And now another headphone amp review. I got Bellari because it’s the only headphone amp out there that uses 12ax7 and thus 5751 tubes. So I was excited that I would be able to use my favorite Telefunken, Mazda or Sylvania GB with it. I got the amp really quickly from Amazon ($3 next day shipping with Prime rules!)

This review is going to be very short… I got the amp, yanked out the Shuguang tube – garbage. The first thing I’ve noticed that power supply was puny – 150ma I believe. I was wondering how that little thing could provide enough power to drive filament and the amp at the same time – but it did. I inserted Mazda 12ax7 with Silver Plates – plug my Sennhisers HD650 – lighted a cigar and turned on an album by Diana Panton. The first thing that I’ve noticed, the sound was quite flat and not much airiness to it. I tried both inputs, but with the same results. But what the hell, I had a good cigar. I continued listening for about 30 more minutes and when the cigar was done, I went to try a different tube – I thought that maybe the amp just doesn’t like Mazda. I plugged in Amperex and discovered that only one channel was working. I plugged back Mazda and then Shuguang, but the amp was dead. 🙁

So a very short review – broken amp (awesome return policy with Amazon) – and a sound that didn’t excite senses even with a fantastic tube.

The Audio Research VS115 is, by all accounts, a physical powerhouse. Occupying a footprint nearly double that of the iconic McIntosh MC275, this “beast” of a machine makes a bold visual statement. With its wide base and three massive, exposed transformers, the aesthetic is decidedly contemporary and menacing—though those seeking classic elegance may find it a bit industrial.

5 Stars4 Stars3 Stars2 Stars1 Star (12 votes, average: 3.17 out of 5)

And here comes another tube amplifier. I was very skeptical when I saw this thing on ebay at first. $86 shipped for a tube am, I thought. It must be a piece of sh**. But I wanted a tube amp for my office at work. It had to be something small. So I started to research about this tube amp and a couple of other amps on ebay. After a bunch of research and being guided by the following thread, I was very close to making my decision.

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5 Stars4 Stars3 Stars2 Stars1 Star (22 votes, average: 3.64 out of 5)


“New to tube sound, I wasn’t sure what to expect, but had an idea in all the research and comments on tubes. I WAS NOT DISAPPOINTED AT ALL. In fact I was somewhat blown away at first ” light up “. Maybe it was just the song, but WOW everything was better from top to bottom. The difference was night and day in comparison to the Onk which wasn’t bad, but the Yaqin was better/different in all categories.” Read

“Turned the map on, waited for 20 seconds for it to come alive. And started playback…. What can I say. The whole music scene came alive – I felt the band in the room – incredibly realistic, incredibly warm – complete sonic nirvana. Superb reproduction of Vocal Jazz!!! It’s still burning in and I can hear harsh notes, but overall very impressive. “

All you need to know about Yaqin MS-20L could be found here

And even more reviews

Yaqin US Distributor

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5 Stars4 Stars3 Stars2 Stars1 Star (8 votes, average: 4.88 out of 5)


No reviews necessary for this amp. 🙂 But just in case…

“Carefully set up and matched with other components, the McIntosh MC275 is a very good, very well-balanced amp that goes higher, lower, louder, and softer, with more texture and detail, than you might expect from a “modified classic”—or, for that matter, from any tube amp costing less than $5000. It certainly did more of all that than I was expecting. By any standard, it made listening to all kinds of music a pleasure. I could happily live with it. “ Read

Schematics

5 Stars4 Stars3 Stars2 Stars1 Star (14 votes, average: 3.36 out of 5)


“Rock out at ear-splitting volumes? Look elsewhere…Enjoy intimate small-group jazz, pop, folk, or chamber music? Give these a listen right away.”

“After a brek in period for the tubes and amp, I will say this is a very good sounding amp. Will it beat a Cary or a Jadis? NO! But it is very good for the money. “ Read

“I’d say I have “liquid mids” and “microdynamics” just galore in here! “ Read

“Warm and lush character with current tubes. Extremely easy to listen to with its involving character. Smooth treble, vocals and midband which cannot be comapred to w/my SS or PP tube amps, regardless of tubes used. ” Read