revtothelimit - motorbike forum

Performing a few upgrades on the hi-fi setup. Finally re-ripped about 1000 CDs to FLAC, years back I did them as MP3 at an average bitrate so the entire library is getting an upgrade and can be streamed through a Raspberry Pi running a Burr-Brown DAC tophat and Volumio.

Also swapped out the overly long 20yr old Cambridge Audio speaker cables for 3m lengths of Chord Company C-Screen. I added the heat shrink to tidy them up.



A new Fosi X5 phono stage arrives later to replace my MK1 ProJect Phono Box; it's served me well for longer than the speaker cable, and it'll be good to see if the Fosi sounds as good as everyone reckons.

https://www.audiosciencereview.com/foru ... iew.59982/



Finally, I checked the tracking weight and alignment on the cartridge. I've got another head shell arriving today so I can also run a Shure M55E as well as the Ortofon Red.



Oh, and both sources connected to a Yamaha A-S300 amp driving a set of vintage Kef Corelli speakers. The amount will be the next upgrade, when I go down that rabbit hole...has anyone had experience building those Chinese valve kit amps?

I dunt no nuffink about China made valve amp kits,but from a guitarist's and valve amp user point of view I hear mixed reports on the valves themselves. You'll probably get as much differing opinion on the topic as asking,'what's a good sound' in the hi-fi world.

There are some places who test Chinese valves before selling them,so some of the duds can be weeded out. Word is,these tested ones can be ok. Maybe.

derek badger wrote: Fri Mar 13, 2026 11:26 am
A new Fosi X5 phono stage arrives later to replace my MK1 ProJect Phono Box; it's served me well for longer than the speaker cable, and it'll be good to see if the Fosi sounds as good as everyone reckons.

https://www.audiosciencereview.com/foru ... iew.59982/

If you ever want to try (or buy!) a Naim Stageline phono stage I have one sat here doing nothing. Needs a 24v feed - which various Naim components supply. Your amp may too. Might need a different connector?

What do you think of the Ortofon Red and why the change??
I run it on a Technics SL 1200

Mr Moofo wrote: Fri Mar 13, 2026 12:11 pm What do you think of the Ortofon Red and why the change??
I run it on a Technics SL 1200

I really like it, but I've not experienced anything more expensive. I ran an AT91 before I changed to the Ortofon, so it was a decent upgrade.

I had the Shure kicking about off an old deck and they seem to get a decent write up - 'vintage sound'. Thought I'd put it on and see what it's like, no harm with a second head shell.

Well, the wife has gone out this evening and the kids are all glued to their devices so I've got two or three hours to sit and sip cider and spin records.

Two albums in and there is a noticeable difference. More detail and less harshness in the treble. The harmonies on Crosby, Stills and Nash's debut album sounded clearer for instance. On Love's Forever Changes and Eliot Smith's XO the entire soundstage seemed wider. Anyone enough of this psuedo audiophile bollocks it's time to dig out some 90s grunge and 80s metal before the kids go to bed.

derek badger wrote: Fri Mar 13, 2026 11:26 am.has anyone had experience building those Chinese valve kit amps?

I would question the safety (especially with the voltages involved) and long term reliability. Its really taking pot luck, you might get a good one, or not.

derek badger wrote: Fri Mar 13, 2026 7:07 pm Well, the wife has gone out this evening and the kids are all glued to their devices so I've got two or three hours to sit and sip cider and spin records.

Two albums in and there is a noticeable difference. More detail and less harshness in the treble. The harmonies on Crosby, Stills and Nash's debut album sounded clearer for instance. On Love's Forever Changes and Eliot Smith's XO the entire soundstage seemed wider.

'kin hippy.

HiFi Kabin wrote: Fri Mar 20, 2026 12:56 pm

derek badger wrote: Fri Mar 13, 2026 11:26 am.has anyone had experience building those Chinese valve kit amps?

I would question the safety (especially with the voltages involved) and long term reliability. Its really taking pot luck, you might get a good one, or not.

Have you built or listen to any of them?

derek badger wrote: Sun Mar 22, 2026 12:33 pm
Have you built or listen to any of them?

Not built but I have seen/listened to a few hence my comment.

I'm not naming names as the ones I have experienced may be the only one bad (or good) apple in the barrel

HiFi Kabin wrote: Sun Mar 22, 2026 6:50 pm

derek badger wrote: Sun Mar 22, 2026 12:33 pm
Have you built or listen to any of them?

Not built but I have seen/listened to a few hence my comment.

I'm not naming names as the ones I have experienced may be the only one bad (or good) apple in the barrel

Building one isn't a concern, but I'd be interested in opinions on how they sound.

derek badger wrote: Sun Mar 22, 2026 9:24 pm

HiFi Kabin wrote: Sun Mar 22, 2026 6:50 pm

derek badger wrote: Sun Mar 22, 2026 12:33 pm
Have you built or listen to any of them?

Not built but I have seen/listened to a few hence my comment.

I'm not naming names as the ones I have experienced may be the only one bad (or good) apple in the barrel

Building one isn't a concern, but I'd be interested in opinions on how they sound.

