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Synthesis Amplifiers: One of High End's Best Kept Secrets?

Just stopping by to share my enthusiasm for my new Synthesis A100 Titan integrated amplifier. For the past few years, I have been on the hunt for the best integrated amp I could find in my price range. I've had a Line Magnetic 508ia, a Devialet, a Lyngdorf TDAI-3400, a Boulder 866, a Vitus RI-101 mk2, and a Vitus SIA-025 mk2 in the past four or five years. I enjoyed aspects of each of these amps, some related to sonics, some to functionality, and some to build quality. 

And yet, in each case, after several months, I found that I wasn't quite getting the sound I wanted--rich, three-dimensional. engaging, and dynamic without being fatiguing. Too often, I found myself picking the sonic picture apart, assessing this or that at the expense of pure musical enjoyment.

I finally decided to give up on my hunt for the "perfect" solid state solution and go back to tubes, which led me to audition the Synthesis A100 Titan, an amp that features an octet of KT66 tubes, a pair of 12AX7, a pair of 12BH7, and even an onboard DAC. I was intrigued by this amp, but found very, very little written about it in the audio forums (here and elsewhere), except the praise of a couple of folks.

I've had it about a month now, so while I cannot give a guarantee that it is my "lifetime amp" in light of my history of amp promiscuity, I can say with absolute assurance that I find this amp far more satisfying and exciting than any of the amps I've had through here over the past few years.

In short, I am just astonished by it. I had assumed that at the very least, the onboard DAC would be inferior to my Lampizator Baltic 3, which is just wonderful in every respect, but as I spend more time comparing, I am not even sure of that anymore. The onboard DAC is so good that I am now planning to try some different USB cables to see how much performance can be squeezed out of it. Very possibly, my excellent Lampi may soon be up for sale.

Just to be clear, this is no ad, and I have no affiliation whatsoever with any dealer or distributor. I just can't believe how good this amp is, and how relatively unheralded it is. So I am heralding. The Titan is a pure pleasure to listen through every night, and a magical match with my Fyne speakers. The presentation is utterly immersive, and spellbinding. I am no longer picking the sound apart. There's no need.

If you are in the market, I highly recommend an audition.

 

 

128x128waltersalas
facten
2,726 posts
 

I've emailed Synthesis directly about the biasing to see if I can get specifics on the process; will post back when I get a response.

facten
2,726 posts
 

Per my email correspondence with Synthesis :

-  "amps are manual bias except the ROMA96DC and ROMA96DC+ that have autobias"

- T"he biasing procedure is internal and need to open the amp for setting"

- "The bias setting needs to be done when the tubes are spent, or when put the     new. ... need a multi meter for to read the bias value (current) and a little knowledge of electronics."

  - "if you need a bias setting manual, I’ll send you"

larryi
3,718 posts
 

Given clear instructions, I don't think it is hard for anyone to bias their amp themselves.  But, the problem is that it is hard to gage how experienced is the person attempting this, how much experience they have with a multimeter, and there is always a concern that someone might poke a probe where it should not go.  I can understand the reluctance to encouraging people to do this on their own.

I was at a pet store once where the owner got a call from a customer who just bought an air pump and could not get it to work.  The customer lived nearby and brought it back to the store a few minutes later.  When she took it out of the plastic bag, water was leaking from the pump.  The dealer asked about how she used it.  She said she plugged it in and just threw it into the tank.  I bet that was not anticipated.

grannyring's avatar
grannyring
6,436 posts
 

Yes, the problem is under that bottom cover you have some 400-500vdc at your fingertips and one better know what the heck they are doing. A wrong move and serious injury or death is possible. So this amp is really not bias capable by most folks.

If the internal bias points are well away from high voltage and “safe” then ignore my comments. Not sure this is the case however.

l strongly suggest the amp maker simply provide bias slots on top of the chassis where one can plug in their multimeter. This is simple to do, not costly, and so needed.

Wonderful amp for sure, but this bias issue is a real one. Not my intent to be negative or hyperbolic here, but simply sharing the realities. Hard to find techs in most places nowadays making it a hassle to bias when needed. I have to think this could be addressed and rather easily.  

facten
2,726 posts
 

Yes, the Synthesis rep mentioned in his email the need to be careful about the voltage exposure.

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