Revealing The Best Audiophile Tube Amp: Which One Will Come Out On Top?

Рет қаралды 72,097

Жыл бұрын

#hifi #tubeamplifier #audiophile
The Ultimate Tube Amplifier Shootout!
Black Ice F35: bit.ly/3KFVBjK
Rogue Audio Cronus III: bit.ly/3iVagfj
Galion TS120E: bit.ly/3YXoz2V
LTA Z40i+: bit.ly/3Bpzngo
0:00 Intro
0:56 Black Ice F35 General Info
2:23 Rogue Audio Cronus III General Info
3:49 Galion Audio TS120SE General Info
5:13 LTA Z40+ General Info
6:56 Sound Clips and Recording Introduction
8:54 Track 1: Reference
10:30 Track 1: Black Ice F35
12:05 Track 1: Rogue Audio Cronus III
13:41 Track 1 Galion TS120SE
15:17 Track 1: LTA Z40i+
16:52 Track 2: Reference
17:52 Track 2: Black Ice F35
18:52 Track 2: Rogue Audio Cronus III
19:52 Track 2: Galion TS120SE
20:52 Track 2: LTA Z40i+
21:52 Track 3: Reference
24:02 Track 3: Black Ice F35
26:13 Track 3: Rogue Audio Cronus III
28:23 Track 3: Galion TS120SE
30:34 Track 3: LTA Z40i+
32:45 Track 4: Reference
34:08 Track 4: Black Ice F35
35:31 Track 4: Rogue Audio Cronus III
36:53 Track 4: Galion TS120SE
38:15 Track 4: LTA Z40i+
39:38 Track 5: Reference
41:16 Track 5: Black Ice F35
42:54 Track 5: Rogue Audio Cronus III
44:31 Track 5: Galion TS120SE
46:09 Track 5: LTA Z40i+
47:47 Track 6: Reference
48:48 Track 6: Black Ice F35
49:49 Track 6: Rogue Audio Cronus III
50:50 Track 6: Galion TS120E
51:51 Track 6: LTA Z40i+
52:51 Track 7: Reference
53:21 Track 7: Black Ice F35
53:52 Track 7: Rogue Audio Cronus III
54:23 Track 7: Galion TS120SE
54:54 Track 7: LTA Z40i+
55:23 Track 8: Reference
58:08 Track 8: Black Ice F35
01:00:53 Track 8: Rogue Audio Cronus III
01:03:39 Track 8: Galion TS120SE
01:06:25 Track 8: LTA Z40i+
01:09:09 Listening Impressions Introduction
01:10:13 Black Ice F35 Listening Impressions
01:14:59 Rogue Audio Cronus III Listening Impressions
01:17:05 Galion TS120SE Listening Impressions
01:19:46 Z40+ Listening Impressions
01:23:13 Final Thoughts
💎💎💎 Speakers reviewed and recommend! 💎💎💎
Bookshelf:
Elac Unifi 2.0: amzn.to/2OrL5RW
Elac UB5: amzn.to/3qo2msU
Elac Debut 2.0: amzn.to/3uVfWar
Elac Debut Reference: amzn.to/2OnQU2W
SVS Ultra: amzn.to/3uXIkZJ
JBL Studio 530: amzn.to/3uVagNL
Floorstanding:
Q Acoustics Concept 500: amzn.to/3ddGkEx
SVS Ultra: amzn.to/3qo2msU
SVS Prime Pinnacle: amzn.to/2MMYt2J
Elac Debut 2.0: amzn.to/3ruZRX7
Elac Unifi 2.0 UF52: amzn.to/3uXJa8P
Elac UF5: amzn.to/3e9ri4F
Triangle Borea Bro 8: adorama.rfvk.net/Ygg9oO
PSB Alpha T20: amzn.to/3uS2swa
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Пікірлер: 258

@ThomasAndStereo Жыл бұрын

Finally! The wait is over, thank you Ron for such a detailed comparison. Your observation of the TS120SE being the most versatile actually echoes much of the feedback I have heard and I am glad in the final thoughts, you found the TS120SE stood out the most for you.

