Tube amps

Christophe35 · « **on:** 28 Dec 2004, 06:51 pm »

Hi everyone,
I'm interrested in buying a ming da tube amp MC368-B:

http://www.meixingaudio.com/ENGLISH/products/mc368-b.htm

This amp can work with different power tubes (KT88 EL34 KT100 KT94 6550x4 ) and is delivered with KT88. The question is, will it work as good with the other power tubes as with the KT88 ? (not a tube comparison but is it as optimized for the other tubes as it is for the KT88 it is selled with).

Thanks for any information,
Christophe

woodsyi · « **Reply #1 on:** 28 Dec 2004, 08:17 pm »

Christophe,

I would ask Bill at Response Audio. He modifies or used to modify Ming Da products. I think he was clearing out some Ming Da's just a while ago. There may still be some left.

Christophe35 · « **Reply #2 on:** 28 Dec 2004, 10:34 pm »

Bill send me a response on audio asylum. Thanks.

Christophe

beat · « **Reply #3 on:** 29 Dec 2004, 12:54 am »

Hi Christophe.
I have to say, I think ming da does a very good job at providing bang for the buck. Point to point wiring (at least with my 845 monos and what I have seen) Attention to build quality, good quality internal components. I'm sure you will be happy. Biasing could be an issue though. It is almost like you have to be a proficient DIYer to live with mine..dont know about yours. Kinda sketchy..My only complaint with ming da (and I think it is why bill is cutting it) is that their customer service sucks and lack of manuals.. it's something you would expect with finer amps..and they just arent there. In my case..I am fine with it but I am a DIYer with much electric work under my belt. I'm not trying to scare you but just trying to say that you may be on your own after sale and to be ready for it. I think they are great for the money.
peace,
beat

doug s. · « **Reply #4 on:** 29 Dec 2004, 03:27 pm »

Quote from: beat

Hi Christophe.
I have to say, I think ming da does a very good job at providing bang for the buck. Point to point wiring (at least with my 845 monos and what I have seen) Attention to build quality, good quality internal components. I'm sure you will be happy. Biasing could be an issue though. It is almost like you have to be a proficient DIYer to live with mine..dont know about yours. Kinda sketchy..My only complaint with ming da (and I think it is why bill is cutting it) is that their customer service su ...

bill told me he was dropping mingda cuz they have recently been bought out by another company...

doug s.

beat · « **Reply #5 on:** 29 Dec 2004, 11:24 pm »

Well, that is probably so. Someone told me they werent bringing in the 845s anymore because they were basically a hazard and wouldnt bring them in again 'till they provided external biasing from the factory..I may have confused that converstation with bill instead of ohio valley or whoever it was I talked to.

Bill Baker · « **Reply #6 on:** 1 Jan 2005, 05:43 pm »

Just to clear things up, doug was correct in that we did drop the Ming-Da name due to it being sold to another investor. As mentioned elsewhere here at the circle, I will be bring in only a few select products designed by the original owner of Ming-Da and released under a new name.

As far as the 845 mono blocs, these are exceptional sounding amplifiers but yes, biasing can be hazardous to your health if you are not familiar with tube amps. With 1000V at the plates........... I think you get the idea.

In regard to the MC368 amplifier, this is identical to the MC88 we brought in only in a different chassis design and without the ability to roll so many different tubes. The biasing of these units is much easier and safer than the big triode mono blocs.

I have kept one of the MC805AA (40 watt per 805 output) integrated amps for myself as I plan on doing some very extensive upgrades to this piece

If I were to continue with the Ming-Da line, I was going to install external bias adjustments as I feel this is the major reason for so many people interested in these products not buying them. They truly are a great value but user friendliness is something they lack.

Ming-da's customer support was not much of a problem as I had connections here in the States that did all my communication and I was also working directly with the owner/designer (through my Stateside importer who knows the owner personally). Yes, it can be difficult to work with overseas manufacturers due to the language barrier.

Quote

Someone told me they werent bringing in the 845s anymore because they were basically a hazard and wouldnt bring them in again 'till they provided external biasing from the factory..I may have confused that converstation with bill instead of ohio valley or whoever it was I talked to.

That may have been me or both myself and Ohio. Liabilities issues can run high when dealing with some of these products as no manuals are provided. THAT was the only issue I had........ no manuals. I basically had to figure things out for myself and make up my own biasing instructions which I did for most products I dealt with.