TA-100, How good is it?

[routlaw]

Looking to replace my existing integrated DAC/AMP for my office/studio setup. Currently using an Peachtree Audio iNova, long since discontinued. For the money as usual the TA-100 seems hard to beat, pre-amp, tuner, dac and integrated amp all in one. Typical Emotiva high value, but how does it sound? I have a pair of Spendor S3E's a smallish bookshelf speaker for sound.

Have also considered the PS Audio Sprout mainly due to its smallish size, anyone ever compared these two? The sprout is more than twice as expensive but I doubt it performs at twice the level.

Thanks in advance.

[garbulky]

The TA-100 will probably function at the same level as your peachtree

[routlaw]

Interesting thought, but why? Different dac, pre-amp circuit and even amp. I would think they might sound quite a bit different but maybe not.

[brubacca]

I wouldn't expect the TA-100 to be worlds better than the iNova. I'm sure its a solid piece of gear. Possibly you want the bluetooth connection of the TA?? Seems like a lateral move to me.

Maybe get a new tube for the input on the iNova to change the sound.

[routlaw]

Thanks Brubacca. I never use the tube circuit on the iNova, sounds better to me when it is turned off. Perhaps it is a lateral move, but my iNova has just shut down on me for the 3rd time in recent years. It will not turn on. It keeps doing this every 2-3 years ± for what ever reason. So at this point I'm just looking for something a bit more reliable and maybe better sounding at the same time. It is worth noting that I do get ear fatigue to some degree with this setup which never happens with my main system. Could be the Sabre DAC, amp stage or even the pre-amp stage, or perhaps even the speakers but doubt that.

Peachtree customer service has been very good though, so I have no complaints about that. When new, the iNova sold for way more than the TA-100. At this point I'm agnostic/indifferent about the bluetooth capabilities of any device, though it could get used in the future. I've yet to hear BT audio that did not make the sound fatiguing and unenjoyable.

[Boomzilla]

I've owned an iNova, and have heard a TA-100. I think that the TA-100 sounds better. I've not heard the PS Audio, but it gets good press.

[vcautokid]

No experience with the Sprout. I am curious about it. Paul M. does good work. The TA-100 will have transparency and openness that most will enjoy. I like the Emotiva voice. I could be ahem, biased, but yeah, the sound is great and the versatility and value of the TA-100 is tough to beat.

[brubacca]

May 27, 2018 19:13:15 GMT -5 routlaw said:

Thanks Brubacca. I never use the tube circuit on the iNova, sounds better to me when it is turned off. Perhaps it is a lateral move, but my iNova has just shut down on me for the 3rd time in recent years. It will not turn on. It keeps doing this every 2-3 years ± for what ever reason. So at this point I'm just looking for something a bit more reliable and maybe better sounding at the same time. It is worth noting that I do get ear fatigue to some degree with this setup which never happens with my main system. Could be the Sabre DAC, amp stage or even the pre-amp stage, or perhaps even the speakers but doubt that.

Peachtree customer service has been very good though, so I have no complaints about that. When new, the iNova sold for way more than the TA-100. At this point I'm agnostic/indifferent about the bluetooth capabilities of any device, though it could get used in the future. I've yet to hear BT audio that did not make the sound fatiguing and unenjoyable.

Ok, that changes the picture. I never liked the sabre implementations myself. Based on what I have read and experienced myself I think the TA-100 would be a good move. Plus with the return policy if the sonic signature is not to your liking you can return it. Seems like a no brainer. I would do the emotiva before the Sprout based on things I have read over the last couple of years. Plus Emotiva's entry level gear is very listenable.

[novisnick]

Ive owned a TA-100 for some time now, almost since its first offer to the public. Ive found no deficiencies from this integrated amp. Ive used ever input and output. The amps can drive 4 ohm as well as 8 ohm speakers with little effort. The DAC is standard Emotiva, very nice sounding and smooth without sharp edges to the ear. Even the phono preamp is very good.