@budgetaudiophilelife-long5461 Жыл бұрын

THOMAS…I’m happy that RON gave you an objective review and exposure to a lot of “Old school “ audiophiles…let us see what effect this has in the future 🤗👍💚💚💚

@chrisf9011 Жыл бұрын

Galion TS120SE FTW!!! It was clearly the most neutral, accurate amp, with the best bass control and the most spacious soundstage. The Rogue was close second. The Black Ice couldn't quite match the Cronus' sparkle. I wasn't impressed with the LTA given that it was double the price of the rest.

@svalbard01 Жыл бұрын

Subtle...

@budgetaudiophilelife-long5461 Жыл бұрын

@@chrisf9011 THANKS CHRIS 🤗 for sharing 💚💚💚

@JingoLoBa57 Жыл бұрын

Pizza with pineapple 🍍 on the way 🚗 lol

@DANVIIL 10 ай бұрын

I bought the Rogue a week ago, no regrets and much satisfaction!

@Feliciano12v Жыл бұрын

This was fun. Thanks Ron. Your hard work is appreciated.

@TheCharlesAtoz Жыл бұрын

This was a big endeavor, good job! I will comeback to this video to get some more data in the future.

@sub_annihilation9645 Жыл бұрын

Very nice sound comparison from 4 promising Tube Integrated Amplifiers. But I go for the Black Ice Audio Fusion F35, vibrant sound that flowing through my nerves. Great! Thank you for this Ron.

@dansgalaxy5864 Жыл бұрын

Hi Ron, this my first time on your site. I love your in-depth reviews and your comments. In the end of this video I realized I don't need a new amp. I'm still amazed with my Marantz 2238b bought 20+ years ago. But I will continue to visit your site for your awesome reviews.

@MrRonnmaui Жыл бұрын

Yes, great comparisons! Excellent choice of songs for this presentation.

@joeycastillo1496 Жыл бұрын

Thank you Ron for this review!, it was effort well spent and your viewers appreciate it..

@adamfrost9048 Жыл бұрын

Epic video, the effort to demonstrate everything you are hearing is amazing. Hats off to you my friend, and 100% respect.

@CrescendoHomeTheater 11 ай бұрын

A Very VERY detailed comparison of these amps. My review of the F22 does not have reference clips and just skims the top of the barrel. Fantastic job.

@billfarrell4387 Жыл бұрын

Hi Ron Great job, lot of work, I am partial to TS 120 because of Thomas but also the class A Also had a great experience with Black Ice at Tampa Audio Expo last year, gave more info and time to potential customers Take Care

@jbenz9348 Жыл бұрын

Great job Ron, I watched this just to see how you executed this experiment. I'll probably never buy any of these amps but it was fun listening. ✌🏻

@seanjoell Жыл бұрын

You are very welcome and thank you for such an in-depth insight on these amps.

@joeyroth7855 10 ай бұрын

Ron, what an excellent comparison of several high-quality machines, and I always enjoy your detailed analysis and presentation style. Gotta say I've considered adding a Galion to my system but not ready to replace the Raven Audio Blackhawk I use everyday. Love to see a comparo that includes the Blackhawk or Osprey! Keep up the great work!

@michaelfern945 Жыл бұрын

Wonderful in-depth shootout. Thanks so much!

@carlosoliveira-rc2xt Жыл бұрын

Appreciate all the work here, Ron. Keep it up!

@Newrecordday2013 Жыл бұрын

You bet!

@rg6556 Жыл бұрын

Great job, Ron! A quality comparison video!

@Rogerraybemsleyjr 10 ай бұрын

Thank you for this wonderful video. I appreciate all of your work that went into making this form of research and knowledge available for us. You have saved me countless time and money after watching this video I realized that my current receiver amplifier setup is perfectly fine for my listening needs. I am at that point in my life where I’m just looking for a reason to buy new gear 😂.

@erics.4113 7 ай бұрын

Wow man. You outdid yourself. I hope you continue to offer such detailed content. Bravo mate

@dondondonner777 Жыл бұрын

Finally, a more comprehensive review! Cud's Ron. Also good to see the TS120 finally reviewed! D

@rainman3269 Жыл бұрын

Well done Thomas ... Great amp mate ... Also thanks Ron for an excellent review and the time you have put in doing this video ... 😎

@tee-jaythestereo-bargainph2120 Жыл бұрын

Thanks Ron for all the work you put into the video !!! 'For us crazy Audiophiles' 'Galion' does have a lot of cool features Espically the Built in Preamp and Amp Has its own powersupply Almost unheard of at pricepoint -

@wiebl5266 Жыл бұрын

Wow... Ron your dedication to this review is jaw dropping... thank you x10. And your articulation is one of the best in this industry. 4 thumbs up (including my toes)!!

