Japan is no doubt the high mark of modern audio manufacturing. Lets take speakers as an example: where are the Fostex parts made? The Berylium in TAD? The basket for literally all cone speakers?
Now about capacitors and resistors. Maybe a few topline examples are assembled in Japan (or UK etc.) Even then the raw materials?
I am not saying I like it. It is just how things changed over the last 20 years.
My experience on many shipments has been 1 to 7 days outbound from Russia and 1 to 5 days inbound usa, in addition to actual mail time. These steps are spelled out in ems tracking.
In support of what Chak says about expedited shipping, I have purchased various capacitors from Russian vendors on eBay. The shipping time is very short, sometimes as little as 4-5 days. Much faster than buying from Canada, most of the time. I stopped using one Canadian parts supplier because customs was so slow.
Good point about cheap parts. It is a given nowadays, however, that most electronic parts in gear from all countries have majority origin in China sadly, yet some are better than others and implementation is key.
No one in Japan will use Chinese parts in their tube amps design. I got Japanese amp myself (Yamamoto A-08s). But I’ve seen clones of everything in Russia, they steal design of phono stages, amps, whatever. It’s a Russian tradition since the Soviet days, original designers never get their royalties. Same happened with foreign musicians who’s records bootleged in USSR by local pressing plant and sold in million copies.
There are NO delay on custom check on export from Russia, never. It takes a few minutes, just scan of the parcel, nothing else. Import duties are important, not export. So when US custom inspect imported parcel there can be a delay, but only for 3-7 days.
Before covid delivery from Russia took only 7-14 days worldwide with the cheapest registered mail. After covid same service will take 2-3 month and it’s all over the world with all international postal service. EMS (Express Mail Service) from Russia before covid was so quick, normally 3-5 days worldwide, now up to 1 month.
Hope it works out. In my experience it's the customs process (leaving Russia and then clearing USA ) that can take quite a bit of time. @chakster Good point about cheap parts. It is a given nowadays, however, that most electronic parts in gear from all countries have majority origin in China sadly, yet some are better than others and implementation is key.
@chakster by 'new cartridges' from Russia I believe you are referring to Sensitive Sound. I wish you would desist in making assertions about Sensitive Sound based on your assumptions. They are misleading...
That Russian seller has 100% positive feedback on ebay (and buyer fully protected by paypal), but some strange posters here still talking about scammers from Russia.
Regarding shipping from Russia to USA I will give you one example, my own parcel has been shipped on FEB 2, 2021 and in 10 days it was in NY,USA. Look at usps tracking.
This is why my advise to the OP is to ask that seller for EMS shipping!
If he will ship with cheaper registered mail then your order can be in transit for 1-2 month.
P.S. Just like in the topic about new “Russian cartridges” I want to admit that no single part of this “handmade” tube amp was made in Russia, except for the tubes. So it’s correct to say that it was only assembled in Russia, but all parts are import parts (not Russian). Except Chinese parts inside this amp. In my opinion it’s a cheap looking amp, like any DiY projects.
Why do you wish for 12AU, T, or X7s? 6SN7s and 12AU7s don't have sufficient gain for a phono input tube but could be used elsewhere in circuit, I suppose. The Russian triodes tend to be re-makes of older very high transconductance triodes, like 5687 and 6922, etc. Not a bad thing, IMO. I don't think tube replacement is going to be a big problem for Elliot.
Sure a good sales pitch. If they give you what they say, you're better than gold. Your ruble!!
I just wish all the valves were 12AU or T or X 7s or 6SN7s. No SS rectifier either. I don’t know why they use the weird valves.
Serious cable size too.. Sure looks nice, nice layout. Phono is as far away as it can be from the transformer/PS. Nice!
I’ve never had a problem in China or the old USSR countries. Took time to get here some times.. So far no goofs.. 100 + orders between the two in the last 15 years or so..
Not so much China.. But cables.. hard to beat them.. Killer prices on GREAT cables. Man my fingers thank them.. LOL
Of course they're American. It was an attempt to set in relief the bigoted, sweeping generalization made by Mr. all caps never punctuates Magico fanboy.
I purchased an LCR phono stage from a guy in Russia on the advice of a member here. He built it pretty quick but it did take nearly two months for me to receive it after it was shipped. Given what I paid for it, the unit is quite good. You don't have much too lose with the purchase and you might be surprised when you finally get to hear it.
It certainly seems to be worth the money from the looks under the hood. Neatly laid out and far from empty. It doesn't say anywhere on the case that it was made in Russia though. My bet is that you will find it was well worth what you paid for it. This past year, I took a similar gamble that really paid off. I had a little money to spend and was looking for a good deal on a pre to dethrone the one I had been using for around 15 years, and had tried to replace with a Joule Electra L100 as well as a Lamm LL2 Deluxe. I saw an ad for a tube pre by Viking Acoustics for a good price, and I took the chance and bought it. I did that because I knew that they make very good speakers, and I figured that they wouldn't be selling shabby electronics. As it turns out, they have their electronics built for them by an independent builder/designer named Kevin Elliott, and that pre has turned out to be sonically superior to any pre I have ever owned. Sometimes it pays to take a chance, if the price isn't too high.
PER HILDE ’.... Just think of those famous Russians who said, ""There’s a sucker born every minute" and "Nobody ever went broke underestimating the intelligence of the American people." Clearly Americans are the honest ones and Russians are all scammers. ;-)
CORRECTION!
These quoted quips alleged to be sourced to “famous Russians” are actually attributed to your own home-brew made-in-the USA Americans > 60-100 years ago,and have nothing to do with Russians.
To wit per WIKIPEDIA:
“There’s a sucker born every minute" .....A famous saying about gullibility is usually attributed to the well-known showman P. T. Barnum who died in 1891.
“"Nobody ever went broke underestimating the intelligence of the American people." ... Widely attributed to American author and social critic H. L. Mencken (1880–1956) but not found exactly verbatim in his published work.
Probably the biggest concern would be international shipping. It is a total PITA these days for various reasons. I won’t do it, not even small items. Just not worth it. Who knows though? It might just be one awesome pre! Good luck! You did order it in 110v right?
What’s done is done, and I wish you the best of luck. But for $400 or $500 there is a lot of good vintage equipment that you can buy right here in the USA with known brand names and known quality. I am just saying. Not unlike the stuff you already own.
Right, @ebm Just think of those famous Russians who said, ""There's a sucker born every minute" and "Nobody ever went broke underestimating the intelligence of the American people." Clearly Americans are the honest ones and Russians are all scammers. ;-)
When you pay with paypal you CAN ALWAYS RETURN anything without reason, if you don’t like it. This is paypal buyer’s protection, even if the seller do not want to accept return you can make paypal claim and return it and paypal will give you full refund anyway!
There is not such thing as "no return" when you paid for goods with paypal, remember.
Make sure to ask for EMS shipping only!
Not Economy International as stated in his listing, it will take 2 month or even longer.
By the time you get it, you may have forgotten you ordered it. In which case it will be an unexpected surprise! I'd be interested in reading about your impressions. Good luck!
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