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rpger9756
18
Jun 20, 2018
I don't intend to necromance, but I think there is a fundamental misunderstand of the nature of what "balanced" means in this context, and I would love to correct it for future understanding for anyone who reads this should Massdrop re-drop this. "Balanced" means that it is outputting two signals 180 degrees out of phase. Instead of just two pins on your headset per channel, there are instead 3, 2 voltages and a dedicated ground path (in a 4-pin XLR setup, there are +/- pins for each speaker and a shared ground path whereas a single-ended output has a + for each speaker, but the - is wired to the ground, which is itself wired to the cable's Faraday shielding.) At the speaker, the voltages are re-phased so that any noise collected along the way gets "diffed" out. That's ALL "balanced" means. Now there are SEVERAL ways you can produce a "balanced" signal and several places where you can generate the 180-degree phase shift before transmitting it to the output stage in an effort to eventually transmit the most noise-free signal possible. In it simplest implementation, an input signal will get processed and then sent through the amplification circuit, which will then be passed to an output-phaser for balancing. This prevents any noise from the CABLE up to the headphones, and is generally just so you can use ultra-long cables. In its most complex implementation, a phaser will pump discrete input signals to two signal decoders (XMOS chips in a USB situation,) which will then pump that to two DACs, which will then pump THAT to two amplifiers, which will then be attached to individual channels on the output, essentially treating each channel as a discrete DAC+Monoblock, the rationale being that any noise from the DAC and Amp circuit, not just the cable, will be diff'd out as well when they're re-phased. This requires EXTREMELY precise clocks to prevent jitter and is usually exclusive to extremely high-end products. For the TA-10, I would hazard that they are balancing at the output stage (hence the single tube.) The TA-20 appears to move that balancing back to BEFORE amplification, as it does not have a DAC integrated. If you look at a more high-end product like, say, the Schiit Jotunheim, they have a picture of their DAC circuit, which has 2 AKM4490EQ chips on it but only one CM633A USB decoder, meaning its phased before the DAC. So Tl;dr: the TA-10 IS balanced, but at a different level of complexity.
rslatara
287
Jun 27, 2018
rpger9756It sounds pretty alright and tube rolling is great.
junglewee
12
Jul 15, 2018
rpger9756An excellent description of true balanced to two distinct audio signal paths and duo DACs to output/headphone. It think it would be cost prohibitive at $240 - $300 range. A Jotunheim would cost $500 with duo DACS but is solid state not tube. The OPPO HA-1 is true balanced class A audio signal to meet to a single ESS Sabre chip but costs $1200. Also not tube. The TEAC NT-503 is true balanced with dual toroidal transformers and duo AK4990 chips all the way to the outputs but costs $1000. Also not tube. xDuo00 is a fun desktop tube DAC/AMP at an affordable price and believe me, you are getting the most for your money when you sum up the high quality parts. Unlike solid state, you are not stuck with the sound signature. Just roll the classic 12AU7 tube and it becomes a whole new DAC/AMP. I have found that the following 12AU7 in the order of my preference, sounds really good with this AMP. I've been using the Senheiser HD-6XX. 1)RCA 12AU7 Cleartop, 2) Mullard CV4003 3) Tung-Sol 12AU7 new reissue 4) JJ ECC82. The Tung-Sol offers the best bang for the buck without having to pay for NOS. Happy tube rolling. Please share your experience with this DAC/AMP.
rpger9756
18
Jul 16, 2018
jungleweeI've been rolling the Genalex Gold Lion tube and its pretty great. It doesn't have the same imaging and separation as the stock Shenzen mystery meat that the amp came with (which, while I may sound slightly slanderous, ACTUALLY has pretty good audio if you ignore the crazy microphonics,) but it has tremendous blending and sounds extremely musical. I listen mostly to classical music DSDs on my set of heavily modded HD598's via XLR. I'm thinking my next roll is going to be the Cleartop as it's one that just keeps popping up in conversation as "one to hear." The Jotunheim is probably the best deal you'll find on a fully-balanced headphone DAC/Amp, pretty much bar-none, tube or solid-state. If you want a full-balanced Headphone stack from Schiit that rolls tubes, you'd have to go with the $1700 Gungnir+Mjolnir stack (or Jotunheim+Mjolnir for $1350.) Suffice to say, my xDuoo is an extremely potent little box, bang-for-buck, and I'm very happy with it.
rslatara
287
Jul 24, 2018
rpger9756Try a Mullard NOS, they are great you can get a rebranded IEC or Hammond cheaper than the regular ones.
Leski
45
Sep 18, 2018
rpger9756would you mind telling me how to replace the tube? it seems very tightly attached thanks
junglewee
12
Sep 18, 2018
LeskiYou should be able to pull it straight out from the socket. If not, apply a gentle rocking pressure back and forth while pulling up.
Leski
45
Sep 18, 2018
jungleweethanks for the advice!! i was a bit scared of applying too much force when pulling coz it was really tight finally got it out!
rslatara
287
Sep 25, 2018
LeskiI have about 12 tubes for this now any decent Mullard is great. Sylvania and certain RCA's are also awesome. The Gold pin Electro Harmonix is also very nice for a new tube.
I do have a few IEC Mullards I'll be posting on Head-Fi later today or tomorrow.
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