I see an opportunity here for 'refinishers' - someone to buy Chinese amps in
bulk (it's the delivery charges that bump the prices up) and swap, say, the
OPTs (and possibly power trannies) to enhance their performance much the
same way as a certain Cambridge firm 'rebuilds' brand new Indian Enfield
motorcycles into a much better machine (rebore/hone, new pistons and
electronic ignition for example).

Its a thought, but it does depend on just what they are like. One of the
problems I see with the Chinese amps is the lack of a service
department, what do you do if one dies ?

I have been considering exactly this.

If or when I get bored of the (presumably admittedly cheap-ish,
as valve amps go) sound from the YaQin (if it ever arrives...), then
it's on a lovely shiny chassis; why not rebuild the circuit
completely differently "under the hood"? Assuming I can get some
decent advice on some better circuits, and maybe I can....
Maybe even stick different valves up top, providing the sockets
are right?

Win-win! Lovely shiny gold chassis; much better circuit, maybe.

But if the damn thing ever does show up, I reckon I'll leave it be
for a while.


Martin
--
M.A.Poyser Tel.: 07967 110890
Manchester, U.K. http://www.fleetie.demon.co.uk