Just thought I'd post my views and observations on my most recent bit of kit that I've purchased, namely a Boyuu Reisong A10 single ended Class A tube integrated amplifier. This is the first bit of valve equipment I've owned for more than 30 years the last being a Beard P35 power amp back in the late 1980's, that left a very bad taste in my mouth as although it sounded superb reliability was a disaster and I was eventually glad to see the back of it. Since then I've had a mild itch to try one again particularly with the miriad of reasonably priced Chinese made tube amps currently on the market. After a lot of internet and Youtube searching I came across numerous positive reviews of the Boyuu Reisong A10 integrated amp so I decided to jump in with both feet and buy one to slot into my second tier system in the bedroom to drive my Frugelhorn Lites with the Mark Audio Alpair 5.3 full range drivers.
I've had the amp now for 3 weeks and to be quite honest it has greatly exceeded my expectations. I had reservations over compatibility with my speakers as they are only 85db/w and the A10 puts out a mere 6wpc but it has proved to be more than adequate for my needs. It's proven to be so good it has displaced a Cambridge CXA60 which has now been sold on, and that's no slouch of an amp.
Even with the stock Chinese tubes the sound quality is very good majoring on midband detail, clarity and air, with slightly boosted bass end and a very slightly rolled of top, extremely listenable and unfatiguing. For 6watts it has an amazing amount of dynamic punch and solidity in the bass that I couldn't have anticipated and it certainly is a very good match for my Frugelhorn Lites.
Since I've had the amp I consulted with a friend who's very knowledgeable about tube gear who suggested I try some tube rolling with the relatively inexpensive pre tubes as he said often they give a more noticeable improvement than changing the much more expensive EL34 power tubes.
A few days ago I ordered a pair of Russian Voshkod Rocket 6n2p pre tubes which I've now had installed in the A10 for the last 2 days, for an outlay of just over £20 the new tubes have given a beneficial improvement to the sound of the amp, namely the upper mid and treble are now a little more brightly lit which has worked nicely to negate the slight top end rolloff with the standard tubes, the nice punchy bass end has not been altered.
As you can see from the photos the build quality of the A10 is superb and although not large it's a damned heavy beast, for a relatively cheap amp surprisingly it is almost completely point to point wired and from what I can see from photos of the inside it uses good quality components. For anyone wanting to dip their toes into the world of tube amps I can heartily recommend the Reisong A10.
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