I watched this video --> replaced ta-26 original tubes to sovtek 6AS7G and electro-harmonix 6SN7EH and paired with rme adi2 & hd800s. Thank you for great advice, sounds like magic to my taste!
i always enjoy your reviews Lachlan and this one is no exception. Learned a lot from your impressions of the TA-26. I have been interested in this OTL amp for months and this review solidifies it. Including this in my timeline of amps to get this year, likely, after the SA-1. Thanks Lachlan!
This is where sound quality is clearly objective, as I experienced the opposite to what is described here. I have this running with a pair of Beyerdynamic DT 1990 PROs and a Topping DX3 Pro+ DAC. Without the tube amp, some of the highs were really bright and sometimes sharp. The tube amp sorted this right out, smoothing them over and created an incredibly warm, thick, smooth, bouncy and punchy sound that seems to be very full and spacious. The amount of bass added was incredible and I wasn't aware my DT 1990's could sound this warm. Game changer. Sound quality may be differ depending on your headphones and DAC set up, however I'd highly recommend this.
Hi BSP, I'm confused by you saying that you heard the opposite to me because I think our impressions are somewhat aligned (albeit using different headphones). I'm a big fan of the TA-26 and recommend it often for the benefits it brings to the sound.
@@PassionforSound I was referencing 15:00 where you said it's not a thick, rich tubey sound. This is my first tube amp though, so I'm sure you've heard many more compared to me. Awesome review though overall - there's only a handful on CZcams who have taken time to review this in depth, so thanks for that (and it was these reviews, including yours, that swayed me to purchase).
My pleasure and yes, relative to other tube amps (and depending on the choice of tubes) the TA-26 isn't overly thick, but still brings the tube flavour which is what makes it great IMO. Happy listening!
Thank you for this review and the tube rolling tests. Am using the Feliks Echo mk2 in combination with the Denon AH-D9200. It's also an OTL design and on paper not the best match but I was lucky to find a dealer in Delft who let me try first. Am very happy with the result so far. It can easily control the Denon. I noticed a big difference when I changed the DAC from Earman Tr-Amp to Ifi Zen Signature 2. The last one sounded very analytical. Both the headphone and amp are the neutral components in my setup. The Earman gives the warm tuby sound. Will eventually replace it for the new Blusound Node streamer and hope the sound will be as good with more convenience. Thanks again and good luck with your channel.
Hi Lachlan, this is the most informative and comprehensive review of the TA-26 that I have seen, thanks so much! Would you mind posting links to the tubes you discussed in the video description as I would like to pick up one or two to try with my TA-26, as a complete beginner, I found it hard to follow the tube names and numbers, thanks
Thanks Lachlan. I have rolled quite a few 6SN7 tubes in my Schiit Freya. PS Vane was excellent. Sovteck a bargain in a good sounding tube and a NOS Sylvania GTB black plate costing $50 was also excellent. Roll on.
Thanks for your in depth and educational review. I appreciate you discussing the very technical aspects of the amp, tubes, input, output, etc. Though I can grasp it sort of, conceptually you provide a an impetus to go do some research on these same topics and become further educated. I'm very new to the world of headphones but over a decade ago was really into high end home audio and very high end car audio. sound quality competitions. judged objectively and subjectively etc... Point is, I have to relearn a lot and learn a bunch of new stuff to. Anyway, great review. I think your audio University is great! Idea . Take care
Thanks Ben! If you ever want to ask questions via Discord or Patreon, I'm always happy to help patrons 🙂 I used to install car audio (with an emphasis on quality over quantity) once upon a time so I know exactly where you've come from 🙂🙂
i look for you when it is possible. i found your advise on tube rolling the ta-26 to be accurate and the recommendations work and upgraded my audio very nicely. thanks
I have a very similar otl amp with the same tube complement. My amp is one off prototype amp. My favorite tubes are both nos tubes that aren't redicluaous coating. For the input I like a 1960s Sylvania silver top 6sn7gtb and for the output I like a 1960s cra 6aa7g (classic coke bottle look). The rca output tube can really make things more clean and open things up.. You can even get more crazy with the different variants of the getters for the rca. They made them for many years and I may even have some from the 1940s. I need to try the electroharmonix input tube as I have good luck with them on my elekit tube amp. So many tube rolling options with these amps and it's not as crazy as you only need one and not matched pairs, quads, etc. Thanks for a great review!
Thanks very much for your review. I hope to see a review from you about the Schiit Lyr 3 at some point. I have heard of some great 6SN7 tubes: - Psvane CV181-T Mark II - Lin Lai E-6SN7
I compared the xDuoo TA-26 side by side with the Darkvoice 336SE. I rolled a large amount of tubes in the comparison. The xDuoo TA-26 drastically reduced tube characteristics from all of my tubes. The Darkvoice squeezed every last drop of characteristic from each tube. The Darkvoice sounded magical while the xDuoo TA-26 sounded neutered. I have never returned a headphone amplifier due to poor sound in my entire life. The xDuoo TA-26 was such a poor performer that I finally broke down and returned it taking a little bit of a loss on return fees. I highly recommend anyone considering the xDuoo TZ-26 to first listen to the Darkvoice side by side. The Darkvoice performs so much better.
@@Jamie-666 My pleasure. All should also take into consideration the quirks and tube buzz complications of owning a Darkvoice 336SE before purchasing one.
Thank you for the explanation on the headphone compatibility! Very clear and understandable. Now I know tube amps are not for me and my choice of cans.
Seems to take the same 6080 power tube as the Woo Audio WA2. From experience, the absolute "best" options for that are the Sylvania 7236 (good) and the Tung Sol 5998 (best) although they require more power, so double check that they work in that unit.
Thanks for the great review and dive into the impedance matching of OTL's and how the impact is with different impedance headphones. I have just completed a clone of a crack OTL with some of my own mods, using it with great effect with Sen 600, and also sen 650. But I also have a Whammy driving a set of Audeze LCD-CX's. Never thought of trying the planars with the OTL but will do that now as they have a flat impedance even if they are at 20 ohms. I have upgraded and increased the size of the output cap from 100 to 160 so that should help some of the possible bass roll-off. Cant wait to try this, but will have to wait til tomorrow as i am not with my OTL crack clone (droid?) at the moment :-). That one is running with the same Phillips NOS 6080 tube I believe you tested here + EH gold E82CC input tube at the moment and I am pretty happy with the sound.
