A cheap tube amplifier will only fulfil your expectation, if the expectation is only that it works. A tube amplifier reflects the thoughts and way of working of it's builder and designer. So you buy not just a "thing" that will do what is is supposed to do. Like a computer. With a tube amplfier, you buy a creation by a designer, made by a craftsman, and he used ingredients of good choice. These three things you get. Keep that in mind. A tube amplifier is an object that is going to stay in your house for a long time probably, and you intent to share good moments of your life with it. Enjoying the emotion good music can create. Most China amplifiers have "interesting" schematics. Chinese designers try to add personal cleverness into the schematic, which is their way to profile themself. That can be nice or interesting. The question is, if your good music sound comes from "clever" schematics, or rather from doing things "traditional" and using finest ingredients. Also making hybrid schematics (tubes + transistors in one amp) is for them as normal as preparing a meal from four kinds of meat. But we must say, it is amazing how they can sometimes offer a complete and working 211 amplfier, factory based for a price lower than a pair of 211 Output transformers from a top class company, like Tamura or Lundahl. So in the above is the market justification of the Chinese. I can only repeat that you have to be sure this is where your needs are, and if you're in for an experiment, well then go ahead. I add some schematics here that I think are nice and interesting. HAVE FUN! Jac