I received the TS A75 this week and out of the box it sounded bright on the high end. After some tweaking and changing speaker cables and re-positioning my speakers I turned my system back on with the TS A75 and boom!..Magic happened. The sound become more detailed, that holographic sound came through and the soundstage was awesome. The bass is tight and powerful, it just all snapped into place. I can only imagine what this amp will sound like after 100 hours of use....more magic will happen! In closing I will say Thomas is one of the most helpful and customer focused person in this industry. Highly recommended!
Congratulations, Thomas. I am very much looking forward to listening to this new amplifier. Also, I enjoy the way you inform people. Honesty with a sense of humor goes a long way, in my book. Thanks.
I just received this amp and it has been added to my IOTAVX PA3 & SA3 amps and what a difference. The sound is truly airy ( now I know what this is). The clarity is superb and my sound from my ELAC Vela BS speakers is so open with great width. Yes i’am also impressed with the bass too with it being clean and powerful. What a great product.
This amp is the real deal, it actually does what Thomas says it does! By any subjective measures, this amplifier is very good sounding, and despite the 75w it can drive inefficient speakers well, no problem there. Are there better amplifiers out there? Yes. Is there a better amplifier anywhere near this price range? I haven't seen one. Listen carefully to the caveats in the middle of the video, and decide if this is the sound you want. If so, then you cannot really go wrong with the A75.
And makes even poor designed speakers - with lots of rings, zings in the sound nest stage - like B&W's 6's better ones ;) :) But I am glad for Thomas and his team for bringing up on the market such product-s which is/are prised by many music lovers and affordable to many of us.
I haven't played more than 3 hrs with my A75, but so far he sound is very pleasing. Just out of the box it's easy to understand what Thomas means about having "air" in the sound. I'm upgrading from a pair of Orchard Audio's Starkrimson monoblocks and the soundstage is a bit wider, but the imaging is now so much more holographic and much better defined within the space. There's a whole lot of information in the midrange and in the highs. And it all sounds very refined, dynamic, and well composed, as if there is still more power if needed. I can't tell too much of the bass yet, since the amp is driving a pair of LS-50 Metas with a lot of space behind them... I'll probably have to change my setup since I liked the impact of this amp on my system. We had some issues with the shipping, but Thomas is helping to sort this out very smoothly.
Thomas, I’m so very proud of you. You have taken your experience, and vision, and taken them to the next level by producing a product that fits that vision. You are a rare bread that has put your money where your mouth is. Reviewers are raving over your products. Steve Huff just reviewed your bookshelves playing through your TSA75. I wish you much success because I truly feel you deserve all of it.
I've had the TS A75 for a couple of months. This amp keeps surprising me! It's revealed instrument and voice separation like I've never heard in my system, which I think leads to a shocking level of soundstage depth... I'm now better understanding comments on separation and depth... it's always surprising on a good recording to experience real depth and space in a room😊. The bass is so great that I turned off my subs. It's made my Buchardt S400s sounds incredible - far better than various amps I've tried previously. Just incredible. And this was one of the lower-priced amps I've tried!
Terry Hughes TS A75 I very recently received the TS A75 as a Christmas present for myself. After reminding myself why my doctors told me to not pick up any thing heavy set it into its rightfully designated spot. After I wired it up, I turned it on and immediately heard an improvement over my Schiit Vidar. Fuller, richer sound. A more muscular presence yet much more detailed in its presentation. My A75 plays through my Vincent SV500 which I’m using as a preamp, a Vincent 500 phono preamp, a Music Hall Stealth turntable with a ortofon blue cartridge and a Denon cd (900 series), with all this coming out Quad s-2 speakers and a Rel t/5 subwoofer. Not a million dollar setup but endgame for me as I’m finding nothing lacking except more time to enjoy it. Thank you Thomas for tying this all together, wonderfully.
I received the amplifier today in less than ten days, thank you. I'm currently breaking it in. So far, I'm impressed by its tube-like warmth and detail, combined with a surprisingly quick, lively and dynamic performance.
I just ordered a Denafrips Aries 12th DAC ..this will be a nice addition to my headphone stack..and when the time comes for a regular stereo system..your amplifier is the top of my list! Hopefully, we can all see it at the Toronto Audiofest 24’
2 years ago I bought a Rogue Hydra (presently priced at~$3,000.00) to drive a pair of Maggie 1.7i's, not really caring for the Maggies I bought the Micro Evolution One TADs...wanted a floor standing speaker, I ended up with the Tekton ULFs. I stream almost exclusively using the Geshiilli J2s Dac, and the Freya + pre. The Galion TS 75A is a better amp then the Rogue Hydra, the bass is light years ahead of the Hydra, top end to mid range is about the same to my ears., with just a slight tilt to the Galion . I am the President of a listening club, so I demo'd the unit for our members. Everyone that heard it agreed that this unit is a VALUE. It is worth every penny of its price. If you are considering any amp in the $3,000 range, please give this amp a try !!!!
10 หลายเดือนก่อน +2
Thanks for bringing a competitive amp to the market, we can now power our big speakers without breaking the bank!!!
I've had quite a few amplifiers in my life, but nothing quite as exceptional as Thomas's creation. Galion TS120 SE will stay with me forever and I hope it will serve me for a long time. The combination of Galion and my JBL 4430 studio monitors turned out to be simply excellent, I have absolutely nothing to complain about and look forward to more evenings spent in his company. Shortly after delivery, I replaced the standard PSVane tubes with cryogenized Shuguang Black Treasure KT88-Z (gold grid) and immediately after the replacement I noticed a significant shift in music reproduction for the better. After less than two weeks of playing, I've already listened to dozens of hours of music and I'm enjoying it more and more. I thank Thomas for his creation and I wish all his regular and future customers to be as satisfied as I am. Sincerely, Štěpán Janiss, Karlovy Vary, Czech Republic
I's so happy for you. Been following your channel from almost the beginning. You are an excellent teacher. Good luck with all your business. Cheers from Sweden.
Thomas, this was perhaps the most entertaining review I've ever seen. Good show! I like you and all your reviews, but this was the best! And I'm guessing that your amp is, indeed, a killer, perhaps even of giants. Cheers . . .
My first impressions of the Galion TS A75 power amp, which I owned myself for a few days, are nothing short of spectacular. The soundstage is impressively expansive and elevated, providing a sense of immersion that I haven't experienced with other amps. The bass is more powerful and deeply textured, adding a new dimension to my music. The highs are airy and natural, and the overall sound is rich and full. The build quality is solid, and the design is sleek and elegant. Thomas was right with his statements about the TS A75. I'm very pleased with this purchase and look forward to how it will perform after a thorough burn-in period. I'll provide another update in a few weeks.
Congrats for getting your award on this great amp. I believe this aint gonna be the last, more to come. How I wish you can come up with a tube preamp to pair with this amp. I always believe in this setup as tube tends to smooth out the signal while solid state able to amplified. Just my own preference. Again cheers and congrats
Thomas ... A few days after I got it, I plugged the TS A75 into my main system, and have been happily listening to it from then on. (FYI, I have these amps in the house: FM411, Spectral DMA360, Pass XA160.5 -- so "happily listening" means something!)
I like how you explained the mystery words to describe. On detail years ago, I used a Kenwood KA 3300 with headphones a lot. The phones weren't great but was possible to wind the volume pretty much all the way. What I discovered at a particular level a lot of the higher end would vanish.
I have this amp for about a month now and it sounds just great, I love it. I have a relatively budget system and I listen it in a really small room, so I don't use even the half of its power. But even at a low listening levels, it makes his magic onto my bookshelf speakers (Focal Aria 906 K2). I'd never expected from them such a deep bass. I was curious how the trebles will sounds on these speakers, but now I can say that they are simply amazing for me - just the right amount of details and brightness, no harshness or fartigue whatsoever. The sound stage is really airy and 3D. Actually this amp perfoms exactly as it's described by Thomas, so I must say "thank you Thomas"!
I've been listening to the TS A75 for a couple months now. Honestly, my system has never sounded so good. With excellent recordings, soundstage is more expansive, yet instruments remain well focused. I listened to an 'old chestnut' tonight - Miles Davis' Kind of Blue (LP) - I know it's cliché, but it felt like I could hear all the way to the walls of the studio. Like others have mentioned, there seems to be more space around the instruments; more air. It is quite impressive. Overall, I have also noticed more texture and detail in the sound. One set of recordings I particularly enjoy is Herbert Blomstedt conducting the Brahms Symphonies. There is so much palpable texture in the basses, cellos, and low woodwinds (especially bassoon/contrabassoon). Thomas, you have voiced a really a wonderful amplifier...Absolutely recommended. Thank you for making such a great product at a price more audiophiles can afford. I'll be looking forward to your preamp. :) My system is quite revealing. My room is treated. Source is Analog or Digital. Analog is Project 'The Classic' Turntable into (DIY) VTA PH-16 tube phono preamp. Digital is Denafrips IRIS into Pontus II via I2S. Preamp is one of three: Freya+ with 1950's MELZ 6n8s tubes/LISST buffers (really a fanstatic combination, btw), Denafrips Hades, or Gustard P26 with Sparkos op amps. Speakers are Philharmonic Audio 2's (I am so happy to have these...)
