Wanted: Mr Liang 845 SET amp or similar

[Colin151]

I'm hankering after a 845 SE amp. Never tried one before. Quite like the look of the Mr Liang one, so would definitley be up for any version of that (I see there was one with 300B drivers and a previous one without).

Failing that perhpas another 845 amp but nothing too pricey would be good.

If you have anything please let me know.

Cheers,
Colin

[Ali Tait]

What's your budget?

I believe it's still possible to import a Mr Liang.

[Spectral Morn]

Other amps using 6c33c valves have a similar quality to 845 amps, the delicacy of say 2A3s but the balls to drive more difficult speaker loads.

A s/h Almarro A318B would be worth looking for - just an outside of the box suggestion. http://www.6moons.com/audioreviews/almarro5/318.html



Regards Neil

[Colin151]

Thanks Ali,

Max budget is about £800 or so I guess (but I'd hoped to find a used Liang for cheaper!. Seen them go for between about £400-600 depending on whether they've had work done etc). I didn't think you could buy a new one anymore. Any ideas how much that would cost?

When you tap this amp's name into google you seem to come up! Do you still have yours?

There is one on the wam that's been modded to take GM70 valves.
http://www.hifiwigwam.com/showthread.php?120862-SET-Amp

Might be nice. I could use that extra power. I guess its a bit of an unknown quantity though compared to the stock ones with 845s, and it's also a long way from me in Glasgow...




What's your budget?

I believe it's still possible to import a Mr Liang.

[Colin151]

Thanks a lot for the info and the tip. I've seen the Almarros come up for sale quite a bit on the forums in the past. My speakers do like some ommph so I'll definitely keep an eye out...
Other amps using 6c33c valves have a similar quality to 845 amps, the delicacy of say 2A3s but the balls to drive more difficult speaker loads.

A s/h Almarro A318B would be worth looking for - just an outside of the box suggestion. http://www.6moons.com/audioreviews/almarro5/318.html



Regards Neil

[Spectral Morn]

To answer a now deleted post re stability issues with 6c33c valves, no, not to my knowledge. A lot of companies use 6c33c in their designs. I do think though that poor quality 6c33c valves exist, which might be an issue, but so too would you have issues with any poorly made cheap valve. I know of folks who have had reliability issues with cheap 845s but that doesn't make 845 amps or 845 valves unreliable as a type ?

Re lots of power and difficult speaker loads and valve amps, usually one needs to be thinking of spending lots of money, unless something nice s/h turns up.



Regards Neil

[Andy831]

Thanks Ali,

Max budget is about £800 or so I guess (but I'd hoped to find a used Liang for cheaper!. Seen them go for between about £400-600 depending on whether they've had work done etc). I didn't think you could buy a new one anymore. Any ideas how much that would cost?


Colin I have a mate who has one that is currently not being used. I have emailed a copy of this thread to him so hopefully he may be in touch soon.

Andy

[Colin151]

What's your budget?

I believe it's still possible to import a Mr Liang.

Hi again Ali,
I saw a post of yours from a few years back where you said the Audioromy FU13 amp was more powerful than the Mr. Liang and was also a good amp.

Funnily enough I nearly bought an FU13 about 7 years ago but didn't get one in the end. At the time it was pretty new and there was very little feedback on it (but it looked decent). If it's a good amp that's a shame as it doesn't seem to be available anymore. They only sell the FU29 now.

[struth]

Think it was the fu29 I had. It was a damn good amp and powerful too for the size. only thing was it needed the mains fettling as they are 220v ...simple job though...still got valves for it actually. the ones with the anodes caps

[Colin151]

You mean this one?
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/AUDIOROMY-FU29-x-2-Vacuum-Valve-Tube-Hi-end-Tube-Integrated-Amplifier-110v-230v-/290821774742

Quick read around and yes, people seem to like the sound of it, but according to this it's a push pull amp!
http://www.diyaudio.com/forums/tubes-valves/164534-audioromy-fu-29-push-pull.html

Seems a bit weird. Anyway if it sounds good I suppose it doesn't matter. I wonder why they stopped making the other one, (the FU13) and if that one was really push pull too?


