[Kallbo]

It will need more than one hour for burn in. Give him a little bit more time.

 

[Ola Starkman]

Im gonna leave it playing for a couple of days. Hopefully it will soften up a bit.

 

[ExTubeGamer]

I have a MT-603 and a new tube on the way. I hope they both arrive before xmas. Then I would have maxed out my space for equipment.

 

[r3f3r3e]

Guys, I got a silly question to ask. I got the TA-22 and it has 6.35mm, 4.4mm and XLR input for headphone. Can we actually use multiple headphones to connect them at the same time so that mutiple ppl can listen together?

 

[vmiguel]

I have a MT-603 and a new tube on the way. I hope they both arrive before xmas. Then I would have maxed out my space for equipment.

So... A new house is the next gear upgrade?

 

[ExTubeGamer]

So... A new house is the next gear upgrade?

I need a new desk first!

 

[Kallbo]

Mine was shipped just now aswell strange. But they told me they would pay me back.

Did you get any tracking update for your amp?

 

[mformoriarty]

Trying a new rectifier (Tungsram black plates 1950s NOS) on the 20+. Waiting for the Apos Ray Tubes to arrive. So far it has added a nice improvement in overall presentation and in depth (forward and back) vs the stock rectifier. I'm still in the honeymoon phase with this amp.

 

[Metalboyy]

Did you get any tracking update for your amp?

Yes but only that they have picked it up

 

[Kallbo]

Same for mine.

 

[Metalboyy]

Same for mine.

Okey. Will see what happens next week

 

[Ola Starkman]

Now with about 100hrs on the ta20+ Im trying to figure out what I think of it. I have been comparing it to a Fiio KA1 usb dongle dac using Sennheiser HD600 and Sony MDR-1a. Not a very fair comparison as the Fiio is about $60 and the complete signal chain with the ta20+ adds up to about $2200. The ta20+ sure sounds better but im more impressed by the Fiio. The bass in the ta20+ is guite thick but still detailed and punchy. Treble is smooth and airy. I wish the mids had a bit more warmth as vocals sound a little flat and cold. Soundstage could be wider but the imaging is quite nice. Vocals could use little more pop to make them stand out a little more. I miss the almost 3 dimensional vocals I get from my speaker setup. The vocal issues might be the hd600s fault though.
Im going to get some new tubes for the ta20+. I really like the JJ goldpins I have in my speaker amp so I think Ill get a pair of those and maybe a new rectifier as well. Might treat the hd600s to a setvof bew pads while im at it.
I dont want to spend too much on the headphone rig as I dont know how much that im going to use it. Im happy that i got the ta20+ for crazy cheap.

 

[Pretardo]

TA-22 background noise improved on sensitive IEMs. I switched out the Xduoo USB cable that came with the unit for a better shielded cable and the background hiss is greatly reduced. Using the balanced output, I can hardly hear any background noise, but with the single ended output, the noise is reduced, but still present. Originally, It was my assumption that the unit was the source of the noise and not the cable which I thought was shielded.
Well, egg on my face. I hope this helps people reconsider this awesome DAC/Amp as it’s a fun engaging device.
Further thoughts: perhaps buying something to help cleanup the USB noise or using an optical cable might bring the noise to inaudible levels.

 

[Kallbo]

Got my TA-20 + two days ago and pretty like it.
The stock tubes are ok but not much more. You can get much more out of it putting in some dif. ones.
Changed my to Phillips Miniwatt ECC82 from the `60 and everything improved. Next will be NOS Siemens.

Nice amp but it is an hybrid and sounds like one.
You will not get the ”Tube Sound” like from a real full tube amp. My 2cts

 

[Pretardo]

Got my TA-20 + two days ago and pretty like it.
The stock tubes are ok but not much more. You can get much more out of it putting in some dif. ones.
Changed my to Phillips Miniwatt ECC82 from the `60 and everything improved. Next will be NOS Siemens.

Nice amp but it is an hybrid and sounds like one.
You will not get the ”Tube Sound” like from a real full tube amp. My 2cts

As someone who’s quite new to tubes and hasn’t really been able to compare a full tube vs hybrid, how might you describe what the TA-20+ and by extension TA-22 sound as different from a full tube-based amp? What do they lack to your ears? And what characteristics pop out to you most?