Golden Tube amps

Yioryos: "I guess Audio Outlet knew inside information."

...or they simply advised their customers to stay away from equipment of marginal reliability.

Zosima: "Another useability concern is that it is somewhat of a pain to bias. It has to be turned over and the pots are too sensitive and requires use of long plastic screwdrivers."

Does that ever sound like my Chinese-built New Generation poweramps (see My System). First disconnect them, get a couple towels for padding, remove the bottom covers, and reconnect the speaker cable. Each of the 8 pots in my 2 amps seem to have different friction, and they all have FAR too much range, so it's too much, then not enough, then too much...

Their good points? They were quite inexpensive, they're attractive, they're easy to work on (to upgrade), they have a triode switch, and they sound quite nice. I've replaced all the HV PS 'lytic caps with bypassed Solen 'propylenes, replaced the coupling caps with NorthCreek Harmony 'propylenes, and replaced the cathode-ground (IIRC) resistors with Mills NI 12W. wirewounds. Pics are at http://community.webshots.com/scripts/editPhotos.fcgi?action=viewall&albumID=278066578 .
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Yes, I should have clarified that I've not spent time listening to the SE-40. I did have substantial reliabillity problems with my SE-100 and also read many others reliability complaints about this firms products. It could be that if you got a good one, it lasts a long time, I have no idea.

I had two good ones and they lasted for 4 years with no problems. I thought they had a really nice midrange but the bass was wanting so I sold them.

I have a Golden Tube SE-50 integrated amp. The problem is that I don't know how to set the bias. Does anyone out there know how to do so?

Walt

Don't buy them, their sound quality is questionable, I was very dissappointed. Also reliability can easily become an issue & the manufacturer is out of business as mentioned above.