Aug 1, 2024 at 6:56 AM Post #166 of 433
I found just a beautiful synergy between TA-26S and Ibasso SR3.
With swapped tubes, not expensive...this is now an amazing little amp.
I don't get those critics on the TA-26S thread.
And with all that it can be read about TA-66...it's a no-brainer that is an amazing amp, too.

Cheers!
 
Aug 1, 2024 at 8:04 AM Post #167 of 433
I found just a beautiful synergy between TA-26S and Ibasso SR3.
With swapped tubes, not expensive...this is now an amazing little amp.
I don't get those critics on the TA-26S thread.
And with all that it can be read about TA-66...it's a no-brainer that is an amazing amp, too.

Cheers!
I just paired the FiiO K11 R2R DAC with my TA-66 and now it is even more amazing! Absolute sonic bliss.

-Ed
 
Aug 1, 2024 at 4:03 PM Post #169 of 433
Has anyone considered daisychaining two TA-66s? I have two here and am considering it, but I'd have to buy more RCA cables.
Do you intended to run them in mono? like one for the left channel and the other for the right channel or are you going to gain stagging with both of them?
 
Aug 1, 2024 at 4:30 PM Post #170 of 433
xduobeyer.jpg


And here is the combo complete, finally I couldn't help but order an extra tube setup and I did well. The amp is very good with the original tubes, I could have easily left it like that. After 2 hours of testing I moved on to the other tubes, a 6N13S Svetlana Russia (NOS) and a 6N2P-EV Russian. The two tubes cost me €57 delivered by DHL, given the price of the amp at €240 delivered I find that reasonable. The difference is quite audible, for me it's going in the right direction with the DT990 Special black even if its output is a little difficult with 250ohms/96db. The bass bump is slightly erased, the treble takes a little body. The listening point is a little behind compared to the original tubes, given the price I am very impressed by the overall quality of this amp. In my opinion its only flaw is that it is not very powerful with 200mW at 300ohms, with the DT990 I am at 60/65%. However for the moment I am in aptxHD from the pc, in the week my smsl D6S dac will be in optical I think I will recover a little gain. In the end my "bet" was to take a combo in addition to my Focal Alpha 50 evo speakers, a few years ago this kind of amp would probably have been sold 3x more expensive without it shocking anyone. For those looking for something to drive medium impedance headphones like HD600/800, R70x, Beyer 250oms and more, I think this is an amp to seriously consider. You have to take it for what it is, a beautiful tube amp well made and inexpensive with some limitations. It's probably not a giant killer but once you've had a taste it's hard to do without, I haven't been able to get away from the office since this morning :levit:

positive points:
_ really tubey sound / top finish / 24 position step by step knob without cutoff between positions / black background sound / takes up little space on the desk
negative points:
_ switch on the back / no gain adjustment / may lack power for some headphones / be careful your fingers get hot..
 
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Aug 1, 2024 at 5:58 PM Post #171 of 433
Do you intended to run them in mono? like one for the left channel and the other for the right channel or are you going to gain stagging with both of them?
I suppose I could try both options. Any suggestions ahead of this experiment? Can these amps run safely in mono, or does each channel need a load? Is Daisey chaining one amp into the other dangerous for impedance or other reasons?
 
Aug 1, 2024 at 6:02 PM Post #172 of 433
I suppose I could try both options. Any suggestions ahead of this experiment? Can these amps run safely in mono, or does each channel need a load? Is Daisey chaining one amp into the other dangerous for impedance or other reasons?
What is your main objective in the first place for daisy-chaining two of these?

-Ed
 
Aug 1, 2024 at 6:18 PM Post #173 of 433
Just got mine in, tube burning in, sounds pretty good off the bat!

IMG_7500.JPG




Can anyone confirm that the volume knob range is correct? Never had a volume pot travel nearly a full 360 degree range!
I assume it's normal, because it's muted at the lowest position. But just figured I'd check.

IMG_7512.JPG
 
Aug 1, 2024 at 7:40 PM Post #174 of 433
It's almost impossible to take a bad picture of this amp, it looks just stunning and beautiful from any angle in all the pictures I've seen, I'm almost tented to buy it now just for the looks.
 
Aug 1, 2024 at 7:41 PM Post #175 of 433
Just got mine in, tube burning in, sounds pretty good off the bat!

IMG_7500.JPG



Can anyone confirm that the volume knob range is correct? Never had a volume pot travel nearly a full 360 degree range! I assume it's normal, because it's muted at the lowest position. But just figured I'd check.

IMG_7512.JPG
Where do I get the headphone stand you got there my friend?
 
Aug 1, 2024 at 8:42 PM Post #177 of 433
Aug 1, 2024 at 10:33 PM Post #178 of 433
Okay, this amp is way better than expected. Such a vibe with HD800S. Built like a tank and sounds phenomenal. Highly recommend it for the asking price.
 
Aug 2, 2024 at 12:24 AM Post #179 of 433
What is your main objective in the first place for daisy-chaining two of these?

-Ed
Experimentation. If one TA-66 sounds great, what would two in succession sound like? Perhaps even more "tubey"? The TA-66 is priced reasonably enough to merit keeping two if the daisychained pair is better than one on its own.

I'll run the daisychaining experiment tomorrow, and forego the L/R separation experiment given that I don't have a matching pair of both tubes.
 
Aug 2, 2024 at 1:28 PM Post #180 of 433
Okay, this amp is way better than expected. Such a vibe with HD800S. Built like a tank and sounds phenomenal. Highly recommend it for the asking price.
Yep, HD800S on tubes is definitively another level of audiophilia.
 

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