I recently picked up the Yaqin MC-30L with the opt

I recently picked up the Yaqin MC-30L with the option upgraded blue tubes. This amplifier uses EL34 tubes and is rated for 25 wpc in triode mode and 50 wpc in ultralinear mode. Prior to this my system music system was built around an Integra 50.1 receiver. I learned about the Yaqin in a local audio shop where the owner highly recommended them even though he doesn't sell them. I take recommendations like this seriously. The owner actually ordered it for me and got it all setup for free.

Prior to purchasing the amplifier I had quickly auditioned one that was in the store for another customer and compared it to a solid state amplifier that he sells. My primary interest was to evaluate the difference between tubes and solid state so that I could validate if it was worth picking to play with and experience the tube sound.

I'm so glad that I did. My experience so far has been almost completely full of "wow" moments. The sound is far superior to my receiver (that really sounds great) in a way that I wouldn't have believed. In the past when I've visited another audio store in the area and listened to equipment like Krell and Pathos amplifiers and Focal Utopia line speakers I would come home and have a brief period of dissatisfaction with my system. Now I can have that same feeling simply by connecting my speakers to my receiver.

The owner of the store that recommended the Yaqin has told me that he prefers it's sound to a Pathos amplifier that he sells. Based on the equipment that I've heard I won't be so bold as to say that it's objectively superior to amplifiers like the Pathos Logos or Krell S-300i, but I am convinced that it's good enough that I would expect the primary differences be to just that, different rather than better or worse. I have drooled over the idea of owning the Krell S-300i or Pathos Logos and at this point I simply wouldn't expect either of them to be more satisfying in my system.

I have found a couple of weakensses with the Yaqin. One was while listening to an SACD of Saint-Saens Symphony No.3 with the organ. Turning this powerful recording up to the volume that I desire is beyond the capability of the Yaqin resulting in way too much tube distortion. If I switch from ultralinear mode to triode mode there is less of the tube sound, but the bass goes away as well. Another recording of David Garrett playing the Paganin Caprese No.24 also had too much of a tube sound for my taste, but a switch to triode mode seemed to pretty much solve the issue.

I've listened to numerous other CDs that cover a wide range of music and vocals and it has performed extremely well.

It's become obvious that the Yaqin, when used within it's volume limitations, is a far superior amplifier compared to my receiver and there's more to what I'm experiencing than just gaining the tube sound.

Without experiencing better quality solid state amplifiers or other integrates/seperates it's impossible to really know what factors are in play, but I can simply say that this is a very impressive amplifier.

The Yaqin MC-30L is a basic amplifier with four inputs (no outputs) and two listening modes. The remote will control the volume and switch modes, but does not control the power on/off.

The only indications that I can find for its "Made in China" heritage is that the very basic manual's English translation is somewhat entertaining and it says MS-30L on the cover. This amplifier appears to be listed under both the MC-30L and MS-30L models. I suspect that, like mine, the confusion comes from the MC-30L being engraved on the face plate and the MS-30L being listed on the cover.

At a price point of under $650 to your door this stereo tube integrated amplifier should be high on anyones list that is looking for an affordable gateway into tube amplification. I can't imagine anyone not being happy with this choice.