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Thread: Valve Class A new to Firebottle towers

  1. #1
    Join Date: Oct 2012

    Location: The Black Country

    Posts: 6,089
    I'm Alan.

    Default Valve Class A new to Firebottle towers

    Very recently took delivery of a single ended pentode Class A, a Ming Da Piccolo Mk2.
    It is an integrated amp with selector and remote control volume, KT90 output operating in ultralinear.




    It has already been upgraded with Audyn coupling capacitors by Mark at Ming Da UK and sounds very good.




    However it now sounds spectacular after fitting direct input sockets and completely bypassing the cheap volume control.
    I am extremely pleased with the performance into my Quad ESL57's, it's a great match.
    I love Hendrix for so many reasons. He was so much more than just a blues guitarist - he played damn well any kind of guitar he wanted. In fact I'm not sure if he even played the guitar - he played music. - Stevie Ray Vaughan

  2. #2
    Join Date: Apr 2012

    Location: N E Kent

    Posts: 51,624
    I'm Geoff.

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    Looks nice. I like Ming Da (Meixing) gear.
    It is impossible for anything digital to sound analogue, because it isn't analogue!

  3. #3
    Bigman80 Guest

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    Just uploaded my thoughts on this on my BigBlog lol.

  4. #4
    Join Date: Sep 2009

    Location: Derbyshire

    Posts: 9,228
    I'm Josie.

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    Looks like a fabulous amp, Alan.

    What valves does it use?
    Ultrafide U500DC power amplifier - Croft Vitale )highly modified) - TRIO L-07D Turntable - Denon DL103C1 - Funk Firm Houdini - Lentek MC head amp - 15" Tannoy Monitor Gold Loudspeakers in Lockwood Major cabinets (From Trident Studios) - Tannoyista SPEC 3 Custom Crossovers - VanDamme Black Speaker Cable


    Tannoyista.com

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  5. #5
    Join Date: Jan 2013

    Location: Birmingham

    Posts: 6,772
    I'm James.

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    Nice one Alan, your hunch for these little Chinese amps has paid off with a few adjustments!
    Main system : VPI Scout 1.1 / JMW 9T / 2M Black / Croft 25R+ / Croft 7 / Heco Celan GT 702

    Second System : Goldring Lenco GL75 / AT95EX / Pioneer SX590 / Spendor SP2

  6. #6
    Join Date: May 2010

    Location: Worcestershire, UK

    Posts: 1,101
    I'm Rob.

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    I heard one of these at Mark's and they are very nice.

    Quote Originally Posted by Firebottle View Post
    However it now sounds spectacular after fitting direct input sockets and completely bypassing the cheap volume control.
    I am extremely pleased with the performance into my Quad ESL57's, it's a great match.
    Does that mean you are effectively using it as a power amp? If so what are you using as the pre-amp or do you just have a single source with variable input?
    Rob.
    Powered by crossed fingers and clenched buttocks

  7. #7
    Join Date: Dec 2017

    Location: Lincolnshire

    Posts: 342
    I'm Martin.

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    Quote Originally Posted by Bigman80 View Post
    Just uploaded my thoughts on this on my BigBlog lol.
    I have a Ming Da Cadenza so would be interested to read your thoughts... Where can I find this?

    Scrub that, I found it :-)
    Last edited by scotty38; 17-07-2019 at 11:10.

  8. #8
    Join Date: Dec 2017

    Location: Lincolnshire

    Posts: 342
    I'm Martin.

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by ReggieB View Post
    I heard one of these at Mark's and they are very nice.



    Does that mean you are effectively using it as a power amp? If so what are you using as the pre-amp or do you just have a single source with variable input?
    I understand that Mark offers this as an option to some of the integrated amps. As it happens I am using a passive pre as a switchbox to feed the amp and a separate headphone amplifier but had assumed the pre-amp option was bypassing more than just the volume pot. Does this mean that in effect the integrateds have a passive pre anyway?

  9. #9
    Join Date: Oct 2012

    Location: The Black Country

    Posts: 6,089
    I'm Alan.

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    Yes it's now being used as a power amp.
    As built it has 3 sets of inputs running to a selector switch, then to an inferior volume control, then to the input stage grid.

    I have fitted a relay to isolate the inputs and volume control, with additional sockets feeding the input stage directly.
    It is surprising how much a conventional volume control strangles the performance, I and others have moved on to quality stepped attenuators, either Khozmo or Acoustic Dimension. These let the music through, the pre I am using is my active KIN which now sports an Acoustic Dimension attenuator.

    It's a shame that Ming Da don't fit a quality attenuator as the performance cries out for it.

  10. #10
    Join Date: Oct 2012

    Location: The Black Country

    Posts: 6,089
    I'm Alan.

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    Quote Originally Posted by The Black Adder View Post
    Looks like a fabulous amp, Alan.

    What valves does it use?
    KT90 output, 5Z3P rectifier and ECC82 driver/input.

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