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New 'tube' receiver for $160.99 - too weird

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Good grief, I went through the manual. It does not have a schematic, but the unit is clearly a Hybrid using something like 12ax7's in the preamp stage. I wish I had the guts to get one, because it probably will be quite an experience getting it to work. I'd love to hear from folks who took a chance on it and see what their experience was with it.
 
Nice how the tube section is unventilated and has no easy means of tube replacement.
What a POS.

I just read the manual, doesn't mention anything about tube types or replacements. In fact, the only not I saw was pointing out the Tube Display Window, which they misspelled.
 
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It has a cooling fan.


I'm actually happy to see this product. No, I don't think it's any good, but I do think it's a great sign of the times that low-budget gear for the masses is embracing tubes. This mfr got the message that the kids out there know that tubes are good, and will buy this unit because it has them.

OK, I know those same kids won't know why they sound different, or care, but the fact is that it's the first time in a good 20 years that kids are starting to care about sound quality enough to ask what's in the gear they're buying. I like that.

Pyle's answer may not be what I'd wish for, but they sell a whole lot of gear by judging their market correctly. If it doesn't sound too awful, I'm hoping the thing takes off!
 
SigloOne said:
Nice how the tube section is unventilated and has no easy means of tube replacement.
What a POS.

I just read the manual, doesn't mention anything about tube types or replacements. In fact, the only not I saw was pointing out the Tube Display Window, which they misspelled.
Click to expand...

Negotiableterms said:
It has a cooling fan.


I'm actually happy to see this product. No, I don't think it's any good, but I do think it's a great sign of the times that low-budget gear for the masses is embracing tubes. This mfr got the message that the kids out there know that tubes are good, and will buy this unit because it has them.

OK, I know those same kids won't know why they sound different, or care, but the fact is that it's the first time in a good 20 years that kids are starting to care about sound quality enough to ask what's in the gear they're buying. I like that.

Pyle's answer may not be what I'd wish for, but they sell a whole lot of gear by judging their market correctly. If it doesn't sound too awful, I'm hoping the thing takes off!
Click to expand...

Guys, I'm guessing that the reason there's no ventilation, and there's no apparent access to change the tubes, and there's nothing mentioned about tubes in any way in the specifications, is because they're sitting there with a few LED's behind them to make them "luminous".:thumbsdn:
 
Negotiableterms said:
It has a cooling fan.


I'm actually happy to see this product. No, I don't think it's any good, but I do think it's a great sign of the times that low-budget gear for the masses is embracing tubes. This mfr got the message that the kids out there know that tubes are good, and will buy this unit because it has them.

OK, I know those same kids won't know why they sound different, or care, but the fact is that it's the first time in a good 20 years that kids are starting to care about sound quality enough to ask what's in the gear they're buying. I like that.

Pyle's answer may not be what I'd wish for, but they sell a whole lot of gear by judging their market correctly. If it doesn't sound too awful, I'm hoping the thing takes off!
Click to expand...

I think that the tubes are there more in a white-van context. I wouldn't be surprised if they aren't even wired into the circuit. The 'illuminated tubes' description in the owner's manual suggests a legal-language like 'leather seating surfaces' in a car's brochure (it means only the front of the seat is leather, the back and sides are vinyl). The tubes light up...like lightbulbs. I'd bet they don't do anything else.
 
I see they 'fessed up to an RMS rating, "600 Watts RMS @ 2 Ohms". one channel or both added together? :scratch2: Probably total, there's only so much power to be had from a regular 120V 15@ power outlet (don't forget the waste heat).

If it really was 2KW per channel RMS, it would need a power plug like that on an electric clothes dryer. :D

It also says "Vacuum Tube Amplifier", which implies :D that the tubes are in some sort of functional circuit. Maybe just a cathode follower buffer. For digital control signals? :scratch2: :D

Though it looks like window dressing, literally.
 
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