[Ufanco]

Is there a balanced tube pre amp from Xduoo?

There’s the xDuoo TA20 and xDuoo MT604 I have the TA20 and enjoy the sound quality it produces. There a lot of tube rolling option with the TA20 if into tube rolling. Don’t know much about the MT604.

 

[mformoriarty]

New tubes for the TA-26 just arrived. Giving the stock tubes another listen for an hour before swapping them. It's gonna be a good weekend.

 

[mformoriarty]

Couldn't wait to try the new tubes. Interesting first boot up. You can see the electron flux crashing against the glass on the power tube.

 

[mayurs]

I think I have found the tubes that I will stick to on my TA26. Raytheon flat plates VT231 and the Chatham 6080WA. The Raytheons are extremely clear in the mid range which kind of helps the amplifier as it's a little low in resolution compared to some more expensive tube amps that I have heard along with the Chatham powers that tighten the bass and have extended treble compared to the stock power tube. I think with the right tubes this amp can really sound quite good and has great synergy with the HD600 and R70X.

 

[mayurs]

OK! So I found that the TA-26 sounds even better with a Tungsol 6SN7GT black glass round plates vs any other driver I have tried. But the only problem is that this is now a very very expensive tube that probably costs as much or maybe more than the amp itself. But those who have this tube please try it and see how much better the TA-26 is able to deliver with this tube driving it.

 

[hbmorrison]

I have never been one for cable-fi and the more esoteric side of power management, but my TA-26 had a transformer buzz that I had been ignoring until now.

On a whim, I decided to get an ifi DC blocker.

I'm not really sure why. But colour me surprised it has reduced the buzz almost to nothing and I think the dynamics have been tightened up a bit too?

I dunno I am still extremely skeptical but I suppose power conditioning does at least have a decent argument behind it.

I'm kind of tempted to get an AmpRX EuroVolt now.

 

[roderickvd]

DC blocking is a real thing and not so esoteric (I'm not one for cable fanfare either, for example). Most households don't have such a high DC offset that transformers hum, but if you do then this may well fix it.

 

[greenblured]

I had no buzz, but added an Ifi DC blocker to my Feliks Echo. Improved dynamics and a cleaner sound. The transforner on the amp is noticeably cooler. It's like the amp is operating more effordlessly. Well worth the money ime.

 

[g0ldl10n]

Oh and a better pic of the tubes I'm currently listening to for those into them. NOS Melz 1578 + MWT/GEC 6080/A1834 stubby, maybe I should get a riser for at least the back, looks funny being lower to me (Feng Shui 'n all) but then I prefer the look of ST style tubes.

Hey, thanks a lot for those measurements!

 

[hbmorrison]

Speaking of risers, will an 8-pin 6sn7 socket saver work for the 6as7 socket? I think physically the sockets are the same but not certain.

 

[HardstyleLoco96]

Hello I am considering getting myself a Xudoo TA-26. And was wondering what you guys think are some good tubes for it. I don't want to spend more than $200 Aud.

 

[sonicm]

I'm back in the audiophile scene after a loooong hiatus. I'm considering the TA-30 as my first tube amp, but I'm worried it isn't 'tube-y' enough. I want the full tube amp experience, can the ta-30 provide that? Part of the reason I'm picking it is because I don't have a DAC. But I could also get a $200 DAC and a TA-26. I'm noticing the ta-30 isn't very popular but the ta-26 is decently popular for some reason I haven't figured out just yet.

 

[mayurs]

I'm back in the audiophile scene after a loooong hiatus. I'm considering the TA-30 as my first tube amp, but I'm worried it isn't 'tube-y' enough. I want the full tube amp experience, can the ta-30 provide that? Part of the reason I'm picking it is because I don't have a DAC. But I could also get a $200 DAC and a TA-26. I'm noticing the ta-30 isn't very popular but the ta-26 is decently popular for some reason I haven't figured out just yet.

The TA-26 is a proper tube OTL amp with a driver and power tube while most other are hybrids which make a difference in sound quality if you are specifically chasing a 'tube' sound. The TA-26 is popular as it drives most high impedance Senn, Beyer, AT hps which sound really good out of OTLs vs SS and Hybrid amps.

 

[roderickvd]

I had the TA-20 and didn’t think it sounded very tubey. I second the advice to go for an OTL.

 

[dsrk]

I'm back in the audiophile scene after a loooong hiatus. I'm considering the TA-30 as my first tube amp, but I'm worried it isn't 'tube-y' enough. I want the full tube amp experience, can the ta-30 provide that? Part of the reason I'm picking it is because I don't have a DAC. But I could also get a $200 DAC and a TA-26. I'm noticing the ta-30 isn't very popular but the ta-26 is decently popular for some reason I haven't figured out just yet.

It depends on what exactly you are after. Hybrids are not that warm and smooth like an OTL.
TA-26 is pure OTL which works well with high impedance headphones but not so much with low impedance headphones especially planars.

I see you have the Beyer and Grados too, it definitely sounds great with the Beyer but it may not be that great with the grados.