Watching this again, after owning the TA-26 for a year now. Did some reading up on tubes, purchased some and loving it. I read some where that I can connect this TA-26 to another headphone amp and be able to use this for headphones with lower impedance. Which first? Computer to DAC, then DAC to TA-26 then normal headphone amp and then headphone?
Probably about the time the HD800 came out 😉 Jokes aside though, it all depends on what people need. The HD650 is still brilliant for its price and is plenty good enough for a lot of people, but it hasn't been a true TOTL headphone for a long time now.
That should be ok. Just be sure to not turn the volume up too high on the SV 237. From memory, Rec outputs are volume controlled and if the output gets too high, you'll get some nasty clipping distortion. It won't damage the amp (unless pushed to extremes), but can damage the headphones.
My darkvoice hums terribly with anything other than the stock tubes. Really disappointing. I’ll have to get one of these to enjoy all the tubes I bought! I think this does it for me, I’ll buy it. Don’t know what I’ll do with the darkvoice… Where did you pick up that Sovtek?
So curious to fly tubes, but my cans impedance are too low. Don't feel I would enjoy it enough. I suppose if there is FET output stage and tube pre drive but still tube all the way would be fun. I still loved the Abyss headphones and Woo Audio top of the range combination. It sold me tubes are righteous alchemy, but unfortunately not my reality till I get high impedance cans.
If you get either a hybrid amp like the Schiit Lyr or the xDuoo MT-604 they will drive any impedance headphone. Alternatively, a transformer coupled tube amp is still pure tubes, but with lower output impedance. I run my Susvaras from an Elekit TU-8200R a lot of the time.
I have S.M.S.L SU 9 DAC and i need AMP under 200$ do you recommend me to buy Topping L30? Or is there a better option? Very nice review ❤️ Your awesome keep going ❤️
The SMSL SH8s is a great clean powerfull amp...check out his review on it..its better than the topping that i also have, also ifi zen can is very versatile to and has the bass boost and balanced to...
@@chefsteve8381 Thanks for your reply, it's more expensive than the L30 at $70, but I'll take the performance into consideration and I'll do a long research to make the right decision. thanks for your advice🌹🌹
Depending on the design of the adapter, it might, but you need to be certain that the adapter isn't adding extra output impedance. I'm not sure of any (other than the circuit built into the Schiit Folkvangr) that would actually solve all the problems of low impedance loads on high output impedance amps because there are three separate issues: 1) influence on frequency response, 2) loss of damping factor (less control over the driver), 3) inefficient power transfer (distortion occurring at low-moderate listening levels)
That's a tough call! Both are excellent amps. The TA-26 is pure tubes which allows for more tube rolling influence, but also makes it less versatile for other headphones you might get in the future. The Lyr+ is more versatile across all different headphones, but slightly less variable with tube rolling. It's so hard to give you a recommendation on that one. I honestly don't know what I'd do... although I just had a thought that the TA-26 probably won't improve the sonic performance over the Asgard 3 - it will just be different. Lyr+ will be technically better for sure.
Hi, thanks for all your work. You think used as a Pre-Amp, going from a Bluesound Node 2021, getting into this Xduoo and then onto an Aiyima A08 will be a good combination?
Great review. Did you happen to measure the output impedance after swapping any of the output tubes? Wondering if any of these might lower the impedance enough to play better with say an Edition XS. I know on my Darkvoice 332 the bass rolloff on the EDXS and Modhouse T60rp is huge which is unfortunate.
I love toots and the maytals, monkey man is another good song of their's, also give the General levy monkey man (living sting mix) a listen huge soundstage and very well recorded...
From the glimpse of the inside in your B-roll near the beginning, it seems that this unit has a linear power supply? If you get the Electro Harmonix tube with regular pins, it would probably sound as good, and save some money over the gold-plated pin version. The Electro Harmonix 6992 is the best match with the xDuoo MT-601 headphone amp, by the way. Question for you Lachlan - is the gain profile on this amp's volume control similar to other xDuoo units? I.E. does it have a fairly rapid volume gain with only a little bit of the rotation?
That's an interesting question about the gain and volume range. Because I only used this with HD6XX for any serious listening, it's hard to compare, but I think this is maybe a little less aggressive and that can change with tube variants too sometimes. As for the power setup, you're right that it uses a transformer for the power so essentially a LPS
Hi. Does your TA-26 make a buzzing noise when you're using it? Not from the headphone audio but from the amp itself. Mine makes a buzzing that sounds like it might be coming from the back of the amp. Is that normal?
Mine doesn't and that's definitely not normal. Sounds like a power transformer issue potentially. I'd contact the place you bought it from and see what they can do for you
@@TheLeanPocketMuncher Mine seems to do the same thing. I can hear a hum or buzzing from the amp itself not through my headphones. Did you get this resolved in any way?
@@JoeBoJoe11 Not yet. Apos had me send it back but they haven't sent a replacement yet. I just hope they test it in a quiet enough room to be able to hear it so they can give a definitive answer if that amount of noise is normal or not. I'll let you know if they say anything.
@@TheLeanPocketMuncher How loud was yours? Mine is only really noticeable with my headphones off or not playing anything and thats with the amp within reaching distance.
Thanks for the good review. Also for pointing out the Sovtek and Phillips power tubes, I was not sure how they could sound like. They are really difficult to find though (matched pair). Do you know a source?
Hi Hendrik, I have used watford valves, a UK company. They have a really good tube selection at reasonable prices and offer matched tubes for some of them at least. I not for those you are looking for it might be worth dropping them an email and ask if they could provide that service for you. Have had only good experience with them.
Nice video and seems to be a great product. About the hum complaints I see everywhere online...tube preamps...amps...don't produce the hum itself. SS components have all kinds of ways to artificially quiet a system down. Tubes don't have that arsenal...and is exactly why ppl are attracted to them...one of the reasons anyway. The unit lets you hear the hum...and folks think it is the unit itself...no. What you have in this case...is a dirty system...and the tubes are picking it up. You can go back to SS and get rid of the hum...but your system is still...dirty. You just aren't reminded of that fact with SS. Adjust/clean up your system...it all goes away. If you have a bunch of mismatched components and a birds nest behind your gear...tubes aren't for you. Stay in the shallow end of the pool.
