Sound quality chinese tube amplifiers

[dvjorge]

Hi guys,
I am thinking on buying a Xiang Sheng tube amplifier model 278A. It will be my first tube preamp. I am doing it because I listened an hybrid system with tube preamp with ss amp that sounded very good. It was Rogue Audio preamp. Since tube gears are very expensive in US, I want to try the chinese stuff. I am not sure if these will perform as better as any recognized tube brand such as Cayin, Jolida, Rogue Audio, etc. I mean those low priced chinese brands such as Xiang Sheng. The preamp I want to buy is a copy of the legendary Marantz 7. My only concern is some quality. I have a friend who has a Vincent (hybrid) preamp that has excellent sound and makes the difference in the system. Any help will be very appreciated since most of you are experts in this matter.
My goal is to get a real tube sound and be close to a high end sound with my limited budget.
Thanks,
Jorge.

[Palustris]

Get a real amp:HiFi Home Stereo Amplifier Kits

[dvjorge]

Have you seen how ugly are those Dynaco kit ??
I am sorry but your answer don't benefit me. If I would have money to buy I real amp, I will go for another and not that one. It is a preamp what I need and I am asking you about the quality of those made in China.
Thanks,
Jorge.

[pieter t]

As this is a DIY forum: are you able to construct something yourself?
There are very good quality pre amp kits available for reasonable prices, and then finishing and the looks are in your own hands.

[mach1]

The preamp I want to buy is a copy of the legendary Marantz 7.

An outdated design easily bettered by many preamps described on this forum.

[SY]

Originally Posted by mach1

An outdated design easily bettered by many preamps described on this forum.

Glad you said it and not I. If they cloned it, it's a mediocre performer, especially the phono section. If they didn't, it's not a Marantz 7.

But the question is, what does dvj actually want? Something that makes him think he has a Marantz (which is certainly achievable, whether or not this particular vendor has done so) because he... well, wants a Marantz? Something that switches sources, raises the volume up and down, equalizes his phono cartridge, drives his interconnects and power amp input, and doesn't audibly color the sound? The chances are low that this unit will do that. Color the sound in some way that makes him think "tubey?" That's possible, but I don't/can't know what dvj thinks is "tubey." Most Chinese designs marketed as knockoffs are pretty badly designed and have questionable reliability. But "badly designed" to me (who values output sounding like the input) may not be to someone who wants an effects box.

That was a long-winded way of saying that your "better" and my "better" may not be dvj's "better."

[pieter t]

Originally Posted by SY

That was a long-winded way of saying that your "better" and my "better" may not be dvj's "better."

Hmmm yes... the air must be pretty clear in Austin right now....

[dvjorge]

Then, you guys can suggest me a real cheap good quality tube preamp kit. I am able to build it myself. I will try it with my B&W CDM series and my Paradigms Reference speakers. The power amp is Musical Fidelity. I am running it with a SS preamp but want to try tubes.
Jorge.

[planet10]

Originally Posted by dvjorge

I am not sure if these will perform as better as any recognized tube brand such as Cayin, Jolida, Rogue Audio, etc.

The 1st 2 of those are Chinese.

Quality of Chinese amps is pretty variable. Many of them should be considered "pre-builf" kits (you buy them, they'll make sound, but pretty quick you want to start modding them).

With no iron except trafo (with exceptions of things like the "Heretical"), the Chinese have a smaller advantage.

What are your needs for a pre-amp? Inputs required? Phono?

dave

[tony Ma]

how about if we bought the kit that has been populated
and buy tube and transformer in US?