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Thinking about another amplifier (Galion)

I keep coming across this Galion amp for some reason. I’ve watched a whole bunch of videos and read as much as I can about it. I’m leaning towards picking one up because of all the great things I hear about the bass, and that it still manages to deliver the rest of the tube magic at a nice price. But before going any further, I thought I’d ask if someone here might have some experience going from a 300B SET amp to something else, and if you were satisfied or not?

The current amplifier (pun intended) is a Line Magnetic LM-805ia (uses 2x 300B, 2x 805, 2x 6SN7 and a 6SL7). The one I’m looking at is a Galion TS120SE amplifier (uses 4x KT88 and 4x 12AX7).

I’m pretty darn happy with everything about my current setup...except I wouldn’t mind sacrifiing some of my super-sweet and syrupy mid-range for a little bit more bass, tightness, and slam. In case you’re wondering, I do have a 1 REL S/510 sub. I don’t plan on getting rid of my current amplifier anytime soon, but will eventually need to since I don’t really have the space for another big and heavy tube amp/ WAF.

I’d like to save myself from the whole cost and upgrade headache of swapping in new gear and having moving things around forever to get it all just right again. If there is a general concensus that this purchase is not be a great manuevuer, then I’ll steer clear.

In case it matters, I listen to mostly 70’s rock and soft/rock, funk, soul, 80’s new-wave/alt, all the great piano/singers, 90’s "grunge", acid-jazz, downtempo, and newer electronic music.

Speakers are Tannoy Turnberry and I mostly stream though a Lumin S1. Rarely, I’ll spin some vinyl (Rega Planar 6).

Some amps I’ve had in the past: Sansui Au-9500, Peachtree Nova 300, Prima Luna EVO 400. I’m hoping to get the bass the Peachtree Nova 300 had without giving up much else.

Thanks in advanced for taking the time to reading this and for your opinion.

veerossi
jeffseight's avatar
jeffseight
574 posts
 

Another sub or three will take care of the bass issue.

Re the Galion. Google Doge Amps. I had an email from

them 2 weeks ago. It seemed like the same amp as Galion

for $1,700. Another to compare to is the Wilsenton Amps

Line Magnetic and Tannoy should produce great sound.

Tannoys stop about 40db. Gott to add subs. 2 more of the

little REL  5Tx model will do it!

hilde45's avatar
hilde45
4,784 posts
 

I keep coming across this Galion amp for some reason. 

Because it's heavily promoted by a Thomas, who also happens to be a Youtube influencer, who has gotten his other influencer peers to review it.

It may be a good amp, but I'm suspicious that it is as good as it's touted to be, especially compared to the many serious products with longer track records out there. 

jbhiller's avatar
jbhiller
1,361 posts
 

Veerosi, 

I have a very similar amp to yours. My 805 amp is reportedly built in the same factory as yours. 
 

while I haven’t heard the Galion, I’m very familiar with Doge (the manufacturer) and Primaluna (your previous amp). 
 

Do you like the Line Magnetic more than the Primaluna? If so, you may find the Galion to sound more like the latter. If you generally have enough headroom I’d keep the LM. 
 

If your LM drives the 93dB Tannoys to your liking, I’d do what others suggest and get two REL T9i.  

emergingsoul
909 posts
 

The problem is no one has this amplifier and it just simply does too much for the price. It’s seems a low end product.

I don’t really hear anything positive about this product. It is very interesting and pretty.

 

yakbob
449 posts
 

I'm not sure why anyone would be drawn to the specs of the TS120 since it's essentially a re-badged Doge 10, which can be found used for half of what is being asked for the 120. If you're going there for the tone controls, would a Schitt Loki Max allow you to keep the "super-sweet and syrupy mid-range" of the LM-805ia, with the option of juicing the lower frequencies when needed?

I take the YouTube marketing machine hype with a healthy dose of skepticism.

 

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