"Fleetie" wrote in message
news:O36wc.1157$Oc1.196@newsfe4-gui...
"Trevor Wilson" wrote

"Fleetie" wrote in message
...
Hi.

As subject.

I bid twice tonight on Ebay UK for different valve amps.
I left it near the last minute.

I was totally outbid bith times. Prices are outta sight
recently on there, it seems.

Anyone have a cheap, but _modern_ (manufacturing date)
one. I've done the QUAD II thing, and now I wanna try
a shiny new modern one - even if it will be an old
design in a shiny new case.

I will be interested in a power amp (or pair of monoblocs),
or a full integrated amp.

Only interested in fully working ones, with plenty of
valve life left, and in very good cosmetic condition.


I realise it's a long shot, but I thought I'd try.

**Why would you bother buying any piece of audio equipment, without
first
listening to it? You don't mention what speakers you have, so I fail to
see
how anyone can provide meaningful advice, since tube amps have
restricted
impedance operating ranges. Why would you just not go an buy a nice
Rotel?
They make some nice products well within your price range. They'll be
more
reliable, work with a wider range of speakers and provide far better
sound
quality than any cheap tube amp.

If I don't like it, I can flog it on.

**Yes, you could, but that does not answer my question/s. Seems like a great
deal of hassle to go through, for a possible gain of zero. Or worse.


Also, you may gain some insight into the reasoning by reading
some of my earlier posts.

**I might. I would gain more insight if you could answer my simple
questions.


Also, I flogged my QUAD II set in about 1993, and now it's 11
years later, and I totally have the "valve itch" again.

**And here is where I have MAJOR problems. Here is why I have major problems
with your approach. REALLY good valve amps and really good SS amps sound
very, very similar, provided the load impedance is reasonable (to the valve
amp). So similar, in fact, that I have been caught out, several times, in
blind trials. Reasonably priced SS amps sound VERY close to quite expensive
SS amps. Really cheap tube amps sound VERY different to both cheap and
expensive SS amps and really good tube amps.

What does this tell you?

It tells me that cheap tube amps distort the audio signal. Distortion is the
antithesis of 'high fidelity'.

I believe that by restricting yourself to valve amps only, is silly.


Also, one of the cheapest ways of getting hold of a ready-built
valve amp seems to be Ebay. With Ebay, you don't usually
get a chance to listen before buying.

**Bingo! Caveat Emptor.


Plus I don't have like mega-high-end speakers so there's currently
little point getting a super-mega-golden-sample-TdP valve amp, to
play through Mission 752Fs.

So I'm willing to take the risk. As I say, if I don't like it,
I'll flog it on.

As for why I don't "go buy a nice Rotel": Cos I already have a
Cyrus II.

**I did say "Rotel". I did not say "Mission Cyrus II".


--
Trevor Wilson
www.rageaudio.com.au