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Thomas's CZcams video on the TS A75 got me thinking about adding a solid-state amp to my setup to bring out the full low-end potential of my speakers but I was concerned that I would miss the sweet mids and smooth highs provided by my integrated tube amp. For that reason, I decided to use a tube preamp. The pairing between Freya+ and TS A75 worked pretty darn well. During multiple extended listening sessions, I had no desire to go back to my integrated tube amp setup. The crazy thing is I haven't even got to tube-rolling the Freya+ yet. I do have a set of NOS 6SN7 coming soon to take this up a notch or two. Thank you, Thomas!

I would respectfully decline Anges invitation. I don’t want to come home and not listen to my systems anymore.

Got the R26 a few weeks ago, after some burn in, the connection to the singer really improves. Initially I found the DAC to be flawless but boring. After some recommended burn in, wow, the low end came alive! Anyway blah blah, it changed a few times but then it settled and it is smooth and detailed and clear. Love it

Wondering if anyone has tried the upgraded JCC Gold Pin tubes offered by Heaven 11 and if the Phillips or other tubes mentioned are a better choice.

I have my original Technics SL1510 MK2. Still love it.

WOW RC network stabilyze the signal. cool

lol. Autobias was a joke. We didn’t put it because it wasn’t understood and we didn’t have time. All of this was during COVID. Look up all the stuff that happened to ARC between 2020 and 2021 with only two EE’s on staff. For the I/50 autobias, there’s no way 1.) the current autobias circuit would fit, 2.) it’s simple to set the bias. 3.) we had to meet margins.

the Voyager TL ... a wonderful speaker to play at low volume ! Listened to it for six hours before doing this quick review... sounded like at the 5th hour, it had been broken in as the imaging sounded much better than ever. Voices and instruments sound more real (I have it paired with the TS a75 amp. Have the Anti-Cables 5.2 i/c from Schitt Freya+ (with NOS tubes) pre to the A75 and Nordost (Chinese) Valhalla speaker cables hooked up to the TL speakers. The Nordost sounds fuller and cleaner than my previous ClearDay (all silver) speaker cables that I have had since 2016. For me, a great combo for the amp and speakers ! The combination of the amp with the TL speakers makes playing music at night at a softer level more enjoyable since the mid 1980s when I got into hifi systems ! This is my first entry into listening to transmission speakers...

I connected the Bluesound Node 2i to my Denon PMA-A110 amp's DAC and it sounds pretty good.

Appreciate your videos Thomas please let me know if you ever come out with amplifier I would love to buy one Believe if you was ever to produce one it would be top drawer brother!

How do these compare with the Aria K2 926?

Have tube amps for about 25 years now, nothing compares for me . I prefer push pull myself , i like a less direct approach to sound , Have had: Leben cs600, graaf gm50b , line magnetic 518ia, 805ia, and 219ia ,cayin kt88 ( later upgraded) , amplifon wt30 mk2 , Between much other ones . Favorite amp until now .....difficult to say , leben cs600 and line magnetic 219ia were equally good , being ( strangely enough ) the leben the most transparant , and the 219ia the more refined and powerful sounding . Graaf gm50b in the context of a system that i had was absurdly good for the price , but outside that system was less inpressive ,....the old synergy issue. Favorite tube ? They are all very different and each his own merits . I like a lot the old el34 , the kt88 , strangely the kt90 even better than the kt88 ,the 300b is also great , but always the output problem or lack of it , ...i like a lot ( maybe the best if i had to choose one tube) the 845 tube

The real question for the biasing situation with this amp is why not add adjustment knobs/screws like they do on these Chinese amps they sell for a fraction of the price where you can manually adjust it yourself and without having to open the amp up.

looks like an $800 amp.

Hi, how about a full featured, fully balnced analog tube pre-amp with tape monitor loop and mono/stereo switch (no phono) just saying. Continued success, Juan Valentin................

so it's a open baffle with 2 drivers, got it

This is the way Enzo Ferrari made his cars so famous : Very long delivery time together with Very high prices ... and damned good and BEAUTIFULL cars !

If I want to hear a grand piano in my room, I will put a piano in my room.

