Ming Da Piccolo Amplifier

[ianlenco]

I'm rather surprised to be selling this but a change around in the living room means I'm looking for something more compact and that runs cooler. Rated at 18 watts per channel via the KT90 valves it drives my rather inefficient twin Jordan Eikona speakers (86dB) superbly with plenty of volume.
I'm the second owner and had it checked out by Mark at Ming Da UK who, after rebiasing the valves gave it a clean bill of health and confirmed this is an official UK import with 230v transformers.
Mark also recommended a change of the EC82 valves to NOS RMF from East Germany which brought about further improvements.

https://i.imgur.com/qVCbnJ1h.jpg#gWPQG

https://i.imgur.com/KY98FKfh.jpg#gWPQG

https://i.imgur.com/glrRR34h.jpg#gWPQG

https://i.imgur.com/v1nCp3nh.jpg#gWPQG

https://i.imgur.com/sExotJbh.jpg#gWPQG

More recently Mark upgraded the standard caps to Audyns which he said would bring about worthwhile benefits - I can but agree.

https://i.imgur.com/n0MBalUh.jpg#gWPQG

Before
https://i.imgur.com/ywirXwch.jpg#gWPQG

After
https://i.imgur.com/2kfuZCsh.jpg#gWPQG

As you can see, apart from the board for the motorised volume pot (remote included) it is all point to point wiring and is in excellent condition. Any apparent marks are reflections.

It owes me a little over £600 so offers near this will be considered favourably. I have the original packaging so could be posted although it won't be cheap given its weight - I'd guess around £30 insured. I would prefer pickup so you can hear it working or happy to meet up/deliver depending on distance from GL6 for petrol money.

Oh, it comes with a valve cover too. :)

[struth]

thats a nice amp. should sound great.

[walpurgis]

Nice. I like MingDa gear. Proof that Chinese electronics can be excellent. If I had a bit of spare cash, I'd have this! :)

[ianlenco]

Thanks Grant, it does sound very good. :)
Geoff, I agree, there's more and more quality coming out of China. So much gear under American or UK brands is made there anyway.

Forgot to show it comes with a cage - rather attractive compared to some.

https://i.imgur.com/fnfTJdSh.jpg#gWPQG

[Pepperamip]

I would love to try this with my sensitive Klipsch KG4.5s and would if I could afford it. Good luck selling

[ianlenco]

Thanks Paul, remember I am open to offers.

[ianlenco]

Price reduction to £550 for this excellent, upgraded amplifier. Auditions welcome:)

[steve-z]

Price reduction to £550 for this excellent, upgraded amplifier. Auditions welcome:)

Looks lovely, wish I could afford it ☹️
Which of the Jordan speaker designs did you use it with ? I’ve got a pair of Eikona 2 VTLs which I drive with an Amptastic Mini 1 which is only about 12-15watts into the 6ohm Eikonas, and I get easily enough volume for my needs.


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[ianlenco]

Hi Steve,
I had the Eikona 2 originally in VTL cabs too and really liked them but got tempted by another pair of Eikonas and moved to DCR cabs.

http://i.imgur.com/ilxsiboh.jpg#gWPQG

[steve-z]

Hi Steve,
I had the Eikona 2 originally in VTL cabs too and really liked them but got tempted by another pair of Eikonas and moved to DCR cabs.

http://i.imgur.com/ilxsiboh.jpg#gWPQG

Ah ! I’ve definitely seen that photo before, nice [emoji106]
I have white VTLs too, do you run the drivers in series or parallel ?
Apologies for pushing your thread off at a tangent.

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[ianlenco]

They're not actually white Steve - natural and very blonde baltic birch ply. When I had a SS Leema amp I used them in parallel which is a 3 ohm load 92dB sensitivity but even though Mark at Ming Da said the Piccolo would cope fine I decided to switch to series operation - 12 ohm, 86dB just to be kind :)

I've just checked postage costs and 48 hour insured with ParcelForce will be £24 and not the £30 I estimated.

[ianlenco]

Final drop to £525 before the dreaded ebay. A new one would be £1200 without the upgraded capacitors. As I said in first post this has been fully checked over by Mark at Ming Da UK in Malvern and is both cosmetically and functionally as new.

[jandl100]

I guess you don't fancy px with my el84 integrated amp?
http://theartofsound.net/forum/showthread.php?56913-FS-px-swap-LA-Audio-A30-el84-integrated-amp&highlight=el84+audio
It's quite compact - 38x30x17 cm.
You're in Glos like me - I'm happy to bring it over for a dem if you might be interested. :)

[struth]

yeah, if i had cash or something he wanted i would go for it.. make nice stuff md

[ianlenco]

Sorry Jerry but I'm going back to solid state otherwise I wouldn't be letting the Ming Da go. I'm now rooting for your sale then maybe you can still buy mine :)

[ianlenco]

Full metal jacket remote:

https://i.imgur.com/kGx6pQ8h.jpg#gWPQG

Open to offers.

[ianlenco]

Sunny day bump

[ianlenco]

Now gone to ebay :(

[jml3p]

Hi Ian,
You have a PM

[ianlenco]

Now sold, thanks Jonathan