Man, I think you should describe what is the philosophy behind the project. Did you work on selected components? a good power supply? A low or hi feedback circuitry? The power supply section does not appear to be oversized since this amplifier does not double the power on 4 ohms. Please tell us a bit more,thanks.
Got my A75 today, hooked it up almost before the door closed behind the shocked UPS driver ("nah, this ain't heavy") and that was the end of my day, about 6 hours ago. It has plenty of what I think of as Galion's/Thomas' house sound. Clean without flatness, detailed without unnatural edges, wide open and natural... basically I don't understand how it can hit this price point for what it does. Your hardware doesn't exist, your speakers don't exist, there are only you and the music. I listed all the pros, here are some cons if you force me to make something up with a knife to my throat. It runs cool, so it can't be used for winter heating like a class A amp. It's powerful, you need to be careful to zero your preamp stage before you start up. It's heavy, remember to grip by the front/back if you don't want to slice your hands to ribbons. It's very clean and transparent, so if you use this to play TH-cam videos using your laptop's onboard sound card, you will get exactly what you invited (mediocre results). (If you haven't guessed, they're not really cons - pair this amp with other equally min-maxed gear and you will be richly rewarded.) Competing amps in my collection that are feeling the heat right now: - Hafler XL280 - Schiit Tyr monoblocks - First Watt J2 - Galion TS120 SE
See my system audio, a lot of air! the emotion of class A, on a long journey it often happens that I hear music in the car or in clubs, when I come home, I hear my system and it excites me, I think yes this is the music! Guitars, trumpets, drums, bass, voices, it's all so real and sweet. Hearing this makes my heart beat and I love music.
Thomas's TH-cam video on the TS A75 got me thinking about adding a solid-state amp to my setup to bring out the full low-end potential of my speakers but I was concerned that I would miss the sweet mids and smooth highs provided by my integrated tube amp. For that reason, I decided to use a tube preamp. The pairing between Freya+ and TS A75 worked pretty darn well. During multiple extended listening sessions, I had no desire to go back to my integrated tube amp setup. The crazy thing is I haven't even got to tube-rolling the Freya+ yet. I do have a set of NOS 6SN7 coming soon to take this up a notch or two. Thank you, Thomas!
I have already set it up with my Sonic Frontiers SF1 and JBL4311, and it sounds fantastic ! I can’t wait to hear how it sounds when it’s fully broken in.
I have always been skeptical of the value of really high end audio. That hasn't stopped me from spending a small fortune on some really high end gear, at least high end by my definition and price range. That said, I am one of the lucky people who purchased the Galion TS A75. I saw the discussion from a reviewer talking about things such as "air" in recordings. I believe in the "air" in music systems. In my case, it comes from the holographic sound of my Martin Logan Summits, for example, not an amp, and certainly not a $1,500 amp. In any event, I unpacked the amp the other day and was immediately impressed by the build quality. The heat sinks are really nice. The chassis of the amp won't be confused with that of my beloved McIntosh MC602, nor would I expect it to at this price. So the construction is really top notch in this price range, likely better than anything else I've ever seen. Now to the important stuff: the sound. I have a shameful amount of gear. I started to test the TS A75 against my Parasound JC1 monoblocks connected to several preamps. First I used my Sonic Frontiers Line 1 tube preamp and then a Conrad Johnson Classic 2 tube preamp. This should not even be close. I bought the Parasounds used for $10k. I believe the first owner paid $16k for these monsters. MUCH TO MY AMAZEMENT (and my wife's, who is not into audio gear), the Galion kept pace with the Parasound amps. In terms of transparency and air in the recording and bass punch, I believe the Galion bested the Parasound amps. It is hard for me to believe that this amp is only 75 watts. Perhaps it is all of the capacitance, but the Galion just won't seem to run out of steam. In short, the much more expensive Parasounds were bested by this $1,500 amp. Could it be the synergy with the preamps and the Galion and the lack of synergy with the preamps and the Parasound monoblocks? Perhaps. The next test was my Yamaha AS3200. I love this integrated amp. I am a sucker for the big meters. I listened for an hour to "You and Your Friend" by Dire Straits on repeat. Then I connected the preamp out of the Yamaha into the Galion TS A75. Again, I question the Galion's low output rating. The Yamaha is rated at 100 WPC and the Galion played much louder than the amp in the Yamaha. Besides the volume differential, the Galion TS A75 absolutely TROUNCED the Yamaha. While it was close with the Parasound monoblocks, the difference in the soundstage, imaging, "holographic-ness", instrument separation, breadth and depth of the soundstage between the Yamaha's amplifier section of the Galion was night and day. The Yamaha may be sexier to look at. That's it. I still love the Yamaha but I guess it will either go into my bedroom system or I will bypass the amplifier section and use it as a preamp only. When something seems to good to be true, it usually isn't true. Should the Galion be priced at $10k instead of $1,500? I don't think so. Should the Parasounds be priced at $16k new (I think the new version is actually $20k)? Sure, if the goal is bragging rights, or insecurities of adult boys with their expensive toys, as my wife likes to say. Based on sound quality, I was a fool to drop so much money on inferior (or equal perhaps) sounding products, but they sure do look nice and generate a lot of conversations when people come over. I still have a lot of speakers and other components to switch out and may come back to edit my comments. But as of right now, the Galion TS A75 wins the gold medal. I have never been so happy with a new piece of gear. I would encourage anyone in the market for a new amp to give one of these a try. It may not have the drop-dead gorgeous looks of a Gryphon or Dan D'Agostino amp (neither of which I can afford), but I am guessing the Galion provides 98-99% of their performance. Thanks, Thomas, and congratulations on such an amazing product!!!
I am glad you find it comparable to your higher end amps. I see you did connect it with good preamps that is able to keep up with the amp so you got to hear the full potential of this amp. I wish more people can experience what you experienced, but it requires a good preamp.
My new A75 arrived after a very short wait with excellent communications and follow-up from Mr. TS himself. Excellent Customer Service! The A75 sounds great out the box and doesn't seem to need a lot of burn-in time. I tried a few different pre-amplifiers. I prefer my tube/hybrid pre-amp as it creates the nicer 3D holographic soundstage, but doesn't get too muddy/messy/noisy. What I mean with that is that when I connect (vintage) full-tube pre-amps to the A75, it definitely sounds super lively and "tube-y", but the A75 also faithfully passes on the buzz and transformer hum typical for (older) tube amplifiers. Not the A75's fault though, obviously. After spending a bit of time with the A75 listening non-stop, my early observations are: - great looking industrial design without any superfluous frills. It quite literally has nothing you don't need! - hefty full metal chassis, quality materials, built like a tank! It can probably last for centuries to come... - no hiss, hum, buzz or any other unwanted noises, dead silent, even with extremely sensitive (>103dB) speakers, unless you connect noisy gear to it, of course! - beautiful black background, dark space and separation between singers and instruments - much(!) more power than expected, sounds way bigger than its 75W rating, plenty of headroom (with 8 Ohm speakers) - bass is plentiful, powerful and well controlled, definitely a big highlight. I don't feel the need to switch on my sub. - deep and wide 3D soundstage especially with tube or tube/hybrid pre-amp Note: I don't find the A75 "bright" (as in sharp or sibilant, or too lively on top). In fact I find it sounds (very) smooth in the top-end. Highs/Treble were actually fairly soft when combined with my solid-state Parasound pre-amp (when EQ not used) and low-sensitivity KEF R3 speakers. However with my tube or hybrid-pre-amps and when paired with my home-built high-sensitivity full-range speakers (with LiiSong Platinum-10 speaker drivers) I get all the clarity and detail I want, without the need for Treble/EQ control. I recommend experimenting with different equipment to find those system synergies that will satisfy your personal taste. I think this is a keeper!
Earlier this year my system included a Pi2AES hat streamer, Denafrips Ares II dac, NAD C375BEE integrated amp, Rythmik F12SE subwoofer, Def tech BP20 towers with the crossover capacitor upgraded and tweeters swapped for beryllium ScanSpeaks. I was curious about an upgrade and thought the preamp and power amp sections were the place to start. I wanted to preserve or enhance the following aspects of my system: airy top end with a liquid and organic presentation, good enough imaging and soundstage, especially when speaker positioning is dialed in, well integrated bass down to 20 Hz. The last few months I've auditioned a used [well respected tube preamp] and the TS A75 power amp. I can say the following about the power amp: the timbre is fantastic and highly musical, the upper region is more airy and refined than what it is replacing while the mids and bass are wonderfully authoritative, it handles delicate passages adjacent to or intermixed with more eruptive moments better than anything I've heard. For each of my priority areas going into a new power amp this one exceeds them all, the proof being how often it's on and I'm listening and enjoying the music. I am very very happy with this amp. For now, I am performing volume control on my phone upstream of my streamer and DAC, so the audio files are not transmitted bit-perfect (scoff all you want). I am also connecting my Ares II directly to the A75 and can say the sound here is better than using either the preamp on my NAD integrated or the used tube preamp (not a Schiit Freya!... i will be taking it to a technician to check linear response and tubes, as I bought it used at a steep discount, and the product is well known and well reviewed but I have not been able to get it to play nice with my system). I had also just heat shrunk two Gotham GAC-1 Ultrablue RCAs to use as line level connections to my sub, and am defaulting back to using a high level connection, but either way it integrates so well I'm not in a rush to get separate preamp outs. Hope this helps someone!
