http://cgi.ebay.com/Freeshipping-YAQ...3A3%7C294%3A24

Steve M · 17th June 2009, 04:56 AM

Jeb: with all due respect, please refrain from making such outlandish statements like this "or those transformers could be 80% epoxy, the internal wiring could be tin or steel, ect." I have bought, seen and heard several Chinese tube amps, preamps, cdps over the years from Cayin; Ming Da; Xindak; East Sound, Jungson etc and have had a look underneath their lids - all meticulously hard wired and well constructed and NONE that I'm aware of are fake or have 80% epoxy filled transformers.

I have heard the MC-100B amplifier in the pic, it sounds very nice - clear as a bell. As to build quality I would go so far as to say some Chinese products are much better built than those in the West. They have an eye for detail and a strong will to succeed. Afterall, the Chinese were wearing silk and eating out of fine porcelain bowls when we in the West were in mud huts and wearing bear skins!

One day soon "Made in China" will have the good reputation of "Made in Japan", so keep an open mind please.

As to their human rights record, well that's another matter ...

Regards,

Steve M.

PS: And in case you're wondering? I'm Australian and in addition to some Chinese gear also use esoteric gear from Supratek/Bel Canto/Audio Research/Nordost/Koetsu etc.

Wavebourn · 17th June 2009, 05:44 AM

Output transformers are relatively small: 20Hz-100 KHz on 10W.

fmak · 17th June 2009, 05:55 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by TubeMack
Yeah, I was going to order a preamp chassis from Hong Kong, and the Price was over half what this amp costs

BTW, shipping on that amp is free!

http://cgi.ebay.com/Freeshipping-YAQ...3A3%7C294%3A24

It's the same when I try to order chasis from the US or Italy!! The prices charged by DHL and FedEx are ridiculus and they even act on behalf of the taxman and charge extra for that privilege.

There are only a few US firms who use usps which is perfectly good.

Klimon · 17th June 2009, 06:43 AM

Built quality aside, if that isn't one ugly looking amplifier I dunno what is....

Vintage sci-fi design? I'll pass....

Simon

17th June 2009, 03:10 AM	#1
TubeMack diyAudio Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Florida	These Hong Kong amps have me bummed Look at this $500 amp! I know many here don't care, but I like nice looking gear. Speaking strickly of aesthetics How could a DIY compete with that $500 amp. Case work like that would cost over a grand here even if you could get it which you can't. If the transformers were decent, I would be tempted to buy one just for the parts, throw the PCB away and P2P it! Hell it might be fantastic with just a few upgrades?

17th June 2009, 03:14 AM	#2
stoc005 diyAudio Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Midwest in the USA	WOW! I'd be tempted to buy one. Sort of insane. Hard to buy'm that cheap.

17th June 2009, 04:26 AM	#5
Wavebourn diyAudio Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Pleasant Hill, CA	It sounds very strange: I contacted one Chinese manufacturer to order much simpler details (actually, finned right and left walls-heatsinks) for the chassis than the whole this amp is, he quoted me $150 for 2 sides only if I order 100 parts minimum! __________________ The devil is not so terrible as his mathematical model! Wavebourn: We Create Creativity!

17th June 2009, 05:44 AM	#8
Wavebourn diyAudio Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Pleasant Hill, CA	Output transformers are relatively small: 20Hz-100 KHz on 10W. __________________ The devil is not so terrible as his mathematical model! Wavebourn: We Create Creativity!

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17th June 2009, 03:40 AM	#4
Jeb-D. diyAudio Member Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: SoCal	Most of the time shipping is several hundred dollars. With that in mind, a very good (both performance and appearance) DIY amplifier could be built by an experienced DIY'er for an equivalent amount. It is a good price and probably a decent amp, but when buying from China/HK, you never really know what your getting. It's a gamble. It may be legitimate. Or those transformers could be 80% epoxy, the internal wiring could be tin or steel, ect. Also, your supporting the exploitation of cheap labor.

17th June 2009, 04:43 AM	#6
TubeMack diyAudio Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Florida	Yeah, I was going to order a preamp chassis from Hong Kong, and the Price was over half what this amp costs BTW, shipping on that amp is free! http://cgi.ebay.com/Freeshipping-YAQ...3A3%7C294%3A24

17th June 2009, 04:56 AM	#7
Steve M diyAudio Member Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Perth, Western Australia	Jeb: with all due respect, please refrain from making such outlandish statements like this "or those transformers could be 80% epoxy, the internal wiring could be tin or steel, ect." I have bought, seen and heard several Chinese tube amps, preamps, cdps over the years from Cayin; Ming Da; Xindak; East Sound, Jungson etc and have had a look underneath their lids - all meticulously hard wired and well constructed and NONE that I'm aware of are fake or have 80% epoxy filled transformers. I have heard the MC-100B amplifier in the pic, it sounds very nice - clear as a bell. As to build quality I would go so far as to say some Chinese products are much better built than those in the West. They have an eye for detail and a strong will to succeed. Afterall, the Chinese were wearing silk and eating out of fine porcelain bowls when we in the West were in mud huts and wearing bear skins! One day soon "Made in China" will have the good reputation of "Made in Japan", so keep an open mind please. As to their human rights record, well that's another matter ... Regards, Steve M. PS: And in case you're wondering? I'm Australian and in addition to some Chinese gear also use esoteric gear from Supratek/Bel Canto/Audio Research/Nordost/Koetsu etc.

17th June 2009, 06:43 AM	#10
Klimon diyAudio Member Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Leuven	Built quality aside, if that isn't one ugly looking amplifier I dunno what is.... Vintage sci-fi design? I'll pass.... Simon

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