X5 Integrated Amplifier EL34 x4 Push-Pull Vacuum Tube AMP with Remote

Details below are my opinion, to which I'm entitled:PROS: price, seller seems to have good customer service skills, exceptional build-quality and some refinement, remote control is great, english manual and design schematic emailed after sale.CONS: (update) my personal opinion here: The EL34 power stage provides outstanding clarity in the midrange and high frequencies. Considering that, i 'feel' the low frequencies are not as pronounced. This isn't a problem since i have a Schiit Loki mini EQ in the pre-amp signal path. ...but thought buyers may want to know this before dropping $1K on this amp. (update 2) after rolling tubes to 6CA7 power stage and complete russian variants, I am running flat EQ except for a slight bump in the bass band. sounds great to me!BE AWARE:X5 is a modern adaptation of vintage audio technology. As such, it has solid-state rectification which provides tight responsive BASS to the speakers. Midrange and high frequencies are exceptionally clear (based on provided tubes). It does NOT have vintage tube stereo tone, so don't expect it to sound like your old RCA or Magnavox from the 50s, 60s, 70s. However, it seems to provide a pristine foundation for a high-quality system when matched with appropriate speakers.Electrochemical components over time are 'conditioned' under flow of electrons (or have a 'break-in' period), so i believe the X5's sound quality will improve. X5 has two ICs and one transistor OUTSIDE of the audio path, and PCBs seem to be used sparingly in heat-safe locations.X5 uses commonly available and affordable vacuum tubes: 12AX7, 12AU7, EL34. This is important for the sustained use of the product. Many Chinese-manufactured models may use 6N...-based pre-amp tubes, replacements or equivalents for which may be difficult to find outside of China.I write these things because I want buyers to have realistic expectations when purchasing this product.

I love this amp! Give yourself some time to get used to it. I went through 4 pairs of speakers before I found the chosen ones.my magnepan 1.7 nope,klipsch rp280 nope, old pair of pioneer towers almost but not enough.Boston acoustics cr85 bookshelf niiiice! If u have klipsch buy at own risk as this amp is a tad bright.if you have an eq or a schiit loki u might be ok.build quality is excellent took a chance so far I’m glad I did reliability we’ll see but sounds fantastic.

I took a big jump buying this amp - yes, it's a big chunk of change. But I have had this amp now for 15 months and I have never had any issues with it, and the sound just gets better every time I listen to it. As input to the amp I'm using a high-end turntable, an inexpensive tube preamp, and a multi-band equalizer (used mostly to boost the base a little for my inefficient tower speakers). The amp is driving a pair of modified, quality, old speakers (12" woofers, 6" mids, horn tweeters). Everything sounds great - crystal clear vocals, orchestral, instrumental - just as though I am right there with the artist. My favorite vinyls: Linda Ronstadt, Sonny Rollins, Junior Wells, Thelonious Monk. The amplifier's quality of build and components are top notch, there are no shortcuts taken. And it looks good too!

I dont own this yet. I wanted to ask TRINKK how his amp is sounding and behaving now. Im interested if you have switched between power amp options. One is solid state and the other is all tube. The all tube selection supposedly does make it sound like 40s 50s 60s tube amps. Im assuming this is the same muzishare model recently featured on zerofidelity on youtube. If not then nevermind, but im still interested in how its holding up. Thanks also for the heads up on getting a schitt or similar in between. Im currently using a marantz 2285b with klipsch forte II and my main fear about buying this was that id really miss my eq capabilities that I constantly use on the Marantz. I will DEF be using an eq when i get one.