@14:30 Like 'loosing that girlfriend'... audiophiles don't have girlfriends, they have irrational hobbies. They may somehow acquire wifes, eventually, if they make enough money and put some of that towards food and shelter. Sad but true.

Does it sound clinical?

Thomas is right. The final, mixed-down recordings are anything but Pure. The instruments and vocals have been processed many times over by the recording studio before the music is released to the public. As an additional note, the many feet of cable which tie all the various studio equipment together is not $400 per foot cryogenically treated oxygen free diamond-encrusted copper. Quite the opposite, actually.

Thomas, your salt analogy with the master chef's spaghetti......excellent !

Is VTV still viable these days? I came across this looking for my next amp. I am shopping around for something.

Maybe i missed it, which cartridge came on your RT85? Im very curious about the Nagaoka version. My system is on the warmer side (tube front end with Rega Fono mini phono preamp), so maybe the RT85 would work for me. Im currently running a Uturn Orbit with thr Grado Black cartridge. It could definitely use more detail though.

I didnt see any specsheet or anything on the site, am i missing something?

I have this amp for about a month now and it sounds just great, I love it. I have a relatively budget system and I listen it in a really small room, so I don't use even the half of its power. But even at a low listening levels, it makes his magic onto my bookshelf speakers (Focal Aria 906 K2). I'd never expected from them such a deep bass. I was curious how the trebles will sounds on these speakers, but now I can say that they are simply amazing for me - just the right amount of details and brightness, no harshness or fartigue whatsoever. The sound stage is really airy and 3D. Actually this amp perfoms exactly as it's described by Thomas, so I must say "thank you Thomas"!

I'm considering upgrading my Parasound Halo Preamp to the McIntosh MC49 Preamp. Has Thomas or anyone here heard this McIntosh entry level preamplifier?

I still have & enjoying my Thomas Audio tube amp coffee mug. I need to buy another one to make a pair. lol

Exxxxcelent.

The output is 50W, which is powerful, but the bass gets distorted when Iturn up the volume. I wonder why? ?

Canton 3.2 or Klipsch RF7 MK3?

Theres 3000 likes … will you test the LRS to this amp😊?!

This is far from enough evidence or facts that one can conclude one type of transformer is better than the other type.

They write this in their site : "Drivers shown are MACO™ prototypes; the final version that will come standard with the MACARIAS are featured below in the section "MACO™ Drivers" so it will be different?

I have had this power amp for a year mogami cable and.interconnects Infinity kappa 8s tower speakers. There is nothing weak about this power amp.

The Wharfedale Diamond 225's are on my radar as a potential pairing with an SMSL AO300. Placement is about 1m from the front wall, which is curtained, and 1m from the concrete sidewalls. Listening at companionable levels (about 78-80dB), with hotel-bar piano jazz trios and quartets. Imaging is not a top priority but sound must be cohesive and a little PRAT'y. Would welcome any reactions.

Im really excited im finally getting my first piece of audio research gear . Its a modest Audio Research LS-22 PreAmp. But im very excited to see how it sounds . Im getting it for 1000 bucks so i hope its worth it .

Thomas I am at the fence on pulling the trigger. I have a 1.6 QR pair of maggies … i havent seen any one comment on whether it can make it Sing …. Thank You for a great channel AND company !

I purchased these. Confirming what other said about being great a low levels. There is also lots of sound stage, the better the amp, the more you get I'm thinking although they sound great running off my REGA Brio-R. I love that they are made of birch and are really quite beautiful The finish is high end and they have nice tone like cello when you rap them with your knuckles. I am one to EQ via WiiM app and these sound good with a variety of presets depending on how the music is recorded. Really fun to play around with. Never yet used the foam inserts BTW. I just don't see the need. Listen to wide range of music. Diane Bish sounds amazing. These are full range speakers. You don't need a sub., so really do help the home decor if that's important to you. One less thing lurking around the entertainment center.

Count me impressed! They sound fantastic! That relative ease in projection stands out for me, as I cannot stand eyeball-scorching PA screaming from speakers! An Excellent assessment, and thank you for posting.

Vidar? More articulate speakers demand better electronics.