valve amp

[roll_with_it]

Always fancied trying a valve amp. Maybe this is a good (and damn cheap!!) opportunity?

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/NEW-ARIA-6P1-1...em180040067856

I have absolutely no idea with valve amps, I just know they're meant to sound open and warm, which is what I like. Is it true though that they are generally not as fast as solid state amps?

Do you guys think this is worth trying? More to the point, would it be compatible with my Exposure CD player? looking at the power figures, I dont think they could drive the Neats, but i'd like your opinions please.

[kennyk]

I don't think it will be up to much to be honest. might be wrong. decent O/P trannies will set you back almost as much I think.

might be worth a punt, for £80, but you'd probably be better saving for something that will really blow you away. IMO ;)

[roll_with_it]

cheers kenny,

can you think of any worth trying around £200? Some of the Chinese-buily jobbies are meant to be awesome vfm

[murray johnson]

This looks to have started life as a headphone amp! Load impedance 16-600 Ohms

it wouldn't work very well with 4-8 ohm speakers.

As Kenny says, decent transformers cost money. You wouldn't (probably!) buy a Chinese transistor amp for £79. A reasonable valve amp will always cost more than thatanyway.

[mattg]

"decent O/P trannies will set you back almost as much I think."



Pre op trannies?!

That's a bit steep. I'd have to bepretty drunk!:raoflmfao:

[mrwippy]

The real issue with the budget amps tends to be the low cost transformers and the tubes used. 6AQ5's are available at reasonable prices, but I've would know about 6P1's - didn't these used to be used in 50's radios? They also tent to suffer a bit from variation in build and quality control - great if you get a good one.

[kennyk]

chinese stuff can be hit or miss, TBH. fine for a starting point and if you're into modding and upgrading, but can't be arsed with chassis drilling.

I'm going to sound like a stuck record, but IMO the best vfm is the world designs KEL84 kit - 15w p/c for around £350. but you have to build it yourself (or pay extra to get it done) . everything you need is supplied. there's a thread in DIY documenting my own build - as it's PCB based it's straightforward enough.

[roll_with_it]

kennyk wrote:

chinese stuff can be hit or miss, TBH. fine for a starting point and if you're into modding and upgrading, but can't be arsed with chassis drilling.

I'm going to sound like a stuck record, but IMO the best vfm is the world designs KEL84 kit - 15w p/c for around £350. but you have to build it yourself (or pay extra to get it done) . everything you need is supplied. there's a thread in DIY documenting my own build - as it's PCB based it's straightforward enough.

cheers Kenny, sounds good, I wouldnt want to attempt building my own. How much would it cost to have someone do it professionally? And where can I get it from?

Sorry for all the qs, maybeI should just look in the DIY thread!

[kennyk]

from www.world-designs.co.uk to get it built is +175. it'snot reallythat difficult if you can solder. and can fit an electrolytic cap the right way round . ;)

have a look here http://www.hifiwigwam.com/forum19/7098.htmlfor inspiration

[murray johnson]

I'd sooner be looking at tidy, vintage butless fashionable British made designs like these

At least they would be worth repairing if they ever went wrong

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ROGERS-CADET-I...QQcmdZViewItem

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.d...ayphotohosting

Kenny's World Designs suggestion is a good one though.



My first 'valve' experience was on a mono Armstrong valve receiver I was given. This utterly demolishedthe Nait mk1I was using at the time (despite being mono)

[istari knight]

That Aria looks Very similar to the Yarland FV-34C111 - Same specs too

I owned one a year or so ago - Very nice amp for the money - very sweet sounding if a little underpowered but itwent plenty loud enough with some 86dB 6 Ohms speakers.....Borats Baby also owned one , you may want to Pm him & see what he thinks of them.....

eBay item no : 280045847913

If you could stretch your budget a little you can net something like this :

eBay item no : 300046585874

Its what im currently using - cost meabout 270 delivered & sounds superb for the money......

But if you dont want to gamble with Chinese electronics I'd go the route Kenny suggested - DIY EL84



James.

[Uncle Bob]

what's brought this on m8?

thought you were happy with your exposure gear, are you so fickle



anyways, I thought your recent quinpu experiences meant you were finished with chinese gear

UB