xDuoo TA-20 Balanced Headphone Amp Discussions | Drop

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xDuoo TA-20 Balanced Headphone Amp

Audiophile

FULL DISCUSSION

Will2416

Aug 26, 2020

Hi Guys, My two cents. I purchased this amp though not through Drop. I really like this amp a lot. I have, among other headphones, the hard to amp-pair Fostex TH-900's. These headphones work wonderfully with this amp. As do my assorted Sennheisers. There's a caveat. You have to tube role immediately. If you purchase this amp, find a pair of ECC82 12au7 tubes online and get them. The Chinese tubes this amp comes with are only included to deliver this amp in working order but you can't really use them. They sound terrible so you can't judge this amp based on the tubes it comes with. Tip: I got a pair of JJ Electronics tubes made in the Slovak Republic (Slovakia). While I do intend to try other tubes just for kicks and giggles, these tubes work great and are inexpensive. Want a balanced tube amp? Get this affordable amp and get a separate pair of tubes and apply them immediately. That's it. My two cents. Enjoy your new amp!

Aug 26, 2020

MastroiTek

Nov 24, 2020

Will2416Thx for your suggestion. Z reviews did a video on this amp and he said that the stock tubes are good and he did not need to change them. I'm just wandering what didn't you like about the tubes. (I ask because I will get this amp in the next weeks)

Nov 24, 2020

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Will2416

Nov 25, 2020

MastroiTekHi MastroiTek, I saw the review quite a while back and I am not bothering to go back to the review so I'm only relying on my memory. I think he mentioned something in the review about tube rolling but he didn't have any 12AU7 tubs on-hand. Z, as always, provides mostly positive reviews and most things he reviews are "then next best thing" because that's his job. He's a salesman and needs to keep his job, his YT channel and other social media interactions, relevant and with views and likes and helps him to get products sent for review. I follow Z and enjoy his reviews but I had to wean myself off of his influence on me. With regards to the actual stock tubes of the TA-20, they are the most basic Chinese tubes, provided only to ship the amp in working order. When I got the amp, not via Drop, I was very disappointed and only used the THX amp for a while. When I finally changed to the above mentioned tubes it became a totally different amp and became very enjoyable for my dynamic headphones. The biggest difference was with the Fostex TH-900's. I use these headphones on the TA-20 only now. My other dynamic headphones, it depends on the music and I switch back and forth a lot. So I must disagree with Z's assessment on the amp based on the stock Chinese tubes. Tubes make a huge difference and I've only rolled one time on one amp to come to that conclusion. I will be rolling new tubes in the future and try some even more expensive selections. The only thing holding me back at the moment is a considerable investment in a new bangin' home theater which is consuming all of my resources at the moment. But I stick to my guns on this one. Yes: Get the amp. New tubes: Required.

Nov 25, 2020

MastroiTek

Nov 25, 2020

Will2416Hey thx! I also noticed that normally Z has many nice things to say about a new product but I remember that for the TA-10 he clearly said that the tube was crap (or almost), while fot the TA-20 he said that is was fine, not great, but still enjoyable. That is all. For now I will just try the stock tubes, but I plan to buy some better one with a new dac and cables in order to use the balance output of the TA-20. Thx for your advice :) Slowly I will reach my "dream" setup (the problem is that there is always room for improvement haha)

Nov 25, 2020

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Will2416

Jun 29, 2021

MastroiTek$20 will get your TA-20 to the next level. I truly enjoy this amp with $20 tubes but plan to grab a $60 pair to see if the significant price increase will provide the same increased performance as from stock tubes to $20 tubes or even better. There is a risk for diminishing returns but it will be cool to try. $100+ tubes? Yea, maybe. I will comment again here on (Mass)Drop if I decide to get expensive tubes and what the difference is between $20 tubes and $60-100 tubes. It'll be fun, if expensive. Like all high-end audio, it's a guilty pleasure. /Will

Jun 29, 2021

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