A drawback is the setting up of the fm tuner, if you master the thought process youve hit gold but it is doable. LOL
I indorse this product as a low cost entryway to better audio, much better! Especially at its price.

[vneal]

I am using one(preamp section) with 23K speakers

[routlaw]

Thanks to all the input folks. I will probably pull the trigger on a TA-100 today.

[pknaz]

I've been very happy with mine, using it to power a set of Paul Carmody's Speedsters.

[novisnick]

May 28, 2018 10:26:04 GMT -5 routlaw said:

Thanks to all the input folks. I will probably pull the trigger on a TA-100 today.

Great!

Did you notice that NO ONE offered to sell you their TA-100 ?  Thats a damg good sign! 👍

[routlaw]

Turns out my iNova had a blown fuse, one of four on the power supply board. Quick trip to Radio Shack and its up and running again. Still going to order the TA-100 though.

[dickhertz]

I have one for my upstairs system and it does a fantastic job and the WAF is very high. The little guy is a bargain and we love it.

[routlaw]

Just received the TA-100 yesterday afternoon arriving in great shape, been running in ever sense. The was a record shipment for UPS, normally taking almost two weeks to arrive ± a day or two but this component arrived in 1 week to the day.

I won't comment much on the attributes of its sound for now other than to say it performs and sounds dramatically different than the Peachtree iNova. For anyone who thinks all dacs, amps and preamps sound identical (and they do exist) all I can say is they would have to be deaf as a box of rocks to not hear the difference between these two components. Anyone with two ears should be able to pass a DBT in the next room or half way across the building. They really do sound that much different.

A few disappointments though. The size is just a tad larger than I had hoped making for a very tight fit into my existing desktop space, not a complaint just the limitation of my desktop. Same with the iNova however though perhaps just a half inch or so smaller in one important direction. Also don't care for the C-7 power chord option much preferring typical IEC power chords. The remote, compared to my other Emotiva products leaves a bit to be desired and not as intuitive as the others.

It does not run as hot as the iNova, a very good thing especially with the coming summer months probably due to the Class A/B design vs the Class A on the iNova pre-amp section and the tube of course which is always on though not necessarily in the signal path. As always great service from Emotiva, very pleased with the TA-100 thus far.

[routlaw]

May 27, 2018 21:36:14 GMT -5 novisnick said:

A drawback is the setting up of the fm tuner, if you master the thought process youve hit gold but it is doable. LOL
I indorse this product as a low cost entryway to better audio, much better! Especially at its price.

Good grief you've got that right, I can't get it to work even after squandering a couple of hours or more on it this afternoon and the instructions are a cruel joke with very incomplete instructions. I don't think I've ever encountered a product that has been so difficult, obtuse and complex to setup as this tuner. The component sounds fine buy my goodness the tuner setup section is an exercise in frustration. 

Emotiva really needs to rethink the tuner menu as well as their instruction manual. Otherwise the rest of it works relatively easy but even that could be improved. The XMC-1 albeit a very complex component also is on an order of magnitude easier to setup.

[novisnick]

Jun 6, 2018 20:14:22 GMT -5 routlaw said:

May 27, 2018 21:36:14 GMT -5 novisnick said:

A drawback is the setting up of the fm tuner, if you master the thought process youve hit gold but it is doable. LOL
I indorse this product as a low cost entryway to better audio, much better! Especially at its price.

Good grief you've got that right, I can't get it to work even after squandering a couple of hours or more on it this afternoon and the instructions are a cruel joke with very incomplete instructions. I don't think I've ever encountered a product that has been so difficult, obtuse and complex to setup as this tuner. The component sounds fine buy my goodness the tuner setup section is an exercise in frustration. 

Emotiva really needs to rethink the tuner menu as well as their instruction manual. Otherwise the rest of it works relatively easy but even that could be improved. The XMC-1 albeit a very complex component also is on an order of magnitude easier to setup.

And you thought the V3 board was a test in patience! LOL

[routlaw]

Don't have the V3 board, just the original board that came with the XMC-1 Gen 2. So you got me on that one.