Why Spend $1000’s on McIntosh When THIS Little TUBE AMP Costs $219？! XDUOO TA-66

ByChris

United States of Analog | June 20, 2024

🎙️ Early Video Analysis

What is this video about?

This video is a review of the XDUOO TA-66 OTL tube headphone amplifier and preamp, priced at $219. The host is examining whether this budget tube amp can compete with expensive options like McIntosh gear, focusing on its build quality, specifications, and value proposition in the headphone amplification market.

What gear, products, or brands are discussed?

  • XDUOO TA-66 OTL Tube Headphone Amplifier/Preamp [00:00:00] – $219, 11 pounds, CN2 preamp tube, CN5P buffer tube, 60-600 ohm impedance range, 107 dB S/N ratio, 10Hz-30kHz frequency range, single-ended 1/4″ jack
  • McIntosh MHA-100 [00:04:26] – First dedicated McIntosh headphone amp, described as “a little warm,” host is “not a super fan”
  • Sennheiser HD650 headphones [00:04:32] – Described as warm sounding
  • JDS Labs Archel 3 Pro headphone amplifier [00:04:47] – Custom wooden case, tone controls, used in bedroom system
  • KEF LS50 Meta speakers [00:02:28] – Mentioned for comparison of powder coat finish quality
  • Technics turntable [00:04:20] – Has “very, very good headphone section”
  • Koss headphones [00:03:09] – Vintage model from mid-70s with vinyl ear cups

What are the host’s main opinions or takes so far?

  • The XDUOO TA-66 represents exceptional value at $219 for 11 pounds of weight (“just under $1.25 an ounce”) [00:02:05]
  • This amp “transcends fun-fi to some degree” and represents “the best value in hi-fi” [00:02:13]
  • The build quality and finish rival much more expensive equipment
  • The McIntosh MHA-100 combined with Sennheiser 650s sounds “like a wet blanket” [00:04:37]
  • Modern headphone listening should be at lower volumes compared to his youth [00:04:04]

Were there any strong recommendations or warnings to viewers?

  • Warning about promotional materials: “you’ve got to beware when you read the promotional materials” [00:07:20] – specifically noting the box incorrectly claims it’s a balanced amplifier
  • Caution about the claimed frequency range (10Hz-30kHz): “Take that with a grain of salt” [00:07:01]

Were there any notable comparisons between products?

  • XDUOO TA-66 vs. McIntosh gear (implied in title questioning why spend thousands on McIntosh)
  • McIntosh MHA-100 + Sennheiser 650s creating overly warm sound “like a wet blanket” [00:04:37]
  • XDUOO’s powder coat finish compared favorably to KEF LS50 Meta speakers [00:02:28]

Any interesting vinyl records, albums, or music discussed?

  • The Ramones – “Do You Remember Rock and Roll Radio” [00:03:02] – Referenced regarding transistor radio listening
  • Grand Funk Railroad [00:03:43] – Listened to before baseball games
  • Black Sabbath [00:03:43] – Pre-game pump-up music
  • Led Zeppelin [00:03:43] – Baseball preparation playlist
  • Yes – “Roundabout” [00:03:49] – Another pre-game favorite

Were there any funny moments, strong opinions, or memorable quotes?

  • “Hi I’m Bob and you my friends are back in the United States of Analog. Welcome to our great nation of headphone-ification, yeah, alright.” [00:00:23]
  • “yes I am your leader, until you elect another one” [00:01:08] – about reaching 10K subscribers
  • Personal story about meeting Rick Springfield during “Jessie’s Girl” era [00:01:22]
  • Baseball credentials: “I had 7 lifetime no hitters in Little League, here’s the headlines to prove it” [00:03:28]
  • “I’m grunting like it’s heavy, it’s only 11 pounds, and you know, I’m pretty fit” [00:05:09]
  • Value calculation: “11 pounds, that works out to just under $1.25 an ounce. That is the best value in hi-fi.” [00:02:05]

Summary

Host Bob opens his review of the XDUOO TA-66 tube headphone amplifier by positioning it as a potential giant-killer in the headphone amp market, questioning why anyone would spend thousands on brands like McIntosh when this $219 unit offers such impressive build quality and specifications. He’s particularly struck by the unit’s substantial 11-pound weight and premium finish, calculating the value at just $1.25 per ounce and declaring it “the best value in hi-fi.”

The review includes Bob’s personal audio journey, from childhood transistor radios to his current collection of headphone amplifiers including a McIntosh MHA-100 (which he’s not particularly fond of) and a custom wooden JDS Labs unit. He shares colorful anecdotes about his youth, including pumping himself up for baseball games with loud rock music through Koss headphones, admitting he probably damaged his hearing in the process. His listening habits have evolved to favor lower volumes and late-night sessions.

