Too good to be true???

jmillerdoc · 11th February 2010, 01:20 AM

I found this while perusing the eBay tube amplifier search results:
(FreeShipping)X3 EL34 ClassA Tube Integrated amplifiers - eBay (item 260546765006 end time Feb-10-10 18:30:26 PST)

Now, this is claimed to be a Push Pull stereo amp. It has left and right inputs and outputs but.....only one power tube per side I assume (maybe they are hiding the other 2 somewhere else) Also claimed to have 20+ watts per channel. Price $268 with free shipping from Hong Kong.

If this is a stereo amp, which it appears to be than it cannot be push pull and if it is not push pull than I doubt very much with a 6N2 driver that it has 20+ watts per channel.

For $268 it still might not be a bad deal, b/c s/h is free but, buyer beware.....I don't think this is what it is made out to be.
Jeff

taj · 11th February 2010, 02:57 AM

There's ALWAYS a gotcha with Hong Kong vendors. In this case I guess each output tube is pushing and pulling all by itself. Free shipping is 5 - 9 *weeks* (surface). Be afraid.

In this case, I think it's probably just the description that's suspect, though I wouldn't trust the vendor -- even a little.

The real push-pull EL34 amp is in their eBay store for $360. Still a good deal considering how nice they look. But I wonder if it's a Chinese knock-off of a Chinese amp. What a gratifying thought.

..Todd

QSerraTico_Tico · 11th February 2010, 08:36 AM

If the amp does not arrive at your place after 9 weeks you lost all your money as you are not eligible for Paypal buyer protection, beware. (You must open a dispute within 45 days after date of purchase)

rotaspec · 11th February 2010, 07:03 PM

This is the new Mengyue Mini that was mentioned in another thread, and at the time I disputed the power claim.
It's also offered direct from HK here:
MENG "X3 EL34" Integrated Amplifier - EL34 Tube Amp @ on9mart.com

It's clearly a SE stereo amp. Based on previous experience with Mengyue (I have a 6P1 Mini), their power claims are double that of reality. My Mini is claimed at 10W x 2, in fact it gets about 6W x 2 before clipping at best.

They are actually reasonable amps for the price, so long as you take the above into account. They are a good platform for some mods, but they will never be more than mid-fi as far as tube amps go. You can build better easier, but not cheaper. That is the bottom line for a lot of people, myself included.

A point in their favor is that they seem to have been making amps for a few years now, so they are not just a one night stand.

Gary

ethermion · 11th February 2010, 07:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by taj

Free shipping is 5 - 9 *weeks* (surface). Be afraid.

..Todd

Surface shipping is very suspect. I thought surface shipping disappeared years ago. The slowest ship option over 4# is 6-10 days.

piero7 · 11th February 2010, 07:36 PM

forget surface shipping

tomlang · 11th February 2010, 08:02 PM

You know those containers of stuff from China. The ones that come by ship and then hook up to semi-trucks. That is surface shipping. Your package is placed in one of the containers and it doesn't leave China until it is completely filled (which might take awhile).

Then it comes by Slow Boat, gets offloaded somewhere like Long Beach, then mixes with the US mail....

jmillerdoc · 11th February 2010, 08:18 PM

Well I never had any intentions of buying one, just thought I would put it out there for others to poke at.

I don't buy manufactured amps anymore, too much fun in building them yourself. Well, I will buy a nice Scott or similar every now and then to restore, but that is about it.

It is pretty nice looking though isn't it!
Jeff

Wavebourn · 12th February 2010, 01:10 AM

Looks like it is a shipping company I heard about that bought surplus amps directly from manufacturers helping them to clean warehouses, when market collapsed.

kyleaudio · 9th May 2010, 04:47 AM

i hate to bring this back up, but i just found an ebay store selling these for $259.00 with free 3-7 day AIR mail! this would be a good deal for someone looking for a nice looking cheap amp to toy around with.

