This is so awesome that you are doing this as I am seriously thinking of buying this amp. Thank you!!!

@SkunkieDesignsElectronics

2 жыл бұрын

My pleasure!

Good revie and looking forward to seeing how you rearrange the internals. There's lots you could do depending on how much rewiring you want to do!

Why did it take three years of looking at electronics and audio videos to find this channel? This is be far the most relatable and seemingly honest take on the A50 I've seen. You got my sub at "Madman Across the Water"!

@armandorancano6415

Жыл бұрын

Probably because it has far fewer subscribers than the channels that have favorable A50 write-ups.

Looking forward to seeing the schematic/internals. It would be interesting to see some o-scope of each stage.

@SkunkieDesignsElectronics

2 жыл бұрын

Just got that video uploaded :)

Great review

Good to know for people who are new to tube (or valve, I'm British, hehe) amps. You don't have to stick with the tubes that come with it. Having said that, it's also good to know which tubes are a good replacement. Thanks. :)

thanks for the review) and looking forward for your advices in diyaudio (p.s Narside)

@SkunkieDesignsElectronics

2 жыл бұрын

Thanks for watching!

Hello, thank you for your refreshingly new approach of reviewing! Please, try impedance compensation for your speakers when connecting them to a tube amp. Nobody does it or talks about it. Even the "pro's " don't. I bet, the shrillness or harshness will be gone. Bass definition improves a lot. Please give it a try. If you can't do, it, I'll be happy to support you. Just send me the impedance response of your speakers and I calculate the values for the filter. You will be happy, even when connecting your DIY amps. Best wishes, Christian

@SkunkieDesignsElectronics

2 жыл бұрын

Sounds interesting, please contact me via my website and we can discuss this more via email! www.skunkiedesigns.com/contact

@christianhaas5956

2 жыл бұрын

@@SkunkieDesignsElectronics Hello! I hope you saw my message via your contact form on your website including my e-mail adress. I took the measurement for a RP-600M from another well known and respected forum and calculated the values for the impedance compensation. All standard values of course. So, just e-mail me and I´ll send you the schematics incl. values. I did compensate my JMLab/Focal Chorus 707 for my Musical Paradise MP-301. I enjoy it so much! Best wishes, Christian

I really like the show

It’s nice to get an honest review on some of these cheaper Chinese amps that are coming in to America.

@armandorancano6415

Жыл бұрын

It is a very valuable review, particularly given I have not seen any critical reviews. However, just because it offers a different point of view does not make it more or less honest.

I have a set of valve art 300b valves never used for sale or should I keep them and build my own amplifier.

We need more ladies in the audio industry! Question been thinking about the Willseton R8. They ask do you want the 100v 110v or the 120v. Also where did you purchase your tube amp kits from. I agree with your burn in or brake in time. Thanks for sharing . Appreciate your help.

@SkunkieDesignsElectronics

2 жыл бұрын

My "tube amp kits" I make from scratch :)

@armandorancano6415

Жыл бұрын

We do need more ladies in the audio industry. Like SD, they often offer unique perspectives and are as passionate.

I think the lag on good bass can be find in the output transformers. Without excellent outputtransformers... Hard to get a good bass.

@SkunkieDesignsElectronics

2 жыл бұрын

People say this a lot, not sure that it's 100% true. I've found the circuit itself is many times to blame with weak/thin bass.

@Dutchamp

2 жыл бұрын

@@SkunkieDesignsElectronics I use handmade outputtransformers and they are way bigger then thiose in this Chinese amp. I am very convinst that the tube Amp most important element is the quality outputtransformers and in China a lot of copper wire is made of scrap copper with impurities. So... It can sound good it is a fact the quality is very important. Well it came with this type and it is very expensive to go for higher quality types. The Amp does looks nice, you did a good modification within what is possible. 👍

Question I know nothing about resistors transistors all these modifications you're making why didn't they just do these in the first place do they not know what they're doing? And do you have a list of the parts that I would need to do this?

@SkunkieDesignsElectronics

2 жыл бұрын

I have no idea, but the schematic they used is also used in hundreds of DIY builds shown online as well. It works equally bad for a DIY build as I found out first hand lol. Honestly if you have no idea what you are doing, you should do some research before going inside a tube amp, there are lethal voltages inside even when they are not plugged in. Here is more info and a parts list www.skunkiedesigns.com/boyuurange-a50-mods

Hi, i watch your show all the time and really like your Monday Monologue too. Im wondering if you would like to take a look at my old H.H. Scott 208 tube power amp which was given to me by a roomate who left the state. it came with (2)RCA & (1)sylvania, and (1) philips7591 power tubes and 6GH8A driver tubes and a no-name rectifier tube. two years ago i changed all the tubes with brand new supposedly Matched quad of Electro-Harmonics 7591A, (2) new sylvania 6GH8A tubes and a JJ rectifier tube. For 3 years all was well until recently i turned it on and the rectifier tube flashed, then the fuse blew. Before i changed all the tubes, i had the amp serviced for a low hum, and the repair tech told me i should change the filter caps soon, so about a year later is when i replaced the tubes for the new ones as i stated earlier, so im guessing the capacitor failed which i believe was the cause of the rectifier flashing, thats just my theory, i may be able to change the caps myself, but i would much rather someone like yourself take a look at the amp, and maybe make some upgrades to the caps and maybe resistors too if needed. I tested the heater filaments of the rectifier and it works fine, but thats all i could check. You can go to my youtube channel ( Darrkstar Customs ) and see a video i posted of the amp, and im sure your going to be shocked at what ive done to it, its all cosmetic though, im not a tech so i dont mess with the internals. Maybe you could do a video of the work on it should you even consider working with it. I recently purchased a Yaqin MC13s for only $500 but i like the sound of the Scott 208 better, it sounds a bit more tuby than the Yaqin. So let me know your thoughts on this, until then i will keep enjoying what you do:) Lysander

@SkunkieDesignsElectronics

2 жыл бұрын

Maybe in the future, I have my hands full with projects right now.

