Cayin A88T replacement

I decided I dont want to open it to re-bias, but it is something that has to be done, sooner or later...

The sound is ok, maybe a little hardening at VERY loud volumes, my speakers are 96 db sensitive...

So I am going to replace it, the candidates at the moment, by order of preference are:

http://www.melody-europe.com/GR/AB22.htm

http://www.melody-europe.com/GR/AB40.htm

http://www.melody-europe.com/GR/AB50.htm

http://www.ornec.com/product/GB/Classic_16.0_Integrated_Tube_Amplifier/

http://www.passionhifi.com/classic16.6.htm

 

Only because they are available from where I bought the Cayin, and service was 5 stars...

I would like other suggestions, keeping in mind that it will have to be shipped to Latvia...

 

Why only Chinese?!?

I would always buy something more reliable s/h..... Manley Stingray, Leben 300, etc.

 

Beautiful looking amps.

 

I also like the Leben CS660P, but my budget is around 1.500 euros...

 

with 96db/W sensitivity speaker, leben 300 is enough unless you have a gigantic room.

 

I listen at realistic levels, sometimes, including DVDs...

 

It might be a bit over your Euro budget, but I'd recommend the PrimaLuna Prologue Six monoblocks for their sound, build quality and trouble-free set-up and operation.

Edit: they have an auto-bias circuit

 

Manley Stingray, it's immensely refined, especially in Triode operation. It's plenty loud enough with my 96db speakers

 

Red Wine Audio Signature 30 - the one you should have bought instead of the Cayin

And if you need more inputs stretch to the 3S, you know you can count on Vinnie's stuff.

Jim

 

I doubt you will get anything much better than the Cayin for that budget. I mean it is a very good amp! An amp that costs £1000 from China is probably as good as an amp that costs twice that from the UK or America.

But, the Classic looks nicest.

 

As I said, the Cayin sounds fine enough for me, so I want similar, without the bias adjustment hassle, I dont want used, and I dont want to spend more than 1.500 euros...

Primaluna is fine, but I read that if you use autobias you loose power and gain distortion, and to adjust bias is the same as Cayin...

I dont like the looks of Manley...

Red Wine might be fantastic, or a Gainclone, but I am hooked on tubes...

 

basically you're stuffed then. If you don't want auto-bias, you'll have to bias it yourself. As far as I know, that's the only two flavours valves come in.

It's an easy enough job, especially with my Manley. One prod down the hole, one on the ground. Twiddle the screw until it reads right, onto the next one.

It can't be that hard on yours. What are you man or mouse?

 

Piece of cake, only 25 kgs on its back...

www.melorib.com/data/Cayin_biasa88t.pdf

Compared with the Melody, where it is done outside of the box, no dangerous high voltages...

www.melorib.com/data/Melody_bias.jpg

 

So take it to a shop and get it done? You would have to carry it and the new amp around if you were going to buy a new one anyway!

 

take an exotic chinese valve amp to a latvian shop to do bias?

i can smell a trouble here... this sounds like a beginning of bad joke.

 

I don't know where you read what you said, but I don't think it is true. The auto-bias is not something you do or not do - it is just there and saves a lot of hassle - especially if you want to run unmatched sets or want to try different brands of tubes.

 

I am living in Riga... :newbie:

And it is something that should be done regularly, and for sure whenever I decide to try different tubes...

 

Any guitar tech should be able to do it. Surely they have a guitar shop in Riga?

 

I only used to get my tube amp biased when I put new output tubes in.. so like once every two years....

I would have thought anyone with electrical expertise would find it easy enough, especially a guitar amp tech.