Being a galion ts-120 owner I’m not surprised what you accomplished with this amp! from what I can see it’s got balls on the inside 💪😮 I haven’t heard it yet but hopefully i can pass by Loic’s place this week for a quick listen.
Great work Thomas! I love all the thought and effort you are putting into bringing true value to audiophiles everywhere! What's next? Preamp? I vote DAC!
The amps power supply design that I can see from the pictures looks to be a good balance between cost and performance. Moving secondary filter capacitors to each channels amplifier’s board eliminates the need for very large conductors and low resistance connections to each channels amp, while offering good channel separation by having the separate banks of capacitors. My modified R8 tube amp had more air after separating the power like this for the front end voltage gain stage. This looks like it might have separate filter caps for voltage stage and current stage. I think this is the secret to clarity and resolution in amps. There are time delays and phase shifts between stages and if using a single set of filter capacitors to power both, the audio will ever so slightly be smeared by the power supply. Looks like this amp might have 5 or 6 sets. The trade off of this design is very high ripple currents in the capacitors, but as long as the capacitors bank sizes were limited to keep ripple currents in check, then it will have great audio and longevity. The biasing current of a class A and class AB amp are magnified into very short, high current ripples at 120hz to recharge the caps, but the layout looks good to minimize the 120hz bridge rectifier noise. Looks like an amp designed to give good sound while keeping costs in check. I suspect an improvement would be to increase the transformer sizes. From the specs, it looks like the transformer size is limiting its performance, or we would see 4ohm power at the ideal 150 watts for a 75 Watt amp. Personally, I would prefer the logo on the top to be lower contrast. Maybe black like on the front.
My heavily modified Willsenton R8 in ultra linear mode has a lot more air than my Rotel RB-1582 mkIi 200 wpc at 8 ohm) using Polk R700 speakers. The bass is fantastic with JJ E34L tubes. Running a Rotel pre-amp the Rotel sounds similar to the R8 in Triode mode., but again the air is so much better for all those great jazz recordings from the late 50s and 60s, and classical music from then to current day. 75 watts with a solid power supply is all you need. To get just 3 db louder, you need 750 watts! Most people waste money on watts. You just need a low impedance power supply driving the amplifier stage. Low esr capacitors ready to dump amps and amps makes the good bass and dynamics. Low ESR and low resistance after the final filter caps. Rotel puts giant copper buss bar for this. But with similar low impedance for R8, 43 watts sounds the same as 200. Because there is little spl difference between 200 watts and 43 watts. Less than 3 db, which does not amount to much how we listen logarithmically good job. 75 is plenty with big transformers and big low esr caps. When people say they need a big amp to make speakers come alive that is the power supply, not the watts..
The Willsenton is a valve amp, & what with high impedance output devices & the resistance of the secondary of the OPT's valve amps need the output impedance of the R8 is MUCH higher than your Rotel...no matter how much you modified it. But you're right; the overwhelming majority of listeners who think that they need more power, don't. What they need is a better amplifier, PERIOD. An amp that SOUNDS BIG, has tight bass, great dynamics, and a real sense of "Authority".🪨🦾🪨 A big power transformer & lots of filter caps help, but it's the overall circuit design that ultimately matters...🤓
Hi Thomas! I really enjoyed the video. I LOVE the price tag. Thank You for the “under the hood” look!Love the front panel , love the minimalist look. Connectivity XLR & RCA +++. I definitely see one of these units in my future. Have a great one!😎
When everything's price is going on the high side after the pandemic, Thomas is so bold to go the opposite direction to launch an amp which can help us to taste the high end sound but with such a moderate price. Kudos to his another great product!!!
I have had the Galion A75 amp for the last week, from the moment I plugged in quite amazing at it’s price point. Truly a giant killer, dead quiet, airy, with just the right amount of bass punch. If you pair with the Ladder Bach preamp, a remarkable pairing and taste of high end for under $ 2500.00
The TS A75 has been playing in my setup for 4 weeks now. What can I say? I am totally thrilled. The music is suddenly close enough to touch and seems much more three-dimensional. The dynamics of some pieces of music are so intense that I'm downright frightened. Control and depth in the bass as well as fine detail in the high-mid range is fantastic. My Eversolo DMP-A6 can bring out its true potential with this amplifier In my opinion, this may be the last Power Amplifier for many fans.
Wow, a very frank, honest description from what I can tell. I have enjoyed your reviews and agree with your observations to the extent that I’m familiar with your comparisons. I have been on the sidelines with respect to purchasing new audio gear. I recently purchased a Denafrips Ares 12-1 and was impressed with its quality compared to my Ayre QB-9 with the latest upgrades. I love the Ayre but I think I prefer the Denafrips. The Ayre sits in a system with a McIntosh front end and Thiel 3.7 speakers and dual JL Audio subs. The Denafrips is for our vacation house system. My point is that there continues to be wonderful progress in audio equipment and sound quality can be quite good with reasonable prices. Your amp sounds quite intriguing and I have no interest in spending huge dollars when there is wonderful gear for reasonable prices. I hope to find a way to fit an amp like yours into this second system. Cheers and I hope this is a successful product for you!
I'm thrilled to hear about your new company Thomas! Makes me wish I needed a new amp! Of a lot of TH-camrs in the industry, you are one of a select few who have the experience you do and knows what they are talking about! RESPECT! A piece of kit recommended from you is almost sure bet(sans our subjective ears). Any plans to come out with other pieces such as Preamps, tube amps, phono stages, etc.? You hit the nail square on the head given today's market with the price of that new amp of yours! Well done! It means an unlocked door for more folks to get into the hobby and more importantly, good sound! (Using myself currently as example: These days it would take me at least a year and maybe 2 or 3 months to save up $1400 with the inflation problems and such in the states, but it is still achievable compared to $3000, which is nearly impossible now).
After a month of waiting and a full week of listening, I am happy to report that the TS A75 is performing exceptionally well in my system. The soundstage was remarkably better than my previously-loved Hegel H80, and the bass response was comparatively off the charts. I have (literally) taken my subwoofer out of the chain, as it has been rendered entirely redundant by the A75. I never thought my speakers were so capable! Should anyone be curious, the pairing of the TS A75 with my Denafrips Hades Preamp has proven to be ideal, clarity and definition behind my all-digital front end have notably been taken to another level. Thanks again, Thomas. I look forward to taking your new preamp for a drive once it's ready! Until then, I wish you and Galion all the success going forward!
Of course, just when I'm ready to pull the trigger they're sold out lol. Actually a good sign and I'm patient, did do the $1 pre-order for the next batch.
Don't let the 75wpc shy you away from this amp. I'm sitting 10ft away and these are plenty powerful. I currently it paired with mofi sp 888s and the eversolo dmp a8. THe first thing you notice is how authoritative the bass is. Overall, for under $1500, it's unbeatable. Build quality is top notch. This thing is built like a tank. I highly recommend this amp.
Looking at the back of any amplifier the first thing I always notice is how it is wired. If the power cord is in the middle and the input and output are parallel with the heatsinks it is a high quality high-end amplifier. The best amplifiers are always constructed that way. I gotta get this amplifier!
I’m not able to offer any positive or negative criticism of this amp. I’ve not heard it. But Thomas, for all your enthusing of its virtues, there is one virtue you did not touch upon. Judging on the virtues you sung the loudest praises of, I’ll take an educated guess that the virtue it’s lacking is the virtue that I most desire in an amp, even at the sacrifice of other virtues. A few years ago I upgraded my £3000 British integrated amp for a pair of £7500 monoblocks which had received nothing but rave reviews, brimming with positivity from the TH-cam hifi community. They were initially exceedingly impressive. Detailed. Ultra fast. Highly dynamic. Tight, deep, well controlled bass. A natural, slightly forward mid-range. Highly resolving and transparent with a deep and wide, well focussed soundstage. But after months of critical listening, I realised something was missing. They lacked fluidity. The musical reproduction was staccato, not legato! They were not musical. Lacked tonal density, acoustic mass. They were leaning heavily toward being lean and analytical. They did not reproduce music the way I like to hear it. Others may like their musical reproduction sounding that way, and that’s fine. The fact that you described your amp as being fast and some audiophiles may prefer it paired with a R to R DAC and/or a fuller sounding preamp suggests to me that your amp has similar characteristics to those monoblocks, and not for me. However, i may be barking at the wrong tree. I never, say never. If I ever get the opportunity to listen to that amp over an extended period, I may eat some humble pie. Most of all, enjoy the music.
Have you consider that maybe the $7500 monoblocs are too 'neutral' and that is why you cannot get into the music? I noticed that with my audiobuddies, some gear we try, technically impressive but no soul. For me, every HIFI gear has its flavour and whether it touches you or not is a quesion of taste. What we consider musical is different for everyone.
I want to hear the musician scratch his/her butt during performance! That's how much resolution I want. That's what me and my friends had been aiming for. Don't think I have the budget for this amp, but will definitely give it a try if I have the chance. I mostly dabble with older transistor amps and moddding them to get them performing better than new. Would be interesting to see the difference.
