So I received my new tube amp from Hong Kong, PICS

[RnB180]

the longer tuve arrive bent, when I pulled one out I noticed the pins were bent,

Is this bad? Should I ask for a replacement tube? I tried to bend them back as straight as possible. they light up, does this mean Im ok?

Sorry for the dumb questions this is my first tube amp

I also get a strange burning type smell, but I think it might be because its new and it gets really hot, its not really a burn smell but smell like plastic getting really hot. Is this normal?

 

[A S H]

Look nice in dark, not bad

I think your tube will be fine, don't worry. But smell...I have no idea

By the way, how much does it cost?

 

[RnB180]

$260 shipped.

 

[crypt@]

May just be the lacquer giving off the smell. As long as you don't see smoke!

 

[morphie]

plz plz plz do a review

I want a cheap tubey also and this seems to be a very nice solution.

 

[canloader]

Yes, yes - How does it sound?

 

[some1x]

The pins are fine. On small tubes, it is not unusual for pins to be like that.

 

[EdipisReks]

i wouldn't worry about the pins, and many new pieces of electrical equipment exhibit an odor at first. as long as the amp isn't getting alarmingly hot and you don't see smoke, it's probably perfectly normal. my guess is that it's the smell of adhesive or some kind of plastic residue heating. it should go away eventually. how does it sound?

 

[Jahn]

It could also be because you touched the tubes with your hands, and you left some interesting residue on the glass, which is in the process of burning off right now

Say no to Fried Chicken, it ain't finger lickin' good!

 

[RnB180]

Quote:

Originally Posted by some1x The pins are fine. On small tubes, it is not unusual for pins to be like that.

thanks, the packaging was not that great for overseas so the two tall tubes were bentto the sides.

 

[RnB180]

Ive only got to listen to it for a few minutes before work.

I get a really high pitched frequency noise thats on all the time, and the gain is super high, I barely twist the volume from like 7 o clock to 8 oclock and its already above listening levels.

I am using Grado sr-80s, I think it has to do with th effienciency and impedence of my headphones. anyon else ever try a grado on a tubey?

the volume knob crackles as I raise the volume, what causes this? Ive read a comment about this amp elsewhere with the same complaint about the volume.

 

[n_maher]

Quote:

Originally Posted by morphie plz plz plz do a review I want a cheap tubey also and this seems to be a very nice solution.

A little off topic but...

Morphie,

You might want to hold on just a bit, Tyll leaked in another thread that they've recently finished up work on a collaboration between Headroom and Pete Millett to modify his original hybrid-amp. Check it out here. It sounds like it'll be released fairly soon based on the fire sale that they're having on a bunch of their amps right now. And I for one would really like to have someone backing up a product that I paid that much for, $260 is a pretty hefty gamble for me knowing that there's no one to return it to without basically eating the cost of the amp in shipping.

Nate

 

[n_maher]

Quote:

Originally Posted by RnB180 Ive only got to listen to it for a few minutes before work. I get a really high pitched frequency noise thats on all the time, and the gain is super high, I barely twist the volume from like 7 o clock to 8 oclock and its already above listening levels. I am using Grado sr-80s, I think it has to do with th effienciency and impedence of my headphones. anyon else ever try a grado on a tubey? the volume knob crackles as I raise the volume, what causes this? Ive read a comment about this amp elsewhere with the same complaint about the volume.

Hate to say it, but based on that information I'd say there's something wrong with the amp. If you've got a DMM I'd highly suggest checking the amps output for DC offset to insure that you're not ruining your Grados.

And yes, I've run my Grados on my Millett Hybrid amp with no issues do to their low impedance. I've run my 27ohm Ety's on it without issue as well.

Sorry to hear you're having problems, that sucks.

Nate

 

[RnB180]

actually the cracking volume knob thing, Ive read elsewhere, so I think its normal for this amp, what causes it?

regarding the background noise I get the high pitched frequency from the left ear cup. Would it have anything to do with the bent tube? the bent tube is on the left side.

 

[RnB180]

I did a bit more listening, the volume cracking can only be heard when there is nothing playing, the high pitched frequency is annoying.

I noticed that If I leave the knob at 9 o clock the high pitched noise is pretty much gone, it I move the knob back and forth, the audibility of the high pitched noise increases and decreases according to the how much the knob moves from the 9 o clock position.

I popped in my shures and I get the same nosie too, I havent used a sennheiser on it.

N maher, You would need to put your post in easy to read terms for me

, I am not an electrician, so your post went over my head.

from what I have listed so far, can anyone trouble shoot?

when the tubes cool Ill switch the tubes and see if the noise switches over to the other side.