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xDuoo TA-20 Balanced Headphone Amp

xDuoo TA-20 Balanced Headphone Amp

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Product Description
A powerful balanced tube headphone amp with a variety of interfaces, the xDuoo TA-20 brings classic analog flavor to your audio setup. It features a durable aluminum alloy shell designed with anti-inference in mind, and has a small footprint—about the size of a sheet of A5 paper—to save space on your desk Read More

Customer Reviews

4.6
(43 reviews)
5star
(32)
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(7)
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(1)
95% would recommend to a friend
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Fayne
2575
Jan 15, 2020
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Day 0: Initial impressions shortly after unboxing and wiring up. First annoyance. Came with the wrong power cord. Looks to be an Aussie termination, and not a standard NEMA. Quickly replaced. Luckily I've got nearly as many power cords as I do tubes. Either way, very much so minus one star for this. I'd have been right pissed off it I didn't have a power cable of the right termination ready and waiting for the amp. They're common, but not everyone is a cable packrat or in an IT type of role.
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Second annoyance. The stock tubes are fairly meh Chinese 12AU7... which I replaced before even powering up the amp. I can do very much better with American NOS and there is no point in my breaking in these tubes. They can go into the bin with all the other Chinese tubes that I'll likely never use for anything other than potentially destructive experiments and extreme worst case backups. I'd deduct a star for this, but the price bracket for this amp is about right without a set of western tubes.
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Stuffed a nice matched pair of clear top RCA 12AU7A from '66 which I sourced from eBay in it. Not unobtainum, nor wildly overpriced. Speaking of better, here we are.
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Once it was setup and powered on I got to listening. Volume dial is 0-99. It gets extremely loud. I found that ~60 was perfect for my Beyer's. Clicking on the volume dial selects the input, the unit defaulting to volume of 0 and input of aux1. Speaking of annoyances, third one here. The blue LCD for volume is rather bright, going to have to slap a tinted sticker over it or something. Yest that is my middle finger over the LED display, no I'm not giving everyone the bird.
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Initial impressions of the sound quality though? With upgraded tubes this amp is totally making my Beyerdynamic T1 very happy. Sounds great, looks good, and is easy to use, plus it fits in rather nicely with the rest of my amps.
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The power on and off safety for cans on this amp is rather great. Lots of power on delays and relays. When you turn it on, it lets the tubes warm up before activating the display and flipping relays allowing sound to happen. Is like a 5 or so second delay. The relays instantly flip into an open state when the unit is powered off, and that is crazy important. What this means is there no pops or thumps when powering the unit on or off. While futzing around with it and running it through its paces I've thrown Beyer T1, Focal Elex, Fostex T60RP, and Senn HD6xx at it, and it has handled all of them rather pleasantly. I was somewhat surprised by the T60RP working well with it as they are typically not too friendly with my other tube amps. Edit: oh hey, the Meze 99 Noir work freaking great on this thing. Can't hear a single bit of power hum. More to come as I spend more time with it. At this point I'd say it was worth the money, but only time will tell for sure. All of my annoyances are trivial other than the power cord, that is a giant screw-up. Day 1: Testing all of my cans and IEMs against the TA-20, using the 789 as a sound quality reference. DAC of choice for all of this today is the SMSL M500. I'm using two tracks for this test, Teardrop from Massive Attack and Robots Don't Cry (movement 3) from Jean-Michel Jarre. This gives me great bass and treble tests. If you're wondering about the ugly tape on the display in the upcoming pictures, I added a couple layers of kapton tape to dim the display to levels the camera wouldn't artifact on when doing macro. IEM: Shuoer Tape: Slight background hiss when connecting to the TA-20. Not horrible or extremely annoying, but it is there. There was a noticeable yet slight roll of the bass in Teardrop as well as a being a bit more treble forward. In Robots Don't Cry the bass roll isn't as easily heard because of all the other fun stuff going on, mids and treble are pretty sweet, detailed, and in your face. These are generally my favorite IEM overall, and while not the ultimate best pairing, I totally could listen to these IEM on the TA-20 all day.
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MassDrop x Pinnacle PX: Not my favorite IEM in general, but they work rather well with the TA-20. These IEM are harder to drive properly, not even close to as sensitive as most all of my others, and have zero background noise because of this. No major bass roll in Teardrop, also nothing overly special with Robots Don't Cry. Sounds about as good as you're going to get with the PX, some missing detail in the mid to upper frequencies, but this is totally normal. Not a bad pairing if you've got and like the PX.
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BQEYZ Spring1: Very slight background hiss upon plugging in, almost unnoticeable. Minimal bass roll in Teardrop. Treble doesn't seem impacted in Robots Don't Cry, which is great. This is an unexpectedly good pairing. I definitely could rock this combination all day and be completely happy. Lots of thump and detail where it should be.
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Kinera Idun: Noticeable background hiss. There is a touch of bass roll-off in Teardrop, but not enough to ruin the enjoyment. Treble gets a bit of a boost with this combination, noticeable in both Teardrop as well as Robots Don't Cry. Some of those high notes can get really high, but not enough to turn me off. I could likely use these all day without much complaint as long as music is going the whole time. Any silence will show off the hiss. Not bad, but not amazing.
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MassDrop x NuForce EDC: Minimal background hiss. No really noticeable bass roll in Teardrop. Very pleasant mid-bass and treble in Robots Don't Cry. No real loss of audio quality. They generally aren't my favorite IEM, but this combination does work well for me. I could use this all day without rage.
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Shozy Form1.1: Noticeable background hiss. Slight bass and treble roll-off in Teardrop and Robots Don't Cry. I'm not terribly fond of these IEM in general, I doubt I'd want to use this combination for terribly long. If all you have are the Form1.1, this isn't the best pairing. It works, but... yeah, I nope on em.
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Shozy CP-3: Very slight background hiss. Fully detailed sounding with no noticeable bass or treble roll or enhancement in either Teardrop or Robots Don't Cry. If not for that hiss, these would be very win on the TA-20... and even with it I could totally use these all day. They're by far my favorite balanced armature only IEM, so it is awesome hear them not sucking on a tube amp.
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Headphones: Beyerdynamic T1 gen2: Zero background noise. I'd be surprised if it happened at 600Ω. All I gotta say is damn these sound great with the TA-20. Highly recommended combination. Lows, mids, and highs are all where they're supposed to be, and detailed as all hell. $1299 MSRP cans in action. Totally viable as an all-day setup.
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MassDrop x Focal Elex: Once again, zero background noise and the lows, mids, and highs all in their proper places. This is also a highly recommended combination. Not much more to say other than once again, expensive cans in action sounding expensive and wonderful. Very much so another viable all-day setup.
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MassDrop x Sennheiser HD6xx: As you likely guessed, no background noise at all. These are a staple set of cans from the MassDrop lineup, and they perform wonderfully on the TA-20. Very detailed, with absolutely nothing to dislike. Excellent combination for reasonably priced cans. Once again, this is a quite viable all-day setup.
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MassDrop x Sennheiser HD58x: Continuing the lineup of cans which don't show any background noise on the TA-20. Very nice and bass forward as standard with the HD58x, mid and highs right where I expected them to be. Even cheaper than the HD6xx and nearly as good sounding. Totally could rock em all day happily.
