tube fanatic Posted April 29, 2019 Share Posted April 29, 2019 Start reading at post #38. Lots of very interesting information has been presented: https://hifihaven.org/index.php?threads/this-isnt-about-cheap-asian-sourced-amps-preamps-but-it-is-about-economics-and-value.4569/page-2 Maynard Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mopardave Posted April 29, 2019 Share Posted April 29, 2019 40 minutes ago, tube fanatic said: Start reading at post #38. Lots of very interesting information has been presented: https://hifihaven.org/index.php?threads/this-isnt-about-cheap-asian-sourced-amps-preamps-but-it-is-about-economics-and-value.4569/page-2 Maynard Interesting the end of the thread someone has the same issue with their Chinese amp as I. One MA meter not working properly. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MeloManiac Posted April 29, 2019 Share Posted April 29, 2019 The scary thing in your link is that even iMacs built for Apple come with fraudulent components. Makes me think of exploding Samsung smartphones, exploding iPhones etc. You seem to suggest that anyone with a China made tube amp should throw it away right now, for safety reasons? So the only amp you can trust is the one you build yourself, and the only smartphone you can trust is the one you build yourself? I must admit that the absence of the CE -label (I live in Europe) does scare me a bit, if I buy something from China. Although I think there is little real 'quality control' behind that label - iMacs too have that label. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MeloManiac Posted April 29, 2019 Share Posted April 29, 2019 ... the existence of fake components is scary indeed. I wonder if my TubeCube is safe... I also wonder what would be the entry price for a safe, guaranteed fake-component free tube amp? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tube fanatic Posted April 29, 2019 Author Share Posted April 29, 2019 2 hours ago, ILI said: You seem to suggest that anyone with a China made tube amp should throw it away right now, for safety reasons? So the only amp you can trust is the one you build yourself, No, nothing suggested or implied on my part. That link was sent to me by a friend and I considered it an important discussion topic. He says that the fellow who did the evaluation is highly regarded. Of course, I do trust the amps I design and build myself (it would be strange indeed if I didn't!). That said, there is really no way to know if the components I purchase are the real thing. I only purchase from huge electronics wholesalers here in the US and I hope that their suppliers are legitimate. One never knows. Even back in the day (50s and 60s) there were unscrupulous tube vendors who rebranded tubes of dubious quality so well that it was impossible to tell the difference visually. Maynard Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
opusk2k9 Posted April 29, 2019 Share Posted April 29, 2019 The problem is not limited to tube amps. Lots of counterfeit parts for solid state components as well, especially the vintage Marantz and Sansui power transistors. Even the ones sold by reputable parts companies can be suspect. Sometimes, the only sure way is to buy an old amp and pull working components. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MC39693 Posted April 29, 2019 Share Posted April 29, 2019 I recall having some components (Sony I think) back in 1980 that had a dob of paint on every bolt/screw that was on the outside casework. Hence, if the paint was "broken" someone had been inside your component post factory release and the seller had better have had a maintenance invoice from an authorized shop. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MeloManiac Posted April 29, 2019 Share Posted April 29, 2019 I recall having some components (Sony I think) back in 1980 that had a dob of paint on every bolt/screw that was on the outside casework. Hence, if the paint was "broken" someone had been inside your component post factory release and the seller had better have had a maintenance invoice from an authorized shop.I come from that age too, with blue-sealed screws... Verstuurd vanaf mijn 5047U met Tapatalk Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Schu Posted April 29, 2019 Share Posted April 29, 2019 Does Canada count? 😛 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MC39693 Posted April 29, 2019 Share Posted April 29, 2019 Mais oui, un, deux, trois I thought of buying a mid cost amp from China, checked Google... oh, very badly wired. Nope, not gonna do it. Although, son in law electrician might help check the wiring. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mike stehr Posted April 29, 2019 Share Posted April 29, 2019 FX Audio 6j1 tube preamp - a $31 wonder Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Schu Posted April 30, 2019 Share Posted April 30, 2019 15 hours ago, MC39693 said: Mais oui, un, deux, trois I thought of buying a mid cost amp from China, checked Google... Why do that... there are so many domestic market goodies once you reach into the mid level pricing... say >$1200-$1500. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MC39693 Posted April 30, 2019 Share Posted April 30, 2019 You are exactly correct @Schu Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TubeHiFiNut Posted May 1, 2019 Share Posted May 1, 2019 On 4/29/2019 at 2:44 PM, Schu said: Does Canada count? 😛 My CazTech SET845 monoblocks are from Canada. Been pleasing my ears for 20+ years. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kalifornian Posted May 2, 2019 Share Posted May 2, 2019 On 4/30/2019 at 7:04 AM, Schu said: Why do that... there are so many domestic market goodies once you reach into the mid level pricing... say >$1200-$1500. Examples?? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Les Lammers Posted May 2, 2019 Share Posted May 2, 2019 6 hours ago, Kalifornian said: Examples?? Check these out. You get your monies worth and more. The builder has a good bit of experience too. 😉 https://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_from=R40&_trksid=m570.l1313&_nkw=dennis+had+inspire+amplifier&_sacat=0&LH_TitleDesc=0&_osacat=0&_odkw=inspire+amplifier&LH_Complete=1&rt=nc&LH_Sold=1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rockhound Posted May 2, 2019 Share Posted May 2, 2019 This is one of the reasons I bought my Inspire amp. I wanted a hand built unit from someone that puts quality in front of anything else. It puts a smile on my face every time those tubes start to glow. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
avguytx Posted May 2, 2019 Share Posted May 2, 2019 I agree. It's a BIG reason why I went with the Bob Latino VTA ST-70 tube amp kit from here in the states. I got real customer and technical support from Bob himself and even an occasional email just to make sure all is still working well. I doubt any Chinese company would ever do that. Those offshore amps definitely look nice....but that's about where it ends, it seems. Unless you're a seasoned tube amp tech, like many here and other places, that can reverse engineer them and figure out what's wrong when it breaks. People like me cannot do that. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mark51 Posted May 7, 2019 Share Posted May 7, 2019 I bought a returned Chinese mini tube amp on eBay for less than $100. It sounded good but I wasn't using it so tore it apart of course. It comes powered by a 12 volt laptop power supply. I wanted to see how they get the required voltages from that. Inside was a boost converter that supplies 280 volts to the plates. But it was not mounted to anything. It was just wrapped in shrink tubing and tucked in there. And the shrink tubing had a hole burned into it. I think perhaps it was a repair because the boost converter board looked a little burnt. They could have at least put another piece of shrink tubing over it. I'm very glad I tore the thing apart. The rest of the amp looks solid. I'm going to rebuild it for fun. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KlipschFan61 Posted May 7, 2019 Share Posted May 7, 2019 Not worried. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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