Great video. Sounds to me like you do have a giant killer on offer. I am a big fan of air and transparency backed up by punch. With these attributes you typically get a lot of low level detail that makes it real. The toe taping and sense of the artist's emotion comes through as you listen. I think the dual mono and tons of power caps must contribute. I think the demo track sounds about the best we have heard on your channel. It is kind of a fake sounding track, so I don't think it fully displays what this amp can do. It does give a sense of transparency and the bass is tight and natural. I love the air I get with 110W OTL triode monos into OB speakers. Seldom to I hear it on solid state. This would be a winner for me.
I've been following Thomas since his humble TH-cam beginning. One has to admired how much knowledge and all the connections he has gathered in this industry in a relatively short period. Starting a business in this crowded arena is no small feat. And yes, Thomas has a great sales pitch. Isn't this the reason you tuned in?? Bravo Thomas! @@dizzywow
Ok now ... This is the once in your life oportunity to move to beautiful Canada just to listen and own Thomas' beautiful equipment !!! LOL From also beautiful Greece, Thomas, we thank you, and we hope maybe one day we will be honored to audition your equipment localy. Until then, i could imagin the TS120 with Cibelius and the Lab12 tube DAC in my audio room ... Greatings !!!
Great job on the amp Thomas . You should make that amp bridgeable you would have about 300 watts of power and two TS A 75 mono blocks would destroy $10000 amps and you would not be able to build them fast enough.
After listening to this, of which I'll call a "presentation" and- after waiting for it to finally manifest... I thought: "Now I need to hear more about this amp from those other than the beloved creator." I thus, as I suggest everyone else do, listened to Loic's and Dave's reviews posted here. Hearing all that they both said relevant to this amps qualities, it was Dave's comment about the ability of the amp to produce a full and balanced sound at low volumes. As well, Loic mentioned the presence of a V curve that he noticed. This, I believe could also contribute to the amps ability to play well at low to mid volume. (along with it's current as opposed to voltage based feed back??) For the last year I have been trying to decide which amp I wish to replace my Adcom GFA 5500 which is now getting tired. I'm also looking for a power amp that would marry up nicely with some ATC SCM11 speakers (replacements for my Elacs). My dream preamp is the Holo Audio Serene. My 73 year old ears go back to the 1950s when at age 5 I first heard music (mono) coming from a big single speaker and a huge tube amp. Since then I have loved both music and the equipment that brings it forth. From classical to rock, some opera and "yikes"... I even heard a rap tune that I liked (one). Congrats Thomas (sorry about the beloved creator bit)... Tim Horton's??????? really?Amp price✅
I want to recommend the Vincent Audio SA-32 hybrid tube preamplifier with the TS A75. Match made in heaven. Much better than my Freya+ even with super expensive NOS tube upgrades. The A75 is confidently driving all my speakers with authority, clarity and bass. Rock solid combination!!!
This amp is amazing have lots of air very good separation outstanding bass with lots of texture I gives enough power to my audiovector QR7 all I can say is if you really wanna beat this amp you will gonna spend lots of money . It also remind me of tube amplifier which I had in past but this amp have all you get from tube amp plus more accurate bass full midrange and the top is my favorite part crystal clear of top without futiging your ear. Very very good sound stage wide deep Well done thomas 👏 👍 I look forward for your preamplifier to match TSA75 I ABSOLUTELY RECOMMEND THIS AMPLIFIER 💯
I think the concept of air in audio is called, time domain. Ron talks about it over at New Record Day. Thanks Thomas. This might be the power amp I was looking for, and I can say that without any Jedi trickery involved.
Nice. Want to upgrade my amp in about three months. Was still not sure, but decided for 85% on a used Stellar S300. But I somehow still prefer class a/b and was still searching I can stop now. Or, well, it has to work in Europe, 230-240V. I wil contact you. Edit: I see it does. Nice!! Can't wait.
Ahahaha ahahahahahaha do you understand the words coming out of my mouth 😂 Great Segway Thomas... I know about air. I can't tell you the amps as it was over 30 years ago. But the memory still rings in my minds ❤heart. For me it was pianos, drums, sax, flute, violins...all floating in their positions unlimited by the size of the room...the vocals were clear clean and I could hear the singers breath...if they turned their heads or moved I knew it. The background was dark and absent of distortion. Female voices as well as make were not harsh slightly forward based on the speakers but still. They were slightly warm...cymbals were clear clean and extended...filling off gently with no sharpness except that which the cymbals provided. The sound wasn't lean or overly dry and the bass was superb tight strong but not thumpy nor muddy no blurring you could feel the fingers on the strings and the vibrations... And Congratulations Thomas...
Thomas, thanks so much for the comparison of your new Galion TS A75 and the mc352! I am sure you have a lot invested in this new company and that money is tight! But I predict that you will be successful in this venture! For your next product I would make two suggestions, 1) a remote battery operated tone arm lift! You would be loved every where by vinyl loving audiophiles every where. It would be the Galion universal turntable pause/lift button. The Wife wants to chat, press of a button the arm lifts up and your spot held, phone call, no problem, ripping an album to CD, give yourself time to enter the media data. Best of all you leisurely walk back to your sweet spot and start the music! 2) a simple standard metal box with with big blue watt meters that could sit on top or under any amp to show the output in watts, as well with some dampening material to protect the amp from errant vibration inherent in typical racks. I for one would be a loyal customer! Thanks again for what you do! All the best to you and your family!
hmm... So I have the older Wilsenton R8, would this be a great step-up from that? I like the tube sounds. Looking for something that may help with volume and sound really airy within a range from Eva Cassidy -to- Motorhead [LOL]. Looking to match-up with an older Conrad Johnson Tube Pre-amp & Tekton Pendragons (Ponthus II & Eversolo DMP-A6) Or is it better to save-up for the TS-120? I don't want to risk the 14-day trial, I want to alleviate from the headaches of returns. Especially with a $95 shipping cost. Also are they due back in stock this week in the States? Thanks
@BumpNrun69 I would not say it is a step up in everything. There will be some stuff the TS A75 does better, for example more nuanced in the bass while the R8 will have a more forward midrange.
To buy the Galion TS A75 www.galion-audio.com/collections/all
Loic's review: th-cam.com/video/JiqwQiqeKog/w-d-xo.html&ab_channel=HifiCave
Dave's review: th-cam.com/video/e5zGhmB4yYk/w-d-xo.html&ab_channel=DavelistenstoHifi
HIFI+ Magazine TS120SE Review: hifiplus.com/articles/galion-audio-ts120-se-integrated-amplifier/
Correction: Passlab, I meant First Watt.
is the amp and speakers dual voltage ? i live in Germany and am very interested .
You have to pick a voltage when you order it, but it is available in 220-240 @@siriosstar4789
Unfortunately ordering this beautiful amp A75 to The Netherlands will end up in almost 400 euros extra import
@jakobgooijer Nope. I have them already in a warehouse in Germany so I already paid the customs. I am a Canadian company so I cannot charge you tax.
Any chance you have them in India ? The customs (tax) if I import it is 75% on product including shipping cost.
Thomas, you might just be the most forthright stakeholder in this entire industry. Respect.
I received the TS A75 this week and out of the box it sounded bright on the high end. After some tweaking and changing speaker cables and re-positioning my speakers I turned my system back on with the TS A75 and boom!..Magic happened. The sound become more detailed, that holographic sound came through and the soundstage was awesome. The bass is tight and powerful, it just all snapped into place. I can only imagine what this amp will sound like after 100 hours of use....more magic will happen! In closing I will say Thomas is one of the most helpful and customer focused person in this industry. Highly recommended!
Congratulations, Thomas. I am very much looking forward to listening to this new amplifier. Also, I enjoy the way you inform people. Honesty with a sense of humor goes a long way, in my book. Thanks.
Awesome! Thank you!
I just received this amp and it has been added to my IOTAVX PA3 & SA3 amps and what a difference. The sound is truly airy ( now I know what this is). The clarity is superb and my sound from my ELAC Vela BS speakers is so open with great width. Yes i’am also impressed with the bass too with it being clean and powerful. What a great product.
This amp is the real deal, it actually does what Thomas says it does! By any subjective measures, this amplifier is very good sounding, and despite the 75w it can drive inefficient speakers well, no problem there. Are there better amplifiers out there? Yes. Is there a better amplifier anywhere near this price range? I haven't seen one. Listen carefully to the caveats in the middle of the video, and decide if this is the sound you want. If so, then you cannot really go wrong with the A75.
Thanks Dave!
And makes even poor designed speakers - with lots of rings, zings in the sound nest stage - like B&W's 6's better ones ;) :)
But I am glad for Thomas and his team for bringing up on the market such product-s which is/are prised by many music lovers and affordable to many of us.
I have Kinki studios mono block. Is it an upgrade compared to them?
@@bjornliden1I was looking at those. How do you like them?
I haven't played more than 3 hrs with my A75, but so far he sound is very pleasing. Just out of the box it's easy to understand what Thomas means about having "air" in the sound. I'm upgrading from a pair of Orchard Audio's Starkrimson monoblocks and the soundstage is a bit wider, but the imaging is now so much more holographic and much better defined within the space.
There's a whole lot of information in the midrange and in the highs. And it all sounds very refined, dynamic, and well composed, as if there is still more power if needed. I can't tell too much of the bass yet, since the amp is driving a pair of LS-50 Metas with a lot of space behind them... I'll probably have to change my setup since I liked the impact of this amp on my system.