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MassDrop x Meze 99 Noir: There is a very very slight background hiss at the very edge of my hearing. These cans are fun on anything that can drive them, and the TA-20 is no exception. So much happy sub and mid bass. Treble also shines, but not in a scrape your eardrum sorta way. Teardrop really shines on these. Yes, I could use this pairing all day and every day if it came down to it. These are currently my favorite closed-back dynamic cans.
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E-MU Teak: No background hiss. These are generally sibilant cans, so I have to be careful with the amp and music pairings. Neither of these tracks nor does the amp make it any worse, but the cans are a smidgen brighter than usual (probably the tubes). Bass is tight and about as punchy as you get with a Foster OEM driver. The TA-20 drives these cans excellently. Definitely all day capable, if you can stand the treble.
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MassDrop x Hifiman HE-35x (S/N 00086): I hear a very light amount of background hiss, but I had to work at identifying it over the background noise in my room. These are extremely fun open-backed cans, and work well with the TA-20. Price per performance wise, these may be the best out of all my cans. Others sound better, but these are dirt cheap and easily driven to hearing-loss levels of loud warm goodness. The bass isn't as strong on them, but the overall performance of the combination is awesome. Absolutely an all day setup if you're not all about critical listening.
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MassDrop x Hifiman HE-4xx (S/N 1546): I normally keep these cans as far away from Tube Amps as possible. They generally suck hard there. In this case, not so. There is no audible background noise whatsoever, all of the bass and treble are perfectly where they should be. Detailed, impactful, punchy, tight, absolutely all the things they weren't on my P20, ZDT, and LittleDot1+. Wonderful planar with a touch of tube harmonics. I did not expect this, at freaking all. Robots Don't Cry came across as a complete ear-treat, all the lovely synth playing across the field of sound totally showing off their imaging capabilities. My HE-4xx finally have a tube companion. All day capable, for sure... assuming the cans don't squeeze your gourd too hard or rest in the most uncomfortable spot on your skull.
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Fostex T60RP (S/N A0594): Dead silent when no music is playing, zero background hiss. These are another set of cans that surprised me by working beautifully on the TA-20. Fast detail ear candy, with that unique sound that only wooden cups, planar magnetic, and tube pre-amping gives. If these cans didn't mechanically squeek with every bloody movement, they'd be one of my absolute favorite sets. As is, they do a stand-up job at handling the audio from the TA-20. The bass isn't as strong as it could be, but it usually never is, and what is there is a nice sub-bass rumble coupled with detailed mid-bass. A touch of EQ would make them pure EDM cans. These are totally all-day safe, assuming the chipmunk in the earcups will shut the hell up every time I move my head.
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Fostex TR-70-250: As expected from these high Ω cans, no background hiss. Sadly, while these are internally wired for balanced drive and would benefit from it greatly, good luck getting a 3.5mm TRRS cable that'll work with them due to Fostex proprietary fuckery. Never been so pissed off at a headphone company for their stupid moves as I am with them for this. At least the TA-20 is able to drive them hard enough single-ended to make me go def, but not as well as it could balanced. If they could be easily custom-cabled, these would be the absolute best bang for buck when it comes to high Ω cans. They accept all the Fostex T-RP mods and sound awesome. Anyways, I digress, these do everything I expected on the TA-20. Bass and treble are in their proper spots, harmonics, and levels of detail. They might not be the best studio cans, but they're dang fun. All day safe for sure.
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Fostex T50RP Mk3: These are my oldest actively used cans, typically living in my garage for use when I'm melting and making things with irons and airguns. They are also the cans that really turned me onto Planar Magnetic, and for all their flaws (and oh god they have many), I love their sound. It is the same general sound as the T60RP, just less refined. Like on the T60RP, there is zero background noise on the TA-20, and all the frequencies are exactly where they're supposed to be. Ain't balanced, would sound better balanced, but for single ended planar, they kick some ass. Easily all day capable if you don't mind replacing the ear-pads and adding a comfort strap... and assuming your TRS ingress port on them doesn't develop... static. Totally recommended.
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Edit 3 months later: Rolled the tubes over to Genalex Gold Lion 12AU7 (balanced, low-noise) and have been rather happy. Slapped some dampers on them because... I could. Another set of cans to add to the big list as well. Dan Clark Audio Aeon Flow 2 Closed: My newest favorite closed back can. They do all that wonderful planar sound with an impressive level of isolation. No noise or frequency shifting problems. The TA-20 definitely has the grunt to make these things eardrum shatteringly loud and forceful. Wonderful combination.
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Edit many moons later: New cans, same great amp. Rolled to a pair of JJ ECC802s Gold Pin (balanced, low-noise), stole them for a different amp and ended up settling on a pair of JJ ECC802s (balanced, low-noise) without the gold pins. The gold versions sound the same to me as the non-gold, and as I'm not worried about corrosion I can save myself a few dollars. Without going into the more expensive NOS 12AU7, the JJ ECC802s are my current favorites in everything that can accept them. The longplate construction produces a rather nice tone. Drop x HiFiMan HE-5xx (S/N 00104): I really didn't like these cans initially. Found I needed to do the bluetack mod to get some sub-bass back. Annoyances aside, they work wonderfully with the TA-20, unlike most pure tube amps I've tried them with. No background noise. Nothing is out of place sound wise, and the amp definitely has enough juice on tap to make them pump some lovely fast planar goodness. Give it a few dB of boost to 140hz and below and it really shines. Still just as uncomfortable as the 4xx, but that doesn't change that they sound awesome here.
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Audio-Technica ATH-R70x: Now this is a set of cans I wish I'd bought a few years earlier. They're some of the most balanced sounding AT cans on the market, and one of the very very few AT that can do balanced drive without getting into the $1000 price range. They're 470Ω and sound fantastic on anything with enough power to drive them properly. Luckily this amp has more than enough power, and like with all of the other high Ω cans it gives a near flawless presentation. This is a wonderful all day pairing.
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Drop x HiFiMan HE-X4 (S/N 00190): There isn't much to say about these that I've not said on the 4xx or 5xx. Consider this set of cans to be sorta halfway between the 4xx and 5xx. With few exceptions these are usually big nopes on pure tube amps, thankfully this hybrid amp doesn't have any problems. They sound wonderfully clear, with all of that delicious planar fast response. They are rather thirsty cans, but this amp has the more than enough power to push them into brain melting happy places. Highly recommended combination if the cans don't rest on your skull painfully.
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After all of this, do I consider this amp worth getting? You bet I do. It is the most compatible hybrid tube amp I own, and likely will be used excessively. I ended up giving it back the star it lost for shipping the wrong cable. The amp is just too awesome to short-change the review because of that. Buy it. NOW. :)
(Edited)
Recommends this product? Yes
Fayne
2575
Oct 31, 2021
Generally yeah, though sensitivity does seem to factor in greatly. Things >= 32Ω tend to have no hiss, with a very few exceptions of extra extra sensitive cans/IEM. With stuff in the range of 16Ω it really is a case by case basis. Some work fine, others had a noticeable background noise and a touch of frequency shift. Some of the hiss may have been the tubes at the time as well. I've not gone through and used most of my IEM on the current set of JJ tubes, generally sticking to my 789 for them. There'd probably be a difference, I know there was with regards to my 99 Noir where all of the background hiss went away. The original RCA tubes I used sounded wonderful with most of my sets of cans, unfortunately they weren't terribly friendly with most of my IEM.
luger
130
Nov 1, 2021
FayneYour fault - again! Just ordered a matched pair of JJ ECC802s Gold Pin - corrosion _does_ happen where I live. Followed your link. Woo-hoo, got in on a 10% sale at 'the depot'! I've taken advantage of the recent Elex sale, hoping they will shame even the Tru-Fi EQ'd Amiron Home - and never lose a driver like some report. Truly, _that_ would be depressing...
