Audiophile Quality Tube Audio Design TAD-60 Amplifier

Mystery
Mystery Posts: 2,546
edited August 2013 in For Sale (FS) Classifieds
For sale is excellent condition Audiophile Quality Tube Audio Design TAD-60 Amplifier.
Serious inquiries only.

$950+shipping. PP gift or USPS MO or pay fees.

Here is a review on this amplifier:
http://brianmedia.net/2013/04/tube-audio-design-tad-60-amp/

****************************************************
Audiogon Review: Tube Audio Design TAD-60 Tube amp:
http://forum.audiogon.com/cgi-bin/frr.pl?ramps&1129061242&3
****************************************************
I'll start by saying that I've been into higher-end audio for a few decades now, and quite a lot of equipment has been through my hands to this point (half the fun of this hobby). Somewhere around 12 years ago, I'd come to realize that I preferred tube amplification over solid state in terms of an overall involving presentation of the music, and ever since then have owned tube stuff (brief flirtations with various solid state devices only helped to enforce this notion).

Which brings me to the discovery of Tube Audio Design, the provider of components conceived by Paul Grzybek (of Bizzy Bee Audio fame), built to his specifications by a very reputable Chinese manufacturer, and then hand-finished by Paul in his shop located in Wheaton, IL. (His offerings are available exclusively online; detailed product info is found at www.angelfire.com/biz/bizzyb/i...)

The TAD-60 amplifier is built like the proverbial tank; overall appearance and heft (not to mention its specifications) in my experience indeed belie the modest asking price. With its stainless steel chassis and almost 1/2"-thick black anodized face, the relatively compact package portrays a masculine but elegant stance (also included is a lift-off stainless steel tube cage). All function controls are easily accessible from the chassis top, as are the tube bias test-points and adjustment pots (a digital voltmeter is included too).

EL34-based, the TAD-60 is rated at 60wpc in UL-mode, and 30wpc in switchable-on-the-fly triode-mode. Other standard features include adjustable input sensitivity and adjustable global feedback, adding flexibility to a host of possible preamp and speaker combinations (the input sensitivity control may also be used as a volume pot in a single-source direct input configuration).

Listening to the TAD-60 after the recommended 30 hour break-in period and beyond, the music really began to open up, and along with the TAD-150 preamp, I was experiencing just about every CD I spun in a whole new manner - I'm particular to small-ensemble jazz and female vocals - there was an in-the-room conveyence of the music that I found startling at times - present is deep, tight bass, a glorious midrange, detail, depth, and an overall natural presentation that allows hour after hour of enjoyable listening. I've found that the feedback adjustment permits a fine-tuning of balance between dynamics and warmth, and was able to "lock in" the amp to my speakers for what sounds to be a perfect sonic match (just a tad of feedback along with the triode-mode setting seems to be the magic spot in my case).

Without attempting to describe every sonic attribute I'm hearing (though I'm happy to answer any particular inquiries), suffice it to say that the TAD-60/TAD-150 combination strikes a synergy and glow that is especially musical, and is among the finest I've had the pleasure of owning. The TAD-150 has already been highly praised in at least a few user and online reviews, and I bet the TAD-60 will soon be recognized as a similar standout. If you happen to be in the market for high quality, reasonably priced, excellent-sounding gear, just take a listen for yourself, and you will hear what these components can do for music. (Paul also offers a 15-day in-home trail period.)

Note: I have no financial interest or business relationship with Paul Grzybek or Tube Audio Design.

Associated gear
Magnepan 1.6QR, California Audio Labs CL-10, Music Hall MMF-5/Goldring G1012

Similar products
Conrad Johnson MV55
Sonic Frontiers SFS-40
VTL 50/50
Golden Tube SE-40
ASL AQ-1004
Sound Quest SQ-88

by Ggeers222 on 10-11-05
**************************************************

Tube Audio Design TAD-60 (1)-small2.jpg


Tube Audio Design TAD-60 (5)-small2.jpg

Klipsch RB81, KG3.5, B&W DM602.5, Polk.
Subwoofers: Klipsch RW10, Triad ProSub Bronze.

Comments

  • Mystery
    Mystery Posts: 2,546
    Man, it's been a while.
    Best offers accepted on this.

    84733.jpg

    84734.jpg

    Klipsch RB81, KG3.5, B&W DM602.5, Polk.
    Subwoofers: Klipsch RW10, Triad ProSub Bronze.
  • JuanR
    JuanR Posts: 718
    I assume it comes with the original tubes? Do you have the TAD-150 Pre-amp?
    Thanks
    Juan
  • Mystery
    Mystery Posts: 2,546
    edited February 2015
    I have to check if it has original tubes or replacements.
    Don't have the pre-amp.

