AndreG. Posted April 27, 2021 Share Posted April 27, 2021 4 minutes ago, MeloManiac said: Postage and import duties/taxes added 170 euro to the price. Yep, price doubles for us... 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AndreG. Posted April 27, 2021 Share Posted April 27, 2021 This is a DIY alternative, maybe: https://getaudio.eu/en/elekit-tu-8100-pcl86-single-stereo-tube-amplifier-diy-kit/ Two watts is barely adequate for the Heresy? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MicroMara Posted April 27, 2021 Share Posted April 27, 2021 41 minutes ago, AndreG. said: This is a DIY alternative, maybe: https://getaudio.eu/en/elekit-tu-8100-pcl86-single-stereo-tube-amplifier-diy-kit/ Two watts is barely adequate for the Heresy? THIS IS A DIY ALTERNATIVE ........from Germany , read the reviews https://www.nixiekits.eu/product.php?key=stc_mkII_pa 1 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AndreG. Posted April 27, 2021 Share Posted April 27, 2021 37 minutes ago, MicroMara said: THIS IS A DIY ALTERNATIVE ........from Germany , read the reviews https://www.nixiekits.eu/product.php?key=stc_mkII_pa Thanks! As always, it´s a matter of how much money you want/ can spend. Let´s see if more suggestions turn up. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MeloManiac Posted April 27, 2021 Share Posted April 27, 2021 2 hours ago, AndreG. said: Two watts is barely adequate for the Heresy? If your input device is a CD player or streamer, and you have efficient speakers, and the room size is not too big, it will give you more than enough decibels. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MeloManiac Posted April 27, 2021 Share Posted April 27, 2021 1 hour ago, MicroMara said: THIS IS A DIY ALTERNATIVE ........from Germany , read the reviews https://www.nixiekits.eu/product.php?key=stc_mkII_pa Nice, but pricey. Perhaps the components are much better than in the Tubecube? Where is it made? If it is made in 'Chinaland', like the Tubecube.I would say the price is too high. If it is made in Europe, it's different then... 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AndreG. Posted April 27, 2021 Share Posted April 27, 2021 The vita says that the owner of the page designed this amp and other gear himself. He´s an engineer and musician. He dosen´t reveal where he has his kit-parts produced. So you could say it´s "Made in Germany". 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MicroMara Posted April 27, 2021 Share Posted April 27, 2021 8 minutes ago, MeloManiac said: Nice, but pricey. Perhaps the components are much better than in the Tubecube? Where is it made? If it is made in 'Chinaland', like the Tubecube.I would say the price is too high. If it is made in Europe, it's different then... as mentioned it´s a german development and a german product ...of course , even for a diy solution it isn´t that cheap like the chinese stuff . 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MicroMara Posted April 27, 2021 Share Posted April 27, 2021 What about a Dynavox Hybrid Solution , no diy ready to play ......for 150 € bucks https://www.amazon.de/Dynavox-Hybrid-Verstärker-LED-Beleuchtung-Stereo-Anlage-Musik-Streaming/dp/B07KZMDMX3/ref=asc_df_B07KZMDMX3/?tag=googshopde-21&linkCode=df0&hvadid=481082254217&hvpos=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=3266886020481925849&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=c&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=1004611&hvtargid=pla-906704616233&psc=1&th=1&psc=1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MeloManiac Posted April 28, 2021 Share Posted April 28, 2021 9 hours ago, MicroMara said: as mentioned it´s a german development and a german product ...of course , even for a diy solution it isn´t that cheap like the chinese stuff . If it is a kit you need to build yourself, I think it is OK, still quite expensive, compared to the Elekit tube amp kits. The thing is that this one is very tiny, so it may be a challenge to put together and solder, compared to Elekit, which are bigger, with more space to work on. I thought that the Elekits started at 8 Watts per channel. They have a fabulous reputation. If Nixie is a one-man project, not backed up by a team/company, I have my doubts... As for so called 'European tube amps', many of them are 'designed and engineered' in Europe, and then built in Chinaland, where workers are abused, maltreated, human rights (Hong Kong!) are not respected, and they externalise the cost to the environment and undermine honest competition by state subsidising. And then they still call it a 'European' product. Nota Bene: you can say the same about your iPhone... Yet, after all my whining... I took another look at the Nixie tube amp, I also looked at the pictures of it on their website, and I must say it looks really impressive. But I do think you must have good skills at soldering to put it together! Some of the soldering points are really close to one another! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AndreG. Posted April 28, 2021 Share Posted April 28, 2021 I' not sure how much soldering you have to do on the Nixie as all resistors are SMD, as an amateur these are hard to solder. You probably just assemble greater components. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MeloManiac Posted April 28, 2021 Share Posted April 28, 2021 1 hour ago, AndreG. said: I' not sure how much soldering you have to do on the Nixie as all resistors are SMD, as an amateur these are hard to solder. You probably just assemble greater components. If that is the case, you can in no way compare this with the Elekit, where every little resistor must be soldered by the DIY consumer. They charge between 250 and 300 euros to have it done for you, depending on the Elekit dealer... For me, the fact that Nixiekit doesn't provide the information is another hint that it is 'German design and engineering, produced in Chinaland' and therefore, it should be compared to the Tubecube (which is much cheaper) and not with the Elekit. The tubes of the Nixiekit are better and more valuable than the stock tubes that come with the Tubecube, it appears, and 'maybe' the other components are better quality too. If that's the case, Mr Nixie should provide more information about their provenance and brand, as Elekit does, and other reliable brands. I have become extremely sceptical about these internet ventures, which seem to be from Europe, with .eu or .nl or .de in their website address. Often they are Chinaland facades, and when you put an order, delevery times are very long and you can forget about warranty and the like. Contacting them is impossible. I'm not saying this is the case with Nixie, but I've had a few bad experiences with companies like that and now I'm very careful about this... There are very positive comments about the Nixiekit tube amp here: https://www.lencoheaven.net/forum/index.php?topic=32367.0 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wetowne Posted April 28, 2021 Share Posted April 28, 2021 That Nixie amp is a hybrid using an STA540 IC amp as the output stage and those EAM86 tubes are just a light show. I wouldn't compare it to the Tubecube. Totally different animal. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MeloManiac Posted April 28, 2021 Share Posted April 28, 2021 41 minutes ago, wetowne said: That Nixie amp is a hybrid using an STA540 IC amp as the output stage and those EAM86 tubes are just a light show. I wouldn't compare it to the Tubecube. Totally different animal. I own something similar, branded. It cost 75 euro and has 50 watt, hybrid class D, comes with 2 tubes. It comes Bluetooth enabled. For its price, I love it! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hanksjim1 Posted April 28, 2021 Share Posted April 28, 2021 If we are looking at low wattage kits, here is a Spud Amp kit that is a serious performer for about twice the price of the Tube Cube 7 (US Made, quality parts): https://spudkit.com/ 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
steelgtr Posted April 28, 2021 Author Share Posted April 28, 2021 Please post any reasonable tube upgrades that made a big difference! bob Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MeloManiac Posted April 28, 2021 Share Posted April 28, 2021 4 minutes ago, steelgtr said: Please post any reasonable tube upgrades that made a big difference! bob I upgraded the Tubecube to Sovtek EL84M. No regrets. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AndreG. Posted April 28, 2021 Share Posted April 28, 2021 1 hour ago, hanksjim1 said: If we are looking at low wattage kits, here is a Spud Amp kit that is a serious performer for about twice the price of the Tube Cube 7 (US Made, quality parts): https://spudkit.com/ Looks great. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Marvel Posted May 25, 2021 Share Posted May 25, 2021 On 4/18/2021 at 6:27 AM, billybob said: On 4/17/2021 at 9:21 PM, steelgtr said: Do I need to break it in first? with or without a load? thx Good question... The outputs require a load on them. Letting the tubes warm up for a few minutes is probably good... 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LTusler Posted May 25, 2021 Share Posted May 25, 2021 Sonos Connect>Tube Cube> Hersey 1's with Crites caps and tweeter. Perfect for background music in the house when not in the shop listening to the Jubes. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.