SJR0406
28
Feb 2, 2020
checkVerified Buyer
Nice Headphone Amp for High-res Audio setups!
I wanted to add something to my existing headphone setup that would fill out the sound and provide more thump to the bottom end of the frequency range. This amp was absolutely perfect for that purpose. Over the years I have acquired several run of the mill headphones from KOSS, Denon, JVC, AKG and Bose. I had my favorites, but I can't say that any of them were a revelation in sound quality. About two years ago a friend introduced me to the world of high-definition audio and a whole new musical experience was opened up to me. At some point, I decided to really invest in my audio setup. I have been using the Astell & Kern KANN Cube with Audeze LCD-2 headphones and found some very good sources for remastered high resolution audio files, but be aware that they can be costly. The soundstage, detail and musical separation that I have experienced with this setup was initially astonishing. I began hearing so many new details in the music that I have listened to hundreds of times. Case in point, water droplets in the song "Take a Pebble" from ELP and wind chimes that appear throughout tracks on the Santana Abraxas album, not just what you initially hear on the first track. However, like with all good experiences, you begin to look for things that could be improved. Although the combination of the KANN Cube and LCD-2 headphones produce wonderfully open and extremely detailed music, it seemed a little too accurate (or some would say sterile) after a while. I wanted to add more bottom end thump to heavy bass lines and kick drums and fill out the sound so it would seem a little more musical. The TA-20 AMP is perfect for that purpose. Albums such as Deep Purple Machine Head, A Space in Time from Ten Years After and Lou Reed's Transformer are just a few that have come to life and sound even better with the addition of the TA-20. Here are a few recommendations based on my experience so far:
  1. Take the time to properly burn in the AMP. I hooked it up to the Line Out balanced connection on the KANN Cube and ran it at a volume of 70 for 24 hours into my Focal Elex headphones and it showed a very noticeable improvement, but then I ran it again at a volume of 70 for 24 more hours and it began to sound fantastic.
  2. Use all XLR balanced connections, if possible, for both the music source and headphones. I have noticed a significant difference in overall sound quality and musical experience with the XLR connections versus any of the other combination of connections.
  3. Tube rolling can change the sound signature slightly and that becomes a matter of personal taste, but I have found that the stock tubes are more than capable of creating my desired overall musical experience. At the moment, I actually prefer them.
  4. The better the audio file resolution the better the overall sound. Many people have debated about whether or not you can hear any differences from high bitrate audio files versus a standard MP3 file at a 320 bitrate or less. I can tell you definitively from my experience that you can. As a matter of fact I have heard huge differences in the same music recorded at bit rates from 16 bit 44.1 khz (standard CD) to MQA to true DSD 11.2 MHz. If you really enjoy detailed music and have a high-end DAC for decoding or a player like the KANN Cube then invest in good quality high-res audio files for an amazing experience.
Final Notes: As an experiment, I did try the TA-20 AMP with my iPhone playing different quality levels of music from Tidal into my older headphones. It did make some improvement in the overall sound with certain headphones, but I can't say that it was significant or worth the investment in the AMP. If you decide to buy this AMP then you should plan to add it to either existing or future high-res audio source equipment and files, otherwise I'm not sure it's worth acquiring and the TA-30 may be a much better purchase for those using a laptop, iPhone or iPod as a music source.
(Edited)
Recommends this product? Yes
synfinatic
37
May 29, 2020
checkVerified Buyer
Really great, but not perfect. Mine was built wrong.
Picked this up since I was interested in giving tubes a try and didn't want a full on OTL since I love planars which are a bad combination and I run everything in full balanced, so a reasonably priced balanced tube amp with tubes which are readily available without having to auction your first born seemed like a good match. Anyways, haven't had the TA-20 for more than a few days now and haven't a lot of time for critical listening, but had some initial thoughts I figured I could share. Build quality is fantastic and I love there is no wall wart/AC adapter. Just a standard NEMA 5-15P power connector. The little tube guards are a nice touch and are held by magnets. I plan on picking up some socket savers so I'll probably need to 3d print some extensions or replacement guards so there is enough clearance for the tubes. My only real complaint is the volume knob. I get why a digital knob can be better than an analog for L/R tracking purposes, but I really dislike the feeling that the knob is only vaguely connected to the actual volume because it can't keep up when you turn it quickly. Really wish this has the volume knob on my Jotunheim. Nit: WTF is with the labels on the headphone outputs: "BALANCE-PHONE" and "PHONE"? No idea why they felt the need to label them at all, but those names are particularly bad. Going from my MBPro-> USB -> Bifrost2 -> XLR -> TA-20 -> balanced out As stated by others, the stock tubes are pretty meh. Sterile. Sounded more like a cheap solid state amp. Ended up pulling them almost immediately. Picked up some reasonably priced RCA's (~$35/NOS matched pair that were recommended by others here on Drop) and things improved dramatically for the better. Haven't had enough time to buy/try other tubes. So far I've tried 3 different headphones:
  • LCD-2C. Depending on the music, the difference is subtle to night and day vs. my Jotunheim (A/B testing with a switch). Still trying to figure out which amp I prefer with the LCD-2C's.
  • Focal Elex. Wow, this is a great combination. Generally prefer listing to the Elex on the TA-20 over the Jot.
  • DT177x Go. This is a horrible combination. At zero volume and well above zero (normal listening volume) there is a _very_ notable hiss/background noise that does not ever go away. Doesn't happen with the Jot or my Fiio Q5. Didn't even really spend anytime listening.
Plan to update the review more after I get more time to compare and try with a few other headphones. UPDATE:
  • Listening with the LCD-2C is really fatiguing and uncomfortable. Hard for me to express in words- something about how the sound pressure hits? Basically, given up with this combo and the LCD-2C's are now only on the Jot at my desk.
  • HE-4xx: Was afraid I've have a similar experience as the LCD-2C, but these are great all day listening. Generally listening with these or the Elex now.
  • Meze 99: Not as bad hiss as at the DT117x Go, but bad enough that I pretty much gave up on this combination.
