Valve phono stage question

[Haselsh1]

Does anyone happen to know whether the Yaqin MS-12B will work on UK mains or is it the same as all other Chinese gear...?

[walpurgis]

I wouldn't worry too much Shaun. There are plenty of MS-12B units in this country and I've not heard of any mains matching problems. I've had plenty of 230v Chinese electronics and never had any bother.

[Haselsh1]

I have owned Chinese hi-fi items before and they lasted at most two years. The valve amplifier I had had voltages all over the place and was damn near dangerous so I do very definitely worry about buying yet another piece of Chinese hi-fi however a UK made comparable piece price wise would only be a Project unit. I just wonder if the Yaqin would be any better.

[walpurgis]

This thread on diyaudio forum seems to answer your question Shaun.

http://www.diyaudio.com/forums/tubes...fe-use-uk.html

[Haselsh1]

Many thanks for that Geoff I think I'll leave well alone as 'once bitten, twice shy' and all of that rubbish. I shall probably go with something secondhand off ebay.

[walpurgis]

I've been using Graham Slee phono stages for years and I've been very pleased with the sound. But If you still fancy valves, look out for a used Bellari VP 129 on eBay, they don't look much, but sound amazingly good at the price. The later VP130 seems less liked, I had a VP129 for a while and it really surprised me, not far short of the EAR 848P I had. By the way, I found the Graham Slee V Era Gold superior even to the EAR 834L. I'm currently using an Reflex Era Gold, can't hear much in it between that and the V Era Gold.

[Gordon Steadman]

Why not talk to Alan (Firebottle) about his valve pre?? Special price for AOS members too.

[Haselsh1]

Why not talk to Alan (Firebottle) about his valve pre?? Special price for AOS members too.

I have Firebottle's original valve pre with me at the moment but it really is not to my taste or liking. I prefer a phono stage with great depth and Firebottle's pre shouts everything out at you in one huge wall of sound which I find a little too CD like. I'll keep looking as I am in no hurry at the moment. Something will turn up as it usually does.

[walpurgis]

If you like depth, as I do. Get a listen to the V Era Gold, that has amazing ambience and soundstaging. You can hear right into the depths of the recording. It's also totally uncoloured and very transparent, good weight too. It's a very neutral device, you'd never tell by listening whether it was valve or solid state. Shame you're not nearby, you could have a listen here.

[CageyH]

Graham Slee do a loan scheme, so you can have a listen before you commit to buy.