Think it was the fu29 I had. It was a damn good amp and powerful too for the size. only thing was it needed the mains fettling as they are 220v ...simple job though...still got valves for it actually. the ones with the anodes caps

[Colin151]

Thanks for that Andy.
Colin I have a mate who has one that is currently not being used. I have emailed a copy of this thread to him so hopefully he may be in touch soon.

Andy

[Ali Tait]

W
Thanks Ali,

Max budget is about £800 or so I guess (but I'd hoped to find a used Liang for cheaper!. Seen them go for between about £400-600 depending on whether they've had work done etc). I didn't think you could buy a new one anymore. Any ideas how much that would cost?

When you tap this amp's name into google you seem to come up! Do you still have yours?

There is one on the wam that's been modded to take GM70 valves.
http://www.hifiwigwam.com/showthread.php?120862-SET-Amp

Might be nice. I could use that extra power. I guess its a bit of an unknown quantity though compared to the stock ones with 845s, and it's also a long way from me in Glasgow...

No, sold it a long time ago. I think that modded one was done by a friend, I reckon it would be fine and sound very good. If t'were me I'd buy it.

[Colin151]

W

No, sold it a long time ago. I think that modded one was done by a friend, I reckon it would be fine and sound very good. If t'were me I'd buy it.

Yes it's a real shame that amp is so heavy and located in Glasgow. The guy replied to a PM I sent him. Sounds really good from what he is saying. It's even too heavy to take on a train on a trolley...

Did you have an Audioromy Fu13 at the same time as the Mr Liang? How did that compare?

[Ali Tait]

I didn't. I used the Audioromy to drive some statics, with which it sounded very good.idn't sound quite so good driving cone speakers.

The Liang is a good amp and worth having if you have the room, and the back to lift it!

Compared mine once to 4k's worth of Unison Research 845. Way better frankly.

Here's the website- http://www.lsyx.com/en/index.asp

If you contact them you may still be able to import one, I know someone did a few years ago for £750.

Looks good in black.

[shuggz]

I'm hankering after a 845 SE amp. Never tried one before. Quite like the look of the Mr Liang one, so would definitley be up for any version of that (I see there was one with 300B drivers and a previous one without).

Failing that perhpas another 845 amp but nothing too pricey would be good.

If you have anything please let me know.

Cheers,
Colin

Might be able to help, I've got a Mr Liang SE with the mods and a WAD 300b (shian7 unit) I need to do an in house bake off to see which works best with my current speakers, if the Liang loses then I'll sell it. This should be happening in about two weeks, due to other commitments.

[Colin151]

Might be able to help, I've got a Mr Liang SE with the mods and a WAD 300b (shian7 unit) I need to do an in house bake off to see which works best with my current speakers, if the Liang loses then I'll sell it. This should be happening in about two weeks, due to other commitments.

I'm sure the WAD will win anyway why not sell me the Liang now...!

Seriously, that's much appreciated. Would be interested to hear the bake off conclusions no matter the results anyway.

[Colin151]

Thanks for the info. Price might have gone up I guess but I shoudl check to find out for sure. The mk3 version with 300B drivers is supposed to sound pretty good according to the GM70 seller.

Those Audioromys are supposed to sound good too. I nearly bought the FU13 once. Weird that they stopped making it quite a long time ago.
I didn't. I used the Audioromy to drive some statics, with which it sounded very good.idn't sound quite so good driving cone speakers.

The Liang is a good amp and worth having if you have the room, and the back to lift it!

Compared mine once to 4k's worth of Unison Research 845. Way better frankly.

Here's the website- http://www.lsyx.com/en/index.asp

If you contact them you may still be able to import one, I know someone did a few years ago for £750.

Looks good in black.

[Ali Tait]

Unless you really need the power, I'd just buy this-

http://theartofsound.net/forum/showthread.php?39196-TUBE-AUDIO-Gala-SE-300b-integrated-amp

Seems a helluva lot of amp for the money.

[Colin151]

Thanks for the tip. Sure looks like a nice amp

Trouble is I really need the power (am using Magnepans), which is why I was particularly interested in the GM70 Liang. I have a Yaqin 300B SET amp (9 watts) already and it's sounds OK into my Maggies but you can't play anything dynamic or too bassy very loud.

