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Recent Sony TA-A1ES integrated vs older Sony amplifiers?

Yggdrasill

Yggdrasill

AK Subscriber
Subscriber
I'm curious how the later, classic non-vfet Sony amps such as the N77ES, N80ES, N90Es would sound compared to the new Sony offerings such as the .TA-A1ES.

The new Sony looks to be a pretty nice amp; it runs in Class A for much of its range and seems to have a high build quality. There are a lot of good reviews out there.

Has anyone heard this amp?
 
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Looks very interesting. Let's see some pictures from the web...

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SonyTA6.jpg


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SonyTA8.jpg


SONY-TA-A1ES.jpg
 
I am a big SONY fan in many ways. I buy only SONY when it comes to TVs.

Their digital Hi-Res music technology is one of my favorites. I own the new Hi-Res Player SONY HAP-Z1ES and I love it.

From the days of Beta Hi-Fi to MiniDisc, and cd players/recorders - and now to Hi-Res audio players - SONY has been very good to me.

With regards to the new SONY amp, I was greatly disappointed and had to return it (for exchange - I got the new SONY Hi-Res Walkman player and another parting gift - as a replacement). The amp sounded horrible compared to my vintage Sansui AU-717. It wasn't even close - like night and day.

I was as curious as you are - and it was a learning lesson - you can't fully trust what you read until it is confirmed by your personal experience.

I was using Tannoy Arden speakers as the reference monitors. I am still open to others' opinions on this amp, but my ears heard very poor sound in comparison. Some say you have to "break-in" a new amp, etc. I don't know about those things. I can only testify that in a comparison listening test against a vintage Sansui AU-717 integrated amp, the Sansui won by a mile - it was no contest - not even close.
 
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My TA-A1ES sounds great with no problems at all. I'm listening to Nat King Cole on vinyl now through Spendors and he sounds just great. Rags' experience above sounds like a one-off build problem or perhaps a speaker compatibility issue although I could be wrong. I've had lots and lots of Sony gear before and the new amp (and hi-res players) continue the Sony house sound - clean and authoritative with no noise.

It is short on flexibility. Only one set of speaker terminals, no balance or tone controls, no phono section. It largely runs in Class A and puts off considerable heat for its rating of 80wpc. Face design is ultra simple. One plus is that the Android app for the player also allows on/off and volume control for the amp.

Still, I love it and consider it an outstanding buy. Of course, other amps will sound good and look good too so it is not the only right purchase.
 
All true and common knowledge but I was replying about the vintage Sansui vs the new Sony.

I have a pair of Sony HA-1 standmounts and I'd like to A/B them against my Spendor A6Rs.

I will say that Sony seems to voice their new components against their new speakers that have super-tweeters. I do notice the positive difference in "sparkle" with the supertweeters. Wish I had the budget to get the new Sony floorstanders to match although I have no complaints against the Spendors.
 
FauxHall said:
My TA-A1ES sounds great with no problems at all. I'm listening to Nat King Cole on vinyl now through Spendors and he sounds just great. Rags' experience above sounds like a one-off build problem or perhaps a speaker compatibility issue although I could be wrong. I've had lots and lots of Sony gear before and the new amp (and hi-res players) continue the Sony house sound - clean and authoritative with no noise.

It is short on flexibility. Only one set of speaker terminals, no balance or tone controls, no phono section. It largely runs in Class A and puts off considerable heat for its rating of 80wpc. Face design is ultra simple. One plus is that the Android app for the player also allows on/off and volume control for the amp.

Still, I love it and consider it an outstanding buy. Of course, other amps will sound good and look good too so it is not the only right purchase.
Click to expand...

i know this is an old thread but I just bought this amp and was curious what photo stage you are using?
 
I'm using a Pro-Ject Tube Box DS. While I'm running an MM cart now, it has plenty of adjustments should I move to an MC.
Tube Box DS.jpg
 
Yggdrasill said:
I'm curious how the later, classic non-vfet Sony amps such as the N77ES, N80ES, N90Es would sound compared to the new Sony offerings such as the .TA-A1ES.

The new Sony looks to be a pretty nice amp; it runs in Class A for much of its range and seems to have a high build quality. There are a lot of good reviews out there.

Has anyone heard this amp?
Click to expand...
Yes, its just -looks- and "new" made it hevy to appear important and therefore expensive. Built The same like the Fancy TA-N77 -80 but these are 200W pc . A friend of mine in USA boast about his Sony TA-N90 very dear on the web but still is only 80W but connected to his Sony SS-M9 :300W/4Ohms apparently produces a sublime sound ? but im not impressed.Had all Esprit TA-N900/902 /86 : all very weak and prone to get ill and faulty if used too much .
Last week 12-July-21 I connected my gem :Sony SQA-2030 35W pc!! to my Sony APM -6 Esprit and the sound is better than all above !!! but listen.... when connected to the best speakers in the world : Acoustic Research AR-3a
via Sony TA-E86 preamp :the sound was so impressive , my neighbour came around to see where that so clear and magestic sound came from !! .Theres nothing better than any HiEnd Analogue hifi connected to a digital device ,the mix is fantastic and cheap . My favourite amplifier is the Sony STR-6200F /6120 and never will replace with anything else.
As far the TA-A1 is concerned got one along with the TA-N77/80, and all black mambas series all of them for sale for the ones with big egoes and pockets by all means .
Max
 
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