We had some issues with the shipping, but Thomas is helping to sort this out very smoothly.
AWESOME!!!
Thomas, I’m so very proud of you. You have taken your experience, and vision, and taken them to the next level by producing a product that fits that vision. You are a rare bread that has put your money where your mouth is. Reviewers are raving over your products. Steve Huff just reviewed your bookshelves playing through your TSA75. I wish you much success because I truly feel you deserve all of it.
I've had the TS A75 for a couple of months. This amp keeps surprising me! It's revealed instrument and voice separation like I've never heard in my system, which I think leads to a shocking level of soundstage depth... I'm now better understanding comments on separation and depth... it's always surprising on a good recording to experience real depth and space in a room😊. The bass is so great that I turned off my subs. It's made my Buchardt S400s sounds incredible - far better than various amps I've tried previously. Just incredible.
And this was one of the lower-priced amps I've tried!
Terry Hughes
TS A75
I very recently received the TS A75 as a Christmas present for myself. After reminding myself why my doctors told me to not pick up any thing heavy set it into its rightfully designated spot. After I wired it up, I turned it on and immediately heard an improvement over my Schiit Vidar. Fuller, richer sound. A more muscular presence yet much more detailed in its presentation. My A75 plays through my Vincent SV500 which I’m using as a preamp, a Vincent 500 phono preamp, a Music Hall Stealth turntable with a ortofon blue cartridge and a Denon cd (900 series), with all this coming out Quad s-2 speakers and a Rel t/5 subwoofer. Not a million dollar setup but endgame for me as I’m finding nothing lacking except more time to enjoy it. Thank you Thomas for tying this all together, wonderfully.
I been an amp enthuist since 1989 ' I been inside Amps for 35 years ! And the build quality does outweigh its pricepoint ! I have had a close look 😆
I received the amplifier today in less than ten days, thank you.
I'm currently breaking it in. So far, I'm impressed by its tube-like warmth and detail, combined with a surprisingly quick, lively and dynamic performance.
I just ordered a Denafrips Aries 12th DAC ..this will be a nice addition to my headphone stack..and when the time comes for a regular stereo system..your amplifier is the top of my list!
Hopefully, we can all see it at the Toronto Audiofest 24’
2 years ago I bought a Rogue Hydra (presently priced at~$3,000.00) to drive a pair of Maggie 1.7i's, not really caring for the Maggies I bought the Micro Evolution One TADs...wanted a floor standing speaker, I ended up with the Tekton ULFs. I stream almost exclusively using the Geshiilli J2s Dac, and the Freya + pre.
The Galion TS 75A is a better amp then the Rogue Hydra, the bass is light years ahead of the Hydra, top end to mid range is about the same to my ears., with just a slight tilt to the Galion .
I am the President of a listening club, so I demo'd the unit for our members. Everyone that heard it agreed that this unit is a VALUE. It is worth every penny of its price. If you are considering any amp in the $3,000 range, please give this amp a try !!!!
Thanks for bringing a competitive amp to the market, we can now power our big speakers without breaking the bank!!!
Will it power Magnapan 0.7?
I've had quite a few amplifiers in my life, but nothing quite as exceptional as Thomas's creation. Galion TS120 SE will stay with me forever and I hope it will serve me for a long time. The combination of Galion and my JBL 4430 studio monitors turned out to be simply excellent, I have absolutely nothing to complain about and look forward to more evenings spent in his company. Shortly after delivery, I replaced the standard PSVane tubes with cryogenized Shuguang Black Treasure KT88-Z (gold grid) and immediately after the replacement I noticed a significant shift in music reproduction for the better. After less than two weeks of playing, I've already listened to dozens of hours of music and I'm enjoying it more and more. I thank Thomas for his creation and I wish all his regular and future customers to be as satisfied as I am. Sincerely, Štěpán Janiss, Karlovy Vary, Czech Republic
I's so happy for you. Been following your channel from almost the beginning. You are an excellent teacher. Good luck with all your business. Cheers from Sweden.
Awesome video sir!! I just put a reservation in for one of these when they become available again. I’m super pumped!!
I wish I started my audio journey now. This would be a no brainer buy. Well done Thomas.
Thanks
Thomas, this was perhaps the most entertaining review I've ever seen. Good show! I like you and all your reviews, but this was the best! And I'm guessing that your amp is, indeed, a killer, perhaps even of giants. Cheers . . .
Congratulations on your achievement. Wish you great success. Hopefully one day I will have the money to buy your amp.
My first impressions of the Galion TS A75 power amp, which I owned myself for a few days, are nothing short of spectacular. The soundstage is impressively expansive and elevated, providing a sense of immersion that I haven't experienced with other amps. The bass is more powerful and deeply textured, adding a new dimension to my music. The highs are airy and natural, and the overall sound is rich and full. The build quality is solid, and the design is sleek and elegant. Thomas was right with his statements about the TS A75. I'm very pleased with this purchase and look forward to how it will perform after a thorough burn-in period. I'll provide another update in a few weeks.
You are quite the salesman, Thomas. Congrats on your solid state amp.
Congrats for getting your award on this great amp. I believe this aint gonna be the last, more to come.
How I wish you can come up with a tube preamp to pair with this amp. I always believe in this setup as tube tends to smooth out the signal while solid state able to amplified. Just my own preference. Again cheers and congrats
Very much looking forward to a preamp from you that is as well thought out and nuanced as you have presented with all of your amplifier designs.
Thomas ... A few days after I got it, I plugged the TS A75 into my main system, and have been happily listening to it from then on.
(FYI, I have these amps in the house: FM411, Spectral DMA360, Pass XA160.5 -- so "happily listening" means something!)
I like how you explained the mystery words to describe.
On detail years ago, I used a Kenwood KA 3300 with headphones a lot. The phones weren't great but was possible to wind the volume pretty much all the way. What I discovered at a particular level a lot of the higher end would vanish.
great job Thomas , i am super happy for you , well deserved !!! I will defenitely go at your place to audition!!!!
Please do!
I have this amp for about a month now and it sounds just great, I love it. I have a relatively budget system and I listen it in a really small room, so I don't use even the half of its power. But even at a low listening levels, it makes his magic onto my bookshelf speakers (Focal Aria 906 K2). I'd never expected from them such a deep bass. I was curious how the trebles will sounds on these speakers, but now I can say that they are simply amazing for me - just the right amount of details and brightness, no harshness or fartigue whatsoever. The sound stage is really airy and 3D. Actually this amp perfoms exactly as it's described by Thomas, so I must say "thank you Thomas"!
I like your enthusiasm here Thomas. Good luck with the new product, I wish you a lot of success.
I've been listening to the TS A75 for a couple months now. Honestly, my system has never sounded so good. With excellent recordings, soundstage is more expansive, yet instruments remain well focused. I listened to an 'old chestnut' tonight - Miles Davis' Kind of Blue (LP) - I know it's cliché, but it felt like I could hear all the way to the walls of the studio. Like others have mentioned, there seems to be more space around the instruments; more air. It is quite impressive. Overall, I have also noticed more texture and detail in the sound. One set of recordings I particularly enjoy is Herbert Blomstedt conducting the Brahms Symphonies. There is so much palpable texture in the basses, cellos, and low woodwinds (especially bassoon/contrabassoon). Thomas, you have voiced a really a wonderful amplifier...Absolutely recommended. Thank you for making such a great product at a price more audiophiles can afford. I'll be looking forward to your preamp. :)
My system is quite revealing. My room is treated. Source is Analog or Digital. Analog is Project 'The Classic' Turntable into (DIY) VTA PH-16 tube phono preamp. Digital is Denafrips IRIS into Pontus II via I2S. Preamp is one of three: Freya+ with 1950's MELZ 6n8s tubes/LISST buffers (really a fanstatic combination, btw), Denafrips Hades, or Gustard P26 with Sparkos op amps. Speakers are Philharmonic Audio 2's (I am so happy to have these...)
Man, I think you should describe what is the philosophy behind the project. Did you work on selected components? a good power supply? A low or hi feedback circuitry? The power supply section does not appear to be oversized since this amplifier does not double the power on 4 ohms. Please tell us a bit more,thanks.
Got my A75 today, hooked it up almost before the door closed behind the shocked UPS driver ("nah, this ain't heavy") and that was the end of my day, about 6 hours ago. It has plenty of what I think of as Galion's/Thomas' house sound. Clean without flatness, detailed without unnatural edges, wide open and natural... basically I don't understand how it can hit this price point for what it does. Your hardware doesn't exist, your speakers don't exist, there are only you and the music.
I listed all the pros, here are some cons if you force me to make something up with a knife to my throat. It runs cool, so it can't be used for winter heating like a class A amp. It's powerful, you need to be careful to zero your preamp stage before you start up. It's heavy, remember to grip by the front/back if you don't want to slice your hands to ribbons. It's very clean and transparent, so if you use this to play TH-cam videos using your laptop's onboard sound card, you will get exactly what you invited (mediocre results).
(If you haven't guessed, they're not really cons - pair this amp with other equally min-maxed gear and you will be richly rewarded.)
