New Yaqin MC30L Tube Integrated Amp

[jmasterj]

Well guys the amp arrived yesterday evening. It was well packaged and everything was intact. After a brief snafu on my part, which should be on the dumbest things you've done lately post. I was able to get a first listen. About the snafu, I installed the four Blue Glass 6CA7 tubes and got everything connected. Then I noticed only one channel was playing. Took the cage off and discovered one of the power tubes was not working. I turned the unit off unplugged it and inspected the tube. It appears that I had not put the tube in correctly, It has a certain orientation. Well I put the tube in correctly. Plugged it in turned it on and this time all the tubes were lit, but still only one channel was playing. Unplugged it again checked the fast blow fuse for that channel and it was blown. I popped in a replacement fuse and got my first listen to the Yaqin.

My first impression is that this amp sounds a lot like the BADA DC-222 Hybrid. Right out of the box the Yaqin's high end seems to be a little more rolled off. It had detail but lacked the extension of the BADA. I also noticed the mids sounded a bit grainy, and the bass was a bit muddy. After about two hours things started to come in. The high end still doesn't have the extension of the BADA, however the midrange graininess was replaced by a much more cohesive and complex midrange. It seemed to add a little more detail to the voices. Both lead singer, and background singers. More detail in the music as well. I remember thinking while I listened to SADE's "King Of Sorrow" that I was hearing some intricate parts of this music that I've had never heard before. I'm sure I'll be able to clean up the bass with some adjustments to the sub.

I'll keep playing around switching between the Triode mode which is suppose to be mellow and rich, and Ultra Linier mode which is supposed to be high power drive and power handling. To see which I prefer. The Yaqin seems to have no problem pushing the MMG's, and I noticed that the volume is set similar to where it normally is when I play the BADA. So it looks like I'll have plenty of headroom with the amp.

This amp is a brute weighing in at around 50 lbs. It appears to be built like a tank. I'm sure in the next few weeks the tubes will get burned in and then I'll be able to give a better evaluation. I plan to leave the Maggie MMG's connected for the next two weeks. Then I'll try the Tekton M-Lores for a couple weeks, or until I get the new bookshelf speakers. I'll take some pictures and catch up with "Snacker" so he can resize and post them for me. I'll keep you posted. J

[jmasterj]

The second day of listening ott oh ! I usually don't play my system before 12:00 noon out of respect for my neighbors. Not everyone extends that courtesy, but I digress. Anyway I decided to turn the amp on, mute the TV sound, and run the TV sound through the amp instead to get some added burn in time. When I started this listening session I decided to open with Shelly Manne And His Men At The Blackhawk volume 4. I sat down queued the music and my bottom lip hit the floor. Wow ! This little Yaqin amp has come in, it really took charge of the speakers, and let them know who was the boss. I've decided I prefer the UL setting it has a little more oomph.

The top end became more extended, the mids bloomed, and I was able to dial the sub in OMG. I went to bed the night before thinking the BADA DC-222 had the advantage, It does have twice the power, and three years of break-in. I've often said the BADA was right up there with the best amps I've owned. I would gladly buy another. Even though when I purchased mine it cost $800.00 with the upgraded tubes. It now cost $1200.00. I thought I'd be hard pressed to find something that sounded as good for anywhere near the price.

The Yaqin MC30L integrated amp is flat out better. The mids are so much more detailed and lush. It took the tubes a few hours to work in, and now the BADA has nothing on the Yaqin. I didn't know what to expect when I brought this little amplifier. Just thought it would be a good little entry level foray into the world of tube gear. Ott oh ! I feel sort of funny touting equipment other than Emotiva gear here on the forum. But we do it all the time. Just yesterday Andrew told us about the sound bar he just got so if he can, I guess we can.

Bottom line, I still have a lot of listening to do with this little Yaqin amp. I have different speakers yet to audition with it. But I'll tell you this. If you're thinking about venturing into tube equipment, and don't want to invest a lot of money. Do yourself a favor and try on of these little amps. I mean if you have some cash laying around and are looking for something new and fresh to introduce to your system. This is it. I don't understand how they can produce and sell these at the price and make a profit. I paid $ 654.00 with upgraded tubes, shipping, and PayPal fees included. I continue to be amazed at the quality, and level of equipment available at the around $700.00 price point.

I'm all over them Emotiva ERC-1 $449.00, Maggie MMG's $630.00, BADA DC-222 $800.00, Tekton Designs M-Lores $709.00 and now the Yaqin MC30L $654.00 each piece of equipment are great sounding and represent a excellent value. I can't stop patting myself on the back.

[jmasterj]

Pictures of before and after, have been e-mailed to "snacker" I'm sure he will post them when he has time. J

[snacker]

[snacker]

Looks great J! What are the specks on it?

M-Lores I would think would be a good fit but not sure about the MMGs. This will be interesting.

Can't wait to come over and hear it!

[ocezam]

Oct 10, 2013 9:18:33 GMT -5 jmasterj said:

The Yaqin seems to have no problem pushing the MMG's, and I noticed that the volume is set similar to where it normally is when I play the BADA. So it looks like I'll have plenty of headroom with the amp.

Congrats on the amp. It is gorgeous!

Since RLW ain't around, I'll do his bidding...

Most people don't realize how few watts they really use. Driving the Maggies is testament to that.

I'm sure you'll be ecstatic with the new amp! I'd be very interested to hear what you think of triode and ultralinear after you've owned it awhile.

Peace

[jmasterj]

First Thank you snacker for resizing and posting the picks for me. The first pic is of curse the BADA DC-222 with the Tekton Designs M-Lores. I'll bring them out in a couple weeks. The following pics are the Yaqin MC30L with the Maggie MMG's which I'm currently listening to. The specs are 50watts/channel in Ultra Linear mode, 25watts/channel in Triode mode. Looks like I'll be out around $100.00 when I change out all 12 tubes. Next month or so I'll get the equipment to check, and adjust the bias. I'm looking forward to learning that process. Come on buy when you have some free time. I'd love to hear what you think about the amp. You'll be surprised the Yaqin handles the MMG's just like the BADA does.

I can't wait to listen to it with the M-Lores so maybe when you come buy we'll start with the MMG's and then later switch to the M-Lores. It sounds like this amp plays a little more forward than the BADA does. Put that with the M-Lores which are highly efficient, and that play forward also that really should be a interesting combination. Then you'll have to come back next month when I get the bookshelf speakers to see how they fare.

Thanks ocezam, I agree with you. My best guess is that I stay right around 10watts/channel or less for most of my listening. Many people would be surprised how loud the volume is with just a modest amount of power being used. That's why I don't quite understand when somebody blows a speaker playing there system at highest volume it will go. I'm not interested in how loud it will play. I'm more interested in setting a volume level that has everything coherent and playing inside the space. But to each his own. I find so far Jazz seems to sound better in Triode mode. Most other music I listen to I seem to prefer the extra punch of the Ultra Linear mode. Which do you prefer ?

[ocezam]

Oct 12, 2013 9:00:55 GMT -5 jmasterj said:

I find so far Jazz seems to sound better in Triode mode. Most other music I listen to I seem to prefer the extra punch of the Ultra Linear mode. Which do you prefer ?

Well if you're talking to me, my amps are simple push/pull. I don't have the option of a triode mode. But from my experiences with other peoples amps, I generally prefer the punch of extra watts.