I also have a pair of Audio Innovations 2nd Audio monoblocks (15 watts) and those have enough power to drive the Maggies with their 4 ohm taps and avoid clipping at the kind of volumes I listen to. It's amazing that they work OK into 83/84 dB senstivity, 4 ohms speakers. Perhpas part of it is because the 2nds are monoblocks with dual PSUs etc. I'm just hankering affter the better purity of a single ended amp and something slightly more neutral than the 2nds (which can be a little rose/sweet sounding tinted at times).

The Yaqin has some good purity to the sound for sure, but sounds a little clinical at times, and hasn't got enough power for me. I am confident the Liang 845 should work just fine, and the GM70 version even better.

I know in theory insensitive speakers are supposed to sound no good with amps with no negative feedback (as you get significantly get higher distortion levels when using than with senstive speakers as the amp has to dish out more power (compared to an amp using feedback)), but all no feedback amps I've tried sound just fine to me through the Maggies, and I can't hear problems. Just goes to show you should really trust your ears and not what other people say...

One very good thing about using insenstive speakers is you don't need to get the amp quiet hum wise.... You just aint going to hear any hum even with the noisiest amp... Many valve amps must be a nightmare with v sensitive horns in that regard.


Unless you really need the power, I'd just buy this-

http://theartofsound.net/forum/showthread.php?39196-TUBE-AUDIO-Gala-SE-300b-integrated-amp

Seems a helluva lot of amp for the money.

[Ali Tait]

Ok, the Liang will not be for you either unfortunately, unless you get the GM70 one, as the real power output is about 8w..

[shuggz]

Ok, the Liang will not be for you either unfortunately, unless you get the GM70 one, as the real power output is about 8w..
I believe the Liang I have is the one you modded.

[Ali Tait]

Good to know it's still going strong. :-)

[Colin151]

That low? Wow that's a bummer. I've read that 300B SET amps really about output about 5-6 W. So I guess that's why the Audio Innovations 2nd Audios can go a lot louder before clipping (as they are push pull) I read before that they behave like amps around 3 times their 15 W power rating.

Why is the real power rating so much lower than the spec? I know it's a SET amp but are you talking about 8 Watts power rating within a certain distortion ceiling rating or do you mean it would only do 8 W before hard clipping?

If the latter it sounds like I need a pair of Audio Note Gaku-ons... :rolleyes: Are there any more Paralel single ended amps around with big valves at the budget end? Otherwise I suppose a trip to Glasgow might be necessary after all....


Ok, the Liang will not be for you either unfortunately, unless you get the GM70 one, as the real power output is about 8w..

[Colin151]

I believe the Liang I have is the one you modded.
That's good! Perhaps someone brave could mod it further to take GM70s for me......

Still interested in the 845 version anyway. I also have a pair of Proacs..... used in a small room...

[Andy831]

They are not very plentiful but you could look out for a Bel Canto Set 40 which is 2 x 845 and reckoned to give out about 35w Early ones were known for blowing diodes as they were operating too close to their maximum and giving 40 watts however the later ones had the output turned down slightly and are supposed to be very reliable. If you find one it might push the budget a bit.

Integrated version, there is also a power amp version http://www.audiophilia.com/hardware/seti40.htm

[Colin151]

They are not very plentiful but you could look out for a Bel Canto Set 40 which is 2 x 845 and reckoned to give out about 35w Early ones were known for blowing diodes as they were operating too close to their maximum and giving 40 watts however the later ones had the output turned down slightly and are supposed to be very reliable. If you find one it might push the budget a bit.

Integrated version, there is also a power amp version http://www.audiophilia.com/hardware/seti40.htm

Thanks a lot for the tip. It's over budget but these look like a lot of amp for the money. Could be hard to track one down though....

I was thinking. Although these no feedback SET amps have low power and distortion rises a lot with output level, it's mainly even harmonic distortion, which sounds more acceptable to the ear than odd order. Perhaps that's why my Yaqin 300b amp actually works with my Maggies as long as the material and volume is sensible. The amp must have less than 10 watts a channel power rating...

[Colin151]

Bump. Still looking for a Liang.