My experience is forever clouded from listening to a system with a 20 grand front end and some very good speakers (all of which I had heard before) powered by a Chinese made valve amp. It was so bad it was shocking. Now before anyone writes in, I know not all Chinese valve amps sound rubbish, but this one was exceptionally poor and personally put me off. It did look the business with big transformers.
if you are on a budget you are better to buy something that is a known quantity on the used market than take a chance, no matter how good the deal looks. Or if you must have a punt, and I admit it is tempting, when it arrives take the amp to a qualified EE and get him to check it before you even plug it in.
Current Lash Up:
TEAC VRDS 701T > Sony TAE1000ESD > Krell KSA50S > JM Labs Focal Electra 926.