Want a good tube integrated amp?

TIC · « **on:** 31 Oct 2003, 01:28 am »

There was some interest noted on another thread recently concerning a great budget tube integrated amp. Well, here's your chance!

There are currently 2 different internet ads for the excellent Cayin TA-30 priced at $499 or less!!

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=3055879921&category=3280

http://cgi.audiogon.com/cgi-bin/cl.pl?ampstube&1072732717

I recently bought one of these via the ebay ad listed by Paul at BizzyBee in Chicago. I bought it out of curiosity as I didn't really need another amp right now. Well, All I can say is WOW!!! For $500 this thing is a killer. Absolutely beautiful build and sonics well beyond the price.

I currently have a pair of modified BottleHead Paramour 2A3 SET amps and a Dodd 8Watter. No, the Cayin is not the sonic match of either of these, but it has WAY more power and might actually work better for rock music or for people that are hyper critical of poor recording quality. The Cayin will also work with a much wider variety of speakers. Also, as it is an integrated, it could make the centerpiece of a really nice budget Hi-Fi rig.

BTW, I have zero relationship to either of these sellers, but I am a happy customer of BizzyBee and a very satisfied Cayin TA-30 owner.

This is a public service announcement for those interested in trying a tube integrated on a budget.

Moderator, feel free to delete/modify if this is out of line.

Enjoy,

TIC

gary · « **Reply #1 on:** 31 Oct 2003, 02:21 am »

no doubt about it, this amp is just an amazing deal for the price. anyone who's thinking about tubes on a modest budget needs to put it high on their list.

paul even does a $30 mod to change one of the inputs to a volume controlled sub output.

-gary

mca · « **Reply #2 on:** 31 Oct 2003, 07:44 pm »

If only it was not gold! I thought that went out as a component color in the 70's

I actually was very interested in this amp, but just could not get past the face plate color. I ended up with a black face plate ASL instead.

playntheblues · « **Reply #3 on:** 31 Oct 2003, 11:44 pm »

I also just purchased a Cayin amp. WOW point to point wiring, silver wires, silver soder. Now if I could ownly get Chris Owns to return my email, I would have a budget dac as well. LOL

Tbadder1 · « **Reply #4 on:** 2 Nov 2003, 12:42 am »

It's just killing me boys. Between all this talk of digital amps on the cheap, and this tube baby, a clear winner. I'll never make up my mind on my second system. Geez.

TIC · « **Reply #5 on:** 4 Nov 2003, 03:59 am »

OMG!!!!

My Cayin TA-30 is a couple of weeks old now and I finally got some time to actually play around with this thing a bit. I gotta tell you, this amp is THE REAL DEAL when it comes to budget tube amps. It is absolutely gorgeous in person (in amp?) and much better than the pictures I've seen on the web.

So, today I removed 2 of the output tubes (2nd and 4th per Paul at BizzyBee) to run the unit in SE mode. My speakers are very easy to drive, so the 2-4 watts that the TA-30 outputs in SE mode is plenty.

OMG, this thing is WAY good in SE mode. I swear, this thing sounds very close to my refefence amps and may be better in some ways!! It may not have the ultimate resolution, but man does it make music!!!!

So, Paul just received a BOATLOAD of these amps and apparently there are a lot of the "slight packaging damage" units like I bought for $499. Here is a link to the new AudiogoN ad.

http://cgi.audiogon.com/cgi-bin/auc.pl?ampstube&1069123628

I'll tell ya, if you have ever been curious about a tube amp, this is a GREAT place to start. This amp has enough power for most speakers. It sounds very good in P-P mode and IMHO it will kill a lot of SS electronics, especially stuff in the <$1000 range. In SE mode, this unit is REALLY GOOD!!!! I've heard many multi-thousand dollar amps that did not sound this good. And I haven't even correctly set the bias yet!

I have a few other amps in house right now and this $499 amp is making me rethink my amp expenditures. I may just send the Cayin TA-30 of to Paul at BizzyBee and let him perform a couple of his "stock" upgrades. If it gets any better, it could be as much amp as I ever need.

BTW, I'm using the $3500 Resolution Audio Opus 21 CD player and the $2500 Reference 3A MM Decapo speakers and these quality components don't seem to be overkill for this $499 tube integrated.

This is one of those Audio bargains that people always talk about. Go buy one if you have ever been curious about that tube thing!!!

BTW, I have absolutely no relationship, personal or professional, with Paul or BizzyBee. I'm just a happy and excited customer.

Enjoy,

TIC