UPDATE #2: It's a tube amp (well hybrid anyways) so of course you gotta roll some tubes! As I mentioned earlier, the RCA clear tops were a poor choice with the LCD-2C. I've also now tried the Gold Lion, Mullard, and Electro-Harmonix Gold and none of these three cause the same problems. Other headphones which seem to work great: * Modhouse Argon mk3 * Focal Elegia That said though, I'm a bit disappointed, that I'm not noticing a bigger difference between the different tubes I've tried. That said most of my listening has been with LCD-2C's so might notice bigger difference with the Elex or Elegia? I should also mention that when I decided to tube roll, I picked up some socket savers. One really annoying thing is that because the tubes sit recessed in the case, you have to open the case to ever get them out. Or in my case with the Gold Lions, they come out fine because the Gold Lion pins have a tighter fit in the savers than the savers have in the amp sockets. And I can't get my fingers in there to hold the socket savers to easily pull the tubes out. A more rocking motion seems to help, but still less than ideal IMHO. IMPORTANT: On top of that the stainless steel screw holding the ground wire was apparently too long for the hole and I sheared the head off when tightening it when I opened up the case. I ended up having to drill it out and retap the threads. Obviously, this sucked. So my suggestion would be to either cut the OEM screw or source a new shorter M3 bolt should you ever disassemble it. The good news is that fixing this bolt this fixed the hiss I was noticing with DT177x Go and Meze 99's. Turned out that from the factory there wasn't enough clamping force on the ground wire! Anyways, because of that I'm knocking a star off my review. Clearly the noise I was hearing was a factory defect during assembly and it should never of been sent to me like this. Having to drill out a stainless steel screw in an aluminum housing was super stressful and difficult to get right- I needed to make sure I got it on center so I could tighten the ground down properly. The good news is anyone else having this problem can easily solve for it: just remove the bottom 6 bolts in the case and then replace the stainless steel bolt holding the ground wire down with a slightly shorter length one. Should take you 5min.
(Edited)
Recommends this product? Yes
zenbert
175
Jun 6, 2020
checkVerified Buyer
Better tube amp than I'd expected
I had been looking for a portable and natural sounding dac/amp setup that would be a notch better than my trusty Chord Mojo in the bedroom, and I thought that my Drop THX AAA 789 + Denafrips Ares r2r dac would just be a bit much in terms of size on the nightstand. For a long time, I was eyeing the La Figaro 337 Dark Voice amp, but frankly I wasn't particularly impressed by the built quality of the La Figaro 339 that I had owned, despite being fairly happy with its sound quality. The issues with the melting adhesive smell during the break-in period, and the hot-to-touch surface were turnoffs. The xDuoo TA-20 was delayed in delivery by Drop, and it was ok given the current affairs with the pandemic around the world, and I didn't opened it up for a week after arrival due to the poor timing with lots of distractions. When I finally got time to listen to it, a couple of the JJ Electronics gold pin tubes that I ordered had also arrived. The first dac I had paired the amp with was the SMSL SU-8 (v2), and I was quite surprised by the enjoyable listening experience after sampling through several tracks of different genres, including "First Love" by Hikaru Utada, an excellent vocal track, "Time" by Hans Zimmer, a track in the Inception movie, and "Cities in Dust" by Siouxsie and the Banshees. In the middle of composing a document, I had to pause to what I was hearing. Is it really that good I thought? The imaging and clarity of the music was fantastic.
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During the course of a few days, I tried other dac and headphone combinations to see what worked well. The list included the Denafrips Ares R2R dac, Topping D50, and the Focal Clear. It was also evident the stock Chinese tubes sounded very differently than the JJs I had sourced separately.
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Here is a summary of my experience: • The SMSL SU-8 combo with the amp produced neutral, clean sound with excellent imaging and separation • The Topping D50 was more forward sounding than the SMSL but seem to be an equally competent dac • The Denafrips Ares matched very well with the THX AAA 789 didn't perform well with the xDuoo amp. I had registered more noise artifacts and less imaging compare to others • The Ether CX headphone with the setup is sweet and smooth; as usual I have to listen more intently to find all the music but was rewarded as such • The Focal Clear matches very well with the SMSL and the amp. As expected with the Clear, the sound signature was quite more dynamic and the music is pushed toward the listener in a 'more emotional' delivery • I prefer the Chinese tubes than the JJ in terms of the sound signature despite being of poorer quality by visual inspection. The Chinese tubes sounded more airy and open while the JJs are tighter and more punchy--including more lower end • The amp never got hot; at most it got warm but never too hot to the touch I ended up leaving the SMSL+xDuoo setup in my study because of all the work from home hours. I think it's fantastic that a sounding tube amp is now at this price point, and it may be a good choice for those that want to try rolling tubes also. The key thing though is that xDuoo has produced a solid amp that can competently drive the two sample headphones I used (Ether CX @ 23 ohm and Clear @ 55ohm), and in my book it is a product that produces good musicality. Other notes: • tidal usb --> dac 32bit/192k (smsl/topping/denafrips) balanced out --> xduoo • ether cx required more power to register similar loudness level despite lower impedance (~52-55 volume vs ~50-52 for clear) • corpse cable on the ether, stock cable on the clear
(Edited)
Recommends this product? Yes
Mendy770
76
Jun 21, 2020
Hi! on the same topic, how does the hd 6xx sound on the 789 vs TA-20? i have the 789 with the d70
zenbert
175
Jun 21, 2020
Mendy770sorry but i don't a similar dac or headphone. i had a hd58x and a hd595 in the past which i had enjoyed. the d70 utilizes ak4497 chips, and i don't know how they sound like. the d50 i have runs on saber ess chips. the dac/amp combo you have should work well with pretty much any headphone i think.. able to drive pretty anything with good musicality. really depends on your taste at that point. the amps 'should' produce similar results with the tests i did with the smsl SU-8, d50, and the gustard x22; based on reviews on the d70, it appears to be a fairly dynamic but neutral across the spectrum. as a generalization, you're likely to register more mids and vocal with the TA20, and it may sound more analog. granted the TA20 isn't as analog as other tube amps i heard like the woo fireflies. if the hd6xx has tuning to the highs, then you're likely to hear more highs with the 789. if not, both amps may sound similar. however, the TA20 should be warmer. i prefer the TA20 for vocals while the 789 as generally a more resolving amp
DrEas
135
Apr 12, 2021
checkVerified Buyer
xDuoo TA-20 - What I'd hoped for. Warm. Clear. Better than expected.
My main headphone system is the Topping A90 & D90 MQA (connected with balanced XLR) I have custom length aftermarket Hart cables (https://hartaudiocables.com/ love these folks and they have great service and I've read of many happy customers who buy https://periaptcables.com/ ) balanced cables. My open back headphones are 1) Sennheiser HD 6XX with optional fenestrated lamb skin headphone pads and 2) Focal Exel (both purchased from Drop). I also have a couple of pairs of balanced IEMs but rarely use on this setup. As you've likely read, many listeners enjoy pairing a tube amp with the Sennheisers. I am no audio expert. I am a learner, curious and read a lot about the differences / benefits(?) / pros & cons of a tube amp. One main criteria for me was to have XLR balanced cables and balanced headphone cables (I prefer 4 pin XLR or 4.4mm pentacon connections). You may be happy with RCA unbalanced connections - and that's great - but balanced connections are non-negotiable for me, a decision I made long ago. My main stereo system, amp, streamer, CD transport... are all balanced. I point this out because this narrows the field of choices if you want balanced. After reading several articles, watching a few YouTube reviews learning about balanced tube amps in general, I decided to add a tube amp to my system. Of course Zeos' review of the xDuoo TA-20 is - as always - entertaining and worth your time. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qbi5XVjhyLw&t=347s He also has some incidental reviews of the xDuoo line of tube amps you may want to watch. So, I decided at this price point to put my toe in the water and buy a tube amp. So, how does it sound? The soundstage feels big, yet focused. Immediately I noticed the ambiguously described "warmer" tones. And yes, it also seems a bit "slower" in a good way. Along the endless discussion of bass response in headphones, tubes are supposed to provide a smoother bass. This is evident in the TA-20 and a delightful experience. I highly recommend you read audiofool's article on tubes and xDuoo amps. It may be more than you want or you may be far more knowledgeable than me. Since this is new territory and I've read this article (and many others) several times. He discusses the xDuoo TA-20 https://audiofool.reviews/tube-rolling-the-xduoo-ta-01b-ta-10-and-ta-20-12au7-amps/ Audiofool offers incredible help understanding tubes in general, "tube rolling", and in particular makes recommendations for several different xDuoo amps, including the TA-20. The TA-20 is quieter than I anticipated. From reading about tube amps, some report they may / can produce a bit of noise. Perhaps my hearing isn't as good as others, but the xDuoo TA-20 is as quiet as my Topping set. I've found you have to run it at high 50's to 60 to get good volume output (granted, these numbers 100% subjective) but when paired with the Senn HD 6XX, that range is good.