Good points about the hum, but there have been actual faults in some of the TA-26 units (I had one). If it's a ground loop then that's completely fixable and not the product's fault (as you say), but some TA-26 units have an issue in the circuit that introduces a 50-60Hz hum no matter how clean the system is. ☹️
@@PassionforSound Heh... I knew after I wrote that post I should have said...most of the time. Tubes can get a bad rap from dirty systems in general. You can spend tons of coin on tubes...but if you haven't invested in power supply and proper wiring setups...the better the tube setup...the more it will show the flaws of your overall system. Sort of like a high resolution camera. Lens on old camera seems great...until a sensor change. Tubes are a bit of a sensor change. But your are right of course...bad apples get through at these price points.
@@PassionforSound I was really leaning into purchasing this little beast...but finally decided on going with a new set of cans instead. The cans are pretty linear but have a reputation for being tube loving. I like to have options in audio...and keep my wife at bay. 😄
I am yet to hear the “magic” from my 6xx headphones, what tube amp/tubes do you or the community consider the best, I have tried a mt 602 xduoo hybrid and with some Sylvani 1965 NOS tubes and it is good, better soundstage, more extended and holographic but mind still not blown, I use the xduoo as a preamp mainly and I love it on most of my other cans so no waste but for 6xx is the best tube amp to actually use an Elex 😁
The 6xx is still a relatively basic headphone so it's possible you're just not blown away by it, but I'd consider trying it on the TA-26 or a Bottlehead Crack to get a sense of whether it's the amps or the headphones leaving you less impressed
@@PassionforSound thanks I have cans that I greatly prefer they are also more expensive though, I really fancy building a bottle head crack, and then the upgrade, I was inspired by your videos on them and the interviews, I think it would be an awesome feeling to use something you have had a hand in completing
Thanks for the review. I know you can’t answer in terms of specifics but I have a pair of AKG 712 Pros which are rated at 62 ohms. Not super high impedance but not really low either. I recently purchased a Monolith 887 headphone amp and it struggled to drive them surprisingly. Just curious if you think the xDuoo’s would be worth demoing. Thanks.
@@PassionforSound it just seemed to lack bass and also when pushed above medium listening levels it distorted. I was kind of surprised given its specs but the AKG's are 62 ohm so I was thinking perhaps I need a different kind of amp. The Monolith just seems to run out of steam.
The lack of bass isn't a lack of power - just a sign that you might need a less clinical sounding amp for those headphones. The THX amps tend to be quite analytical and somewhat unnatural in their sound as a result so leaner headphones can sound a bit lacking with them. You can also very easily drive the 712 to dangerous levels with less than 500mW (pretty sure the 887 has more than that) so what you might be hearing is the driver being pushed too hard rather than the amp running out of steam. Personally, I wasn't a huge fan of the 712 (I decided not to review them and resold them). They aren't bad, but not particularly engaging IMO. If I were in your shoes I'd either try a different amp or try a different headphone and in both cases look for something with a bit more body and soul in the sound.
@@PassionforSound wow. Thanks for the great feedback. I think you may be correct: the 712s are more on the dry/analytical side. I am curious to see if I could pair them with something a bit warmer/saucier as I do like a somewhat analytical sound just not this dry. Much appreciated!
hey man, love the content, i have a 990 premium 600 ohms and im looking for a new amp to drive them focusing on imaging, soundstage and separation. do you think the TA-26 would fit the search with the right tubes, or just go for the asgard 3
Ooh. That's a tough one! Both are excellent options. Keep in mind that the TA-26 will be a little less resolving and there have been some cases of issues with the a.ps having a hum (due to a fault, not ground loops), but that's covered by warranty. The benefit of the TA-26 is that you can tune it with the right tubes and make it suit your cans and tastes. With the Asgard 3, you're getting a pretty faultless device that's going to work happily in just about any setup, but you can't tweak the sound at all. I love both devices so it's hard to make a recommendation, but hopefully my points above will help.
@@PassionforSound Oh man, i mean, i love tube rolling, i have a little dot already and did tons of tube rolling and i know how drastically can change the sound, its like having a new amp each time you do a swap, but i dont know if the Ta-26 will have a good synergy with the 990 and probably the 1990 that im thinking in buying it, i dont like tons of bass on a headphone, i prefer a more precise detailed sound, i know the asgard its really good and is a safe bet but i saw a tons of reviews and with its soundstage details and separation seems to be a mixed thoughts, some say that is really good and others not so much being a bit warm instead of analytical, on the other hand i have the TA-26 and this one its like the wild card, that i know for sure that will hadd sounstage, and separation im looking for with the right tubes plus the midrange gains in vocals and string instruments due to its tubey nature. if you were me which route you go? btw thanks for the response and the help.
That's a tough one. I think I'd a go for a secondhand Asgard 3 if you've already got a tube amp. The A3 is a bit warm, but if you're pairing it with a headphone like the 990 or 1990, I think it'll give you nice results. If you buy secondhand, you can always resell if you're not enjoying it and not lose much (if anything)
@@PassionforSound well thats true, i will follow your advice, i had the asgard 3 as my next amp, just that i saw alot of the TA-26 recently and made me doubt. thanks again man, GL with your channel its awesome
It's quite possible that finding as changing the output capacitors could help, but I haven't looked at the circuit to find them or know what they are. By the time you go to that trouble, you might be better off just settling it and upgrading to a better amp
@@PassionforSound Thanks for the reply. It has the proper connections. Once I purchase the products I will give it a try and let you know how it works. Can I drive Sundaras with the TA-26? Just joined your top tier today. Thanks
/general rule of thumb is that you want headphones that have 8 times the impedance of the amplifier output/ Two months in this hobby and I just learned about impedance matching! I'm flabbergasted. Why haven't you told me this before?? ;) I think my issues with low Ohms IEMs powered from a Topping amp might be related to this... oh bollocks
@@PassionforSound They also mention in spec sheet some kind of Adapter Impedance >8 Ohms. But yes, still low, so I got the point. My issue is that I'm getting LF interference with variable amplitude on my S12, generally tolerable, but when it spikes driver flexes. Don't have it with my T2 (same specs). Currently blaming it on the S12 stock cable. But maybe increasing impedance can help?...