    Klipsch RB81, KG3.5, B&W DM602.5, Polk.
    Subwoofers: Klipsch RW10, Triad ProSub Bronze.
  • Mike Reeter
    Mike Reeter Posts: 4,315
    The TAD-60 was my first tube amp, and I've been hooked ever since. This is an outstanding piece of gear, very vesital and responds well to various tubes.

    Seems like it has Gain controls that let you elimitate a preamp if you like.
  • Mystery
    Mystery Posts: 2,546
    edited February 2015
    Okay finally got around this.
    More info and pics:
    It's the later version with LED's for tube bias setup.
    The smaller two tubes are GE JG-5814A.
    The bigger four tubes are Electro-Harmonix 6CA7EH.
    Forgot to check the smaller tube in between the big ones. Probably it's also a GE.
    Cover comes off by lifting up.
    Just pulled out from the cabinet where it was hooked up for months so don't mind the dust.

    Pictures:
    16574918791_d5574ea298_o.jpg
    16550581926_6319b7e25c_o.jpg
    15956366603_7b98c49e28_o.jpg
    16388913878_435aa1a173_o.jpg
    15956368483_0753838d52_o.jpg
    16390652647_0d5df3bd92_o.jpg
    15954014874_e6762bed59_o.jpg
    16574923381_c8604f2964_o.jpg

    Klipsch RB81, KG3.5, B&W DM602.5, Polk.
    Subwoofers: Klipsch RW10, Triad ProSub Bronze.
  • Mystery
    Mystery Posts: 2,546
    It's SOLD locally.
    Here's a parting picture: ;)

    pcr7au6jopm7.jpg

    Klipsch RB81, KG3.5, B&W DM602.5, Polk.
    Subwoofers: Klipsch RW10, Triad ProSub Bronze.
  • MrBuhl
    MrBuhl Posts: 2,419
    Gotta love pics of tubes in the dark! BTW - that Aragon is a beaut too!
    VA HT HK AVR20II, Sony S9000ES CD/DVD/SACD, Polk Audio RC80i / Polk Audio CSi3, 60" Panasonic Plasma, Nordost / Signal Cable A2 / Wireworld / Pangea / Magic Power
    VA 2 Channel Focal Electra 926 speakers, Pass Labs X150.5 Amp, Eastern Electric MiniMax Preamp (Tutay mods), Eastern Electric Minimax CDP (Scott Nixon mods), Music Hall mmf 5.1 Turntable, Parks Audio Budgie Phono Pre , Audioengine B1 streamer, MIT S3 IC's / MIT Shotgun S3 Speaker Cables / PS Audio power cables
    Noggin Schiit Valhalla, Pangea, Phillips Fidelio X1, Polk UF8000

    Polk SDA1c modded
    Polk CRS+ 4.1TL modded (need veneer)
    Polk SDA2BTL (fully modded)
    A/L 1000VA Dreadnought Canare 4s11 SDA cable
    SACD Marantz DV8300
    Sony S9000ES CD/DVD/SACD
    Yamaha YP-D6
    Soundcraftsmen PCR800
    Audible Illusions L1 Preamp
    Vincent MFA based Cocci Tube Preamp
    Pho-700 Phono Pre
    Signal Cable Silver Resolution IC's






  • Mystery
    Mystery Posts: 2,546
    MrBuhl wrote: »
    Gotta love pics of tubes in the dark! BTW - that Aragon is a beaut too!

    Yep but my Sonus need little more power than the TAD-60 so using Aragon for them. Not tube like but pretty much comparable when running the TAD in bilinear mode.

    Klipsch RB81, KG3.5, B&W DM602.5, Polk.
    Subwoofers: Klipsch RW10, Triad ProSub Bronze.
  • nooshinjohn
    nooshinjohn Posts: 25,421
    Something we all learned at the San Diego get-together at Doug's place... TUBES RULE! :D

    Somebody get froggy on this one as this is a nice looking piece, and a great way to get started in tube audio.
    The Gear... Carver "Statement" Mono-blocks, Mcintosh C2300 Arcam AVR20, Oppo UDP-203 4K Blu-ray player, Sony XBR70x850B 4k, Polk Audio Legend L800 with height modules, L400 Center Channel Polk audio AB800 "in-wall" surrounds. Marantz MM7025 stereo amp. Simaudio Moon 680d DSD

    “When once a Republic is corrupted, there is no possibility of remedying any of the growing evils but by removing the corruption and restoring its lost principles; every other correction is either useless or a new evil.”— Thomas Jefferson
  • Mystery
    Mystery Posts: 2,546
    Something we all learned at the San Diego get-together at Doug's place... TUBES RULE! :D

    Somebody get froggy on this one as this is a nice looking piece, and a great way to get started in tube audio.

    No one can get froggy on this as it's already hopped away... :smiley:

    Klipsch RB81, KG3.5, B&W DM602.5, Polk.
    Subwoofers: Klipsch RW10, Triad ProSub Bronze.