YaqinAudio

Last updated

Yaqin (pronounced "Ja-chin") [1] is one of the more prolific Chinese manufacturers of valve (tube) based audio equipment. They claim to have "engage[ sic ] in power amplifier research and production more than 10 years." [2] Despite having several disadvantages [3] compared to modern transistorised (solid state) equipment, a valve sound is preferred by some commentators as having the most pleasing listening experience [4] [5] [6] [7] but has until recently been typically more expensive than transistorised equipment. [8]

Contents

Description

Yaqin equipment is primarily designed for a 220 V AC mains electricity supply voltage. In countries with 240 V AC such as the UK, some caution should be observed. Rebadged models have been offered for sale [9] claiming to have dealt with the power supply issues. [10] Unless you have a 240 V version which is available by special order, then it is wise to use a Variac (variable transformer) to drop the power to the required 220 V for the amplifier's mains transformer, as notwithstanding EU mains harmonisation, the UK's 240v voltage has never changed, the continental Europe tolerance for 230v instead changing its tolerance from 230v +/-5% to 230v -5%/+10%. With valve equipment, depending on mains transformer secondary voltages, a 20 V overload on the mains input could result in about a 40 V overload (or more) on the HT (high tension) side. Use of correct input voltage is important. If in any doubt as to the voltage of your Yaqin, remove the cover from the power transformer, Yaqin typically stamps the primary voltage on the top. The supplied mains lead have been identified as poor quality and sometimes not fused, discard it and use your own lead.[ citation needed ]

US and Canadian import models have a 110-120 V mains transformer. In America, with 110 V current, the MC-13S tube amplifier made by Yaqin Ling--(an actual person) makes these products essentially by hand, even though Ling's command of English (as noted below) is imperfect.[ citation needed ]

Little reliable English-language data is available as of 2010. Often comical Engrish translations exist, for example 'First class-B gall stone is combined, grade is SRPP circuit before the gallbladder. The wide speed is fast frequently, the sound is nice.' [11] Having said that, 'gallbladder' is a mistranslation of tube or valve common to machine translation systems.

Known models

Pre-amplifiers

Phono Stages

Headphone-amplifier

Tube-amplifiers

Hybrid-amplifiers

CD player with tube output

Tube buffers

Power filter

List permanently updated by T.Langer

Notes

The name 'Yaqin' is unclear in origin. It may derive from the Chinese musical instrument Yazheng or may also relate to the Arabic word Yaqin meaning certainty. The 'Ya' character () means 'elegant' or 'proper'. The 'qin' character () could easily be a family name. It is also notable[ according to whom? ] that the logo contains the Greek letters 'Ψ' in place of the 'Y' and 'Θ' in place of 'Q'. This has led to many confusing alternative references on the web to both 'Yaoin' and the hypercorrected 'Yaquin'. In fact, however, it is the manufacturer's family patronymic.

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Compactron</span> Type of vacuum tube

Compactrons are a type of vacuum tube, which contain multiple electrode structures packed into a single enclosure. They were designed to compete with early transistor electronics and were used in televisions, radios, and similar roles.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Vacuum tube</span> Device that controls current between electrodes

A vacuum tube, electron tube, valve, or tube, is a device that controls electric current flow in a high vacuum between electrodes to which an electric potential difference has been applied.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Valve amplifier</span> Type of electronic amplifier

A valve amplifier or tube amplifier is a type of electronic amplifier that uses vacuum tubes to increase the amplitude or power of a signal. Low to medium power valve amplifiers for frequencies below the microwaves were largely replaced by solid state amplifiers in the 1960s and 1970s. Valve amplifiers can be used for applications such as guitar amplifiers, satellite transponders such as DirecTV and GPS, high quality stereo amplifiers, military applications and very high power radio and UHF television transmitters.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">12AX7</span> Miniature high-gain dual triode vacuum tube

12AX7 is a miniature dual-triode 6AV6 vacuum tube with high voltage gain. Developed around 1946 by RCA engineers in Camden, New Jersey, under developmental number A-4522, it was released for public sale under the 12AX7 identifier on September 15, 1947.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">KT66</span>

KT66 is the designator for a beam power tube introduced by Marconi-Osram Valve Co. Ltd. (M-OV) of Britain in 1937 and marketed for application as a power amplifier for audio frequencies and driver for radio frequencies. The KT66 is a beam tetrode that utilizes partially collimated electron beams to form a low potential space charge region between the anode and screen grid to return anode secondary emission electrons to the anode and offers significant performance improvements over comparable power pentodes. In the 21st century, the KT66 is manufactured and used in some high fidelity audio amplifiers and musical instrument amplifiers.

The Williamson amplifier is a four-stage, push-pull, Class A triode-output valve audio power amplifier designed by D. T. N. Williamson during World War II. The original circuit, published in 1947 and addressed to the worldwide do it yourself community, set the standard of high fidelity sound reproduction and served as a benchmark or reference amplifier design throughout the 1950s. The original circuit was copied by hundreds of thousands amateurs worldwide. It was an absolute favourite on the DIY scene of the 1950s, and in the beginning of the decade also dominated British and North American markets for factory-assembled amplifiers.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">6L6</span> Vacuum tube

6L6 is the designator for a beam power tube introduced by Radio Corporation of America in April 1936 and marketed for application as a power amplifier for audio frequencies. The 6L6 is a beam tetrode that utilizes formation of a low potential space charge region between the anode and screen grid to return anode secondary emission electrons to the anode and offers significant performance improvements over power pentodes. The 6L6 was the first successful beam power tube marketed. In the 21st century, variants of the 6L6 are manufactured and used in some high fidelity audio amplifiers and musical instrument amplifiers.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Beam tetrode</span> Type of tetrode vacuum tube

A beam tetrode, sometimes called a beam power tube, is a type of vacuum tube or thermionic valve that has two grids and forms the electron stream from the cathode into multiple partially collimated beams to produce a low potential space charge region between the anode and screen grid to return anode secondary emission electrons to the anode when the anode potential is less than that of the screen grid. Beam tetrodes are usually used for power amplification, from audio frequency to radio frequency. The beam tetrode produces greater output power than a triode or pentode with the same anode supply voltage. The first beam tetrode marketed was the Marconi N40, introduced in 1935. Beam tetrodes manufactured and used in the 21st century include the 4CX250B, KT66 and variants of the 6L6.

