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View Full Version : FS: Cayin Vacuum Tube Preamplifier



User211
18-10-2020, 14:06
Thought I had sold this elsewhere but the fellow failed to pay.

A modified Cayin SC-10 produced in very limited numbers for Hit Audio.

This is a valve rectified design and it is the size and weight of a fairly decent stereo tube amp.

In short, I found it to be excellent. Better than a EAR 868PL by a really significant margin. Well, I thought so and used it for quite a few years.

It's really well finished, too, with a substantial aluminium chassis.

It has remote control of volume and input select and a mute function too.

You can have endless fun rolling the rectifiers with 274B, 5R4WGA (pictured), 5U4G and loads more equivalents. The more you look and research, the more possibilities you will find.

Takes 4 6922 or E88CC. I have 4 rocket logo 6N23P somewhere which I will include along with the mashers pictured (the big valves).

I can also include some Tesla E88CC yellow print factory code 32 cross sword valves to get the best out of it. These really are the best of the best. The cross sword marking means they are military issues. I put Siemens in there and they are no better. From experience of Telefunken I can be fairly sure they won't be any better either. These will cost extra to be priced after I have tested them.

£900 collected from near Weston-super-Mare. In my estimation that's a massive bargain. The only thing that beat it over the years is my current Luxman pre at a new purchase price of £10K.

I can post it if required it's all packed up ready to send.

The rectifiers test as new. So do the rockets.

See pics there are a few marks but it still looks ace IMHO. The input selection LEDs have gone but the relays work fine. You can hear them click when changing inputs and they do give a feeling of quality.

Chi-Fi done right.

It's on eBay if you'd rather use that but it's pointless TBH.


https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20201018/06c0fa947f9dcb0ee52a2d119aae1b7e.jpghttps://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20201018/68384b91f85411b7adece5c54a91cca3.jpghttps://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20201018/31eb49305ec2323be75b9bf87fe08af1.jpghttps://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20201018/5b5818ed56fa561e98f12ef2eed56b08.jpg

User211
18-10-2020, 14:18
Here's a clearer pic...
https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20201018/9b76430059cf555ee4aad9d56406f71a.jpg

User211
22-10-2020, 13:42
OK let's make this more attractive.

Not only do you get the potato masher rectifiers and Russian 6922 equivalents pictured below, but I'll chuck in the Tesla's too.

I paid a lot for these military cross sword issues. They lift the performance of this pre well above the Russian jobbies IMHO, to the extent that you have to wonder where all the hype for the Russian valves came from.

They should test at 13mA/V. My tester only goes as far as 10mA/V, but when I test them the needle leaps so fast to FSD I got worried about meter damage! So it's safe to assert these are all tipperty top I reckon.

Replacement remote below too. Much easier to use than the original.

https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20201022/d425850a6c5b5c7734fc5d1767976287.jpghttps://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20201022/2be1deb9b2293a8e2ff8c5aa52fa78c3.jpghttps://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20201022/e53a5615d2904ad4e33fd4cfc026f081.jpghttps://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20201022/3b160e2aad838a84cd1c4bf58f76e0a3.jpg

User211
22-10-2020, 13:44
Extra pic showing this is a custom edition.

This is a great tube preamp gents. Get over the fact it is Chinese and you'll be laughing.
https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20201022/7ef0a15c30c209da93d2739dd01d75b7.jpg

User211
22-10-2020, 13:58
So some Googling to see what others were asking for this preamp in SC-10 form.

This is insanely cheap in comparison.

EU sellers were asking 5000 Euro new.

Note there is no front top cover as it was modified to take rectifiers that don't fit. It looks cooler for it with the large rectifiers poking out and the inside is really nicely finished.

struth
22-10-2020, 13:58
sure it is.. it looks quality...

Lawrence001
22-10-2020, 18:09
Am sorely tempted trying this as I know what a good valve amp can do to a system. Looking online it seems the others have a cover over the front as well as the back, does this come with one? Rather important with young children in the house!

User211
22-10-2020, 19:28
See #5 Lawrence.

Lawrence001
22-10-2020, 21:32
See #5 Lawrence.Doh didn't see that, not going to work for me unfortunately but GLWS.

Sent from my HRY-LX1 using Tapatalk

User211
27-10-2020, 23:10
Genuinely sold and paid for this time:)

clap
29-10-2020, 19:30
Somebody had a cracking buy.

User211
29-10-2020, 19:48
He's checking it out now Tristan. The chap who now owns it did his research and told me the C-100 was a 10th anniversary issue celebrating Cayin and they had gone absolutely balls out on it.

Nobody believed me when I said it was better than the EAR 868 I suspect but it bloody well is.

It really is a cracking preamp and I wonder whether I should have sold it TBH. I am also amazed at how long it took to sell.

Dylanthecat
30-10-2020, 13:01
As the buyer, thank you Justin. Justin is correct GZHIFI stated 'however, Cayin SC-10 is not as simple as an ordinary preamp This is the ace production of "Spark" to commemorate the tenth anniversary of the establishment of the factory.'
I currently have the pre amp configured - source: Node 2i (with upgraded power-board), Gustard X-26 DAC. The pre-amp feeding highly modded Williamson design KT88 monos (top components/ materials such as Sowther etc) with a pair of Klipsch Chorus II (these have never sounded better) - super impressed by the contribution to SQ*from Cayin. Now for some rolling with the rectifiers and experimentation with isolation as recommended in the GZHIFI review.

User211
30-10-2020, 14:37
Good to hear it is sounding good Martin.

Enjoy playing with it it really is very tunable with those rectifiers and 6922/E88CC.