@MrShaggy789 Жыл бұрын

Fantastic video, looking forward to your reviews of the amps. For me, between Black ice and Z40

@NickP333 Жыл бұрын

Whew! Just made it through the whole thing. Fantastic job, Ron. You’ve gone above and beyond this time. Bravo, sir! 👏 👏👏🔊🎶😊 Oh…and thanks a ton for the time stamps. Makes comparisons much easier.

@CulinaryGod Жыл бұрын

Fantastic video. Thank you for taking the time to do this for us.

@boniccie Жыл бұрын

Thank you Ron for a fantastic review and comparison. After many years trying tube amps and speakers, I really think SYNERGY is the key between a tube amp and a pair of speakers. Definitely learned my lesson but the hard way$$$ LOL.

@scottroberts4551 Жыл бұрын

Great video and thanks for the hard work. I recently purchased the Rogue Audio Chronus Mag3 and am really enjoying it with my Magnepan LRS+'s - great sound, responds easily to tube rolling, built like a battleship, tons of power on reserve, designed & built in America, and the best customer support, and I got a great deal on it. Given that Rogue has just created the Chronus Magnum Dark, looking very forward to you comparing that (upgraded) amp with the others.

@hrvojekant9415 4 ай бұрын

I think..no one elese done it before...great job indeed...Thank You!

@ryanb8487 Жыл бұрын

Thank you Ron for all your hard work

@peronnikbeijer213 Жыл бұрын

This was a lot of work, gratz for a great video

@epi2045 Жыл бұрын

OmG man! That was a lot of work. Great job and thank you.

@richdomroski3219 Жыл бұрын

Very nice video presentation! Very evident you put tons of planning and organizing that monumental project. Interestingly that 3 of the 4 tube amps I have been considering , but have only heard the Rouge Audio- which I liked very much. Not sure if you mentioned if you listened in the Triode or Ultra Linear mode? Also thanks for the explanation of the recording and level matching of each amp, I'm sure that was quite time consuming, but critical to get as close as possible. Will be watching again in a more critical vs curious mode and interesting choice of tracks-meaning some newbies (at least to me)

@vincenthebert1608 Жыл бұрын

Awesome video! Tks for all your hard work!

@anthonyhopkin Жыл бұрын

Thanks so much Ron for your dedication and hard work putting this together. A triumph. I was surprised how much these recordings differed from piece to piece. Also my preference changed depending on the music genre, even with in-ear pods. I guess the kind of music one prefers and the way we want it to sound (our taste) is paramount. Greetings to you and yours. Love the new trimmed look ;¬D}

@marcgabor9690 Жыл бұрын

From the sound clips they sounded more alike than different. The one that stood out was the LTA. LTA sounded more well defined, etched, and I imagined that in person it would have the most immersive soundstage. Chronus was the overall winner for me when considering the combination of price, features, looks, and sound.

@carrion_man3700 Жыл бұрын

Very interested in the Black Ice and Galleon. Great review!

@TheJoyofVinylRecords Жыл бұрын

Excellent camparison. Thank you!

@urban991 Жыл бұрын

For me Rogue Audio Cronus Magnum III is the winner followed by LTA Z40+, Galion TS120 and lastly the Black Ice 35. Track 3, female vocals was the key difference for me. I connected emotionally to this music through the Rouge Cronus Magnum III in a way I did not through the other amps. It just felt more alive, natural somehow. The Galion was too analytical to my ears. The Black Ice was putting the vocalist in a closet.

@davelistenstohifi Жыл бұрын

Thanks for this amazing and detailed review! Love all of the sound clips, surprisingly easy to get the character of each amp in this video. Agree with most of your impressions, and the TS120 and the Z40+ really stand out to me. Appreciate the beard mods too!

@SuperMcgenius Жыл бұрын

Nice review, glad you trimmed .