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I've not yet started "tube rolling" but that will be my next toe in the water depending on how much money I want to spend. Digression: If you are like me and lost at times with audiophile terms, I found a very helpful glossary of terms https://www.moon-audio.com/audiophile-terms-guide ) that may be worth your time. I humbly offer a lot of the lingo used in the audiophile world is highly subjective. Finally, I greatly appreciate Drop in general. They try to offer great products at a discounted rate but my minor complaints: 1) in an online shopping universe of "next day air" or "2 day prime" kinds of shipping, you need a mindset of waiting for DROP's products. 2) DROP could up their game in email response time. Excuses related to Covid-19 or being too busy fall short and reflect poorly on DROPs employees and consumer relationships. ("The dog ate my homework".) In sum, shipping speed, updates, and email response time can be fixed by good leadership. ;-) Happy listening!
Recommends this product? Yes
DrEas
135
Jun 24, 2021
I think you'll love it.
Yager
14
Jul 24, 2021
DrEasI have the 10, and love it!! So I just bought the 20 to pair with my soncoz balanced dac. I honestly like the sound of the built in dac better than when hooked up to the soncoz. The former is warmer and more musical while the later still has the dynamics, it pulled the warmth out completely. Still very engaging but I will be disconnecting the soncoz and just using the 10 as it was made to be used. Hope you enjoy your purchase guys!
Rectifier
30
Oct 2, 2021
checkVerified Buyer
The Ultimate Headphone Amp!!
I noticed that most reviewers on YouTube and other sites don't really get what the TA-20 is all about, or even notice the full potential it is capable of. So I thought I would go ahead and give this amp the proper review that it well deserves (somebody's gotta do it). I will start with a little bit of background about audio and tube sound. I have been an audiophile since back when I was a kid and tube devices were still common in homes in the 60s and early 70s. I would do repairs and other tinkering on them. I still remember the distinct tube sound. Then in the 80s I bought a true high end system that included a VTL "Super Deluxe" tube preamp, as it was called. Legendary amp designer David Manley was a true pioneer in tube audio. The sound was nothing like the common tube devices that our parents had. It was then that I discovered the true potential of tubes. And, I also discovered how important system matching was. On a truly revealing system the differences in cables is not subtle at all. Cable choice can literally make or break the sound of a high end system. The best tube equipment doesn't sound distorted or "tubey" with fat bass, soft, thick midrange and rolled off highs. That is a big myth. The sound of great tube gear is exceptionally clean, accurate, linear and resolving with a neutral frequency balance similar to solid state but having a liquidy smooth analogue "musicality" and presence, never harsh, edgy or thin. If it adds any coloration or warmth to the sound at all the effect should be very subtle. But the most notable difference of fine tube equipment is the ability to render fleshed out palpable images. You feel you can reach out and touch real live performers in a 3D space. Solid state amps such as the Drop One Linear seem to sound more crisp and precise. But the crispness is an etched presentation which make the sound seem more detailed than it really is. The finer micro details that give a sense of space are missing. Music on the TA-20 is very holographic and produces an emotional response of excitement and pure enjoyment along with a jaw dropping "wow" factor. I listen to other amps that seem to have the same sonic signature. But, the euphoric feeling is just not there. They sound ok, but then I'm eager to get back to listening to the TA-20 because the sound blooms and has so much more "life" and energy being more spacious and open. It is not easy to describe but is very real. The better your associated equipment is the more you can experience the best that the TA-20 has to offer. It really comes alive when I pair it with another undiscovered jem, the phenomenal Geshelli JNOG2 (J2) DAC. It's highly detailed yet remains very smooth and lets through more of that palpable realism (the fine Grace SDAC Balanced paled in comparison). The J2 performs far beyond it's price point. I know that is a bit of a cliche, but the J2 is truly exceptional. It also has 3 gain settings which should solve any gain issues. As far as I can tell, the Bifrost 2 and possibly the VMV D1SE are the only real alternatives to the J2 for under $1000, and the J2 is only $300 with USB. The TA-20 and J2 are soulmates that were made for each other. For more money, you can step up to the Mytek Liberty II which is even better with a higher level of performance and musicality. Tube choice can also make or break the sound! The Tung-Sol 12AU7W/6189 tubes have a very detailed, clean, linear and accurate sound with an open, airy soundstage without that "tubey" coloration that other tubes have. I also like that they are very reasonably priced. They tend to sound a bit harsh until broke in. Then it's all good. One thing I need to point out, if you are going to do any tube rolling at all you very much need to get some socket savers on eBay. I am using the ones with the gold pins. I tried the Genalex Gold Lions. They look exactly identical to the Tung-Sols except for the gold pins and the printed lettering on the tube. I think the Gold Lions might be put through additional factory testing and burn in, but other than that it seems to be the same tube with similar sound, possibly a slightly softer treble, if anything. The Tung-Sol sounds as good if not better and costs way less. However, I like the Northern Electric 12au7 tubes the best of all. They really take it to the next level. With the Northern Electric tubes the TA-20 becomes a true high end caliber amp. Like the Tung-Sols, the Northern Electric require breaking in, but have the most resolution, clarity and best soundstage. The JJs didn't impress me at all, they sounded muffled with way too much artificial tube warmth and coloration on the TA-20. I suspect Psvane (or Mullards) could possibly be a good match for someone who wants a little more tube warmth and fuller bass but might not be quite as detailed and airy in the treble. Personal preference can be a factor. If you want to try rolling NOS tubes. you're on your own. Too many options and they can get pricey. Tube rolling is like gambling. You can take a beating not knowing how your purchase will actually sound. You can't go wrong with the Northern Electric and Tung-Sols if you want uncolored, accurate sound. The best places to buy tubes are upscaleaudio, thetubestore, tubedepot and vivatubes. Choose the matched and balanced option. The stock tubes sounded ok. They need time to break in as do all tubes. I haven't had time to do much critical listening on them, been too busy enjoying the Northern Electrics. Tubes should not be left on continuously 24/7 like solid state amps can. Excessive power on/off cycles should also be avoided. If you just want a warm, syrupy tube coloration that sounds nothing like the original recording you can get that with amps from Nobsound, Fosi, Aiyima, etc. that are much cheaper than the TA-20. All components used in the audio chain need to be a synergistic match for the system to sound it's best as a whole. Your system can only sound as good as it's weakest link. This includes cables. A premium USB cable is essential to bring out the best and results in a significant sonic improvement. I recommend the Audioquest USB cables. Choose one that best fits your budget. I am using the AQ Carbon. It sounds absolutely incredible, very dynamic, airy and open. The detail and imaging is astounding! Other USB cables I've tried don't even come close. The Pangea Audio AC-14 Power Cable (especially the AC-14SE MkII) can offer a significant sonic improvement. The iFi iSilencer+ USB Audio Noise Eliminator/Suppressor also produces very impressive results. iFi suggests adding a second iSilencer to a different USB port for greater effect. I started using a linear power supply on the DAC with great results. A big sonic upgrade, more refined sound with better air and resolution. The chi-fi linear power supplies aren't bad for the price. Do an internet search for "STUDER900". I also use the iFi iPower AC Mains Power Filter, more