Bob dives into the technical specifications of the XDUOO TA-66, highlighting its OTL (output transformer-less) design with CN2 and CN5P tubes, impressive build quality with point-to-point wiring, and professional-grade components. However, he’s already spotted some concerning discrepancies in the marketing materials, noting that while the box claims it’s a balanced amplifier, the unit appears to be single-ended only. This sets up what appears to be a thorough examination of whether this budget tube amp can truly compete with high-end alternatives.

⏱️ Mid-Video Analysis

What gear, products, or brands are discussed in this portion?

Primary Products:

  • XDUOO TA-66 tube amplifier ($219) – [throughout]
  • Technics SL-1200M7L turntable – [00:07:31]
  • Jusheli Labs J24499 AKM DAC – [00:09:20]
  • Schiit Labs Archel 3 Pro headphone amplifier – [00:12:12]

Headphones:

  • Sennheiser HD650s – [00:10:56]
  • Emotiva GR1s (discontinued) – [00:11:11]
  • Various other headphones with different impedances mentioned – [00:10:43]

Additional Components:

  • Sparkos Labs op amps (in the Archel 3 Pro) – [00:12:36]
  • TIDAL streaming service – [00:09:20]

What are the host’s key findings, verdicts, or opinions?

  • The TA-66 “undigitizes” digital streaming music, making it more organic and vinyl-like without pops and clicks – [00:09:38]
  • Prefers open-back headphones with this amplifier – [00:10:50]
  • The amp provides good dynamics and punch without needing to turn volume way up – [00:10:12]
  • Considers the TA-66 to have an “organic tube sound” – [00:12:46]
  • Views both the TA-66 and Archel 3 Pro as offering different but valid “flavors” – [00:13:01]
  • The TA-66 is not “mushy or overly warm” – [00:13:17]

Were there any listening tests or sound quality observations described?

  • Listened to Queen, The Clash, and Chris Stapleton on vinyl – [00:07:40]
  • Found vinyl through headphones reveals too much surface noise, pops, and clicks – [00:08:09]
  • Preferred streaming through TIDAL for longer, more enjoyable listening sessions – [00:09:20]
  • Tested multiple headphones with different impedances and designs – [00:10:38]
  • Used Roberta Flack’s “Killing Me Softly” as a test track, specifically listening for finger cymbals/triangles at the beginning – [00:13:24]

Were there any price/value assessments?

  • TA-66 at $219 paired well with ~$350 Emotiva GR1 headphones as “price-appropriate” combination – [00:12:00]
  • Refuses to spend $1,000-$3,000 on headphones, saying “the juice is not worth the squeeze” – [00:11:39]
  • Believes in keeping equipment “price-appropriate” rather than mismatching expensive and cheap components – [00:11:53]

Any comparisons to other gear mentioned?

TA-66 vs Schiit Archel 3 Pro:

  • Archel 3 Pro: wider soundstage, clearer, more spacious – [00:12:28]
  • TA-66: more organic tube sound, like “vinyl sound without pops and clicks” – [00:12:46]
  • Describes them as different “flavors” rather than one being definitively better – [00:13:01]

Headphone Comparisons:

  • Sennheiser HD650s: “too warm and unexciting,” considering getting rid of them – [00:11:06]
  • Emotiva GR1s: best results with the TA-66, very open sound despite comfort issues – [00:11:11]

Any vinyl records, albums, or music discussed?

  • Queen – [00:07:42]
  • The Clash – [00:07:44]
  • Chris Stapleton – [00:07:46]
  • Roberta Flack’s “Killing Me Softly” (used as test track) – [00:13:24]

Any memorable quotes or strong takes?

  • “Listening to vinyl on headphones is putting my ears too close to the groove” – [00:08:09]
  • “I’m not the kind of person that’s going to go spend $1,000, $2,000, $3,000 on headphones… the juice is not worth the squeeze when it comes to headphone listening” – [00:11:39]
  • About his Sennheiser HD650s: “I think they have to go. I’m just not enjoying them. It’s just too warm and unexciting” – [00:11:06]
  • “We talk about flavors in this audio game. Two different flavors. And why not have them both?” – [00:13:01]

Summary

The host conducts extensive listening tests with the XDUOO TA-66 tube amplifier, starting with vinyl playback using his Technics SL-1200M7L turntable and various classic rock albums. However, he delivers a controversial opinion that vinyl through headphones places your ears “too close to the groove,” making surface noise, pops, and clicks overly prominent compared to speaker listening where ambient room noise can mask these artifacts. This leads him to prefer digital streaming through TIDAL via his Jusheli Labs DAC.

