Dinky little 2-valve Chinese pre-amp

[Yorkie]

Thanks for your interest guys.

My son is using the pre-amp between his turntable and amplifier. I'm not sure what amplifier he has right now - I think it's a solid state one. He had a large valved amp with exposed valves etc on show - large bottles (can't recall the type), and a large mains transformer, choke and OPTs. I can't recall the make - it was modern production, seemed very well made and finished, had favourable write-ups in Hi-Fi mags, and looked very swish, (presumably from the Orient?), but he then sold it as it was really too much of a good thing for his needs. (I didn't ask how much it cost!).

When he brought it here over the weekend, one valve appeared faulty as whichever of the two channels that valve was fitted into, it didn't amplify yet the good valve would amplify in either channel. Although they'd supplied a spare valve, that seems not to be up to scratch either, so he's sent off for a pair of NOS replacements. I'll have to toddle over to Matlock when they arrive, along with my scope and waveform generator to see what's what. I don't think the amp is duff because as I said, either channel works fine with one of the valves. Time will tell.