Chinese Tube amp better than Cayin HA-1A

[XXII]

Hi!

I'm looking for an tube amp under $800 that would be a significant upgrade to my Cayin HA-1A. The catch is that since I'm located in Hong Kong, it would be silly to order an american amp and have it shipped over here i.e. no singlepowers, Woo Audio, MAD etc. I'm looking for something quality but made in Asia.

And before I get a torrent of Darkvoice suggestions, I will be using this amp mainly with my Grado HF-1 so the amp has to work well with low impedence headphones.

Thanks!

btw has anyone heard the Valab HA-1 or can comment on how the specs sound?
Valab HA-1 Tube Headphone Amplifier for Grado Ultrasone - eBay (item 300272476236 end time Dec-09-08 23:00:16 PST)

 

[edisonwu]

You may want to see here:
Tube Amp online shop - YAQIN, MHZS, XDSE, EL34, KT88, 300B, 845, 2A3, Valve, Amplifier, CD Player

 

[maguire]

Hi XXII,
How do you rate the cayin Ha-1A?
Do you think it would be a good match for GS1000?

 

[fdhfdy]

The title is misleading, cayin is also a chinese manufacturer. Probablly you'd like to have a look at this: Cyber20

 

[fkclo]

Quote:

Originally Posted by fdhfdy /img/forum/go_quote.gif The title is misleading, cayin is also a chinese manufacturer. Probablly you'd like to have a look at this: Cyber20

I have owned a Cyber 20 for almost a year and it is one very good transformer coupled amp. However, I feel that it is better driving higher impedance headphone than the Grados. Very robust, neat amp and respond reasonably well to tube rolling.

BTW, in Hong Kong, a new Cyber 20 (for 220V a.c. mains) costs around US$400, much cheaper than what it will take in US.

I think the Valab HA-1 may be a good choice, although it is heavy and a bit above the OP's budget.

F. Lo

 

[XXII]

Quote:

Originally Posted by maguire /img/forum/go_quote.gif Hi XXII, How do you rate the cayin Ha-1A? Do you think it would be a good match for GS1000?

I think the Cayin HA-1A is a great amp (especially for the price I paid for it). It doesn't have a very tubey sound but sounds more relaxed and neutral; it scales well with the source and headphones; and it's very versatile.

Unfortunately, I haven't heard the GS-1000 so I can't comment specifically on them.

Quote:

Originally Posted by fkclo /img/forum/go_quote.gif I think the Valab HA-1 may be a good choice, although it is heavy and a bit above the OP's budget. F. Lo

I emailed Valab and they said so far they have only sold one HA-1 to someone in the UK. They also offered me a 2 week try out period so I may be tempted soon. They also offer a 10 year (!) warranty with their product; seems like they are very confident with their build quality

 

[wae5]

Many have found Grado happiness with the LD 1+ hybrid Chinese amp. At $109 plus shipping, I realize it's too cheap to be taken seriously but since no one needs to know you ordered it....

Here’s more info:

http://www.head-fi.org/forums/f5/new...-dot-i-348639/

 

[Fairbanks]

You could get the Yarland P-100 tube amp.I've had one for two years with no problems.Very tuby presentation.Can drive the AKG 701 and Grado GS1000 with ease.My two cents

 

[alwayshungry]

Quote:

Originally Posted by XXII /img/forum/go_quote.gif I think the Cayin HA-1A is a great amp (especially for the price I paid for it). It doesn't have a very tubey sound but sounds more relaxed and neutral; it scales well with the source and headphones; and it's very versatile. Unfortunately, I haven't heard the GS-1000 so I can't comment specifically on them. I emailed Valab and they said so far they have only sold one HA-1 to someone in the UK. They also offered me a 2 week try out period so I may be tempted soon. They also offer a 10 year (!) warranty with their product; seems like they are very confident with their build quality

Some of us in the Source Components forum have recently purchased the VaLab NOS Dac with positive results. I can't speak for the quality of their headphone amp but the DAC I received was very well built and Kevin from VALab was great to deal with. Good luck with your search.

 

[XXII]

Thanks for the advice!

Without having heard all of them, I suspect the Yarland P100, and the Consonance Cyber20 are all relative sidegrades to the Cayin HA-1A.

I guess I'm looking for something of a similar calibre to say a singlepower mpx or WooAudio6 SE

 

[edisonwu]

I like those people. They seem like to be absorbed in making best product they can. Look forward to their high- impendance version.

 

[XXII]

Quote:

Originally Posted by edisonwu /img/forum/go_quote.gif I like those people. They seem like to be absorbed in making best product they can. Look forward to their high- impendance version.

That was indeed the impression I got from reading their ebay ad. Unfortunately, it seems like some build quality issues are emerging with their NOS DAC

http://www.head-fi.org/forums/f7/val...59/index4.html

 

[XXII]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fairbanks /img/forum/go_quote.gif You could get the Yarland P-100 tube amp.I've had one for two years with no problems.Very tuby presentation.Can drive the AKG 701 and Grado GS1000 with ease.My two cents

One thing that I REALLY like about the Yarland is that beautiful wooden face plate!

Personally I think my Cayin HA-1A looks pretty offensive on my desk.

 

[fdhfdy]

Actually there are serveral amp makers share high prestige among audiophiles in China.
like:
ÌìÂíµ¨ÒÕ£º´¿ÊÖ¹¤ÖÆ×÷TM-1£*×îÖÕ°æÕæ¿Õ¹Ü¶ú»ú·Å´óÆ÷½ÓÊÜÔ¤¶¨ÖÐ ¶ú»ú´ó¼Ò̳ ¶ú»ú,¶úÈû,¶ú»ú·Å´óÆ÷,ËæÉíÌý,DIY,ÒôÀÖ

ºÚɤ337¸ÄÁ¼°æ¶ú·Å* 3900Ôª* ÏêÇé¿É½øÀ´²é¿´ ¶ú»ú´ó¼Ò̳ ¶ú»ú,¶úÈû,¶ú»ú·Å´óÆ÷,ËæÉíÌý,DIY,ÒôÀÖ

The most renown amp: 8PR(THe third pic from the top): ÒôÏìÔÚÏß·¢ÉÕÂÛ̳

 

[XXII]

Thanks for the links fdhfdy, those amps look very interesting. I've never even heard of these brands (besides Darkvoice).

Edit: So is the 8PR a DIY amp? In this link

http://www.erji.net/read.php?tid=156713

(for those who can't read chinese) the OP is asking where one can buy the 8PR and in the 4th post, someone answers that the 8PR is not bought but "begged for"