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MING DA<br />
EXOTICA DYNASTY DUET 300 PLUS £3,499<br />
Heart<br />
of glass<br />
Chris Ward samples the latest integrated<br />
valve amplifier offering from Ming Da and<br />
discovers a sweet and dynamic sound<br />
M<br />
ing Da has been producing<br />
valve amplifiers for over<br />
22 years and is gaining<br />
fans worldwide.<br />
Furthermore as with this example<br />
here, after the amp’s arrival in the UK,<br />
Malvern Audio Research upgrades<br />
key internal components, swaps in<br />
higher quality valves and adds a three<br />
year warranty. Taken altogether, this<br />
China/UK partnership feels highly<br />
compelling and without compromise.<br />
This Dynasty Duet 300 Plus is an<br />
incarnation of an existing Duet 300B<br />
triode amp design, but now employs<br />
zero feedback and claims many other<br />
audio improvements. Lifting its<br />
considerable 32kg into place confirms<br />
that this is a whole lot of amplifier.<br />
With this ‘Plus’ version weighing an<br />
extra 8kg over the existing Duet 300,<br />
it’s clear there must have been<br />
considerable extra attention to meaty<br />
transformers and beefy chassis work.<br />
With eight large and lavish tubes on<br />
show, this is an amp for conspicuous<br />
visual consumption. I’m a fan of its<br />
function-first, slightly ‘steam punk’<br />
DETAILS<br />
PRODUCT<br />
Ming Da Dynasty<br />
Duet 300 Plus<br />
ORIGIN<br />
China/UK<br />
TYPE<br />
Single-ended 300B<br />
valve integrated<br />
amplifier<br />
WEIGHT<br />
32kg<br />
DIMENSIONS<br />
(WxHxD)<br />
430 x 220 x 340mm<br />
FEATURES<br />
● Quoted power<br />
output: 2x 9W<br />
(into 8ohm)<br />
● Inputs: 4x RCA<br />
line level<br />
● Single-ended<br />
triode<br />
● Zero feedback<br />
DISTRIBUTOR<br />
Ming Da UK<br />
TELEPHONE<br />
07831 197019<br />
WEBSITE<br />
mingda.co.uk<br />
styling, but some may find it a tad<br />
utilitarian. To me, the black finish,<br />
rounded corners, chunky controls and<br />
slightly retro dials lend it a certain<br />
Cold War charm. Add the beautifully<br />
finished acrylic tube guard (not<br />
shown), however, and the amp takes<br />
on a far fresher, 21st century vibe, so<br />
the aesthetic choice is yours. Mark<br />
Manwaring-White at Malvern Audio<br />
Research even hints at bespoke<br />
coloured options in the future.<br />
Operationally, it has four line-level<br />
inputs selectable by the front right<br />
dial. Ming Da offers an optional<br />
built-in Wolfson DAC for an extra<br />
£200, enabling coaxial and USB<br />
inputs for those with digital sources.<br />
Volume can be controlled by hand<br />
or remote control that operates the<br />
motorised volume potentiometer. As<br />
with many rather fetching VU meters,<br />
these are possibly more for retro<br />
appeal than meaningful data, but<br />
they lend it a personable face.<br />
The amp has been hand built within<br />
a well-finished cast aluminium chassis<br />
using high-purity copper point-topoint<br />
wiring throughout for quality<br />
audio connections and near infinite<br />
serviceability. Ming Da claims all<br />
42 MAY 2016
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