Founded by David Hafler and Ed Laurent in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in 1955, Dynaco was an American hi-fi audio system manufacturer popular in the 1960s and 1970s for its wide range of affordable, yet high quality audio components.. Its best known product was the ST-70 tube stereo amplifier. They also manufactured other tube and solid state amplifiers, preamplifiers, radio tuners and bookshelf loudspeakers. Dynaco was liquidated in 1980, and the trademark is now owned by Radial Engineering Ltd.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Pentode</span> Vacuum tube with five electrodes

A pentode is an electronic device having five electrodes. The term most commonly applies to a three-grid amplifying vacuum tube or thermionic valve that was invented by Gilles Holst and Bernhard D.H. Tellegen in 1926. The pentode was developed from the screen-grid tube or shield-grid tube by the addition of a grid between the screen grid and the plate. The screen-grid tube was limited in performance as an amplifier due to secondary emission of electrons from the plate. The additional grid is called the suppressor grid. The suppressor grid is usually operated at or near the potential of the cathode and prevents secondary emission electrons from the plate from reaching the screen grid. The addition of the suppressor grid permits much greater output signal amplitude to be obtained from the plate of the pentode in amplifier operation than from the plate of the screen-grid tube at the same plate supply voltage. Pentodes were widely manufactured and used in electronic equipment until the 1960s to 1970s, during which time transistors replaced tubes in new designs. During the first quarter of the 21st century, a few pentode tubes have been in production for high power radio frequency applications, musical instrument amplifiers, home audio and niche markets.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Single-ended triode</span> Vacuum tube electronic amplifier that uses a single triode to produce an output

A single-ended triode (SET) is a vacuum tube electronic amplifier that uses a single triode to produce an output, in contrast to a push-pull amplifier which uses a pair of devices with antiphase inputs to generate an output with the wanted signals added and the distortion components subtracted. Single-ended amplifiers normally operate in Class A; push-pull amplifiers can also operate in Classes AB or B without excessive net distortion, due to cancellation.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">12AT7</span> Miniature medium-gain dual triode vacuum tube

12AT7 is a miniature nine-pin medium-gain (60) dual-triode vacuum tube popular in guitar amplifiers. It belongs to a large family of dual triode vacuum tubes which share the same pinout, including in particular the very commonly used low-mu 12AU7 and high-mu 12AX7.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">12AU7</span> Miniature medium-gain dual-triode vacuum tube

The 12AU7 and its variants are miniature nine-pin medium-gain dual-triode vacuum tubes. It belongs to a large family of dual-triode vacuum tubes which share the same pinout. 12AU7 is also known in Europe under its Mullard–Philips tube designation ECC82. There are many equivalent tubes with different names, some identical, some designed for ruggedness, long life, or other characteristics; examples are the US military 5814A and the European special-quality ECC82 and E182CC.

A valve audio amplifier (UK) or vacuum tube audio amplifier (US) is a valve amplifier used for sound reinforcement, sound recording and reproduction.

The KT88 is a beam tetrode/kinkless tetrode vacuum tube for audio amplification.

Ultra-linear electronic circuits are those used to couple a tetrode or pentode vacuum-tube to a load.

Technical specifications and detailed information on the valve audio amplifier, including its development history.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">807 (vacuum tube)</span>

The 807 is a beam tetrode vacuum tube, widely used in audio- and radio-frequency power amplifier applications.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Traynor Amplifiers</span> Canadian amplifier manufacturer

Traynor is a brand of bass amplifiers and guitar amplifiers, the first brand formed by Yorkville Sound. The Traynor brand, named for founder Peter Traynor, began in 1963 with the Dynabass bass amplifier, a rental product. Traynor first became popular in Canada by providing less expensive versions of the circuits used in Marshall and Fender amplifiers of the time. The revived brand now produces a wide range of electric, acoustic, and bass guitar amps.

JJ Electronic, s.r.o is a Slovak electronic component manufacturer, and one of the world's remaining producers of vacuum tubes. It is based in Čadca, in the Kysuce region of Slovakia.

References

  1. Grant Fidelity's Yaqin Audio page
  2. Foshan Chancheng Yaqin Sound appliances factory
  3. Transistor#Comparison with vacuum tubes
  4. Valve sound#Explanation
  5. Barbour, Eric. The Cool Sound of Tubes in IEEE Spectrum Online
  6. Hamm, Russell O. (September 14, 1972). "Tubes vs. Transistors: Is There An Audible Difference?" Presented at the 43rd convention of the Audio Engineering Society, New York
  7. Reisch, George. Scientists vs Audiophiles 1999 in Stereophile , March, 1999
  8. Valve audio amplifier - technical#Modern valve power amplifiers
  9. Markhill Amplification
  10. Destiny Audio
  11. "Yaqin MC-100B Yaqin Sound Appliances Factory; Foshan, Chancheng". radiomuseum.org. Retrieved 27 June 2024.