Cayin A-88T

As from 1 January 2004 the EU moved to a 'common' mains supply which should be 230V (-5%, +6%), 50 Hz. ie a range of 218.5 - 243.8V.

Of course, this was a bit of a fudge and the UK is still at a nominal 240V. I've measured my mains at 242-248VAC.

The Chinese transformers are 220V +/- 10% tolerance. Thus at the limit of their tolerance they will accept 242V. Thus most Chinese transformers (unless specified for the UK market) will be at or beyond their rated performance criteria. This will lead to reliability issues in the long term, although the units will work short term. The internet is rife with medium to long term reliability issues with Chinese transformers ~ I am of the firm belief that the constant over voltage is a major contributor to this.

 

I can't quite see what your amp is sitting on. But if it's directly on the floor, this is probably not wise. Tubes are microphonic and they'll be subject to all the transmitted vibrations, etc, from the floor.

 

They are on Soundcare Superspikes, do you think thats enough...

 

I always read that amplifiers shouldnt be connected to mains filters, but, as the Cayin only uses 280 watts, I connected it to my ESE labs 500 watts balanced isolation transformer... :rds2:

Well, it did almost the same it did to the TEAC, smoother highs, more body, darker background...

Its getting there, and no more THUMPs or HUMMM yet...

 

The THUMP is back, on the left channel, but softer, and only about every other time I switch off the amp. It must not be the tubes, as I rotated all of them, if it was a ground problem, I assume it would happen every time, so it leaves the caps ???

 

Tubes are not for me, no patience for HUMMM, and THUMP, and adjusting bias, and not so good sound, so it is packed and will be returned today...

 

Hi Lowrider

Hope you're not thrown off the whole technology by bad experiences with one amp?

It's good that you can still return it if you're not happy with it.

 

I can return, hope they will also return the money, but it is a shop and it had warranty...

I am thrown off, I feel my prejudices where right, maybe it was the unit, but I dont see myself trying tubes again... :newbie:

 

thats a shame.

you could compare it with a valve-head trying a NAD amp, not liking it, and then saying that all solid state amps are no good..

The most important thing is you get your money back (or get rid of it somehow), so good luck with that.

 

Of course I could, but I have 30 years experience with solid state, without a single amplifier problem...

When I tried my first class D amplifier, a BelCanto, I would also ditch the technology if it had problems...

Thanks, for your concern...

 

hey, it's your hifi and being happy with it is all that matters.

On the Belcanto, I would say you are comparing a £3,500 (approx) US built amp with a £400 Chinese amp (approx).

 

What about my current TEAC DVD receiver, cost 283 EUR + 42 EUR tweaks, it sounds much better than the 1500 EUR amplifier only, Cayin... :JPS:

 

perhaps the Cayin isn't a very good product?

 

Could be, 6moons fooled me well...

Or maybe I got a bad unit, not important to me anymore... :beer:

 

so what are you going to use with those open box speakers instead?

 

For now, I will keep using the "old" TEAC DR-L700, the Lyngdorf TDA2200 does everything I want, but a bit pricey...

 

Buy cheap rip offs. Expect crap sound. Ancient Chinese wisdom.

 

my chinese valve / ss hybrids have been working fine for well over a year now no sign of them humming, thumping, over volting, or doing anything other than play music in a way i'm happy with.
as has been said don;t judge a whole section of choice on one bad experience. it'd be like me selling my bike because i got a puncture.

 

What about my 283 EUR TEAC DVD receiver...

 

What if you had several bikes before, without any punctures... :newbie: