Author Topic: Modded MingDa MC34-AB  (Read 58227 times)

Offline kajak12

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Re: Modded MingDa MC34-AB
« Reply #40 on: July 17, 2011, 11:33:38 PM »
I had the good fortune of being at flemo's place for the reappearance of his MingDa.  You got to hand it to Mario.  He definitely knows how to get the best out of gear.

As some of you may know, I had the use of flemo's MD, whilst mine was being modded (to bring it up to a point where it was close to where his was before it went to Mario's - see separate thread for details of my mods).  In my view, both of the MD's where fairly similar, before flemo's was handed over to Mario.

To get a feel for how much Mario had extracted, I took my amp with me yesterday.  After being stunned by the performance of flemo's setup. we put my MD into the mix.  Sad, so sad, no contest.  Well sad for me.  Great for flemo and Mario.

We then swapped the front row of valves as both amps where running different valves.  This bought mine up a bit, and showed once again, Mario's capability of finding valves that best suit the amp.  However, there was still a gap between the amps, which is clearly down to the other tweaking that Mario has done.

It is now time for me to find some of those 6SL7's.  It is a pity the rest of the mods are past my limited capability.

Once again, well done to both Mario for his Kajak12 enhancements and to flemo for his great sounding system.
A big thankyou to you and your minda turning up at flemo's,it was indeed very educational for me as to what can be achieved  from a chinese built amp with some chinese output transformers which get slandered by people on sna)

still discovering the link between electronics and audio reproduction.so much to learn and so little time

Offline vitavoxdude

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Re: Modded MingDa MC34-AB
« Reply #41 on: July 18, 2011, 01:25:06 AM »
I had the good fortune of being at flemo's place for the reappearance of his MingDa.  You got to hand it to Mario.  He definitely knows how to get the best out of gear.

As some of you may know, I had the use of flemo's MD, whilst mine was being modded (to bring it up to a point where it was close to where his was before it went to Mario's - see separate thread for details of my mods).  In my view, both of the MD's where fairly similar, before flemo's was handed over to Mario.

To get a feel for how much Mario had extracted, I took my amp with me yesterday.  After being stunned by the performance of flemo's setup. we put my MD into the mix.  Sad, so sad, no contest.  Well sad for me.  Great for flemo and Mario.

We then swapped the front row of valves as both amps where running different valves.  This bought mine up a bit, and showed once again, Mario's capability of finding valves that best suit the amp.  However, there was still a gap between the amps, which is clearly down to the other tweaking that Mario has done.

It is now time for me to find some of those 6SL7's.  It is a pity the rest of the mods are past my limited capability.

Once again, well done to both Mario for his Kajak12 enhancements and to flemo for his great sounding system.
A big thankyou to you and your minda turning up at flemo's,it was indeed very educational for me as to what can be achieved  from a chinese built amp with some chinese output transformers which get slandered by people on sna)


Yes interestng indeed what some people who have not usually experianced but just jump on the bandwagon in slagging off some product because it is not made by some pimp shirt salesman with several zeros after the price tags.  :'( Just because it's Chinese does not automatically make it bad, I can still remember far enough back to when anything Japenese was aslo poo poohed by the Westerners jaded views, how wrong they all turned out to be.   :o I am really pleased how a decently priced product (even if the labour could be perceieved as being 'slave labour in European terms but not theirs) can be made to sing so well for not extorinate prices, it bodes well for the survival of Audio for those newcomers who have not been around the block and been seen off at every corner with  some also ran enemic product that the advertisers make appealing. :-X  Hoorah for Chinese reasonbly priced products is what I say.  So many of the big names have been rapeing thier labour for years and then marking it up to top line prices with a badge / box saying made in xxxxx  you get the picture, lets call a spade a spade.  :P I recently purchased a chinese non badged amp for a reasonable sum which if it beared the Eurpoean badge would have been 8 times the price, this has to make you question the ethics of these outside  companies stratagies and profiteerring, it all goes against my out of date socialist ethics but I have had several glasses of red by now so should shut up..  Horrah for well priced valve amps giving the working class the chance to buy into a musical silk purse for beer monry.
V ;D
We all like different things so lets all agree to disagree and if any common ground is found then worship it.  Mine is the KD hence being present on this forum.

tuyen

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Re: Modded MingDa MC34-AB
« Reply #42 on: July 18, 2011, 03:29:29 PM »
Great stuff guys. Really nice to see you now have a setup that you are happy with and able to enjoy music to flemo!  Mario sure does know how to modify components to get a very good resulting sound of any component.   Lots of tiresome (but rewarding of course!) hours and effort is required.   Much appreciative of what Mario has been able and wiling to share with many of us here on all our systems.

The ming-da killer lives!

Must let us come have a listen to ya system soon flemo  ;D   see what im missing out on!

enjoy
Tuyen

Offline rab

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Re: Modded MingDa MC34-AB
« Reply #43 on: July 19, 2011, 10:05:33 PM »
A great read guys! - and kudos to Mario.

This thread has started me wondering how i might be able to get one of the amps past the gatekeeper. Looks like you can get one of these brand new FOB from Hong Kong for $1000, so probably about $1350 without duty or GST, or for those of you in WA, $1550 direct from SoundAudio.

I have a question: do you think it would be possible to run one of these in a cabinet with the doors open and a gap of only, say, 28cm from the tops of the EL34s to the bottom of a wooden shelf without burning the shelf? I am trying to work with WAF here... see pic below:

Offline kajak12

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Re: Modded MingDa MC34-AB
« Reply #44 on: July 20, 2011, 12:24:43 AM »
hello rab
To give you an idea of how much heat is generated by 8x el34 playing music i measured the top of an el34 with a digital thermometer (kajak12 actually measured something i didn't use my ears for this)  95c  it gets fcuken hot
still discovering the link between electronics and audio reproduction.so much to learn and so little time

Offline rab

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Re: Modded MingDa MC34-AB
« Reply #45 on: July 20, 2011, 09:18:42 PM »
OK, that's hot. might have to do some more thinking... or just have to deal with a while in the doghouse!!!

Offline kajak12

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Re: Modded MingDa MC34-AB
« Reply #46 on: July 20, 2011, 10:15:55 PM »
OK, that's hot. might have to do some more thinking... or just have to deal with a while in the doghouse!!!
I have been in the dog house for years due to my hobby :D
still discovering the link between electronics and audio reproduction.so much to learn and so little time

Offline flemo

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Re: Modded MingDa MC34-AB
« Reply #47 on: July 21, 2011, 12:09:53 AM »
OK, that's hot. might have to do some more thinking... or just have to deal with a while in the doghouse!!!

I've actually gone proactive with my domestic life and hi-fi purchases.  I don't discuss it, I just buy it and deal with it when it arrives. I have eliminated the argument prior to a purchase and just have the single argument when it arrives.  I have reduced the incidence of domestic arguments in my house by 50%.  And the beauty is I end up with what i want and sometimes I get the silent treatment for a couple days so I get peace and quiet and time to play around with new purchase too!! :D

Offline vitavoxdude

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Re: Modded MingDa MC34-AB
« Reply #48 on: July 21, 2011, 10:25:25 AM »
OK, that's hot. might have to do some more thinking... or just have to deal with a while in the doghouse!!!

I've actually gone proactive with my domestic life and hi-fi purchases.  I don't discuss it, I just buy it and deal with it when it arrives. I have eliminated the argument prior to a purchase and just have the single argument when it arrives.  I have reduced the incidence of domestic arguments in my house by 50%.  And the beauty is I end up with what i want and sometimes I get the silent treatment for a couple days so I get peace and quiet and time to play around with new purchase too!! :D
Ha, that's very pragmatic of you, why not wait until she's out, hide it in the back of the ute then sneak it in under the cover of darkness into the man shed or she's at work!  :P That's a good foil to when asked, is that a new dress / shoes / handbag...... the stock reply, NOoooooooo! that's been in my wardrobe for ages!!!!!  :o Oh and the ....that's a nice new hair / nail / face job where did you have it done in comparison to your 15 dollar hair cut (which is expensive in a mans eyes)  ::) compared to 90 or so dollars for latest titavation. Mind you some 'foreign' haircuts has its up side :P Yeah it's all fair in love and war.......can't live with them, can't live without them but some times I wonder!

By now you should know better than to discuss ANYTHING you want / need / desire with one who has a vested interest in all the latest fad's / fashions / sales / does my arse look big in this..................................well done mate, you've solved half the battle. ;)
V
We all like different things so lets all agree to disagree and if any common ground is found then worship it.  Mine is the KD hence being present on this forum.

Offline rab

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Re: Modded MingDa MC34-AB
« Reply #49 on: July 23, 2011, 01:31:08 PM »
... some dog houses are bigger than others...

Hey guys, i just noticed that some pics of this amp show the valves covered by a parallel set of glass plates. Is that an add on?

See http://www.google.com.au/url?source=imglanding&ct=img&q=http://www.audiocostruzioni.com/r_s/ampli/ming-da-mc34-ab/meixing%20mc34%20ab.jpg&sa=X&ei=4j0qTrW_CeeImQXk5JWHDA&ved=0CAUQ8wc&usg=AFQjCNETQA1l6IU4Y6waz4hmsF1On1qX8A or http://www.stereopal.com/HomeVisit/Piffard/100_0916.jpg.
I am wondering how that might affect the heat dissipation... might help...

Offline rab

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Re: Modded MingDa MC34-AB
« Reply #50 on: July 23, 2011, 01:36:41 PM »
.. ah, i now see from here http://www.audiocostruzioni.com/r_s/ampli/ming-da-mc34-ab/ming%20da%202007.jpg that it is a metal cage with a glass top with drilled holes. Kinda ugly, but might be a good idea in my particular circumstances (including small kids with touchy fingers, although there's nothing like the smell of burning flesh to teach small mites a lesson they won't forget --- oops, did *i* say that?)

Offline kajak12

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Re: Modded MingDa MC34-AB
« Reply #51 on: July 23, 2011, 01:48:18 PM »
... some dog houses are bigger than others...

Hey guys, i just noticed that some pics of this amp show the valves covered by a parallel set of glass plates. Is that an add on?

See http://www.google.com.au/url?source=imglanding&ct=img&q=http://www.audiocostruzioni.com/r_s/ampli/ming-da-mc34-ab/meixing%20mc34%20ab.jpg&sa=X&ei=4j0qTrW_CeeImQXk5JWHDA&ved=0CAUQ8wc&usg=AFQjCNETQA1l6IU4Y6waz4hmsF1On1qX8A or http://www.stereopal.com/HomeVisit/Piffard/100_0916.jpg.
I am wondering how that might affect the heat dissipation... might help...
first time i have seen one
still discovering the link between electronics and audio reproduction.so much to learn and so little time

Offline kajak12

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Re: Modded MingDa MC34-AB
« Reply #52 on: July 23, 2011, 01:51:10 PM »
.. ah, i now see from here http://www.audiocostruzioni.com/r_s/ampli/ming-da-mc34-ab/ming%20da%202007.jpg that it is a metal cage with a glass top with drilled holes. Kinda ugly, but might be a good idea in my particular circumstances (including small kids with touchy fingers, although there's nothing like the smell of burning flesh to teach small mites a lesson they won't forget --- oops, did *i* say that?)
Oh yes my little diamond gem is 14 months had a very quick touch i dont think she will touch again
still discovering the link between electronics and audio reproduction.so much to learn and so little time

Offline treblid

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Re: Modded MingDa MC34-AB
« Reply #53 on: July 24, 2011, 10:35:09 AM »
Oh yes my little diamond gem is 14 months had a very quick touch i dont think she will touch again
14 months already? Wow, time really flies...


Offline rab

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Re: Modded MingDa MC34-AB
« Reply #54 on: July 28, 2011, 01:44:06 PM »
I stumbled across the MC34-AB "Special Edition" on the web - delivered DHL courier to AU for US$1513, which doesn't seem bad.