Moving to headphone testing, the host evaluates multiple pairs with different impedances and designs, finding that open-back headphones work best with the TA-66. He’s particularly critical of his Sennheiser HD650s, calling them “too warm and unexciting” and considering selling them despite being a gift from his wife. The discontinued Emotiva GR1s emerge as his preferred pairing, offering the most open sound despite comfort issues. He emphasizes his philosophy of “price-appropriate” matching, arguing that spending thousands on headphones isn’t worthwhile for his listening habits.

The host compares the TA-66 directly to his Schiit Labs Archel 3 Pro, describing them as offering different “flavors” rather than declaring a clear winner. The Archel 3 Pro provides wider soundstage and more clarity thanks to its Sparkos Labs op amps, while the TA-66 delivers an “organic tube sound” that makes digital music more vinyl-like without the drawbacks. He appreciates both approaches and suggests the potential for tube rolling to create even more sonic variations with the TA-66, while clarifying that the tube amp isn’t overly warm or mushy.

🏁 Final Thoughts & Verdict

What gear, products, or brands are discussed in this final portion?

  • [00:14:16] XDUOO TA-66 tube amplifier/headphone amp
  • [00:14:16] KEF LS50 Meta speakers
  • [00:14:21] Fozzy Audio ZA3 amplifier
  • [00:14:52] Jusheli DAC
  • [00:14:59] WIM/Weem mini-streamer
  • [00:18:18] Apos (retailer/website)
  • [00:18:18] Amazon (retailer)

What is the host’s final verdict or conclusion?

[00:17:58] At the $220-$250 price point, the host believes there is “great value here” with the TA-66. [00:18:44] He concludes it has “very good solid build quality, solid sound.” [00:19:04] His final verdict is “It’s a recommend from me.”

Were there any final recommendations — buy, skip, or consider?

[00:18:51] The host recommends this as a gateway product if “You don’t want to spend $4,500 for something like this.” [00:18:54] He suggests to “Give it a shot” and if it survives the return period, “it’s probably going to give you a pretty long life.” [00:19:05] Final recommendation: “If you want to get your tube kicks, then get a TA-66.”

Any final tips, caveats, or advice for viewers?

[00:16:21] View it primarily as a “headphone amp where the preamp is a little bit of added value” rather than a dedicated preamp. [00:16:26] If you need a preamp, you’re probably looking for something with more features like “a built-in DAC, perhaps, and multiple inputs and things like that, tone controls, maybe.” [00:18:24] Caveat about FunFi products: “these components, they change all the time, and who knows if this is going to give you two years of life, if it’s going to give you 10 years of life.”

How did the video wrap up?

[00:19:22] The host thanked viewers “for being here in the United States of Analog” and mentioned he’ll put links below. [00:19:27] He also promised to include “a list of my YouTube all-stars” for other channels he watches. [00:19:43] He ended with a humorous note about YouTube’s algorithm deciding the next video to watch, asking viewers to click on it “to make me very happy.” [00:19:58] Final sign-off: “We’ll see you next time. Well, and enjoy your system.”

Any memorable closing quotes or strong final opinions?

[00:17:27] “I feel like, transcends FunFi, and it’s more of a, quote-unquote, in my words, a legitimate piece of audio gear.” [00:18:51] “You don’t want to spend $4,500 for something like this. This is your gateway.” [00:19:17] “You’ll be glad you did, I think.”

Summary

In the final portion of this review, the host demonstrates the XDUOO TA-66’s versatility by setting up a complete near-field desktop system. He pairs the tube amp with KEF LS50 Meta speakers, a Fozzy Audio ZA3 amplifier, Jusheli DAC, and WIM mini-streamer, creating what he describes as a system with “a lot of punch” and “heart and soul.” The combination particularly impressed him by making the typically thin and bright KEF speakers sound much “weightier” and fuller than he’d ever experienced before, leading him to want to purchase the review unit.

The host clarifies his recommendation strategy, suggesting buyers should view the TA-66 primarily as a headphone amplifier with preamp functionality as a bonus feature, rather than seeking it out specifically as a preamp. He acknowledges that serious preamp shoppers would likely want more features like multiple inputs, built-in DACs, and tone controls. However, he praises the TA-66’s rich yet clear sound quality, noting it avoids the “wet blanket” muddiness he often criticizes in tube gear, and appreciates its build quality and aesthetic appeal as a conversation starter.

His final verdict is a clear recommendation, positioning the TA-66 as an excellent gateway into tube amplification at $220-250, especially for those not wanting to spend thousands on premium gear like McIntosh. While he acknowledges uncertainties about longevity common with budget audiophile products and the limited input options, he believes the solid build quality and sound performance make it worthwhile. The host wraps up by encouraging viewers to “get your tube kicks” with the TA-66, expressing confidence they’ll be satisfied with the purchase.

Analysis generated from archived transcripts. Channel: United States of Analog — hi-fi gear reviews, vinyl, and audiophile culture.

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