They'd be an interesting one and could go either way. I'd probably lean towards not expecting great sound with the TA-26, but these things are a little unpredictable
It all depends on the amps you use. Some tube (pre)amps are quite neutral and Class A can be neutral or warm so it really depends on the individual devices.
@@PassionforSound i have an Asgard 2 which is pure class A & is kinda warm (fed by a bifrost multibit). Will the TA-26 OTL as a preamp be a bad idea? Or should I look at something else or completely drop the idea?
I would think that's going to get a bit rich if the Asgard 2 is like the Asgard 3. What are you looking to achieve though? I might be able to provide some suggestions if you can share your sonic goal for the setup. 🙂
@@PassionforSound wow man thanks so much for your response! Well I'm tempted to try the tube world.. But then i like my planar headphones. So was wondering if i could introduce a tube preamp in my chain.. and enjoy my planar headphones too.
Don't be put off by those who say you can't use planars with tubes. You absolutely can in most cases (depending slightly on the amp and cans) so you could just get a tube amp and drive the cans directly. Which headphones?
Mushy sounds??? You must be kidding. Agai, wrong assessment of a good product. Xduoo is not as natural, more polite means less alive. So is with Felix echo. So, DarkVoice kicks ass with HD600.
terrible low volume audio out of your video. You should pay more attention to this because there are people who have to do other things and want to listen also the review. Very disappointing coming from an audio channel....
@@PassionforSound Just compare the audio of this video with the new review of the TA-26S, it's obvious the volume level change... Don't tell me you don't hear the difference.
Ah, it's probably that I used to have to speak quietly when recording because my son was asleep in the room next door. My audio processing, volume levelling, etc. has remained unchanged, but my mic positioning and ability to speak at full volume has changed.
Still worth getting? This is potentially totally for my HD800'S. Currently running through an Ifi Stack. How fiddly is it? Tube replacements easy to source & switch out? Thanks
Yes. This is a wonderful amp and the new TA-26S version is identical on the inside in case you find that one too. The only difference is the connectors on the front. As for tube replacement, that's really easy too.
@@PassionforSound many thanks. Have you tried it with HD800's (original not 800s). I already have an ifi Stack which has a warmer sound than most... will this be a significant difference? I saw there was a recent hybrid model, but the emphasis on tubes looks quite minimal & it's more expensive... not sure I'll get the full use out of it. What do you think? I'll pay the extra if it can do as good a job with the tubes as well as do some extra bits & pieces for me. Many thanks!
I think you'll really like it! The benefit of an OTL tube amp is the way it interacts with the driver so it's quite different from even a warm solid state amp.
I watched this video --> replaced ta-26 original tubes to sovtek 6AS7G and electro-harmonix 6SN7EH and paired with rme adi2 & hd800s. Thank you for great advice, sounds like magic to my taste!
Fantastic! So glad I could help
This is probably the best explanation of OTL I have heard. Perhaps Zeos should watch this!
Haha. Thanks David!
Definitely the best review of TA-26, thanks.
My pleasure. Glad it was helpful
Invaluable information on the tube rolling. Thank you for offering such detailed reviews.
My pleasure. So glad it was helpful!
i always enjoy your reviews Lachlan and this one is no exception. Learned a lot from your impressions of the TA-26. I have been interested in this OTL amp for months and this review solidifies it. Including this in my timeline of amps to get this year, likely, after the SA-1. Thanks Lachlan!
Two great choices (SA-1 & TA-26). So glad I could help!
Lachlan, that was very helpful to my comprehension of OTL amps. Thank you!
So glad I could help!
This is where sound quality is clearly objective, as I experienced the opposite to what is described here. I have this running with a pair of Beyerdynamic DT 1990 PROs and a Topping DX3 Pro+ DAC. Without the tube amp, some of the highs were really bright and sometimes sharp. The tube amp sorted this right out, smoothing them over and created an incredibly warm, thick, smooth, bouncy and punchy sound that seems to be very full and spacious. The amount of bass added was incredible and I wasn't aware my DT 1990's could sound this warm. Game changer. Sound quality may be differ depending on your headphones and DAC set up, however I'd highly recommend this.
Hi BSP, I'm confused by you saying that you heard the opposite to me because I think our impressions are somewhat aligned (albeit using different headphones). I'm a big fan of the TA-26 and recommend it often for the benefits it brings to the sound.
@@PassionforSound I was referencing 15:00 where you said it's not a thick, rich tubey sound. This is my first tube amp though, so I'm sure you've heard many more compared to me. Awesome review though overall - there's only a handful on CZcams who have taken time to review this in depth, so thanks for that (and it was these reviews, including yours, that swayed me to purchase).
My pleasure and yes, relative to other tube amps (and depending on the choice of tubes) the TA-26 isn't overly thick, but still brings the tube flavour which is what makes it great IMO. Happy listening!
Thank you for this review and the tube rolling tests. Am using the Feliks Echo mk2 in combination with the Denon AH-D9200. It's also an OTL design and on paper not the best match but I was lucky to find a dealer in Delft who let me try first. Am very happy with the result so far. It can easily control the Denon. I noticed a big difference when I changed the DAC from Earman Tr-Amp to Ifi Zen Signature 2. The last one sounded very analytical. Both the headphone and amp are the neutral components in my setup. The Earman gives the warm tuby sound. Will eventually replace it for the new Blusound Node streamer and hope the sound will be as good with more convenience. Thanks again and good luck with your channel.
Glad you're enjoying your setup! Thanks for watching and commenting
Hi Lachlan, this is the most informative and comprehensive review of the TA-26 that I have seen, thanks so much! Would you mind posting links to the tubes you discussed in the video description as I would like to pick up one or two to try with my TA-26, as a complete beginner, I found it hard to follow the tube names and numbers, thanks
Thanks Lachlan. I have rolled quite a few 6SN7 tubes in my Schiit Freya. PS Vane was excellent. Sovteck a bargain in a good sounding tube and a NOS Sylvania GTB black plate costing $50 was also excellent. Roll on.
