Help with valve setup please!

[Kit]

Hi,

I'm putting together a sound system for our bedroom, I have been in contact with a few vendors and the nicest guy i've spoken to so far is Chris from Bigs Ears Audio.

One of the main issues for this setup is it has to look good, as it's as much a piece for the room as it is a functional item.... and one of the reasons my girl will let me spu*k so much money on it ;)

Channel wise I want to run:

TV
PC
iPod/iphone 6 docking station of some sort - recommendations please!?

He gave me a good price on:

A set of Icon Audio MFV3 MKII
Audio Stereo 20PP

I also wanted a wireless way of streaming music from my PC to the amp... if there is a good method, i'd like to hear, as the PC is about 4-5 meters from where the amp will be situated and I would prefer not to run cables as there's no way to hide them (wooden flooring).

I am 100% open to suggestions on a different setup?

Please bear in mind I live in Dubai so importing from somewhere like the USA is inefficient :(

My favorite amp I have found so far is the Icon Audio 20 SE aesthetically but i've been told the the SE sound won't be the best for my taste in music and it is discontinued.

I like to listen to allot of bass heavy music generally, deep-house/chillout/lounge music like this for instance: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WqPnZ4I9IdU but I will also listen to things like: https://youtu.be/4d5tsk0YHK8
Kind regards,
-Kit

[struth]

Its an attractive amp and with the right speakers should do fine for a bedroom system.. I used to have a yaqin mc 100b in my bedroom and it was overkill tbh but looked great

[walpurgis]

If you like Icon Audio stuff. Have a look at MingDa gear from China. I believe much of the Icon Audio equipment is made by them and there are certainly clear similarities. MingDa products are very well made and where you are it would make sense to buy from China. I've had much Chinese gear sent to me here in the UK and always had great service. The bigger Icon Audio amps are pretty good, but I have to say, the 20PP is pretty gutless and two dimensional sounding.

Whoever told you SE (single ended) type valve amps are unsuited to your taste in music is talking out of their nether regions. You need to choose your speakers carefully (highish impedance, well damped, easy load and and good sensitivity if possible), but I've used such equipment and had superb results playing similar music. Needless to say you can achieve great results without necessarily using SE amps though.

By the way, China market electronics should be compatible with the Dubai mains electricity I believe.

[struth]

Great minds...lol.
these are nice and may do you as well

http://www.mingda.co.uk/ipoddock.html

[walpurgis]

You may like to consider something like this:

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Raphaelite-CP65-Multi-function-push-pull-KT88-6550-EL34-KT66-HIFI-tube-amplifier-/251631003350?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_3&hash=item3a966066d6

Raphaelite/Sinovt amplifiers are superbly well made and as good as anything from the west of similar spec. I have one.

[Kit]

I knew it was a good idea signing up here :)

Could anyone recommend me some nice speakers to go with this: http://www.ebay.com/itm/MEI-XING-MING-DA-MC84-CII-STEREO-INTEGRATED-AMPLIFIER-/180964588145 I think this is a better option as the iPod dock version will eventually become obsolete but USB is likely to live on much longer with future tech.

Does anyone know anything about "Ho's" speakers:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Pair-Hos-LS-3-5a-loudspeaker-/171332487373?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item27e43648cd
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Pair-Hos-LS3-5aS-subwoofer-speakers-/181527557408?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item2a43e2b520

Is the Mei Xing too weak to drive them both?


You may like to consider something like this:

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Raphaelite-CP65-Multi-function-push-pull-KT88-6550-EL34-KT66-HIFI-tube-amplifier-/251631003350?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_3&hash=item3a966066d6

Raphaelite/Sinovt amplifiers are superbly well made and as good as anything from the west of similar spec. I have one.

This is a contender for the living room but I don't think it would fit in the bedroom as it's a bit too industrial, the Mei Xing is more chic and fit for purpose in the space available.

[walpurgis]

The speakers you've shown are a design 'borrowed' from the normally, properly licenced BBC monitor LS3/5a design, but the drive units are not authentic. Not doubt they require a reasonable amount of power to drive them. I'd expect a 12 watt amp to be struggling.


If you want something compact but attractive, that 12 watts can cope with, have a look at the Usher S520.

Here's a pair in red:

http://i58.tinypic.com/21b7y2u.jpg

They come in many colours (and have grille covers obviously). They sound superb at the price and you should be able to find a pair without difficulty.

I've used them with a 15 watt valve amplifier and they went very loud indeed, so your prospective 12 watts should be fine.

They are very compact. About 300mm tall and 200mm wide. Beautifully finished too.