Competing amps in my collection that are feeling the heat right now:
- Hafler XL280
- Schiit Tyr monoblocks
- First Watt J2
- Galion TS120 SE
See my system audio, a lot of air! the emotion of class A, on a long journey it often happens that I hear music in the car or in clubs, when I come home, I hear my system and it excites me, I think yes this is the music! Guitars, trumpets, drums, bass, voices, it's all so real and sweet. Hearing this makes my heart beat and I love music.
Thomas's TH-cam video on the TS A75 got me thinking about adding a solid-state amp to my setup to bring out the full low-end potential of my speakers but I was concerned that I would miss the sweet mids and smooth highs provided by my integrated tube amp. For that reason, I decided to use a tube preamp. The pairing between Freya+ and TS A75 worked pretty darn well. During multiple extended listening sessions, I had no desire to go back to my integrated tube amp setup. The crazy thing is I haven't even got to tube-rolling the Freya+ yet. I do have a set of NOS 6SN7 coming soon to take this up a notch or two. Thank you, Thomas!
I have already set it up with my Sonic Frontiers SF1 and JBL4311, and it sounds fantastic !
I can’t wait to hear how it sounds when it’s fully broken in.
I have always been skeptical of the value of really high end audio. That hasn't stopped me from spending a small fortune on some really high end gear, at least high end by my definition and price range. That said, I am one of the lucky people who purchased the Galion TS A75. I saw the discussion from a reviewer talking about things such as "air" in recordings. I believe in the "air" in music systems. In my case, it comes from the holographic sound of my Martin Logan Summits, for example, not an amp, and certainly not a $1,500 amp. In any event, I unpacked the amp the other day and was immediately impressed by the build quality. The heat sinks are really nice. The chassis of the amp won't be confused with that of my beloved McIntosh MC602, nor would I expect it to at this price. So the construction is really top notch in this price range, likely better than anything else I've ever seen. Now to the important stuff: the sound. I have a shameful amount of gear. I started to test the TS A75 against my Parasound JC1 monoblocks connected to several preamps. First I used my Sonic Frontiers Line 1 tube preamp and then a Conrad Johnson Classic 2 tube preamp. This should not even be close. I bought the Parasounds used for $10k. I believe the first owner paid $16k for these monsters. MUCH TO MY AMAZEMENT (and my wife's, who is not into audio gear), the Galion kept pace with the Parasound amps. In terms of transparency and air in the recording and bass punch, I believe the Galion bested the Parasound amps.
It is hard for me to believe that this amp is only 75 watts. Perhaps it is all of the capacitance, but the Galion just won't seem to run out of steam. In short, the much more expensive Parasounds were bested by this $1,500 amp. Could it be the synergy with the preamps and the Galion and the lack of synergy with the preamps and the Parasound monoblocks? Perhaps. The next test was my Yamaha AS3200. I love this integrated amp. I am a sucker for the big meters. I listened for an hour to "You and Your Friend" by Dire Straits on repeat. Then I connected the preamp out of the Yamaha into the Galion TS A75. Again, I question the Galion's low output rating. The Yamaha is rated at 100 WPC and the Galion played much louder than the amp in the Yamaha. Besides the volume differential, the Galion TS A75 absolutely TROUNCED the Yamaha. While it was close with the Parasound monoblocks, the difference in the soundstage, imaging, "holographic-ness", instrument separation, breadth and depth of the soundstage between the Yamaha's amplifier section of the Galion was night and day. The Yamaha may be sexier to look at. That's it. I still love the Yamaha but I guess it will either go into my bedroom system or I will bypass the amplifier section and use it as a preamp only. When something seems to good to be true, it usually isn't true. Should the Galion be priced at $10k instead of $1,500? I don't think so. Should the Parasounds be priced at $16k new (I think the new version is actually $20k)? Sure, if the goal is bragging rights, or insecurities of adult boys with their expensive toys, as my wife likes to say. Based on sound quality, I was a fool to drop so much money on inferior (or equal perhaps) sounding products, but they sure do look nice and generate a lot of conversations when people come over.
I still have a lot of speakers and other components to switch out and may come back to edit my comments. But as of right now, the Galion TS A75 wins the gold medal. I have never been so happy with a new piece of gear. I would encourage anyone in the market for a new amp to give one of these a try. It may not have the drop-dead gorgeous looks of a Gryphon or Dan D'Agostino amp (neither of which I can afford), but I am guessing the Galion provides 98-99% of their performance. Thanks, Thomas, and congratulations on such an amazing product!!!
I am glad you find it comparable to your higher end amps. I see you did connect it with good preamps that is able to keep up with the amp so you got to hear the full potential of this amp. I wish more people can experience what you experienced, but it requires a good preamp.
My new A75 arrived after a very short wait with excellent communications and follow-up from Mr. TS himself. Excellent Customer Service! The A75 sounds great out the box and doesn't seem to need a lot of burn-in time. I tried a few different pre-amplifiers. I prefer my tube/hybrid pre-amp as it creates the nicer 3D holographic soundstage, but doesn't get too muddy/messy/noisy. What I mean with that is that when I connect (vintage) full-tube pre-amps to the A75, it definitely sounds super lively and "tube-y", but the A75 also faithfully passes on the buzz and transformer hum typical for (older) tube amplifiers. Not the A75's fault though, obviously.
After spending a bit of time with the A75 listening non-stop, my early observations are:
- great looking industrial design without any superfluous frills. It quite literally has nothing you don't need!
- hefty full metal chassis, quality materials, built like a tank! It can probably last for centuries to come...
- no hiss, hum, buzz or any other unwanted noises, dead silent, even with extremely sensitive (>103dB) speakers, unless you connect noisy gear to it, of course!
- beautiful black background, dark space and separation between singers and instruments
- much(!) more power than expected, sounds way bigger than its 75W rating, plenty of headroom (with 8 Ohm speakers)
- bass is plentiful, powerful and well controlled, definitely a big highlight. I don't feel the need to switch on my sub.
- deep and wide 3D soundstage especially with tube or tube/hybrid pre-amp
Note: I don't find the A75 "bright" (as in sharp or sibilant, or too lively on top). In fact I find it sounds (very) smooth in the top-end. Highs/Treble were actually fairly soft when combined with my solid-state Parasound pre-amp (when EQ not used) and low-sensitivity KEF R3 speakers. However with my tube or hybrid-pre-amps and when paired with my home-built high-sensitivity full-range speakers (with LiiSong Platinum-10 speaker drivers) I get all the clarity and detail I want, without the need for Treble/EQ control. I recommend experimenting with different equipment to find those system synergies that will satisfy your personal taste. I think this is a keeper!
Earlier this year my system included a Pi2AES hat streamer, Denafrips Ares II dac, NAD C375BEE integrated amp, Rythmik F12SE subwoofer, Def tech BP20 towers with the crossover capacitor upgraded and tweeters swapped for beryllium ScanSpeaks. I was curious about an upgrade and thought the preamp and power amp sections were the place to start. I wanted to preserve or enhance the following aspects of my system: airy top end with a liquid and organic presentation, good enough imaging and soundstage, especially when speaker positioning is dialed in, well integrated bass down to 20 Hz. The last few months I've auditioned a used [well respected tube preamp] and the TS A75 power amp.
I can say the following about the power amp: the timbre is fantastic and highly musical, the upper region is more airy and refined than what it is replacing while the mids and bass are wonderfully authoritative, it handles delicate passages adjacent to or intermixed with more eruptive moments better than anything I've heard. For each of my priority areas going into a new power amp this one exceeds them all, the proof being how often it's on and I'm listening and enjoying the music. I am very very happy with this amp.
For now, I am performing volume control on my phone upstream of my streamer and DAC, so the audio files are not transmitted bit-perfect (scoff all you want). I am also connecting my Ares II directly to the A75 and can say the sound here is better than using either the preamp on my NAD integrated or the used tube preamp (not a Schiit Freya!... i will be taking it to a technician to check linear response and tubes, as I bought it used at a steep discount, and the product is well known and well reviewed but I have not been able to get it to play nice with my system). I had also just heat shrunk two Gotham GAC-1 Ultrablue RCAs to use as line level connections to my sub, and am defaulting back to using a high level connection, but either way it integrates so well I'm not in a rush to get separate preamp outs. Hope this helps someone!
Does the A75 go into 2 OHMS, for more variety of speakers?
Being a galion ts-120 owner I’m not surprised what you accomplished with this amp! from what I can see it’s got balls on the inside 💪😮 I haven’t heard it yet but hopefully i can pass by Loic’s place this week for a quick listen.
I should lend you one for fun!
Would be interesting with my monitor audios
Great work Thomas! I love all the thought and effort you are putting into bringing true value to audiophiles everywhere! What's next? Preamp? I vote DAC!
Next is a transmission line speaker, a highend class A power amp, then a semi affordable Tube Preamp.
I'll be waiting for that preamp!
Pre amp with dual subwoofer outputs.