Thanks for your in depth and educational review. I appreciate you discussing the very technical aspects of the amp, tubes, input, output, etc. Though I can grasp it sort of, conceptually you provide a an impetus to go do some research on these same topics and become further educated. I'm very new to the world of headphones but over a decade ago was really into high end home audio and very high end car audio. sound quality competitions. judged objectively and subjectively etc... Point is, I have to relearn a lot and learn a bunch of new stuff to.
Anyway, great review. I think your audio University is great! Idea . Take care
Thanks Ben! If you ever want to ask questions via Discord or Patreon, I'm always happy to help patrons 🙂
I used to install car audio (with an emphasis on quality over quantity) once upon a time so I know exactly where you've come from 🙂🙂
Howdy from the States! Thank you for the great review on this amp!
Glad you enjoyed it!
i look for you when it is possible. i found your advise on tube rolling the ta-26 to be accurate and the recommendations work and upgraded my audio very nicely. thanks
Thanks James. Glad that I can help. 🙂🙂
I have a very similar otl amp with the same tube complement. My amp is one off prototype amp. My favorite tubes are both nos tubes that aren't redicluaous coating. For the input I like a 1960s Sylvania silver top 6sn7gtb and for the output I like a 1960s cra 6aa7g (classic coke bottle look). The rca output tube can really make things more clean and open things up.. You can even get more crazy with the different variants of the getters for the rca. They made them for many years and I may even have some from the 1940s. I need to try the electroharmonix input tube as I have good luck with them on my elekit tube amp. So many tube rolling options with these amps and it's not as crazy as you only need one and not matched pairs, quads, etc. Thanks for a great review!
Thanks very much for your review.
I hope to see a review from you about the Schiit Lyr 3 at some point.
I have heard of some great 6SN7 tubes:
- Psvane CV181-T Mark II
- Lin Lai E-6SN7
I compared the xDuoo TA-26 side by side with the Darkvoice 336SE. I rolled a large amount of tubes in the comparison. The xDuoo TA-26 drastically reduced tube characteristics from all of my tubes. The Darkvoice squeezed every last drop of characteristic from each tube. The Darkvoice sounded magical while the xDuoo TA-26 sounded neutered. I have never returned a headphone amplifier due to poor sound in my entire life. The xDuoo TA-26 was such a poor performer that I finally broke down and returned it taking a little bit of a loss on return fees. I highly recommend anyone considering the xDuoo TZ-26 to first listen to the Darkvoice side by side. The Darkvoice performs so much better.
Thanks for the insight, appreciated.
@@Jamie-666 My pleasure. All should also take into consideration the quirks and tube buzz complications of owning a Darkvoice 336SE before purchasing one.
Looking forward for the course.
Not long now. I recorded the first two chapters yesterday and built the site.
@@PassionforSound because i need help knowing all this stuff... by the way i need an amp
Great advice! Thanks for doing what you do!
This review is fantastic.
I'm glad you liked it!
Thank you for the explanation on the headphone compatibility! Very clear and understandable. Now I know tube amps are not for me and my choice of cans.
So glad I could help!
Certainly looks the best bang for your buck tube amplifier
Other than a Bottlehead Crack at least 🙂
Nice review mate. BTW, am still enjoying the AD006 Lyndale. Cheers.
That great to hear. They're an excellent IEM
this sound doctor is great! he cured me and I order this amp.
Enjoy your amp. Great choice!
Seems to take the same 6080 power tube as the Woo Audio WA2. From experience, the absolute "best" options for that are the Sylvania 7236 (good) and the Tung Sol 5998 (best) although they require more power, so double check that they work in that unit.
Absolute bests can often be amp dependent so it's worth taking that into account, particularly if they're very expensive NOS tubes
Oh yeah good luck 6SN7 Tungsol. Not easy if not impossible to get.
Have you tried these with the Sivga 023? Would like to know your thoughts on the matter. Considering getting my first tube amp.
I haven't tried the pairing directly but I have no doubt at all that it would be a wonderful combination!
Thanks for the great review and dive into the impedance matching of OTL's and how the impact is with different impedance headphones. I have just completed a clone of a crack OTL with some of my own mods, using it with great effect with Sen 600, and also sen 650. But I also have a Whammy driving a set of Audeze LCD-CX's. Never thought of trying the planars with the OTL but will do that now as they have a flat impedance even if they are at 20 ohms. I have upgraded and increased the size of the output cap from 100 to 160 so that should help some of the possible bass roll-off. Cant wait to try this, but will have to wait til tomorrow as i am not with my OTL crack clone (droid?) at the moment :-). That one is running with the same Phillips NOS 6080 tube I believe you tested here + EH gold E82CC input tube at the moment and I am pretty happy with the sound.
Watching this again, after owning the TA-26 for a year now. Did some reading up on tubes, purchased some and loving it. I read some where that I can connect this TA-26 to another headphone amp and be able to use this for headphones with lower impedance. Which first? Computer to DAC, then DAC to TA-26 then normal headphone amp and then headphone?
That's great news about you enjoying the tube rolling in the TA-26. You're absolutely correct about the connection order too
@@PassionforSound thank you!
Most informative review of TA 26 that I found so far ... Would this be good pair for Beyer T1 (600 ohm), smoothing Beyer peak a little ?
Glad it was helpful. I think it would be great with the T1s and you can always find some smoother tubes if you need extra taming of the spike
Cool shirts btw 😂😂😂
Glad you liked them!
very well done!
Thank you!
I have xDuoo TA-26 with 6xx. and love it!
Such a great combo!
LOVE THE BACKGROUND MUSIC ON THE B-ROLLS!
Hi,
Did you say the output impedance was 90ohms or 19ohms?
90 ohms. OTL amps are always high output impedance
When did the HD 650 stop being a top of the line headphone?
Probably about the time the HD800 came out 😉
Jokes aside though, it all depends on what people need. The HD650 is still brilliant for its price and is plenty good enough for a lot of people, but it hasn't been a true TOTL headphone for a long time now.
Can I Connect a Ta -26s to my Rec out on a Vincent SV 237 Amplifier without damage it?😊
That should be ok. Just be sure to not turn the volume up too high on the SV 237. From memory, Rec outputs are volume controlled and if the output gets too high, you'll get some nasty clipping distortion. It won't damage the amp (unless pushed to extremes), but can damage the headphones.