Here's a link to an American review: http://www.highfidelityreview.com/usher-s520.html

The guy obviously liked them and tried them with lower powered amps to good effect.

[struth]

thought i posted similar re those bbc copies but it. seems not to be there now...mustnt have pressed button properly.
yes they look to be very insensitive and as geoff says would need a fair bit of power up them. the ushers mentioned are great speakers

[Kit]

Those S520's look good, I would like to get some stands for them though, do you have any recommendations at all?

http://www.whathifi.com/usher/s-520/review gave 3 out of 5 for the S520, are their reviews normally unbias?
http://www.6moons.com/audioreviews/usher3/1.html mentions a lack of bass, obviously this isn't great given my preference in music taste?

However if you guys recommend them, then i'm happy with that, I know I won't get everything I want in such a small package.

---

I found this amp: http://www.china-hifi-audio.com/en/meixing-mingda-amplifier-c-17/meixing-mingda-mc34-b-integrated-amplifier-with-headphone-amp-p-378 I really love the way it looks and the gold fits in well with my room. However it states it's "Tail inverted" what ever that means and stipulates:

"b)It sounds soft,smooth and natural with a good sense of position as well as a high resolution.
c)It is good at playing human voice and stringed music,and it is suitable to work with HiFi speakers over 88dB."

Am I still best sticking with the DA MC84-CII STEREO?

[Firebottle]

However it states it's "Tail inverted" what ever that means ?

Perhaps it means phase inverted?

:cool: Alan

[walpurgis]

Hi Kit.

Obviously the Usher S520 won't have the bass extension of a big speaker, but I find the overall balance good. In other words, they don't sound weak and lacking in punch. Quite the opposite actually, they're surprisingly full bodied.

You could add a powered subwoofer to the system at a later date if you wanted to extend the bass, but I'd think you'd be pretty pleased with what the little Ushers can do anyway.

The MeiXing (MingDa are the same company) amp you've shown looks fine and 22 valve watts is plenty.

I tend to ignore the 'pidgin inglish' used on oriental sites (they tend not to know what they're really saying) and just check the spec and look for online reviews. If you look through the Icon Audio range, I have a feeling you may find the same amp, just rebadged (at a far higher price). Worth checking out.

My experience is the the S520 sounds very well suited to most valve amplification. Just avoid low powered Single Ended Triode types. The MeiXing looks just the job.

[Kit]

Hi Kit.

Obviously the Usher S520 won't have the bass extension of a big speaker, but I find the overall balance good. In other words, they don't sound weak and lacking in punch. Quite the opposite actually, they're surprisingly full bodied.

You could add a powered subwoofer to the system at a later date if you wanted to extend the bass, but I'd think you'd be pretty pleased with what the little Ushers can do anyway.

The MeiXing (MingDa are the same company) amp you've shown looks fine and 22 valve watts is plenty.

I tend to ignore the 'pidgin inglish' used on oriental sites (they tend not to know what they're really saying) and just check the spec and look for online reviews. If you look through the Icon Audio range, I have a feeling you may find the same amp, just rebadged (at a far higher price). Worth checking out.

My experience is the the S520 sounds very well suited to most valve amplification. Just avoid low powered Single Ended Triode types. The MeiXing looks just the job.

Duly noted, thanks for the advice Geoff!

Ok so i've settled on the amp:

Meixing MingDa MC34-B
http://www.china-hifi-audio.com/images/meixing-mingda/Meixing-MC34-B-01.jpg

What would be the best way, in a wireless fashion, to get music from a PC or Apple device to this amp?

I looked at this: http://www.logitech.com/assets/32377/squeezeboxclassic-ownersguide.pdf but I don't have an ethernet cable in the room (it's all wireless in my house)?

[walpurgis]

Can't help you with the wireless PC/Apple set up. I don't use them. Start a thread in the 'Digital Expressions' area and ask about it. Our lot should sort you out OK.

[Kit]

Ok, so this is what the system landscape will look like, let me know if i've screwed up anywhere please guys:

Input:

Arcam irDAC
USB - Logitech blutooth audio adapter
iPod - 7th gen iPod Nano docking station (still haven't settled on which one yet?)
Coax 1 - Marantz CD6004 - black
Coax 2 - Logitech Squeezebox Touch
Optical 1 - Panasonic DMP-BDT700 (blu-ray)
Optical 2- UNUSED

Output:

Meixing MingDa MC34-B
Q-Acoustics 2050 - Graphite




Now... what cables do I order, I don't want to break the bank but I also want to ensure the system isn't bleeding sound quality unnecessarily?

I know i'll need a funky RCA to USB cable for the logitech blutooth, any idea where I can get one of those?