@Steve-se7dx Жыл бұрын

New Record Day....What! --- a GREAT REVIEW !---- Thank You... you're the BEST.

@JingoLoBa57 Жыл бұрын

Wow. This is such a collection. Listening skills development. Hearing differences this could be such a good tutorial. Then test your headphones or whatever you listen with. Yes there are obviously limitations. Yet learning what to listen for is half the battle. It takes practice. And issues like music, synergy with source and speakers etc are potential factors involved in such a test. So it’s not a perfect design here but so revealing. Especially with so many different samples. Your system and mileage and room and ears will definitely differ. Amazing work Ron.

@susanholt8142 10 ай бұрын

Thank you for such a wonderful effort. Loved it.

@bruceevans3746 Жыл бұрын

Brilliantly done!!

@tahsinguneysu2313 Жыл бұрын

Thank you Ron for such a nice work

@brianvportugal1155 Жыл бұрын

Great video Ron. The audio is so clear you can really hear differences. When I go to the same track in Tidal it doesn’t have the same crispness. Any ideas as to why? I loved having the reference track and each of the amps playing the same track. Great job! Thankyou… Happy Father’s Day .

@BillyKueekSG 9 ай бұрын

Ron, a very big thank you very much for this video. I can only imagine the amount of work that went into making this video, having to plug, unplug each amps, match the volumes, the edit the videos. I am a headphone user and at some point, will be getting a pair of bookshelves for my small room (13’11” x 10’4” x 8’1”). There are a few top headphone tube amplifiers, each costing as much as the tube amps in this video and a few costing more. So, I am excited to hear that these tube amps can be used for headphones too and still possibly serve to power my future bookshelves but the headphone output seems quite low on power so headphones like the Susvara may not benefit from it. There are many Susvara users who use speaker amps to power the Susvara so this may be something for me to take a closer look at when I am ready for the bookshelves.

@hamidrezahabibi8111 Жыл бұрын

Magnificent piece of review. I’m a designer oriented kind of audiophile therefore I will go for Jim Fosgate’s Black Ice and David Berning’s LTA. I’ll buy them both. Let’s not forget the great late Jim De Paravicini’s EAR V12 and add it to the mix.

@Coneman3 7 ай бұрын

Audio Music

@5FWS5 Жыл бұрын

Great job Ron, thanks.

@johnr5847 9 ай бұрын

Thank you for your work.

@sjohnston1487 Жыл бұрын

Thanks Ron. Excellent

@TheVanlander 5 ай бұрын

Most impressively produced KZfaq video of my life. TY

@johndaddabbo9383 Жыл бұрын

Although I'm not going to share exactly what I learned from this video, simply because I don't want to start a whole bunch of controversy and back and forth, I will say that I learned a lot and what I learned was extremely helpful... and so thank you, Thank You , THANK YOU!

@Newrecordday2013 Жыл бұрын

Thanks John! That’s good enough for me!

@JingoLoBa57 Жыл бұрын

Oh come now that’s way too much tease mate. Cough it up…

@johndaddabbo9383 Жыл бұрын

@@JingoLoBa57 😁 I'm thinking about it, however no guarantees.

@robertanderson7049 Жыл бұрын

You have put a lot of work into this review. Thanks. I use to sell Jolida and Black Ice Audio gear. And I sold a lot of vintage ss gear. I have been listening without following what amp is playing when. I really could not tell when the amps changed. In my years of experience I have found tube amps to have a warm sound that is pleasant, but a good SS amp can be crystal clear. The upper class Yamaha amps are very clear and natural. Out of curiosity I bought an Old Chen EL34 tube amp new for $350. I was quite surprised by the build quality and sound quality. Best sounding amp I ever heard. Judy Collins and Norah Jones would be good to demo an amp. Sade and Steely Dan would be great- pop jazz, and for jazz Matthew Halsall.

@JoroIrl Жыл бұрын

Nice one, well done. For me, after the second track, I like most Cronus III first and Z40 second.