The amps power supply design that I can see from the pictures looks to be a good balance between cost and performance. Moving secondary filter capacitors to each channels amplifier’s board eliminates the need for very large conductors and low resistance connections to each channels amp, while offering good channel separation by having the separate banks of capacitors. My modified R8 tube amp had more air after separating the power like this for the front end voltage gain stage. This looks like it might have separate filter caps for voltage stage and current stage. I think this is the secret to clarity and resolution in amps. There are time delays and phase shifts between stages and if using a single set of filter capacitors to power both, the audio will ever so slightly be smeared by the power supply. Looks like this amp might have 5 or 6 sets. The trade off of this design is very high ripple currents in the capacitors, but as long as the capacitors bank sizes were limited to keep ripple currents in check, then it will have great audio and longevity. The biasing current of a class A and class AB amp are magnified into very short, high current ripples at 120hz to recharge the caps, but the layout looks good to minimize the 120hz bridge rectifier noise. Looks like an amp designed to give good sound while keeping costs in check. I suspect an improvement would be to increase the transformer sizes. From the specs, it looks like the transformer size is limiting its performance, or we would see 4ohm power at the ideal 150 watts for a 75 Watt amp. Personally, I would prefer the logo on the top to be lower contrast. Maybe black like on the front.
Thanks for the feedback.
My heavily modified Willsenton R8 in ultra linear mode has a lot more air than my Rotel RB-1582 mkIi 200 wpc at 8 ohm) using Polk R700 speakers. The bass is fantastic with JJ E34L tubes. Running a Rotel pre-amp the Rotel sounds similar to the R8 in Triode mode., but again the air is so much better for all those great jazz recordings from the late 50s and 60s, and classical music from then to current day.
75 watts with a solid power supply is all you need. To get just 3 db louder, you need 750 watts! Most people waste money on watts. You just need a low impedance power supply driving the amplifier stage. Low esr capacitors ready to dump amps and amps makes the good bass and dynamics. Low ESR and low resistance after the final filter caps. Rotel puts giant copper buss bar for this. But with similar low impedance for R8, 43 watts sounds the same as 200. Because there is little spl difference between 200 watts and 43 watts. Less than 3 db, which does not amount to much how we listen logarithmically
good job. 75 is plenty with big transformers and big low esr caps.
When people say they need a big amp to make speakers come alive that is the power supply, not the watts..
The Willsenton is a valve amp, & what with high impedance output devices & the resistance of the secondary of the OPT's valve amps need the output impedance of the R8 is MUCH higher than your Rotel...no matter how much you modified it.
But you're right; the overwhelming majority of listeners who think that they need more power, don't.
What they need is a better amplifier, PERIOD.
An amp that SOUNDS BIG, has tight bass, great dynamics, and a real sense of "Authority".🪨🦾🪨
A big power transformer & lots of filter caps help, but it's the overall circuit design that ultimately matters...🤓
Hi Thomas! I really enjoyed the video. I LOVE the price tag. Thank You for the “under the hood” look!Love the front panel , love the minimalist look. Connectivity XLR & RCA +++. I definitely see one of these units in my future. Have a great one!😎
Thanks! You too!
It's wimpy, overpriced junk. "Love the pricetag"? Really? There's far better, for almost 2 grand.
@@dizzywow name them then.
air + dynamic, i love those, you made me want one....
Gullible fool. Check the specs.
When everything's price is going on the high side after the pandemic, Thomas is so bold to go the opposite direction to launch an amp which can help us to taste the high end sound but with such a moderate price. Kudos to his another great product!!!
Thanks!
I have had the Galion A75 amp for the last week, from the moment I plugged in quite amazing at it’s price point. Truly a giant killer, dead quiet, airy, with just the right amount of bass punch. If you pair with the Ladder Bach preamp, a remarkable pairing and taste of high end for under $ 2500.00
Thanks for leaving a review!
Can’t wait 😅 please i need to hear it ! I’m bringing the popcorn . If it’s just close to your tubé integrated amplifier must be amazing!
The TS A75 has been playing in my setup for 4 weeks now.
What can I say? I am totally thrilled.
The music is suddenly close enough to touch and seems much more three-dimensional.
The dynamics of some pieces of music are so intense that I'm downright frightened.
Control and depth in the bass as well as fine detail in the high-mid range is fantastic.
My Eversolo DMP-A6 can bring out its true potential with this amplifier
In my opinion, this may be the last Power Amplifier for many fans.
Nice, thanks ofr sharing. Yes, the dynamics punches above amps in this price bracket. 75w? More like 150w+ or 200w even!
Wow, a very frank, honest description from what I can tell. I have enjoyed your reviews and agree with your observations to the extent that I’m familiar with your comparisons. I have been on the sidelines with respect to purchasing new audio gear. I recently purchased a Denafrips Ares 12-1 and was impressed with its quality compared to my Ayre QB-9 with the latest upgrades. I love the Ayre but I think I prefer the Denafrips. The Ayre sits in a system with a McIntosh front end and Thiel 3.7 speakers and dual JL Audio subs. The Denafrips is for our vacation house system.
My point is that there continues to be wonderful progress in audio equipment and sound quality can be quite good with reasonable prices. Your amp sounds quite intriguing and I have no interest in spending huge dollars when there is wonderful gear for reasonable prices. I hope to find a way to fit an amp like yours into this second system. Cheers and I hope this is a successful product for you!
I'm thrilled to hear about your new company Thomas! Makes me wish I needed a new amp! Of a lot of TH-camrs in the industry, you are one of a select few who have the experience you do and knows what they are talking about! RESPECT! A piece of kit recommended from you is almost sure bet(sans our subjective ears). Any plans to come out with other pieces such as Preamps, tube amps, phono stages, etc.?
You hit the nail square on the head given today's market with the price of that new amp of yours! Well done! It means an unlocked door for more folks to get into the hobby and more importantly, good sound! (Using myself currently as example: These days it would take me at least a year and maybe 2 or 3 months to save up $1400 with the inflation problems and such in the states, but it is still achievable compared to $3000, which is nearly impossible now).
Thanks, yes a tube preamp is coming very soon.
Thomas, I like so much your market approach! Good Luck and Regards!
Thank you very much!
That looks like a very nice amp Thomas!
Félicitation Thomas! All the best for you and the Gallion brand you desserve it !
Thanks. Come listen.
@@ThomasAndStereo of corse I will! 🤩
After a month of waiting and a full week of listening, I am happy to report that the TS A75 is performing exceptionally well in my system.
The soundstage was remarkably better than my previously-loved Hegel H80, and the bass response was comparatively off the charts. I have (literally) taken my subwoofer out of the chain, as it has been rendered entirely redundant by the A75. I never thought my speakers were so capable!
Should anyone be curious, the pairing of the TS A75 with my Denafrips Hades Preamp has proven to be ideal, clarity and definition behind my all-digital front end have notably been taken to another level.
Thanks again, Thomas. I look forward to taking your new preamp for a drive once it's ready! Until then, I wish you and Galion all the success going forward!
Of course, just when I'm ready to pull the trigger they're sold out lol. Actually a good sign and I'm patient, did do the $1 pre-order for the next batch.
Lately, for any amp, especially the budget ones, everyone asks, “can it run a pair of Magnepan LRSs and sound good?”
Don't let the 75wpc shy you away from this amp. I'm sitting 10ft away and these are plenty powerful. I currently it paired with mofi sp 888s and the eversolo dmp a8. THe first thing you notice is how authoritative the bass is. Overall, for under $1500, it's unbeatable. Build quality is top notch. This thing is built like a tank. I highly recommend this amp.
Looking at the back of any amplifier the first thing I always notice is how it is wired. If the power cord is in the middle and the input and output are parallel with the heatsinks it is a high quality high-end amplifier. The best amplifiers are always constructed that way. I gotta get this amplifier!
Hey Thomas, as for the Galion TS120, I still LOVE mine! Thanks again!
Really happy to hear that.
I’m not able to offer any positive or negative criticism of this amp. I’ve not heard it. But Thomas, for all your enthusing of its virtues, there is one virtue you did not touch upon. Judging on the virtues you sung the loudest praises of, I’ll take an educated guess that the virtue it’s lacking is the virtue that I most desire in an amp, even at the sacrifice of other virtues.
A few years ago I upgraded my £3000 British integrated amp for a pair of £7500 monoblocks which had received nothing but rave reviews, brimming with positivity from the TH-cam hifi community. They were initially exceedingly impressive. Detailed. Ultra fast. Highly dynamic. Tight, deep, well controlled bass. A natural, slightly forward mid-range. Highly resolving and transparent with a deep and wide, well focussed soundstage. But after months of critical listening, I realised something was missing. They lacked fluidity. The musical reproduction was staccato, not legato! They were not musical. Lacked tonal density, acoustic mass. They were leaning heavily toward being lean and analytical. They did not reproduce music the way I like to hear it. Others may like their musical reproduction sounding that way, and that’s fine.
The fact that you described your amp as being fast and some audiophiles may prefer it paired with a R to R DAC and/or a fuller sounding preamp suggests to me that your amp has similar characteristics to those monoblocks, and not for me. However, i may be barking at the wrong tree. I never, say never. If I ever get the opportunity to listen to that amp over an extended period, I may eat some humble pie.
Most of all, enjoy the music.
Have you consider that maybe the $7500 monoblocs are too 'neutral' and that is why you cannot get into the music? I noticed that with my audiobuddies, some gear we try, technically impressive but no soul. For me, every HIFI gear has its flavour and whether it touches you or not is a quesion of taste. What we consider musical is different for everyone.
Congratulations on a great achievement!