Try some rft tubes

Good review so far. Nothing beats good old NOS 6SN7-GTA or GTB. Maybe I'm old fashioned but these 6H8C and all these aren't real tubes to me.

@armandorancano6415

Жыл бұрын

The NOS 6SN7 GTA and GTB are terrific tubes. I have them on my unmodified A50. I also have Genalex Gold Lion 300B tubes. It seems silly to spend that much money on tubes alone compared to the cost of the amp. However, the sound more than justifies the cost, at least for me.

I have the Boyuurange MKIII 300B and definitely want to buy better versions of those two front tubes; ideally the GE or RCA brands. However, I can't quite hear what they are called... it sounds like 6S7 GTA but when I searched the AES site there were no results for that. Can you please confirm the tube number? Thanks so much!

@SkunkieDesignsElectronics

2 жыл бұрын

6SN7 GTA sorry about that! I would also replace the Rectifier tube with a 5AR4. It's a drop in replacement, raises the B+ voltage, which helps increase the watt output. At first I thought the coupling capacitors were rated too low to do this change as a drop in, but I discovered the voltage printed on the cap is AC voltage, not DC so everything is fine :)

@skularatna8136

2 жыл бұрын

get the psvane ACME 300B series those are some serious sounding tubes.

Build me one. Like your building it for yourself At least 40 watts Ferrari red Or Hot pink Woops. You just said it No mods or builds you are doing enjoy the day

@SkunkieDesignsElectronics

Жыл бұрын

40 watts?

The A12 sounds stock better than this amp imho.

@SkunkieDesignsElectronics

2 жыл бұрын

I wouldn't doubt it.

VU lights on amps Are a no,no. Will affect sound

Maybe the preamp tube need time to burn in for the shrillness to go away. I doubt the manufacturer that went all out to built this beautiful amp and let this preamp tube to ruin it.

@SkunkieDesignsElectronics

2 жыл бұрын

That tube is the least of this amp's problems. And those tubes are well know to be very cheap but sound very bad. They simply used the cheapest tube they could source.

@armandorancano6415

Жыл бұрын

Changing all the tubes to the ones that have been mentioned is a very worthwhile investment. It seems silly given the cost of the amp, but to a large extent a tube amp performs as well as the quality of its tubes. Like SD says, the stock tubes in the A50 are rock-bottom quality, similar to the stock tubes that come with most tube amps. I wish tube amps were sold without tubes or with options to very good tubes.

I am really confused now. Reviews on this amp are overwhelmingly positive, but the things you mention that are not so great make it sound like this thing is in dire need of some serious saving indeed, way beyond some tuberolling. So why does everybody like it, is it just because it's cheap?

@SkunkieDesignsElectronics

2 жыл бұрын

I have no idea on why people give this amp good reviews. But then I see reviewers raving about how some $2000 power cord transformed the "sound stage" of their system when I know that's also not true. "Everybody" doesn't like this amp, just some well followed influencers who do this for a living gave it good reviews. I'll let you all figure out what that is about. I'm sure not making money from anyone saying it sounds bad lol. And yes, it's WAY beyond doing some tube rolling.

@HerrFinsternis

2 жыл бұрын

@@SkunkieDesignsElectronics Well I'm glad someone like you is here not just to tell but also to show and explain :) One of the problems with amps like this is that you can't audition it (in this part of the world) so you have to depend on opinions that are out there and ultimately see for yourself. And you make some sweet content, I have been watching your videos all evening yesterday. Made me excited to dive into this and make my own. Not that I know anything about this as of yet, but I'm allways eager te learn. So thanks for that as well :D

@armandorancano6415

Жыл бұрын

@@HerrFinsternis You can audition it. Get it from Amazon. You can easily return it for a full refund. I may be wrong on this but I think return shipping is also covered, but perhaps only if you are a Prime member.

@armandorancano6415

Жыл бұрын

@@SkunkieDesignsElectronics I am beginning to suspect that there may be build differences with the A50. After SD commented on my reporting an absence of clipping or harshness on mine I invited 10 of my audio club members to listen. They are by and large experienced audiophiles, and can definitely tell clipping when they hear it. Not one could detect clipping, or any hint of harshness with peaks of 85db. I have no doubt SD heard what she reported. But it is also possible that other things might account for the differences in observations. My A50 runs off a Denafrips Iris DDC. It cleans up jitter and noise, and redoes timing on the signal from my miniPC running Qobuz/Roon, which then goes to a Denafrips Pontus II DAC. My speakers are the Klipsch RP-600M ii, which are reportedly an improvement over the earlier model SD uses. Interconnects are from Blue Jeans. Speaker cables are Audioquest Robin Hood Zeros. I run NOS tube replacements for the stock. Based on sales and reading of comments, I know my experience is shared by many others who have purchased the A50. I have no doubt those who hear what SD reports are correct in their observations. Given the disparity, I would recommend buying the A50 from Amazon and seeing what associated gear you have available or are interested in acquiring that is synergistic. You can always get a replacement A50 from Amazon if the first you get suffers from SD's observations, or at that point acquire the SD mods to see if sound quality improves. Regardless, I would not discount the stock (except for the tubes) A50 based on SD's views or on what I believe based on sales is a minority of observations. There are many positive comments on the A50. It is not just a few KZread reviewers 300B wet dream.