@jonathanreich6360 Жыл бұрын

I'm going to write this before listening to your impressions. I only listened to 20 seconds or so of each because auditory memory is so fleeting so I wanted to make sure I could compare them. I consistently thought that the Black Ice had the flattest presentation. It gave some presence to the bass but not very much air in most of the pieces. The three tube amps, to me, were far better than the Black Ice and most of the time, each had their good points. Now, I own the LTA Z40+i so I was worried what I would think because I did think the Cronus and the Galion at times were pretty good. However, there are things I really love about the LTA which seemed to me the consistent winner for me in most categories (for the price differential it should be). But the differences were subtle. I thought that the Galion and the LTA most consistently put air and separation into the music. What was interesting is that the three tube amps seem to emphasize a different part of the music and maybe I am used to the LTA's presentation but I thought it was the best. I was a semi-amateur musician who did some home recording so I do listen critically most of the time. I also think where the LTA seems best to me is the speed of the amp and the definition of the bass. I was also pleasantly surprised to hear good percussive bass and drums with the LTA. Oddly, the high hat (on the songs that had it) really didn't sound that great on any of the recordings including the reference. I don't know if that is the recording or my headphones. So I'd go LTA, Galion, Rogue and Black Ice in that order. That said, the Galion, at least for this exercise, seems like a value buy. Thanks for making the effort on this Ron. I was actually (and stupidly) thinking of adding another tube amp and looking at the Cronus or the Galion. Oh, and I agree that the LTA seems the truest as some have put it and that is what I wanted and what I like as I know what instruments should sound like.

@mikaelvonschedvinaudiobo9422 Жыл бұрын

What great effort, thank you so much! What amplification was used for the reference recordings?

@warrensparkes1223 Жыл бұрын

thanks....love the channel!!!

@aceofspades6667 Жыл бұрын

🔥🔥🔥. .. the Gallion and LTA are 😉 at me.

@MrMwalker43 Жыл бұрын

Thank goodness things are returning back to ‘normal’ one more inch of beard and you would have lost me. Great look Ron. The best of the Galion is it’s ability to play either on Class A or AB and as a bonus you can tailor the sound and biasing is as simple as 123. Great job Thomas

@sumeetlamba4603 2 ай бұрын

In 2008 I got myself the Rogue Cronus for 1800 Canadian!! It’s been been 15 years and it is still a great amplifier. Looks have t changed at all since 2008. The remote is solid aluminium and has just 2 buttons - volume up, volume down

@christopherkent6512 Жыл бұрын

Ron, first things first. Huge thanks for being so detailed and specific with the content of this review, excellently done. So, making a decision. Somewhat impossible unless one superimposes ones own preferences. These are all great amps at the price point. Which one is best? The one you (the individual) likes the reproduced sound of. For me without being in the mastering suite while these tracks where engineered and finalized it is impossible to say one is better than the other. How can anyone determine this when you have no experience of the original? Each of these amplifiers responds differently to each track, unfortunately we can’t have gear for each piece of music we love (well most of us anyway). The biggest understanding I learned from this review is just how good audio equipment has become, these are all fine machines and each has a place in someone’s home. I liked all, but the Galion had the edge, much more immersive and pulled me right in.

@I.am.KubKab 13 күн бұрын

Thank you Ron for this review. It gives a good overview about these 4 amplifiers. Someone can get a hint where the sound could lead to. However, KZfaq compresses the video and audio when uploaded to their portal. So I strongly recommend to listen to the amps before buying. And, furthermore not every amp works with every speaker.

@Newrecordday2013 12 күн бұрын

Glad it was helpful!

@dennisheadley4408 Жыл бұрын

I like the trimmed beard over the prospector look. Great and entertaining video.

@vinylvagrants4829 7 ай бұрын

Thank you!! Very informative. Based on your video and other research, I am leaning towards the Cronus Magnum III. Rogue has just released a Dark edition... so I hope to see some reviews on this upgrade soon.

@larrywinn2941 6 ай бұрын

Great video .

@audiorick841 Жыл бұрын

Thanks Ron! I never got the notification of this video even if enabled 🤷‍♂️ it never came up in my recommendations either. Glad I caught it 👍🏻

@sjhorton1184 Жыл бұрын

AMEN! - there you go, Ron.

@PaulMaison Жыл бұрын

I'll have to listen to this again. However, I liked the Cronus and Galion (toss up between the two). I didn't fancy the others. The F35 goes deep, but it felt a little thinner in the mids to my ears and not as rich as the Galion or Cronus.