clarity and detail, less grain. I find it does best in my system when plugged in to the wall outlet where the system also plugs into. The cumulative effect of using all these components together takes the sound to a whole new level! I tried different audiophile interconnects including the highly rated Audioquest Mackenzie. The Mackenzies sounded good with a neutral tonal balance. But, THEN (thinking I probably wouldn't hear much difference), I dropped in a pair of Kimber Hero cables and, HOLY SCHIIT, I was blown away. Bass and dynamics came alive. The soundstage expanded in all directions. Imaging became pinpoint precise. Everything sounded more "real". These are keepers! The Heros took what was already incredible sound to a whole new level of transparency. Even smoother after break in. I was pleasantly surprised. Then as a test, switching back to ordinary power and USB cables negated most of the expansive sound, realism and emotion that the Heros had to offer making the sound more flat, "digital" and compressed. All these components work together as a team and will result in a complete transformation, being the difference between the system sounding ok as opposed to sounding truly astounding. The sonic improvement is very dramatic. If your a skeptic, fasten your seatbelts. You're about to be hit with a revelation. None of these products mentioned above are too terribly expensive. But if you are considering the TA-20 you may as well be willing to invest in the WHOLE system because that is what you will ultimately be hearing. Or else just get an affordable all-in-one like the AQ Dragonfly or IFi Zen DAC. Most of the products mentioned above are available from audioadvisor.com. ____________________________________ Update: When I swapped out the Mackenzies for the Heros, at the same time I also removed a second amp that was connected to the single ended output. But, at the time I hadn't realized that having 2 sets of cables connected to the DAC at the same time using both outputs into two amps was degrading the sound. Removing the second amp at the same time the cables were swapped made the difference in cables seem more dramatic and resulted in an unfair comparison. But, still an accurate description of the Hero's amazing sonic characteristics. And, I definetely prefer the Heros. The Mackenzie is a good cable but for the price there are other cables that are a better buy. I left the original text above to show how small changes can make a big difference and sometimes fly under the radar as the J2 DAC sounded much better by just using only one output at a time. Also, I never expected the single ended RCA inputs to sound better than the balanced XLR when paired with the J2 (more info below). Another example of how you just can't take anything for granted. ____________________________________ Update (revised again 07/16/22) : I tried using the AQ JitterBug FMJ but, I much preferred the sound of the iSilencers. I am now using a AQ Carbon USB cable with 2 iFi iSilencers used in parallel, one on the cable and one on the empty USB port next to it. The highly resolving AQ Carbon USB cable is by far the best I have heard, only out done by the more expensive Curious USB cable. The Carbon/iSilencers together are proving to be a winning combo and sounds absolutely incredible! I tried the NEO d+ "Class A" USB Cable based on positive reviews on Amazon. It sounded warm, detailed and very smooth with a natural tonal balance. It is a fine cable. But, a bit too relaxed for my personal tastes. I definitely prefer the superior dynamics, air and openness of the Carbon. However, I might need to give the Neo a chance and let it break in more before a final judgement. While I still like the Pangea Power cables, their Pangea USB cable I was using while not a bad cable also couldn't stand up to the AQ Carbon. The Northern Electric tubes have become my favorites having the most clarity and openness along with tight, well defined bass. They really bring this amp to life. Don't think for a minute that you need balanced XLR for great sound. RCAs can sound just as good and in many cases better. XLR is mainly developed for using very long cable lengths without degradation. What I find interesting is the J2/TA-20 combo actually sounds better, more focused, airy, detailed and transparent when using single ended RCA. Even comparing using the same brand of cables. I think the sonic difference has a lot to do with the outputs on the J2, but I'd like to do more testing with different DACs etc. as time allows. One youtube reviewer noticed the same thing with the J2 outputs. I consistently get superior sound from the unbalanced RCAs with this J2/TA-20 combo.  It can vary with different component implementations. So find out which is better for your system. You might be surprised. If you use XLR, with this particular combo between the DAC and the amp you'll be missing out on much better sound. I tried the Analysis Plus RCA (Copper Oval-In) interconnect cables. They have body, bass and a silky smooth richness to the sound that are lacking in many other cables and are very enjoyable to listen to. The Oval Ones have a similar sound. But, the AP cables don't have quite as much speed, depth and air as some other cables. They sound a little bit veiled and congested which makes it hard for me to recommend them. The Kimber Heros and Kimber Silver Streaks are my top recommendation to pair with the TA-20. They really bring out the best that this amp has to offer. And that is the whole focus of this review. You can sometimes get them used for around $100 - 200 which is a steal. Compared to the APs, the Heros are more open and detailed, with better depth layering, air and space around the instruments and tighter bass. The Heros take it to the next level. Kimber cables excel by beating other cable brands with their huge, open and airy soundstage which is deep and wide with incredible imaging. You can't go wrong with the Heros. Also, for a little more money the Kimber Silver Streaks are a little more detailed. They are especially great for tube amps. Still the Heros are not bad and hold their own even up against the Silver Streaks. In my system RCAs easily win over XLR. If your on a tight budget and looking to spend the very least amount of money and still have great sound, consider the Kimber PBJ cable (sometimes you can find a used pair for as low as $50 on ebay) and pair them with any one of the Audioquest USB cables. Then throw in an iSilencer or two if you possibly can. The legendary PBJs for decades have been the quintessential entry level cable. The PBJs are neutral, open and detailed. Also for $30 this SKW cable sounds surprisingly good, very neutral and detailed and is absolutely unbeatable for the price, better than some higher priced cables, https://www.amazon.com/dp/B079KZ4L9J. BUT, if you can, it's best to get the Heros (or Silver Streaks) + the Carbon USB + the NewFantasia headphone cable that I provide a link to later in this review. Then combine them with the iSilencers, the iFi iPower ac filter and other accessories mentioned in this review (also see the mini update added below). That's when the imaging and clarity gets freaking mind-blowing! Especially with Northern Electric tubes which are endgame. I also want to try the Cardas Iridium cable. They likely have a full, rich tonality similar to Analysis Plus but better overall sound. The current line of Cardas cables are more neutral than their previous line of cables while retaining the rich musicality that they are known for. Chord Clearway is another very highly rated yet affordable cable that I have yet to hear. Aside from very few exceptions, you need good planar type headphones to fully appreciate the full sonic potential that these components when used together can deliver. If you don't mind spending more money, the Curious USB cable, AQ Coffee or Diamond USB cables along with interconnects such as Artisan Silver Dream, Kimber Carbon, Kimber Select, Curious Interconnect, AQ Fire, Cardas Clear and Clear Reflection, AP Solo Crystal Oval and AP Silver Apex are all great cables. Keep in mind that many premium cables typically take 100 hrs or longer to break in and sound their best. The Grover Huffman Empress or the Grover Huffman EX+ cables are also worth considering. Many consider the Empress to be the ultimate cable, with performance that rivals more expensive cables while costing much less. Grover's other cable the EX+ might be the best choice if your not looking to spend too much but want truly superior high