My darkvoice hums terribly with anything other than the stock tubes. Really disappointing. I’ll have to get one of these to enjoy all the tubes I bought! I think this does it for me, I’ll buy it. Don’t know what I’ll do with the darkvoice…
Where did you pick up that Sovtek?
I just searched local tube suppliers for the tubes I bought. Sorry to hear about the DV!
So curious to fly tubes, but my cans impedance are too low. Don't feel I would enjoy it enough. I suppose if there is FET output stage and tube pre drive but still tube all the way would be fun. I still loved the Abyss headphones and Woo Audio top of the range combination. It sold me tubes are righteous alchemy, but unfortunately not my reality till I get high impedance cans.
If you get either a hybrid amp like the Schiit Lyr or the xDuoo MT-604 they will drive any impedance headphone.
Alternatively, a transformer coupled tube amp is still pure tubes, but with lower output impedance. I run my Susvaras from an Elekit TU-8200R a lot of the time.
I have S.M.S.L SU 9 DAC and i need AMP under 200$ do you recommend me to buy Topping L30? Or is there a better option?
Very nice review ❤️
Your awesome keep going ❤️
The SMSL SH8s is a great clean powerfull amp...check out his review on it..its better than the topping that i also have, also ifi zen can is very versatile to and has the bass boost and balanced to...
@@chefsteve8381 Thanks for your reply, it's more expensive than the L30 at $70, but I'll take the performance into consideration and I'll do a long research to make the right decision. thanks for your advice🌹🌹
with regard to low impedance headphones on otl like this, would an impedance adapter help?
Depending on the design of the adapter, it might, but you need to be certain that the adapter isn't adding extra output impedance. I'm not sure of any (other than the circuit built into the Schiit Folkvangr) that would actually solve all the problems of low impedance loads on high output impedance amps because there are three separate issues: 1) influence on frequency response, 2) loss of damping factor (less control over the driver), 3) inefficient power transfer (distortion occurring at low-moderate listening levels)
i want to upgrade from Schiit Asgard 3
would this TA26 or Lyr+ you reccommend for my Beyer 250ohm (DT1990)
That's a tough call! Both are excellent amps. The TA-26 is pure tubes which allows for more tube rolling influence, but also makes it less versatile for other headphones you might get in the future. The Lyr+ is more versatile across all different headphones, but slightly less variable with tube rolling.
It's so hard to give you a recommendation on that one. I honestly don't know what I'd do... although I just had a thought that the TA-26 probably won't improve the sonic performance over the Asgard 3 - it will just be different. Lyr+ will be technically better for sure.
Hi, thanks for all your work. You think used as a Pre-Amp, going from a Bluesound Node 2021, getting into this Xduoo and then onto an Aiyima A08 will be a good combination?
I don't know the various devices in your suggested chain, but based on what I can see online, it should be a nice addition for some tube character
Great review. Did you happen to measure the output impedance after swapping any of the output tubes? Wondering if any of these might lower the impedance enough to play better with say an Edition XS. I know on my Darkvoice 332 the bass rolloff on the EDXS and Modhouse T60rp is huge which is unfortunate.
I love toots and the maytals, monkey man is another good song of their's, also give the General levy monkey man (living sting mix) a listen huge soundstage and very well recorded...
From the glimpse of the inside in your B-roll near the beginning, it seems that this unit has a linear power supply?
If you get the Electro Harmonix tube with regular pins, it would probably sound as good, and save some money over the gold-plated pin version.
The Electro Harmonix 6992 is the best match with the xDuoo MT-601 headphone amp, by the way.
Question for you Lachlan - is the gain profile on this amp's volume control similar to other xDuoo units? I.E. does it have a fairly rapid volume gain with only a little bit of the rotation?
That's an interesting question about the gain and volume range. Because I only used this with HD6XX for any serious listening, it's hard to compare, but I think this is maybe a little less aggressive and that can change with tube variants too sometimes.
As for the power setup, you're right that it uses a transformer for the power so essentially a LPS
Would you consider reviewing WooAudio’s 3rd gen WA7 Fireflies or have any thoughts about already compared to other tube amps?
Great informative review, whats the next step up on this amp ? Maybe up to $1000 Thanks.
I'm not particularly experienced with higher priced OTL amps yet. Most of my tube experience is with DIY amps like the Bottlehead range.
@@PassionforSound Do you think you need to spend big money on a tube amp, after all it is a distortion box ???
Hi. Does your TA-26 make a buzzing noise when you're using it? Not from the headphone audio but from the amp itself. Mine makes a buzzing that sounds like it might be coming from the back of the amp. Is that normal?
Mine doesn't and that's definitely not normal. Sounds like a power transformer issue potentially. I'd contact the place you bought it from and see what they can do for you
@@PassionforSound OK that's good to know. Thank you very much for your help.
@@TheLeanPocketMuncher Mine seems to do the same thing. I can hear a hum or buzzing from the amp itself not through my headphones. Did you get this resolved in any way?
@@JoeBoJoe11 Not yet. Apos had me send it back but they haven't sent a replacement yet. I just hope they test it in a quiet enough room to be able to hear it so they can give a definitive answer if that amount of noise is normal or not. I'll let you know if they say anything.
@@TheLeanPocketMuncher How loud was yours? Mine is only really noticeable with my headphones off or not playing anything and thats with the amp within reaching distance.
Hell yea.
Thanks for the good review. Also for pointing out the Sovtek and Phillips power tubes, I was not sure how they could sound like. They are really difficult to find though (matched pair). Do you know a source?
My pleasure! I just did eBay searches so no specific source - sorry
@@PassionforSound ok. Thanks.
Hi Hendrik, I have used watford valves, a UK company. They have a really good tube selection at reasonable prices and offer matched tubes for some of them at least. I not for those you are looking for it might be worth dropping them an email and ask if they could provide that service for you. Have had only good experience with them.
Nice video and seems to be a great product. About the hum complaints I see everywhere online...tube preamps...amps...don't produce the hum itself. SS components have all kinds of ways to artificially quiet a system down. Tubes don't have that arsenal...and is exactly why ppl are attracted to them...one of the reasons anyway. The unit lets you hear the hum...and folks think it is the unit itself...no. What you have in this case...is a dirty system...and the tubes are picking it up. You can go back to SS and get rid of the hum...but your system is still...dirty. You just aren't reminded of that fact with SS. Adjust/clean up your system...it all goes away. If you have a bunch of mismatched components and a birds nest behind your gear...tubes aren't for you. Stay in the shallow end of the pool.