Includes:

"Special Onion shape 6SN7 and Blue EL34 vacuum tubes
Onion shape 6SN7 is employing 300B material in production

Custom built audio and power transformers using:
Zll and H18 long grain annealed and directed steel sheets

USA made Teflon silver cable for audio signal paths

Isolated power supply unit with 2 transformers (1 for each channel)

High-end parts - Philips, Panasonic capacitors, USA made resistors
High class ALPS volume control from Japan

Gold plated speaker out terminals
Attractive stainless steel & Plexiglas valve cover"

Are all of these items "special" only, or are they included in the standard edition?
Gotta love those Blue EL34s... !!

See
http://www.cattylink.com/page311.html

Thoughts?

Offline kajak12

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Re: Modded MingDa MC34-AB
« Reply #55 on: July 28, 2011, 06:29:11 PM »
I stumbled across the MC34-AB "Special Edition" on the web - delivered DHL courier to AU for US$1513, which doesn't seem bad.

Includes:

"Special Onion shape 6SN7 and Blue EL34 vacuum tubes
Onion shape 6SN7 is employing 300B material in production

Custom built audio and power transformers using:
Zll and H18 long grain annealed and directed steel sheets

USA made Teflon silver cable for audio signal paths

Isolated power supply unit with 2 transformers (1 for each channel)

High-end parts - Philips, Panasonic capacitors, USA made resistors
High class ALPS volume control from Japan

Gold plated speaker out terminals
Attractive stainless steel & Plexiglas valve cover"

Are all of these items "special" only, or are they included in the standard edition?
Gotta love those Blue EL34s... !!

See
http://www.cattylink.com/page311.html

Thoughts?
mr.Rab the special valves are nothing special the blue el34's are just jj big fcuken deal
The interesting part is they do a 240v i know flemo's is 220v.
As for silver wire in teflon very system dependent can always be changed later.
As for high end parts i dont see any in the pictures
still discovering the link between electronics and audio reproduction.so much to learn and so little time

crazikid

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Re: Modded MingDa MC34-AB
« Reply #56 on: July 28, 2011, 06:30:37 PM »
rab.. email mingda direct. you'll get it cheaper than that.

Thats what i did.. delivery was dhl about 260 USD.

Offline mcb

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Re: Modded MingDa MC34-AB
« Reply #57 on: July 28, 2011, 09:31:53 PM »
I stumbled across the MC34-AB "Special Edition" on the web - delivered DHL courier to AU for US$1513, which doesn't seem bad.

Includes:

"Special Onion shape 6SN7 and Blue EL34 vacuum tubes
Onion shape 6SN7 is employing 300B material in production

Custom built audio and power transformers using:
Zll and H18 long grain annealed and directed steel sheets

USA made Teflon silver cable for audio signal paths

Isolated power supply unit with 2 transformers (1 for each channel)

High-end parts - Philips, Panasonic capacitors, USA made resistors
High class ALPS volume control from Japan

Gold plated speaker out terminals
Attractive stainless steel & Plexiglas valve cover"

Are all of these items "special" only, or are they included in the standard edition?
Gotta love those Blue EL34s... !!

See
http://www.cattylink.com/page311.html

Thoughts?

rab,

This one looks like mine before I started vandalising it, other than some of the caps seem to be a different colour.  This I understand is not unusual.  I know that whilst mine and flemo's are pretty much the same, some components are different.

As Mario stated, the stock tubes (all of them) are best replaced.  I know when I researched buying one, the common theme was the first change was the 12AT7's.  I did not even bother listening to the stock ones.

Offline rab

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Re: Modded MingDa MC34-AB
« Reply #58 on: July 29, 2011, 06:56:28 PM »
ok, so the consensus seems to be that there is nothing worth keeping in the "special edition"... and that the standard edition direct from mingda is the way to go. I have a possible plan for funding this... [insert evil laugh here]

Offline mcb

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Re: Modded MingDa MC34-AB
« Reply #59 on: July 29, 2011, 08:26:07 PM »
flemo's (ex crazykid) and mine are both marked special class.

I don't know if any of the other amps that are floating around have been the standard one, or what the actual differences are.