MENG X3 EL34 x2pcs Vaccum Tube Integrated Amplifier NEW - eBay (item 260476031549 end time May-11-10 23:02:00 PDT)

11th February 2010, 01:20 AM	#1
jmillerdoc diyAudio Member Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Lawton, OK, USA	Too good to be true??? I found this while perusing the eBay tube amplifier search results: (FreeShipping)X3 EL34 ClassA Tube Integrated amplifiers - eBay (item 260546765006 end time Feb-10-10 18:30:26 PST) Now, this is claimed to be a Push Pull stereo amp. It has left and right inputs and outputs but.....only one power tube per side I assume (maybe they are hiding the other 2 somewhere else) Also claimed to have 20+ watts per channel. Price $268 with free shipping from Hong Kong. If this is a stereo amp, which it appears to be than it cannot be push pull and if it is not push pull than I doubt very much with a 6N2 driver that it has 20+ watts per channel. For $268 it still might not be a bad deal, b/c s/h is free but, buyer beware.....I don't think this is what it is made out to be. Jeff

12th February 2010, 01:10 AM	#9
Wavebourn diyAudio Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Pleasant Hill, CA	Looks like it is a shipping company I heard about that bought surplus amps directly from manufacturers helping them to clean warehouses, when market collapsed. __________________ If I disappear suddenly, that means I finally created a time machine and pushed wrong button that brought me to Stalin's Russia. In any experiment any result is the result. Even if it is negative.

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11th February 2010, 02:57 AM	#2
taj diyAudio Member Join Date: Feb 2005	There's ALWAYS a gotcha with Hong Kong vendors. In this case I guess each output tube is pushing and pulling all by itself. Free shipping is 5 - 9 weeks (surface). Be afraid. In this case, I think it's probably just the description that's suspect, though I wouldn't trust the vendor -- even a little. The real push-pull EL34 amp is in their eBay store for $360. Still a good deal considering how nice they look. But I wonder if it's a Chinese knock-off of a Chinese amp. What a gratifying thought. ..Todd

11th February 2010, 08:36 AM	#3
QSerraTico_Tico diyAudio Member Join Date: Oct 2004	If the amp does not arrive at your place after 9 weeks you lost all your money as you are not eligible for Paypal buyer protection, beware. (You must open a dispute within 45 days after date of purchase)

11th February 2010, 07:03 PM	#4
rotaspec diyAudio Member Join Date: Nov 2007	This is the new Mengyue Mini that was mentioned in another thread, and at the time I disputed the power claim. It's also offered direct from HK here: MENG "X3 EL34" Integrated Amplifier - EL34 Tube Amp @ on9mart.com It's clearly a SE stereo amp. Based on previous experience with Mengyue (I have a 6P1 Mini), their power claims are double that of reality. My Mini is claimed at 10W x 2, in fact it gets about 6W x 2 before clipping at best. They are actually reasonable amps for the price, so long as you take the above into account. They are a good platform for some mods, but they will never be more than mid-fi as far as tube amps go. You can build better easier, but not cheaper. That is the bottom line for a lot of people, myself included. A point in their favor is that they seem to have been making amps for a few years now, so they are not just a one night stand. Gary

11th February 2010, 07:36 PM	#6
piero7 diyAudio Member Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Matera	forget surface shipping

11th February 2010, 08:02 PM	#7
tomlang diyAudio Member Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Augusta, GA	You know those containers of stuff from China. The ones that come by ship and then hook up to semi-trucks. That is surface shipping. Your package is placed in one of the containers and it doesn't leave China until it is completely filled (which might take awhile). Then it comes by Slow Boat, gets offloaded somewhere like Long Beach, then mixes with the US mail....

11th February 2010, 08:18 PM	#8
jmillerdoc diyAudio Member Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Lawton, OK, USA	Well I never had any intentions of buying one, just thought I would put it out there for others to poke at. I don't buy manufactured amps anymore, too much fun in building them yourself. Well, I will buy a nice Scott or similar every now and then to restore, but that is about it. It is pretty nice looking though isn't it! Jeff

9th May 2010, 04:47 AM	#10
kyleaudio diyAudio Member Join Date: Dec 2007	i hate to bring this back up, but i just found an ebay store selling these for $259.00 with free 3-7 day AIR mail! this would be a good deal for someone looking for a nice looking cheap amp to toy around with. MENG X3 EL34 x2pcs Vaccum Tube Integrated Amplifier NEW - eBay (item 260476031549 end time May-11-10 23:02:00 PDT)