Good points about the hum, but there have been actual faults in some of the TA-26 units (I had one). If it's a ground loop then that's completely fixable and not the product's fault (as you say), but some TA-26 units have an issue in the circuit that introduces a 50-60Hz hum no matter how clean the system is. ☹️
@@PassionforSound Heh... I knew after I wrote that post I should have said...most of the time. Tubes can get a bad rap from dirty systems in general. You can spend tons of coin on tubes...but if you haven't invested in power supply and proper wiring setups...the better the tube setup...the more it will show the flaws of your overall system. Sort of like a high resolution camera. Lens on old camera seems great...until a sensor change. Tubes are a bit of a sensor change. But your are right of course...bad apples get through at these price points.
All good, Jack. I took your point and agree completely (when the product isn't inherently faulty) 🙂
@@PassionforSound I was really leaning into purchasing this little beast...but finally decided on going with a new set of cans instead. The cans are pretty linear but have a reputation for being tube loving. I like to have options in audio...and keep my wife at bay. 😄
Which cans did you choose?
hi nice review.... what economic dac do you recomend for Ta-26 ? thxks !
Glad you liked the review. I'd go for something like the SMSL SU-6, Topping E30 II or a Schiit Modi+/Modil Multibit 2
@@PassionforSound thanks
Hi, where did you get the Sovtek 6as7?
Pretty sure it was just a local supplier (online tube store) via a Google search
Wonder if anyone has compared this to a bottlehead crack + speedball. I see this come is all the time for sale but have no clue how the two compare.
I'd love to know that too. Wish I had a Crack + Speedball still to compare it
I am yet to hear the “magic” from my 6xx headphones, what tube amp/tubes do you or the community consider the best, I have tried a mt 602 xduoo hybrid and with some Sylvani 1965 NOS tubes and it is good, better soundstage, more extended and holographic but mind still not blown, I use the xduoo as a preamp mainly and I love it on most of my other cans so no waste but for 6xx is the best tube amp to actually use an Elex 😁
The 6xx is still a relatively basic headphone so it's possible you're just not blown away by it, but I'd consider trying it on the TA-26 or a Bottlehead Crack to get a sense of whether it's the amps or the headphones leaving you less impressed
@@PassionforSound thanks I have cans that I greatly prefer they are also more expensive though, I really fancy building a bottle head crack, and then the upgrade, I was inspired by your videos on them and the interviews, I think it would be an awesome feeling to use something you have had a hand in completing
Thanks for the review. I know you can’t answer in terms of specifics but I have a pair of AKG 712 Pros which are rated at 62 ohms. Not super high impedance but not really low either. I recently purchased a Monolith 887 headphone amp and it struggled to drive them surprisingly. Just curious if you think the xDuoo’s would be worth demoing. Thanks.
When you say that it struggled to drive the headphones, what do you mean?
@@PassionforSound it just seemed to lack bass and also when pushed above medium listening levels it distorted. I was kind of surprised given its specs but the AKG's are 62 ohm so I was thinking perhaps I need a different kind of amp. The Monolith just seems to run out of steam.
The lack of bass isn't a lack of power - just a sign that you might need a less clinical sounding amp for those headphones. The THX amps tend to be quite analytical and somewhat unnatural in their sound as a result so leaner headphones can sound a bit lacking with them.
You can also very easily drive the 712 to dangerous levels with less than 500mW (pretty sure the 887 has more than that) so what you might be hearing is the driver being pushed too hard rather than the amp running out of steam.
Personally, I wasn't a huge fan of the 712 (I decided not to review them and resold them). They aren't bad, but not particularly engaging IMO. If I were in your shoes I'd either try a different amp or try a different headphone and in both cases look for something with a bit more body and soul in the sound.
@@PassionforSound wow. Thanks for the great feedback. I think you may be correct: the 712s are more on the dry/analytical side. I am curious to see if I could pair them with something a bit warmer/saucier as I do like a somewhat analytical sound just not this dry. Much appreciated!
Maybe try them with an Asgard 3 or Jotunheim 2 if you can try one
hey man, love the content, i have a 990 premium 600 ohms and im looking for a new amp to drive them focusing on imaging, soundstage and separation. do you think the TA-26 would fit the search with the right tubes, or just go for the asgard 3
Ooh. That's a tough one! Both are excellent options. Keep in mind that the TA-26 will be a little less resolving and there have been some cases of issues with the a.ps having a hum (due to a fault, not ground loops), but that's covered by warranty. The benefit of the TA-26 is that you can tune it with the right tubes and make it suit your cans and tastes.
With the Asgard 3, you're getting a pretty faultless device that's going to work happily in just about any setup, but you can't tweak the sound at all.
I love both devices so it's hard to make a recommendation, but hopefully my points above will help.
@@PassionforSound Oh man, i mean, i love tube rolling, i have a little dot already and did tons of tube rolling and i know how drastically can change the sound, its like having a new amp each time you do a swap, but i dont know if the Ta-26 will have a good synergy with the 990 and probably the 1990 that im thinking in buying it, i dont like tons of bass on a headphone, i prefer a more precise detailed sound, i know the asgard its really good and is a safe bet but i saw a tons of reviews and with its soundstage details and separation seems to be a mixed thoughts, some say that is really good and others not so much being a bit warm instead of analytical, on the other hand i have the TA-26 and this one its like the wild card, that i know for sure that will hadd sounstage, and separation im looking for with the right tubes plus the midrange gains in vocals and string instruments due to its tubey nature. if you were me which route you go?
btw thanks for the response and the help.
That's a tough one. I think I'd a go for a secondhand Asgard 3 if you've already got a tube amp. The A3 is a bit warm, but if you're pairing it with a headphone like the 990 or 1990, I think it'll give you nice results. If you buy secondhand, you can always resell if you're not enjoying it and not lose much (if anything)
@@PassionforSound well thats true, i will follow your advice, i had the asgard 3 as my next amp, just that i saw alot of the TA-26 recently and made me doubt. thanks again man, GL with your channel its awesome
Thanks electro. Hope you like the Asgard 3
Do you think anything can be done to the TA 26 to improve the sound changing capacitors? Do you have any suggestions?
