since we're talking about chinese tube amps..

[ke4mcl]

since we were talking chinese tube amps on another thread, i'll share my chinese tube amp story.

im not a fan of chinese audio gear at all but i wanted something nice looking to put on my nightstand for late night listening. a console yank wasn't going to cut it. my girlfriend is pretty tolerant as is and i didnt want to push my luck. i wanted a tube amp though.

i saw the musical paradise mp301 on the 'bay at what seemed like a VERY reasonable price. the tube lineup was easily subbed for american types so i pulled the trigger on one.

it arrived really well packed. the first thing i did is test it with its supplied tubes. it worked. ok, yank the tubes and put in some good stuff. i dropped in some NOS military sylvania 6V6 and military driver tubes. i burned it in for quite a while before getting critical with it.

the amp does have a headphone jack which is inconveniently located at the back of the unit. with headphones there is ZERO hum. i was surprised considering the awkward ground wire soldered to a screw head you'll see in my pics of the inside of the amp.

this amp is only 5wpc. you need really efficient speakers to enjoy it at room filling volume. the transformers seem to be potted. appearance is reminiscent of a little western electric style amp. it does the job though. i'm quite happy with it. i've fallen asleep to it playing on the nightstand many a night.

pics here.
http://s31.photobucket.com/albums/c386/secretagentxxx/musical%20paradise%20mp301%20chinese%20tube%20amp/

as i understand it musical paradise has released an updated and "improved" model of this amp that looks totally different. i have not had a chance to look at one of those up close. the pics though reveal something similar to those really cheap chinese "meng" 6aq5 amps that are flooding ebay. i'm prone to think the improvements are to the amps profitability as it doesnt look as well built as its predecessor.

[EM-X90]

Chinese amps fail in the transformer department,enjoy its short life .

[ke4mcl]

Well i have one that failed prematurely but this one has behaved well. It served me well on nightstand duty for a few months. That amounts to 6-8hrs on per night. Still works fine.

[krisjay]

Chinese amps fail in the transformer department,enjoy its short life .

Pretty broad statement, must not have talked to the people who have been running the same amps for over 5 years and more. There was a time when the transformers were garbage, Im sure some still are, do your homework, some of these Chinese amps are the best deal in audio right now.

[Analogtape]

the only thing chinese ill ever buy are thumbtacks the rest are copied bad designed rubbish.

how dare they make a mockery of our classic american and british equipment. Shame on everyone of us who buys these useless plagiarized pieces of junk.

Im sorry but i feel very strongly about this. If you wrap crap in a nice package and nice wrapping paper people will want it but will find a nasty surprise when they take it home.

Thats what i think about chinese amps. a nicely wrapped up piece of dung.

Our jobs have been lost to these guys and now we are buying their much inferior product.

[ke4mcl]

i dont care for chinese stuff myself but remember that during the 60's, the japanese were regarded as the makers of junk. now some japanese pieces are as sought after as our classic Mc's and marantz units.

i will say they are trying hard. i met a chinese tube amp manufacturer via another audio forum and the guy was very interested in what i had to say about new production amps, what i would like to see, what tubes in the line up, etc. this was the engineer for one of the companies that sells mostly via ebay. these guys are trying hard.

i hate to say it but they may be our last hope for currently manufactured tube audio items. china doesn't have all the environmental laws that we do.

[Analogtape]

i dont care for chinese stuff myself but remember that during the 60's, the japanese were regarded as the makers of junk. now some japanese pieces are as sought after as our classic Mc's and marantz units.

i will say they are trying hard. i met a chinese tube amp manufacturer via another audio forum and the guy was very interested in what i had to say about new production amps, what i would like to see, what tubes in the line up, etc. this was the engineer for one of the companies that sells mostly via ebay. these guys are trying hard.

i hate to say it but they may be our last hope for currently manufactured tube audio items. china doesn't have all the environmental laws that we do.

The japanese dont use forced labour they have class and innovation the chinese treat their workers like slaves
i seen the factories they work in its horrendous and a travesty of humanity.

i listened to chinese stuff its lifeless and drier than desert pentode or triode amps.

buy vintage not that junk

[Analogtape]

i dont care for chinese stuff myself but remember that during the 60's, the japanese were regarded as the makers of junk. now some japanese pieces are as sought after as our classic Mc's and marantz units.

i will say they are trying hard. i met a chinese tube amp manufacturer via another audio forum and the guy was very interested in what i had to say about new production amps, what i would like to see, what tubes in the line up, etc. this was the engineer for one of the companies that sells mostly via ebay. these guys are trying hard.

i hate to say it but they may be our last hope for currently manufactured tube audio items. china doesn't have all the environmental laws that we do.


it may have been called junk but compared to the junk coming out china that japanese junk is audiophile

[krisjay]

Woooo big fella, take your pill, no need to get all worked up. Damn, lol.

[ke4mcl]

i still own the musical paradise 301, i had a dared mp7? (i think it was, dual 6L6 SE), and have a blown up no name 6v6 equivalent amp. the 6V6 amp was a novelty. looked great outside but inside build was so-so. the insulation used on the wiring was crap.

the MP301 i used as my bedside amp for about 2 months or so. i'd fall asleep with it on. i retubed it with all US milspec NOS tubes. no issues with that one and i like how it sounds.

the dared was too chromy for me. i bought it busted, simple fix, and sold it. it sounded nice with chinese and russian tubes. it may have been sweeter with american tubes but it had to go so i didn't bother.

the MP301 was a steal for its price. used they sell for what they retailed new. the dared was pricey in my opinion. instead of the dared you could save another $200 and buy a restored vintage amp. that would be my bet.

i have a big collection of vintage american tube amps. Mc225, Mc240, fisher sa1000, several different flavors of fisher integrateds, regency hf150's, scott lk75, dynaco st70's and MK2's, numerous console amps, even a peavey classic 60x60 tube head. i bought the chinese amps to satisfy my curiosity. seems like they are hit or miss.

[Analogtape]

chinese tube stuff look great but the sound speaks for itself.

very less than satisfying

[krisjay]

Again, do your homework, some of these amps are great, some not so much. I agree hit or miss, but with a little investigation, you can pretty much get a hit everytime.

[Analogtape]

Again, do your homework, some of these amps are great, some not so much. I agree hit or miss, but with a little investigation, you can pretty much get a hit everytime.

ok name a few and will audition them


still the fact remains that amp your buying took away an american/european technicians job. i have an issue with that

[krisjay]

ok name a few and will audition them


still the fact remains that amp your buying took away an american/european technicians job. i have an issue with that

Dear god are you friggin serious. Oh, and it is not one I am buying, it is one I bought, and guess what, couldnt be more happy with it. A great piece of gear, is there far better, yup, do I care nope. You seriously need to relax, I bought an audio amp, I didn't renounce my citizenship, get a hold of yourself man.*hypnot* Oh and I may buy another one.*bigthumbup*

[ke4mcl]

krisjay,

any chance you'll be taken nudies of that amp? i'm always curious to see whats in them.

[krisjay]

Actually I doubt I will post anymore pictures of anything, brings out the odd people if ya get my drift.

[Analogtape]

Dear god are you friggin serious. Oh, and it is not one I am buying, it is one I bought, and guess what, couldnt be more happy with it. A great piece of gear, is there far better, yup, do I care nope. You seriously need to relax, I bought an audio amp, I didn't renounce my citizenship, get a hold of yourself man.*hypnot* Oh and I may buy another one.*bigthumbup*


you wouldnt be so freakin surprised if you lost your job to china.