@MrWkendwarrior Жыл бұрын

Made it thru!!! 🤲🏻🙌🏾🤘🏻 Excellent video, honest and multiple genre comparisons. Black Ice sharp edges, but seemed lean Rogue fun, hit deeper but lacked detail GALION my fav, imaging precise, clarity, detail, mids prominent, bass tight, most pleasing all rounder. Features, build, remote, looks …clear winner 4th amp for most of the audition was most precise, just did not have treble detail or imaging GALION had. Love auto bias, just not double the cost

@Newrecordday2013 Жыл бұрын

Appreciate it!

@YouSoundButtHurt Жыл бұрын

I have the Rogue with upgraded small tubes and there's no lack of detail. You have to take these videos with a grain of salt, it's just for entertainment.

@VJA74 Жыл бұрын

Thanks!

@jari121 Жыл бұрын

Excellent video and sound samples. LTA sounds the best to me. Galion and Rogue Audio also pleased me. However, I am not a tube amplifier owner and the sound of the new class d amplifiers pleases me the most.

@Newrecordday2013 Жыл бұрын

Fair enough!

@herbieschwartz9246 6 ай бұрын

IMO, the Galion stands out, giving the most realistic reproduction, least flavoring, most detailing, and most dynamics. I plugged in my Sony Z1R's for this. Excellent review 🙂

@stephenschmitt8630 Жыл бұрын

I presently own the OS Audio Stellar again Cell DAC and 2 M700 monoblocks

@charliemathews5210 Жыл бұрын

Great work Ron....I guess I am really getting old....BUT for the life of me the reference you used at the beginning of each cut was done or played though what amp/speaker combo? Sorry to ask such a lame question. Blessings to you and the family. Charlie

@williamcampbell3868 8 ай бұрын

Of these amplifiers the Rogue makes the most sense to me

@Ricky-cl5bu Жыл бұрын

Good review love valve amps

@decemberek Жыл бұрын

Great review! What about 16-20 Ohm impedance speakers? Any recommendations? I am surprised that none of them have 16 Ohm output. Is Willsenton R300 somehow special?

@jasonsmith9845 Жыл бұрын

Very fascinating! I'm really impressed with the amount of work you did to put this video together. My vote goes to Galion, but even that didn't send me running to eBay to sell my Quicksilver Horn Monos. Oh... I just realized, Galion is headed up by Thomas who I've been watching on KZfaq for quite some time now! Very cool!

@johndaddabbo9383 Жыл бұрын

Thanks! I can't imagine the amount of effort that went into this video (or many of your videos for that matter)... and so Yeah, this isn't nearly enough :(

@Newrecordday2013 Жыл бұрын

You guys make all the work worth it!

@user-go9yz1gk7k Жыл бұрын

Great job video! LTA 1st, Black Audio 2, another 3. LTA is OTL tubes+class D?

@darrellross8609 Жыл бұрын

Tracks were Awesome..!

@Firebottleman Жыл бұрын

Thank you very much for this comparison Ron. Different power tube types and makers deliver different sound signatures all the way around. All these amps should use the same power valves for this comparison to get a better idea of their different tonal cues. Great effort on your part though. Fusion F-35 all the way on its sound signature, but Thomas' amp is the best as far as features. TONE CONTROLS are important! We don't all have perfectly tuned rooms or speakers. Way to go Thomas!! At double the price the LTA is way overpriced in my opinion. This video should give that co. somewhat of a reality check on their prices. I also would not want a valve amp that I can't bias myself. That would mean that I wouldn't be able to dial-in my tubes just right to extract the absolute maximum performance of that particular amp. Some tubes like to run a little hotter than others to sound their best. In other words, when it comes to tubes, it really isn't one size fits all. Thanks again Ron.

@Mike-hb4pc Жыл бұрын

I hear you. The Thomas amp, for me, would need a balance control. I just cannot 'adjust' my room and/or speakers to find the 'sweet' spot.