It's quite possible that finding as changing the output capacitors could help, but I haven't looked at the circuit to find them or know what they are. By the time you go to that trouble, you might be better off just settling it and upgrading to a better amp
Selling it, buying Elekit 8200R, thanks for your reply.
My pleasure. Hope you love the 8200R!
Can the wiim streamer be connected to the TA-26 OTL Tube Amp to change the sound even more, using wiim's equalizer?
I don't know the Wiim, but if it has an analog output (3.5mm or RCA output) then it can be connected to an amp like the TA-26
@@PassionforSound Thanks for the reply. It has the proper connections. Once I purchase the products I will give it a try and let you know how it works. Can I drive Sundaras with the TA-26? Just joined your top tier today. Thanks
The Sundaras don't go so well with the TA-26 IIRC. The impedance mismatch is a bit too large I think
Hi there Lachlan, which power supply is better to choose? 110 or 220V?
Hi Victor, that part is all about your local power outlets so just choose the one for your local power supply (e.g. USA is 110V)
@@PassionforSound México: 127V, so I guess 100-120 is good enough, isn't?
Yep. That's the one. You'll always have about 10% wiggle room on the voltages
Love that t-shirt🤣😂🤣😂
/general rule of thumb is that you want headphones that have 8 times the impedance of the amplifier output/
Two months in this hobby and I just learned about impedance matching! I'm flabbergasted. Why haven't you told me this before?? ;)
I think my issues with low Ohms IEMs powered from a Topping amp might be related to this... oh bollocks
I only mention this in reviews where it's a high output impedance device. Topping amps are all
@@PassionforSound They also mention in spec sheet some kind of Adapter Impedance >8 Ohms. But yes, still low, so I got the point.
My issue is that I'm getting LF interference with variable amplitude on my S12, generally tolerable, but when it spikes driver flexes. Don't have it with my T2 (same specs). Currently blaming it on the S12 stock cable. But maybe increasing impedance can help?...
so what tubes did you finally settle on for this amp ?
Just the ones in the video - the Electro-Harmonix Gold Pin in the front socket and the Sovtek (I think) in the back socket
What about hd 660s, beyerdinamic dt 770 (250 ohm) and akg k 702?
All good options if they're high impedance (I can't recall the impedance of the K702)
@@PassionforSound 62 ohms
They'd be an interesting one and could go either way. I'd probably lean towards not expecting great sound with the TA-26, but these things are a little unpredictable
@@PassionforSound thanks. Do you think xduoo ta 10r which is hybrid should be a safer choice?
I haven't tried the TA-10R, but a hybrid design will give you more versatility across different headphone impedances
Hi,
Can I connect TA-26 Aux out to another headphone AMP?
Absolutely. Just set them up so that you've got plenty of volume range on whichever amp you're using to control the volume
Great, thanks
Is using a tube amp as a preamp to a class A amp a good idea? Will it become too warm? Has anyone tried it?
It all depends on the amps you use. Some tube (pre)amps are quite neutral and Class A can be neutral or warm so it really depends on the individual devices.
@@PassionforSound i have an Asgard 2 which is pure class A & is kinda warm (fed by a bifrost multibit). Will the TA-26 OTL as a preamp be a bad idea?
Or should I look at something else or completely drop the idea?
I would think that's going to get a bit rich if the Asgard 2 is like the Asgard 3. What are you looking to achieve though? I might be able to provide some suggestions if you can share your sonic goal for the setup. 🙂
@@PassionforSound wow man thanks so much for your response! Well I'm tempted to try the tube world.. But then i like my planar headphones. So was wondering if i could introduce a tube preamp in my chain.. and enjoy my planar headphones too.
Don't be put off by those who say you can't use planars with tubes. You absolutely can in most cases (depending slightly on the amp and cans) so you could just get a tube amp and drive the cans directly. Which headphones?
This or the Bottlehead Crack?
I haven't compared them directly, but the fact that the Crack can be tweaked and modified would give it my nod.
@@PassionforSound Thank you
Where can you purchase the Sovtek 6AS7G or 6H5C?
It will depend on where you are and stock may be limited currently due to the war in Ukraine. I'd just do a Google search for your location.
Does it come in black lol
You can have gun metal, gun metal or gun metal 😉
@@PassionforSound what about gun metal?
That'll be a custom order 😉
Mushy sounds??? You must be kidding. Agai, wrong assessment of a good product. Xduoo is not as natural, more polite means less alive. So is with Felix echo. So, DarkVoice kicks ass with HD600.
I can only share what I experienced with the unit I reviewed and the Darkvoice left me unimpressed...
terrible low volume audio out of your video. You should pay more attention to this because there are people who have to do other things and want to listen also the review.
Very disappointing coming from an audio channel....
I've had no complaints from anyone else - quite the opposite in fact. Not sure what's going wrong for you - sorry.
@@PassionforSound Just compare the audio of this video with the new review of the TA-26S, it's obvious the volume level change...
Don't tell me you don't hear the difference.
Ah, it's probably that I used to have to speak quietly when recording because my son was asleep in the room next door. My audio processing, volume levelling, etc. has remained unchanged, but my mic positioning and ability to speak at full volume has changed.
Still worth getting? This is potentially totally for my HD800'S. Currently running through an Ifi Stack.
How fiddly is it? Tube replacements easy to source & switch out?
Thanks
Yes. This is a wonderful amp and the new TA-26S version is identical on the inside in case you find that one too. The only difference is the connectors on the front.
As for tube replacement, that's really easy too.
@@PassionforSound many thanks. Have you tried it with HD800's (original not 800s).
I already have an ifi Stack which has a warmer sound than most... will this be a significant difference?
I saw there was a recent hybrid model, but the emphasis on tubes looks quite minimal & it's more expensive... not sure I'll get the full use out of it. What do you think? I'll pay the extra if it can do as good a job with the tubes as well as do some extra bits & pieces for me.
Many thanks!
@@PassionforSound OK I just pulled the trigger! First tube amp actually!!! Excited!!!
I think you'll really like it! The benefit of an OTL tube amp is the way it interacts with the driver so it's quite different from even a warm solid state amp.
@@PassionforSound looking forward to it! Thank you for the recommendation.