end sound. The Grover cables are very stiff so that can be a factor. So far, for me the Kimber Heros and the Silver Streaks have the bar set high and are very hard to beat. *** New Update 07/16/22*** The Silver Dream series cables from Artisan sound as good as the Kimbers and are priced lower. Artisan Silver Dream cables could likely be the best cable value ever. However with the Kimbers it is easier to find a bargain on the used market. *** New Edit *** Even though the Kimber Silver Streaks sound a little more detailed and analytical doesn't necessarily in my view, make them the better cable overall. I find the Heros to also have plenty of detail while being not quite as lean and having a more natural, musical sound with punchy bass and a more open soundstage. Headphones, tubes and other components as well as personal taste play a role in which cable would be the better match in your system. The Heros seem to sound great with a wider variety of equipment choices, whereas the Silver Streaks can sound too thin and/or bright in some systems. ____________________________________ Mini Update: I recently took my system to an even greater level of sonic ecstasy by adding the Wyred 4 Sound Recovery usb reclocker. You can use the supplied rigid adapter to connect it directly to the DAC. But, better still, use an Uptone Audio USPCB adapter or a Curious Regen Link. From the very first note I could hear a huge improvement. The reclocker has now become an essential component in my system. I'm using a Curious USB cable going in to the reclocker and a USPCB out to the DAC. I also will be using a linear power supply. The reclocker sounds great even without the LPS. The W4S reclocker costs much less than other DDCs like the Denafrips Iris. ____________________________________ But, all this would be for nothing if you're not using headphones that let you hear what the TA-20 is capable of. So depending on what you already have, you might consider upgrading your headphones. For me, the Hifiman Sundaras are in a class all by themselves, a benchmark baseline reference. Most headphones excel in certain sonic aspects and disappoint in others. No headphone is perfect, but the Sundaras seem to have the right balance of everything I look for sonically. They check all the boxes and don't really have any serious flaws. Bass, mids, highs, detail, linear neutrality, punchy dynamics, imaging, soundstage, it's all there, especially the price. The TA-20 with the JNOG2 really brings out the soundstage capability of the Sundaras. The Sundaras also are exceptionally revealing of sonic differences in associated equipment & cables. They are analytical but in a very good way without being harsh or bright. I personally prefer the Sundara over my Focal Clears. The Clears are exceptional in many aspects and very highly rated, but just don't have that planar magic. The Sennheiser 600/6XXs as well are not going to bring the TA-20 to it's full potential. Using the cables, DAC, tubes and accessories mentioned in the paragraphs above will turn the Sundaras into the best headphones you have ever heard and make ordinary recordings sound hi-res. You can mod the Sundaras to have better bass by using the Kennerton ECL-02 Earpads, learn more about it here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y92yA3LtlHE. The ECL-01 Earpads are another option depending on how much bass you want. I actually like the sound with the stock pads, but I might give them a try. The Anandas I also highly recommend, as well as the new Arya Stealth Magnet Edition and the LCD-X 2021 Edition. Honorable mention should also be given to the HD800s. I'm using the NewFantasia "silver plated" headphone cable (from Amazon)  https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0978DVMMZ  They sound awesome and are reasonably priced. I haven't found any other cable that I like better, not even other silver headphone cables. I consider these cables an absolute necessity. Silver cables are known to bring out more detail and clarity. These are what your headphones should have come with. They are like a major sonic upgrade for your headphones! I won't listen to music without them. The headphone cable is another important link in the audio chain that you don't want to neglect. The silver NewFantasia cable are a poor man's Moon-Audio Silver Dragons https://www.moon-audio.com/dragon-audio-cables.html The TA-20 is a first class high end reference level headphone amp that is terribly under rated. The TA-20 is very well built like a brick schiit house. The TA-20 features Class A amplification and like the J2 DAC has fully balanced circuitry. I hear tons of detail, space and resolution from the TA-20 when used with quality equipment and cables. And the detail is not sterile or fatiguing as can sometimes be the case with some solid state amps. The hybrid design provides plenty of power and dynamics and allows for use of a wide variety of headphones including planars. The TA-20 destroys xDuoo's pure tube amp offerings. And the TA-20 mops the floor with the DarkVoice 336SE. Like the JNOG2, the Sundaras and the Heros, the TA-20 is an unbeatable value that can fully reach it's potential when you get the WHOLE system sonically on the same page. That involves keeping everything in the signal path accurate and as true to the original recording as possible. That's when the magic really comes through. From that point EQ is no longer needed or wanted. All the associated components and accessories mentioned in this review help bring out the best in each other and the result is that the whole is greater than the sum of the parts. I wanted to write this review to share the fact that the TA-20 sounds TOTALLY stellar when used with the right components. The TA-20 will then deliver an unparalleled sonic experience on a level far beyond what you ever imagined possible!
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Recommends this product? Yes
Laleo
2
Dec 21, 2021
Hey . I jave bought the J2+ TA20 :-) Very pleased. Thanks for the time you put in the review. Can you please do a comparison with tube rolling you did. In terms of warmth/clarity, stage and imaging. I would like a warmer tubes to smoothen the treble but not in exchange of clarity.
Rectifier
30
Dec 22, 2021
LaleoI don't really have any tube suggestions other than what I already mentioned. There seems to be a trade off between warmth and clarity when you tube roll. Treble can often smooth out on it's own when things get broke in. Sometimes components can take up to a hundred hours or more to sound their best, but most tubes begin smoothing out within a week or two of normal use. The Tung-Sols continue to get smoother the more I use them. I am still breaking in the Northern Electric tubes they were harsh at first but now they are my favorites. To me they have the best clarity and soundstage. Psvane might be the tube you are looking for depending on your preference. Choosing other associated components that enhance smoothness can help you get the best of both worlds. I don't know what headphones and cables you are using so it is hard for me to make suggestions. Upgrading the USB cable can remove treble harshness while enhancing detail and clarity. I have just added more cable recommendations to the review. The SKW or Kimber PBJ RCAs along with one of the Audioquest USB Cables are great starters. They don't cost much and beat a lot of much higher priced cables. Good cables are essential in bringing out the detail and resolution and allow your system to perform at it's full potential. At this time, Kimber Hero RCA cables are my top recommendation.
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ndgns
223
Oct 4, 2020
checkVerified Buyer
smOOOth...
Wanted to upgrade from the Loxjie P20, though nice for the price, didn't pair well with DT1990s and OK with planars. The TA-20s definitely cured my upgrade- itis, thanks to the community reviews and discussions. Build quality far exceeds expectations and the sound makes for a softer and slightly slower presentation, for that smooth tube effect, especially in comparison to the THX 789. That smoothness is more apparent on the DT1990s, HD660s, Sendy Aivas, ESS 422H, Anandas and Fostex TR70s, which i find prominently treble-some. Surprisingly they pair very well with Planars and were further enhanced when the tubes were rolled with New Electro-Harmonix 12AU7 ECC82 GOLD PINS, runnin balanced with a SMSL SU-8 or Topping DX7s,
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confirming its ability to play well with others.