@maxsupport5706 19 күн бұрын

Love my Cary SLI-80HS

@mannycazz8018 Жыл бұрын

Awesome detailed review!!! Thanks for helping everyone out with this. I'm a huge solid state fan boy thus far. I'm currently running 2 yamaha mx 1000 with a set of KLF 30 AND A PAIR OF Jbl S3100. I am doing more research into the tube sound and this is pure gold right here my friend. Can you tell us what mode was used on the tube amps? Ultra linear or triode? I'm asking in reference to the cronus magnum since on paper it was 1 of the top in power output. Thanks again for everything NRD does and keep on rocking it!!!! Cheers from So Cal.

@larsv6144 Жыл бұрын

1) Reference. 2) Z40i. 3) TS120SE. 4) Cronus III. 5) F35. So having a budget and other hobbies, the TS120SE is still my choice and maybe future "upgrade"/change. (have a Musical Fidelity Nu-Vista 600 now).

@epi2045 Жыл бұрын

I agree completely. For $4,500 it’s quite a good value proposition. I’m curious to what a non-SE sounds like.

@kriswhitman8027 5 ай бұрын

Thanks Ron for a fine video. I am actually wanting to add a tube amplifier to my collection but have no experience with tubes. I enjoyed the sound clips and like all but the LTA. The amp will be driving a tricked out pair of Danny's Encores so only 87db sensitivity. So I assume more power the better....maybe. Not sure how to proceed since very few reviewers have experience with the Encores. Negative side effect of going off the typical production speakers. I would appreciate any thoughts you have considering tubes with a really nice pair of Encores. Thanks and keep up the great work...much appreciated.

@VJA74 Жыл бұрын

Great value video! Though all seem to make sound flatter compared to original, still I find LTA Z40i most musical followed by Galion. 👍

@issadad 11 ай бұрын

I agree exactly, and was a little insecure after hearing others' opinions. Why did the "originals" all sound best? What does original mean in this context? Aren't we still hearing these originals thru some kind of amplifier?

@BillyKueekSG 9 ай бұрын

I too, am curious to know what original means whenever I watch/hear demos in KZfaq

@deoncruywagen5191 Жыл бұрын

First impressions are as follows. The TS120 and the M40 stood out the most for me, on all the tracks. The other two sounded veiled in comparison. Especially the end of track three, when the cymbal fades away. On the first two, it sounded like a weird synthesizer effect, not like a cymbal at all. I have yet to finish listening to all the tracks, but so far, my conclusions have held fast.

@dungysphincter7974 9 ай бұрын

From top to bottom of the audio spectrum from the tracks played back....the LTA Z40+ kills it. The one that comes the closest in second place is the reference playback. It was a no brainer for me which performed the best. I didn't have to listen but a few seconds from each track for each playback system. The sound was more even across the audio field, and full. Very lush. My opinion.

@edwininarcadia Жыл бұрын

Amps 2 or 3. As you pointed 2 is more versatile, then chose 2 as a winner. Lovely creatures!

@bioscalar Жыл бұрын

Great re iew. The reference was best in every case but what was the reference?

@daniwalmsley611 4 ай бұрын

I really enjoyed the Gallion, but I'm not aure I could live with it as my only amp. Whilst individual instruments did pop that's both a blessing and a curse. I felt like whilst individual instruments popped that meant others took a step back and it lacked cohesion and emergy. It was by far my favourite and beautifully relaxing and goey, it's the one i'd pick to come home to after a long day at work Now I'm wondering how it sounds in Class AB... either way I want it

@net_news Жыл бұрын

your beard was great man!

@philipketchum1407 Жыл бұрын

The TS 120 is on my list of future purchases. I’ve yet to hear anything that has made me second guess it.

@danmarjenka6361 3 ай бұрын

Track 3, I gotta go LTA again. I can hear it in the first 5 seconds. The music jumps right out at you. It is much more dynamic than the other amps.

@2savetherepublic Жыл бұрын

Ron, excellent, inspiring review. Pleasea clarify that the Gallion is the special edi. $4500 . It is a bit uncertain in spots.

@Newrecordday2013 Жыл бұрын

Yes this is the Galion TS120SE. It’s $4500.

@mariogermain4430 4 ай бұрын

Bonjour, i ust saw the review about the z40/cronus int amp. IT is possible to have the of the beautiful loudspeakers back toi thanks sorry about m'y english im from Québec City (french place) your review are détail and professionnel thanks Mario