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| Model: | MC-10L |
| Category: | Amplifier (Tube) |
| Suggested Retail Price: | $425 (£330) |
| Description: | Great EL34 based amp, worlds best kept secret. |
| Manufacturer URL: | YaQin |
| Review by drasticsden@yahoo.co.uk on May 21, 2012 at 12:16:26 IP Address: 213.106.135.190 | Add Your Review for the MC-10L |
"The Yaqin MC10L : The Worlds Best kept Secret."
The MC10-L Is one of the greatest pieces of kit to come out of China. It's very well built & well designed, it even looks great. I've had a Mk2 version now for over three years & had no problems. The Mk3 version is now available now, but as far as I'm aware the only change is to the value of a resistor on the EL34 boards & power switch, it's a small Toggle on the Mk2 & a push button on the Mk3. It's VERY important to run it on the correct voltage. Most are 220volt, here in the UK we should now be on 230V, but we still get over 240v at the socket. In my area it ranges from 243-251 volts! So I power my amp vir a variable transformer(Variac), which means I can set it at a dead 220 volts, which is what they are designed to run at (unless you have the USA version), I just wonder how many people are just plugging them straight into the mains! This is the reason why Chinese amps blow, Over Voltage! On the MC-10L the HT rail is about 440 volts, so if you give it an extra 20 volts on it's mains input then that results in about a 40 volt overload on the HT rail, No amp could handle that and it will blow, it's only a question of time. Many people find the standard Chinese tube's sound nice, which they do, so If your happy with the stock tubes, then stick with them, but if you feel like spending some cash changing the EL34's for almost any other make will give a more detailed sound & a firmer base, Winged “C” are a popular choice, but even the humble JJ's are good & much cheaper.I believe changing the power tubes is the way to go, I find the stock 6N1P's are in fact quite good, but I know others will disagree, maybe I just got lucky & got a good set. However the 6N1P's can be up graded to Mullard or Tesla E88CC’s (Gold pin versions are best) or a set of RCA 6CG7's will give it a lift. Please remember to re-set the Bias if you change the EL34's & check the bias every 3 months anyway, this is not an auto bias amp! (bias.35v). When I first received my amp I ran it for a week without turning it off. just to burn the tubes in & shake down the amp, it had no problems at all, after the first week I checked & re-set the bias & that was all. They are good on power usage as well, mine only seems to use 135 watts, no matter what power level it's running at! The power output is stated as 52 watts per channel,which can't be correct, a pair of EL34's running in push pull mode should be producing 40 watts not 52, you might beable to over run them a little & get them up to 45watts, but that's about it, but no matter the MC-10L does not lack power! They are great amp's at a very fair price, it a good way to get into valve amps. I'm sure you will not be disappointed if you buy one, but run it on the correct voltage or there will be tears! Good luck, Bob.
| Product Weakness: | No UK or USA dealer (dealer in Canada) or have to buy from China/Hong kong. |
| Product Strengths: | Top quality sound, like a valve amp should be. Well constructed, looks super cool.<br>Very reliable. Good price! you could spend four grand & get as good an amp!<br> |
| Amplifier: | Integrated Amp |
| Preamplifier (or None if Integrated): | None |
| Sources (CDP/Turntable): | 3 inputs all the same, no Phono |
| Speakers: | 4 or 8 ohm taps |
| Cables/Interconnects: | None |
| Music Used (Genre/Selections): | Wide range |
| Other (Power Conditioner etc.): | Power ICE |
| Type of Audition/Review: | Product Owner |
Thank you for the review. Don't forget to add perhaps $170 (USD) for shipping. I'm glad to see that someone else is bold enough to try expensive things from afar. I am not in tube/vave land lately but who knows ... ?
A friend has a Yaqin(110Vac). I suggested he run it off the variac after he complained of it eating tubes.
I benched it for the proper Vp according to the specs.
IIRC it came in around 105Vac off the variac.
The 6N1P can handle high plate voltage, up to 300V; the E88cc is good to 90V. Best to measure the Vp of that tube or check the schemo.
The 6CG7 has a different pinout so it's not a plug'n'play tube for that position.
I'm skeptical of those wattage outputs as well. UL PP EL34 - deep Class B perhaps 40w.
Enjoy the amp.
Cheers
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