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Recommends this product? Yes
coreypine
117
Dec 31, 2020
checkVerified Buyer
Makes my music sound more fun
Upon my first listen ... well I just noticed this big smile on my face. My music was more alive and fun and engaging than on my solid-state setup. More punch across the full dynamics. I really enjoy the sound. This is my first quality tube amp and I'm so glad I bought this. Easy to just plug and play. My setup: Drop SDAC Balanced DAC output into TA-20 using XLR input. Headphones: Focal Elex, DT 177X, Hifiman Ananda, Hifiman 400i. Balanced cables for all. All files are FLAC formatted. My solid-state DAC/Amp is the Monoprice AAA THX fully balanced, which is clean, uncolored with good power. I love it. Now, I fully understand the difference between "Warm" and "Neutral" or "Analytical". I bought additional tubes and look forward to rolling them to hear the difference from the stock tubes. ------------------------------------------------------------------- Update Feb 2021 - 2 months since the initial review. Ok, Not sure if my initial impression was correct. I do find the TA-20 a very enjoyable amp, clean and powerful but over time I came to feel that I wasn't hearing that much of a difference from my THX AAA solid state. Now since my initial review, I have sold the Ananda and the DT177X headphones. I've acquired the Hifiman Arya and also the Moondrop Blessing 2 IEM. I have many IEMs but until now, I've only listened to them using my Astell & Kern DAP. So, the reason for this update: 1) I TUBE ROLLED! After using the stock tubes, I inserted a pair of "Vintage RCA 12AU7A Platinum Grade Clear Top Preamp - Matched Pair = 6189 5814" and my Focal Elex have really come alive! They are now so much more musical than previously on the TA-20 and certainly more so than the THX AAA. This sound is exactly what I was searching for when I bought the tube amp (which I didn't get with the stock tubes). Oh man, the Elex is now so good for the price. 2) With regards to the Arya paired with the TA-20 and new tubes, I'm not sure this works very well. My initial feeling is the Arya sound better with the solid-state AAA amp. I have to spend much more time here. But my trade of the Ananda & the DT177x for the Arya is a winner; the Arya (paired with the THX AAA) is worth the money IMO. 3) I've started listening to my two favorite IEMs on my desktop setup. The Blessing 2 (tip rolled with the Spinfit CP 100 which adds bass but keeps balance and tonality) sounds fantastic on my DAP and the THX AAA but not as much on the TA-20. The Massdrop Plus sound fantastic on the AAA and Astell & Kern but maybe even better, more musical, on the TA-20. I think this makes sense as the Massdrop Plus is a very good FUN and detailed iem vs analytical. So, I've come to understand how a simple change of tubes can really make a difference and to a degree, how different headphones and IEMs sound using different setups. I just ordered and await my next tubes: GE Millitary 12AU7 / 6189W from Upscale Audio.com.
(Edited)
Recommends this product? Yes
coreypine
117
Jan 25, 2021
yes
Laleo
2
Dec 21, 2021
coreypineCan you do a comparison with tube rolling you did. In terms of warmth/clarity, stage and imaging. I would like a warmer tubes to smoothen the treble but not in exchange of clarity.
tcurtis6984
120
Sep 17, 2020
checkVerified Buyer
Very good tube amp!
This amp has boosted the sound of all my headphones except my 1more triple drivers. So, I added an Aiyima tube preamp to the mix and they all sound better. The Xduoo has balanced capabilities for my Sennheiser HD6XXs. It does not have a bass and treble nobs, which is why I added a preamp that does. My Monolith M1060s are awesome when powered by this amplifier.
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This is currently the best amp I own and will be my part of my setup for a long time. I'm very happy about this purchase.
Recommends this product? Yes
Josepfe
49
Nov 17, 2020
tcurtis6984Hi many thanks for the review and for the pictures. I can see that you use the Dekoni? fenestrated lambskin earpads for the 6xx. Could you please tell me what your experience is?. I´m considering to also replace the velour and in general I find the leather pads to be more comfortable and also give a more premium looks. However many people say that the profile of the Senns changes dramatically when you don´t use the original velour pads. And also if you could tell me in which manner the tube amplifier improves the sound of the 6xxs. Many thanks in advance!!
Rectifier
30
Dec 5, 2020
tcurtis6984Yikes, that is quite a mismatch. The Aiyima tube preamp (tube buffer) is not anywhere near in the same league as the Xduoo. The TA-20 deserves much better (and so do the headphones). The Aiyima may be lush and warm but it is Low-Fi as it's price would suggest. It will color the sound and take you far away from what the actual recording sounds like, the opposite of neutral sound. It is like adding artificial flavor and color, something a master chef would never use. I tried using the Aiyima. Now it just sits in my closet waiting to be sold to someone who doesn't know any better. If you need EQ it is better to use software like Peace Equalizer. Or if you still would rather have hardware EQ then use the Schiit Loki Mini+. You never mentioned your audio source components. Using a quality DAC can show you what you're missing. The Geshelli JNOG2 DAC for example will bring this amp to life in a very special way. You have no idea of the potential and the magic that the TA-20 is capable of. Let it spread it's wings! Once you hear that, you will forget all about bass and treble knobs. I have also had great results with Kimber Hero or SKW interconnects and other tweaks such as Tung-Sol or Genalex tubes, the iSilencer+ USB noise eliminator, NEO d+ Class A USB Cable and Pangea power cables.
(Edited)
Razor74
49
Feb 17, 2021
checkVerified Buyer
Exactly what you want from a tube amp
I am simply in love with this amp, it is exactly what you want from a tube amp. It adds that silky smooth tone that any of us that grew up in the 70's and early 80's loved so much before solid state amps became the main stay in technology. If you have planar's that like that warm tube sound then I would strongly advise you to purchase this amp asap. My Thieaudio Phantoms absolutely love's them, so much so that I almost added the 5th star to there review. There is a pleasurable distortion that adds that bold warmth to instruments like the sax that I love d as a kid listening to my father's quadrophonic stereo ( I know I'm telling my age now) for those that have never heard of quad receivers look it up, properly set up they were awsome, the predecessor to surround sound. Back to the TA-20, it is not as precise and clear as the THX AAA 789 but it is not supposed to be. The soul purpose of a tube amp is to give you distortion and warmth but in a controlled way. Now this is not ment for every type of music or every type of vocal, but when you find the right combination it's magical. IE- A star is born, JP Cooper, Adele, Boney James, Ledisi. All of these sound amazing as well as many others. I can't wait to try tube rolling, not that I think it needs it I love the sound as it is, but I love to tinker. Teamed with a good dac and used with the balanced connection this little unit is worth every penny.
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Recommends this product? Yes
Razor74
49
Apr 13, 2021
Yes I am running multiple balanced amps, and it works perfectly no more swapping cables, just turn the dial to the appropriate position and you are good to go. I use Ethereal Balanced Cables MHZ-XLR. They are very well made and good clean sound. But you can find comparable cables on line pretty cheap.
DrEas
135
Apr 13, 2021
Razor74Thanks!
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