Switch to Linear ModeSwitch to Hybrid ModeSwitch to Threaded Mode
Printer Friendly View | Email this page | Register Now to enjoy user benefits!
Questor Registered User
Join Date: Jan 2007
Posts: 239
Trade rep: 0%
Thanked 1 Times in 1 Post
Mini-watt tube amp Questor Oct 6th, 09, 10:58 AM #1 (permalink)
Heard this in raindropaudio and thought to share since it's a budget item. $380 for a tube power amp.. the only drawbacks are that it is 2.5w, but otherwise a very nice sounding budget tube. You can hear it in the showroom driving their 93dba Omega speakers, and it delivers where it counts imo.


6moons audio reviews: MiniWatt tube amplifier

I'm not sure what is the diff vs the other mini tube amp that has appeared on echoloft for $350.. but for $30 difference, i think i will go for a reputable buyer and from the original brand if i were to purchase.
 
wwenze
wwenze's Avatar
Newbie of Now & Forever
Join Date: Jan 2005
Posts: 2,208
Trade rep: 100%
wwenze Oct 6th, 09, 02:26 PM #2 (permalink)
Miniaturisation ensues...
 
johnjohntan Registered User
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: Toa Payoh
Posts: 78
Trade rep: 100%
johnjohntan Oct 7th, 09, 03:06 AM #3 (permalink)
seriously i hate sexm00n.It is spoiling the market. They review one unname tamp and it cost 200+ whereas a tamp chip is only like 30 bucks or so. damn overprice.
________________________________
Asus A8n-Sli Deluxe
AMD Socket 939 3500+
Asus Silent Square Series
4 GB Kingston Ram
160G Hitachi Harddisk
MSI 7600 GT X 2
16x LG DVD Rom
Gigabyte 3D Aurora Casing
 
DragonFire To SMP or not to SMP?
Join Date: Apr 2005
Location: 31C Exeter Road
Posts: 7,623
Trade rep: 100%
DragonFire Oct 7th, 09, 08:37 AM #4 (permalink)
Lol looks like the 50lb beasts are on the way out, at least for the mainstream markets.

Mighty fine hooks. Gets people into the perpetual upgrade cycle of doom .

DF
Unix Guru Ian B.:
They said it wasn't possible, but I've just proved them wrong...
#
# uptime

1:10pm up 1000 days, 2:51, 2 users, load average: 0.27, 0.35, 0.27

Views expressed are my own and are not representative of that of VR-Zone.
 
wwenze
wwenze's Avatar
Newbie of Now & Forever
Join Date: Jan 2005
Posts: 2,208
Trade rep: 100%
wwenze Oct 7th, 09, 10:39 AM #5 (permalink)
Quote:
Originally Posted by DragonFire View Post
Lol looks like the 50lb beasts are on the way out, at least for the mainstream markets.

Mighty fine hooks. Gets people into the perpetual upgrade cycle of doom .

DF
Not really... IMHO

These things are cheaply-priced, and low output capacity, and doubt they are of the same quality as the more expensive stuff. And certainly nothing compared to what you're having. Definitely a downgrade for current tube-amp owners. Maybe it would be a downgrade for those using starting-line semiconductor amps too.

Price is very tempting at 698RMB, but 一分钱一分货. Also 2.5Wpc is really pushing the limits, and the GS-Mini has 6Wpc.

Very good for bragging rights because it's a pure tube amp at the price of a (decent) T-amp. And at 2.5W it'll be in tube clipping distortion mode much of the time, which people may want.

Back to the 50lb beast part, tubes and transistors weigh little, much of the weight comes from transformers and capacitors and a big chassis to house all of them (with heatsinks). All this translates into power. If you want power sure have to be heavy.
 
Last edited by wwenze; Oct 7th, 09 at 10:41 AM..
Questor Registered User
Join Date: Jan 2007
Posts: 239
Trade rep: 0%
Thanked 1 Times in 1 Post
Questor Oct 7th, 09, 10:47 AM #6 (permalink)
saw the RMB price. very interesting! did anyone bring in? seems cheap just to buy for fun.
 
wwenze
wwenze's Avatar
Newbie of Now & Forever
Join Date: Jan 2005
Posts: 2,208
Trade rep: 100%
wwenze Oct 7th, 09, 11:19 AM #7 (permalink)
Quote:
Originally Posted by Questor View Post
saw the RMB price. very interesting! did anyone bring in? seems cheap just to buy for fun.
The guy selling the APPJ amp at VR and echoloft lor... asking $350... like... wtf...
 
johnjohntan Registered User
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: Toa Payoh
Posts: 78
Trade rep: 100%
johnjohntan Oct 7th, 09, 12:42 PM #8 (permalink)
700 rmb = SGD140+ only right?
________________________________
Asus A8n-Sli Deluxe
AMD Socket 939 3500+
Asus Silent Square Series
4 GB Kingston Ram
160G Hitachi Harddisk
MSI 7600 GT X 2
16x LG DVD Rom
Gigabyte 3D Aurora Casing
 
wwenze
wwenze's Avatar
Newbie of Now & Forever
Join Date: Jan 2005
Posts: 2,208
Trade rep: 100%
wwenze Oct 7th, 09, 02:31 PM #9 (permalink)
Price rose to 998RMB
 
Questor Registered User
Join Date: Jan 2007
Posts: 239
Trade rep: 0%
Thanked 1 Times in 1 Post
Questor Oct 7th, 09, 09:56 PM #10 (permalink)
I did some checking on the Miniwatt vs APPJ.. and the answer I got was that the Miniwatt S1 has higher grade capacitors and improved wiring. Now, I have no idea if its true or not, but just something to think about. Maybe someone who has the APPJ can bring it to raindrop to compare the SQ.
 
wwenze
wwenze's Avatar
Newbie of Now & Forever
Join Date: Jan 2005
Posts: 2,208
Trade rep: 100%
wwenze Oct 7th, 09, 10:20 PM #11 (permalink)
It will take *only* $380 + $200 + shipping to find out.

Or one can choose not to find out and spend $580 on something else.

I did also read somewhere about this, that it's not uncommon for different companies to go to the same OEM, that produce slightly different versions of the same product at the customers' specifications.

And replacable tubes can add to this difference since China is a source of cheap (and bad) tubes.
 
Last edited by wwenze; Oct 7th, 09 at 10:22 PM..
Questor Registered User
Join Date: Jan 2007
Posts: 239
Trade rep: 0%
Thanked 1 Times in 1 Post
Questor Oct 7th, 09, 11:18 PM #12 (permalink)
well i can get the miniwatt on loan if anyone is interested, and if someone has the APPJ. no need to spend the full $580.

as usual, not surprised at chinese OEMs.
 
New Thread | ↑↓ Similar Threads
Similar Threads Thread Starter Forum Replies Last Post
sin cruise Singapore Marketplace / Garage Sales 100 Jul 30th, 09
12:25 AM
audiophilesg Miscellaneous Garage sales 0 Sep 9th, 08
07:17 PM
Gollum Singapore Marketplace / Garage Sales 15 Nov 21st, 07
05:07 PM
slowmover Audiophile's & HTPC Corner 21 Dec 10th, 06
11:56 AM
Shamino News around the web! 1 Oct 18th, 06
10:00 AM
Thread Tools Display Modes
Linear Mode Linear Mode
Find the best hotel rates here:
Destination:

City:

Check in Date:


Nights:
Rooms:
Adult(s):
Children:
travel.vr-zone.com
OCZ Fan Club!
OCZ Fan Club 21 OCZ Fans!
Win Visa GiftCard
Win Visa Gift Card