That's a 'how long is a piece of string?' sort of question. An English Acoustics 21C (£7k+) is going to (you'd hope) sound a bit different to a 'lashed this one up in the garage using the cheapest valves and power supply I could lay my hands on' one.

Pop in to PJ HiFi in Guildford and see if you can audition a couple. (They'll be expensive ones though).

I meant has anyone heard a how the Chinese ones sound. Wanted a real life opinion rather than a YouTube one.

derek badger wrote: Mon Mar 23, 2026 6:24 am I meant has anyone heard a how the Chinese ones sound. Wanted a real life opinion rather than a YouTube one.

Same thing really, It's a while ago since I was interested but I've known people go through a box of valves chopping and changing to find the set. Then much discussion about 'running them in'. Then of course they age and need replacing which could, at the time, ranged from 2 -5 years. Some claimed Chinese 'military grade' valves were the best available.

TBH it all struck me as 'amplifiers as a hobby' rather than 'music as a passion'. My 'music as a passion' (classical) friend simply stumped up and bought a pair of Quad valve amps (he had some Quad electrostatic speakers too). Can't say I noticed the 'valve amp' sound in that set-up and the room acoustics and layout would have benefited a lot from the application of some of that cash.

Given the price of the low-end ones I'd just buy one and have a tinker then bung it on e-Bay and try another. Maybe try the 'stick some different valves in' approach but the quality of the rest of the unit (and the other components in the set-up) are pretty fundamental too. They look nice though.

Count Steer wrote: Mon Mar 23, 2026 8:40 am

derek badger wrote: Mon Mar 23, 2026 6:24 am I meant has anyone heard a how the Chinese ones sound. Wanted a real life opinion rather than a YouTube one.

Same thing really, It's a while ago since I was interested but I've known people go through a box of valves chopping and changing to find the set. Then much discussion about 'running them in'. Then of course they age and need replacing which could, at the time, ranged from 2 -5 years. Some claimed Chinese 'military grade' valves were the best available.

TBH it all struck me as 'amplifiers as a hobby' rather than 'music as a passion'. My 'music as a passion' (classical) friend simply stumped up and bought a pair of Quad valve amps (he had some Quad electrostatic speakers too). Can't say I noticed the 'valve amp' sound in that set-up and the room acoustics and layout would have benefited a lot from the application of some of that cash.

Given the price of the low-end ones I'd just buy one and have a tinker then bung it on e-Bay and try another. Maybe try the 'stick some different valves in' approach but the quality of the rest of the unit (and the other components in the set-up) are pretty fundamental too. They look nice though.

Cheers. The other options I'm toying with are to move to a pre/power combo or go British - Arcam/Audiolabs/ etc.

derek badger wrote: Mon Mar 23, 2026 4:17 pm

Count Steer wrote: Mon Mar 23, 2026 8:40 am

derek badger wrote: Mon Mar 23, 2026 6:24 am I meant has anyone heard a how the Chinese ones sound. Wanted a real life opinion rather than a YouTube one.

Same thing really, It's a while ago since I was interested but I've known people go through a box of valves chopping and changing to find the set. Then much discussion about 'running them in'. Then of course they age and need replacing which could, at the time, ranged from 2 -5 years. Some claimed Chinese 'military grade' valves were the best available.

TBH it all struck me as 'amplifiers as a hobby' rather than 'music as a passion'. My 'music as a passion' (classical) friend simply stumped up and bought a pair of Quad valve amps (he had some Quad electrostatic speakers too). Can't say I noticed the 'valve amp' sound in that set-up and the room acoustics and layout would have benefited a lot from the application of some of that cash.

Given the price of the low-end ones I'd just buy one and have a tinker then bung it on e-Bay and try another. Maybe try the 'stick some different valves in' approach but the quality of the rest of the unit (and the other components in the set-up) are pretty fundamental too. They look nice though.

Cheers. The other options I'm toying with are to move to a pre/power combo or go British - Arcam/Audiolabs/ etc.

Oh and of course, as is the way these days, when you start to dig a bit, even some of the high end valve amps turn out to be 90% 'made in China'. They can turn out some v high quality stuff if the design and quality control elements are all there.

For my part I admit I keep wondering about whether I can get the same results now out of one or two boxes rather than the stack of stuff that has dominated one corner of the room for years. (Power supply, pre-amp, power amp, streamer, CD and the unused phono amp) and connect it to the TV too for a more integrated life.

Well, things took a left turn. After hearing my mates system I've just ordered a pair of Class D Fosi Audio V3 monoblocks and thier P4 preamp. Should arrive today.

derek badger wrote: Sat Mar 28, 2026 10:21 am Well, things took a left turn. After hearing my mates system I've just ordered a pair of Class D Fosi Audio V3 monoblocks and thier P4 preamp. Should arrive today.

That should keep the room warm.

Class D run significantly cooler.

derek badger wrote: Sat Mar 28, 2026 8:53 pm Class D run significantly cooler.

Ah.

Just found this review (although I expect you have too ). I think he likes them! They sound like a pretty good investment.

https://www.audiosciencereview.com/foru ... iew.53474/