Porkanddiesel t1_j2bobtd wrote on December 31, 2022 at 1:39 AM

Reply to comment by PutPineappleOnPizza in Might be a basic bitch but i’m happy! by Pigman232

How do you like your TA-26? I’ve been using a Schiit Vali 2 for the last 6 years with HD-6XX’s and just got a Magni Heretic to play around with too. I’ve got a slew of tubes for my Vali including the converter to use 6SN7’s and another converter to use those Western Electric style tubes. I DO find different tubes make a difference and it’s most noticeable in soundstage and high end sparkle. I don’t bother with any expensive rare NOS purchases and just seek either reasonably priced new tubes or tested balanced triodes used tubes on eBay. Being a hybrid tube amp it only uses a small percent of the tubes function. I am however eying a TA-26 for my HD-6XX’s. Have you used both SS amps and TA-26?

PutPineappleOnPizza t1_j2cz2fx wrote on December 31, 2022 at 9:08 AM

I have used my FiiO K5 pro ESS and the TA26 and I think they are very similar to each other. The TA26 improves the low end a bit and maybe, just maybe makes everything a little more dynamic. But the changes are so subtle that there is almost no difference if I'm honest.

Also, the TA-26 suffers from potentiometer crackling, an issue nobody talks about in their fancy reviews. I swapped it once for a better potentiometer, soldering and all that, but the issue persists.

I still love this amp, but it sure is not what the reviews say. Tube rolling makes not much difference on the TA-26. Tung-Sol, EH Gold, RCA NOS, Foton 6H8C's from the 60s, JJ 6SN7.. They all sound very similar to each other. The NOS tubes are a little bit less punchy and flatter, but still so close to the rest that any differences are highly debatable.