Riviera AIC-10 headphones & speakers amplifier
Sep 8, 2024 at 10:03 PM Post #2,252 of 2,377
I was lucky and got mine before the recent price hike. it's also very important to have a good relationship with your dealer; treat him well and he'll treat u well. got my aic10 balanced in dark titanium for just under 12k brand new including shipping. took a small hit with import tax but still big discount over rrp.

unfortunately it's very unlikely to get that price anymore, based on recent conversations. am thankful I got mine when I did; the aic10 is truly a fantastic amplifier.
Lucky you. Unbelievable price for a new one.
 
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Sep 9, 2024 at 3:54 AM Post #2,253 of 2,377
Re: buying tubes
My experience with buying tubes from Vietnam is a mixed bag. I am based in Europe. Shipping and import tax is expensive and takes weeks. My first tube developed a popping sound after several hours of use. The dealer was responsive and offered me a replacement. I had to send the broken tube to a family member and pay for the extra shipping and import tax again. Overall it took more than two month and around 100€ on shipping and tax extra to get the tube. This is ordering from the other side of the planet. To me it is not worth it, next time I will look for tubes in Europe.
The second point is the question of authenticity. I have no way to say for sure if a NOS tube is genuine or not. But I have my doubts, without being able to prove it. Why would a seller in Vietnam have hundreds of tubes in stock that were produced in Western Germany ( Vietnam had close ties with the GDR, not the West) in the 1960s, and no European seller would still have them. I called several tube sellers and looked on most of the vendors websites, and the G73 is sold out everywhere.
This thought just makes me curious. Anyways, the G73 sounds great, even though I prefer a Tesla and another Telefunken tube to it atm
 
Sep 9, 2024 at 4:45 AM Post #2,254 of 2,377
Re: buying tubes
My experience with buying tubes from Vietnam is a mixed bag. I am based in Europe. Shipping and import tax is expensive and takes weeks. My first tube developed a popping sound after several hours of use. The dealer was responsive and offered me a replacement. I had to send the broken tube to a family member and pay for the extra shipping and import tax again. Overall it took more than two month and around 100€ on shipping and tax extra to get the tube. This is ordering from the other side of the planet. To me it is not worth it, next time I will look for tubes in Europe.
The second point is the question of authenticity. I have no way to say for sure if a NOS tube is genuine or not. But I have my doubts, without being able to prove it. Why would a seller in Vietnam have hundreds of tubes in stock that were produced in Western Germany ( Vietnam had close ties with the GDR, not the West) in the 1960s, and no European seller would still have them. I called several tube sellers and looked on most of the vendors websites, and the G73 is sold out everywhere.
This thought just makes me curious. Anyways, the G73 sounds great, even though I prefer a Tesla and another Telefunken tube to it atm
One of my friends is convinced that seller is taking telefunken non G73R's and painting them and then making his own labels for them as they look too perfect in hand and as you said are extremely rare and very old. either that or he somehow got lucky and has stock piled the world's remaining G73R's lol he has them on ebay constantly on auction as well.
 
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Sep 9, 2024 at 11:50 AM Post #2,255 of 2,377
Re: buying tubes
My experience with buying tubes from Vietnam is a mixed bag. I am based in Europe. Shipping and import tax is expensive and takes weeks. My first tube developed a popping sound after several hours of use. The dealer was responsive and offered me a replacement. I had to send the broken tube to a family member and pay for the extra shipping and import tax again. Overall it took more than two month and around 100€ on shipping and tax extra to get the tube. This is ordering from the other side of the planet. To me it is not worth it, next time I will look for tubes in Europe.
The second point is the question of authenticity. I have no way to say for sure if a NOS tube is genuine or not. But I have my doubts, without being able to prove it. Why would a seller in Vietnam have hundreds of tubes in stock that were produced in Western Germany ( Vietnam had close ties with the GDR, not the West) in the 1960s, and no European seller would still have them. I called several tube sellers and looked on most of the vendors websites, and the G73 is sold out everywhere.
This thought just makes me curious. Anyways, the G73 sounds great, even though I prefer a Tesla and another Telefunken tube to it atm

Regarding a Vietnamize seller with "Good" Reputation have 4x Telefunken G73-R listed on ebay, when i reached him out on facebook he said he got 100 in stock, and showed me the entire box.

i ended up not buying that one but bought another one, so i have an easier time researching source after. i think the seller will sell real tubes for higher price under the table and have other "rare" tubes for 300$ mark with massive stock.

thats my experience yesterday at least. will keep the thread updated with what to come. (wont share name without solid proof, so give it time)
 
Sep 9, 2024 at 3:00 PM Post #2,256 of 2,377
Anyone have any recommendations on a xlr to banana cable?
Thought about contacting arctic for one. I’d like to stay reasonably priced (DHC is a little wild haha).
 
Sep 9, 2024 at 3:09 PM Post #2,257 of 2,377
Anyone have any recommendations on a xlr to banana cable?
Thought about contacting arctic for one. I’d like to stay reasonably priced (DHC is a little wild haha).
i was about to say DHC but then i read the last part :stuck_out_tongue_closed_eyes:

i made an order sometime ago for DHC banana to female XLR and DHC interconnect, all for AIC-10 :gs1000smile:
 
Sep 9, 2024 at 3:11 PM Post #2,258 of 2,377
Anyone have any recommendations on a xlr to banana cable?
Thought about contacting arctic for one. I’d like to stay reasonably priced (DHC is a little wild haha).
I have the Danacable Lazuli Nirvana XLR to Banana adapter and headphone cable. It’s a great match for the Riviera.

I also have the Lazuli Rhapsody which is also an excellent cable. Like a baby Nirvana. You can have the adapter made from that and save money if you like.

Contact them.
 
Sep 9, 2024 at 4:18 PM Post #2,259 of 2,377
Anyone have any recommendations on a xlr to banana cable?
Thought about contacting arctic for one. I’d like to stay reasonably priced (DHC is a little wild haha).
Try Drew from Moon Audio
 
Sep 9, 2024 at 4:22 PM Post #2,260 of 2,377
I appreciate the help. I ended up contacting DHC via a friends advice. 😆
Let’s go.
 
Sep 9, 2024 at 5:38 PM Post #2,261 of 2,377
I appreciate the help. I ended up contacting DHC via a friends advice. 😆
Let’s go.
He'll make great cables for you. You just have to wait forever. :stuck_out_tongue_closed_eyes:
 
Sep 9, 2024 at 7:15 PM Post #2,262 of 2,377
Zynsonix, @HiGHFLYiN9 , also makes great bespoke (and much more affordable, at least compared to DHC and Danacable) cables & adapters.
 
Sep 9, 2024 at 8:21 PM Post #2,263 of 2,377
Zynsonix, @HiGHFLYiN9 , also makes great bespoke (and much more affordable, at least compared to DHC and Danacable) cables & adapters.

+1 on that
I have a speaker taps to 4-pin XLR from him that is fantastic (which I use on my old Decware Taboo)
 
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Sep 10, 2024 at 7:56 AM Post #2,264 of 2,377
For clarification, these “sharp teeth” are what makes this the shark teeth version, correct?
 

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