A lot of budding audiophiles might be using an integrated amp and be wondering what difference adding a pre or power amp would make to the sound. I had been wondering myself for many years. Also, a lot of people don't realise (perhaps like me) that they can buy a power amplifier and very successfully attach it to their integrated amp resulting in the integrated amp acting as a pre-amp only.
At tremendous risk (because I couldn’t get an in-home trial or even have a demo), I added the Galion A20 to a:
• Denafrips Terminator DAC
• Cambridge CXVN 2 streamer
• Musical Fidelity Ms5 Integrated
• Harbeth XD7 speakers
• Denon AVR 3500H
The A20 made a wonderful difference (phew!!) . However, it takes ages for it to run in to its full potential, a good few months perhaps. It starts off good, and then gets better over time
The best thing (for me) is that it’s gentle to the ears and non-fatiguing, even at loud volumes, and there’s no problems with it going loud (although I never go above 85dB and usually settle around the 65-70 dB area). A lot of stuff I’ve owned (going back) sounds great at first but then after an hour of listening I feel tired. I can go all day with the A20 however. It conveys emotions into the sound, not analytic or harsh, it has a detailed signature but none of the details seem crammed together, it's all spaced out really well
A real bonus is that it’s fantastic within a home theatre system where I habitually go up to 80-85 dB. The detail the amp provides gives a wonderful ambience to HT. All the sounds of the soundtrack are extremely nuanced – the crackling leaves of a pedestrian’s steps for example are so easily heard where once it might’ve been only heard with sharp concentration. A friend of mine who has watched a movie at my house about once a month for many years and has an extraordinary knack for predicting the Oscar winning soundtrack prior to announcement, was blown away by the A20 in full flight. He just couldn’t believe it
Unfortunately, the new pre-amp to accompany the A20 won’t be coming with a HT by-pass, which is sad, as I’d 100% upgrade otherwise
I’ve returned and / or sold a lot of equipment over the years because I haven’t liked it, even though at first it seemed all right, but not this one, the A20, is a keeper. After about 3.5 months, there's no doubt about it
Phil, Melbourne Australia