Thanks!
Ha...I was wondering where that footage went. Great job again 👍
Congratulations I have A PS Audio ln that same price range Did not want to class D amp. Glad to see there A good Option
I want your tube amp ! It sounds wonderful just through utube so in real life 👍. Good Luck and G D Bless you and your family.
I hope you consider making a mono version of this amp one day.
I want to hear the musician scratch his/her butt during performance! That's how much resolution I want.
That's what me and my friends had been aiming for. Don't think I have the budget for this amp, but will definitely give it a try if I have the chance. I mostly dabble with older transistor amps and moddding them to get them performing better than new. Would be interesting to see the difference.
Great video. Sounds to me like you do have a giant killer on offer.
I am a big fan of air and transparency backed up by punch. With these attributes you typically get a lot of low level detail that makes it real. The toe taping and sense of the artist's emotion comes through as you listen. I think the dual mono and tons of power caps must contribute. I think the demo track sounds about the best we have heard on your channel. It is kind of a fake sounding track, so I don't think it fully displays what this amp can do. It does give a sense of transparency and the bass is tight and natural.
I love the air I get with 110W OTL triode monos into OB speakers. Seldom to I hear it on solid state. This would be a winner for me.
Thanks!
No one has commented on this, but your name and logo is great, tasteful stylish
Thanks, this was designed by a subscriber Jean-Francois who lives 30 minutes away from me!
Congras, on such an accomplishment!
Suckered in by a sales pitch, huh?
I've been following Thomas since his humble TH-cam beginning. One has to admired how much knowledge and all the connections he has gathered in this industry in a relatively short period. Starting a business in this crowded arena is no small feat. And yes, Thomas has a great sales pitch. Isn't this the reason you tuned in?? Bravo Thomas! @@dizzywow
Nice, looking forward to purchasing these, need to replace my 20 watt Schitt Aegirs with something a bit more powerful.
It will definitely feel way more powerful.
Ok now ...
This is the once in your life oportunity to move to beautiful Canada just to listen and own Thomas' beautiful equipment !!! LOL
From also beautiful Greece, Thomas, we thank you, and we hope maybe one day we will be honored to audition your equipment localy. Until then, i could imagin the TS120 with Cibelius and the Lab12 tube DAC in my audio room ...
Greatings !!!
Thanks😁
Looks like instant noodles for a month!! The amp looks like a beast I love it❤
Sounds like a good amplifier, kudos for fair price!
I like how u soldered the wire to the binding posts & not crimping another connector! Fewer connections better.
Now the debate begins on was pure
SILVER solder used??? LOL!!
Great job on the amp Thomas . You should make that amp bridgeable you would have about 300 watts of power and two TS A 75 mono blocks would destroy $10000 amps and you would not be able to build them fast enough.
You have real class, Thomas
Congratulations Thomas! In my buying list!
Looks beefcake inside, must sound like it too. Good one Thomas 👍
It does!
What a pitch! I love it!
FINALLY, I can hear every word and every nuance of breath in the articulation...Very good, sounds like a tube amp, but, needs to play louder.
I'm trusting you on this Thomas...Will buy
Else I buy you coffee and beg for your forgiveness
After listening to this, of which I'll call a "presentation" and- after waiting for it to finally manifest...
I thought: "Now I need to hear more about this amp from those other than the beloved creator."
I thus, as I suggest everyone else do, listened to Loic's and Dave's reviews posted here.
Hearing all that they both said relevant to this amps qualities, it was Dave's comment
about the ability of the amp to produce a full and balanced sound at low volumes. As well,
Loic mentioned the presence of a V curve that he noticed. This, I believe could also contribute
to the amps ability to play well at low to mid volume. (along with it's current as opposed to
voltage based feed back??)
For the last year I have been trying to decide which amp I wish to replace my Adcom GFA 5500
which is now getting tired. I'm also looking for a power amp that would marry up nicely with
some ATC SCM11 speakers (replacements for my Elacs). My dream preamp is the Holo Audio
Serene.
My 73 year old ears go back to the 1950s when at age 5 I first heard music (mono) coming from
a big single speaker and a huge tube amp. Since then I have loved both music and the equipment
that brings it forth. From classical to rock, some opera and "yikes"... I even heard a rap tune that
I liked (one).
Congrats Thomas (sorry about the beloved creator bit)... Tim Horton's??????? really?Amp price✅
Thanks for the great comment. Appreciate it.
You are welcome. Audio world needs more like you!@@ThomasAndStereo
I want to recommend the Vincent Audio SA-32 hybrid tube preamplifier with the TS A75. Match made in heaven. Much better than my Freya+ even with super expensive NOS tube upgrades. The A75 is confidently driving all my speakers with authority, clarity and bass. Rock solid combination!!!
Thanks for sharing.
This amp is amazing have lots of air very good separation outstanding bass with lots of texture I gives enough power to my audiovector QR7 all I can say is if you really wanna beat this amp you will gonna spend lots of money .
It also remind me of tube amplifier which I had in past but this amp have all you get from tube amp plus more accurate bass full midrange and the top is my favorite part crystal clear of top without futiging your ear.
Very very good sound stage wide deep
Well done thomas 👏 👍
I look forward for your preamplifier to match TSA75
I ABSOLUTELY RECOMMEND THIS AMPLIFIER 💯
I think the concept of air in audio is called, time domain. Ron talks about it over at New Record Day.
Thanks Thomas. This might be the power amp I was looking for, and I can say that without any Jedi trickery involved.
Impressive piece of tech!
Looks great! Waiting for the 5 channel...
Sadly, it will never come.
Buy three!🤗🤗🤗
Nice. Want to upgrade my amp in about three months. Was still not sure, but decided for 85% on a used Stellar S300. But I somehow still prefer class a/b and was still searching
I can stop now. Or, well, it has to work in Europe, 230-240V. I wil contact you. Edit: I see it does. Nice!! Can't wait.
Yeah, there is extra body with class AB sound.
I'm thinking of getting this for my KLH Model 5 speakers... very excited. 6 ohm impedance, so may get about 80-85wpc from this.
Yes, this will work because KLH is a sealed design and the bass can really need some help.
I’m thinking I’m going to buy this amp.
The sails above the Galion text aren’t centered on the chassis. But are inside on the round sticker.
The wind above the chassis was blowing too strong.
🎉 Congratulations 🍾
Yes! Waiting for this!
I want to get one. I’m curious. I admire your reviews you had done in the past. Always looking forward for your reviews.
Go for it!
Ahahaha ahahahahahaha do you understand the words coming out of my mouth 😂 Great Segway Thomas... I know about air. I can't tell you the amps as it was over 30 years ago. But the memory still rings in my minds ❤heart. For me it was pianos, drums, sax, flute, violins...all floating in their positions unlimited by the size of the room...the vocals were clear clean and I could hear the singers breath...if they turned their heads or moved I knew it. The background was dark and absent of distortion. Female voices as well as make were not harsh slightly forward based on the speakers but still. They were slightly warm...cymbals were clear clean and extended...filling off gently with no sharpness except that which the cymbals provided. The sound wasn't lean or overly dry and the bass was superb tight strong but not thumpy nor muddy no blurring you could feel the fingers on the strings and the vibrations... And Congratulations Thomas...
Thanks, and thanks for sharing such a detailed comment.
I could have sworn they were in the room with me. And you're always welcome. And Thomas did I hear you say there is another amp in the works?
Thomas, thanks so much for the comparison of your new Galion TS A75 and the mc352! I am sure you have a lot invested in this new company and that money is tight! But I predict that you will be successful in this venture! For your next product I would make two suggestions, 1) a remote battery operated tone arm lift! You would be loved every where by vinyl loving audiophiles every where. It would be the Galion universal turntable pause/lift button. The Wife wants to chat, press of a button the arm lifts up and your spot held, phone call, no problem, ripping an album to CD, give yourself time to enter the media data. Best of all you leisurely walk back to your sweet spot and start the music! 2) a simple standard metal box with with big blue watt meters that could sit on top or under any amp to show the output in watts, as well with some dampening material to protect the amp from errant vibration inherent in typical racks. I for one would be a loyal customer! Thanks again for what you do! All the best to you and your family!
Thanks for the suggestion.
@@ThomasAndStereoI applaud your diplomacy!😉
👋 GREAT THOMAS,🤗😎,ONWARD AND UPWARD WITH YOUR TALENTS 👏👏👏😎😊💚💚💚
Thanks so much
@@ThomasAndStereoYOU HAVE EARNED IT…IMHHO 🤗
hmm... So I have the older Wilsenton R8, would this be a great step-up from that?
I like the tube sounds. Looking for something that may help with volume and sound really airy within a range from Eva Cassidy -to- Motorhead [LOL].
Looking to match-up with an older Conrad Johnson Tube Pre-amp & Tekton Pendragons (Ponthus II & Eversolo DMP-A6)
Or is it better to save-up for the TS-120?
I don't want to risk the 14-day trial, I want to alleviate from the headaches of returns. Especially with a $95 shipping cost. Also are they due back in stock this week in the States? Thanks
@BumpNrun69 I would not say it is a step up in everything. There will be some stuff the TS A75 does better, for example more nuanced in the bass while the R8 will have a more forward midrange.
Congrats 🍾