Cayin A-88T

What's that a rip off of :newbie: :JPS:

 

Is that all you have to say...

 

Yes if you can't answer the question. Your silence speaks volumes

 

Is that a question...

Please explain, you can find the unit on the net, TEAC DR-L700, what do you mean...

 

It arrived back to the vendor, the pre tubes where malfunctioning, he replaced them with premium units, says the amplifier sounds great now, wants to ship it back...

No thanks, I have no warranty it wont happen again, and it costs almost 200 euros one way shipping...

 

Sorry to hear you had a bad experience of Tubes.

I have an homemade / project build tube amp.
Uses 6SN7's and KT88's.
We first built them with Svetlana KT88's and I forget now - cheap chineese or Russian 6SN7's.
These were pretty crap to be honest.
Changing the tubes is like buying a whole new amp - you can change the characteristics THAT much.

After extensive tube rolling the best sounding 6SN7's are Tungsol 1960's in the front two positions and VT231-JAN 1940's Kenrads in the rear two. Power tubes are now Tesla's - one day a pair of NOS GEC's, I wish.
If I want fast and aggressive I can pop in Sylvania VT231's.
If I want in the middle I would go for NU VT-231's.

Anyway, IMHO, a well made and carefully chosen tube set up will wipe the floor with pretty much any tranny amp in the use I make of it - Driving a pair of ProAc D25 responses.
I've heard £3K+ Krell's bi amp'd and they did not cut the mustard in comparison.
I'd try them again if I were you - but cheap Chinese gear is cheap for a reason... Try a Copland KT88 amp or come and listen to mine

Tubes rule - If they didn't, they would not be used anymore, simple as that.
Pic's and info about the amp can be found below.

 

Thanks Steve,

I have no choice, but to give them a second chance...

What do you think of the tubes the guy used to replace the defective chinese ones ?

Please see my other thread...

 

I should rephrase that a bit. The 6SN7's that we first used - Chinese or Russian were pretty crap.
The Svetlana KT88's are pretty good - I prefer the Tesla's though. More subtle and luxurious.
I'll look at the other thread.