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

The 4 bias pots in my Roma 27 AC are very small pots soldered to the circuit board on either side of the chassis. To remove them safely from the circuit board the amp circuit board would have to be removed and the pots desoldered. Not sure how you would mount them so they are accessible from the outside. Additionally the 4 resistors where the bias is measured span the width of the chassis. So not easily accessible from the outside. Retrofitting external bias access is way more of a PITA than just flipping the amp over a couple times a year to check the bias at least IMO. 
 

 

@woodsage Great info and would be curious to see your system consider posting on virtual systems page.

 

https://www.audiogon.com/systems

 

@jond

 

I checked out your system, very nice and a bit of a coincidence here:


Both my amp and a Synthesis Roma 510 I bought at the same time (for a friend) came from Deja Vu Audio. They were sold as demos to a local in VA.

Both of them developed problems shortly after receiving them. My buddy’s amp stopped working on one side and mine developed a very loud hum.

With the help of Luigi at Synthesis both problems were diagnosed and remedied. My friend’s amp had a failed bridge rectifier and mine turned out to be (ironically enough) a bias problem.

Through this process I became very familiar with the construction of these amplifiers.

As to virtual systems, I guess I’m just too lazy. I’ve been into high end audio for forty years and a member of Audiogon for over 20 years and just never had enough interest to post my many systems over the years.

Good listening.

 

@woodsage Small world and coincidence indeed and thank you for the kind words. I figure when folks have Synthesis gear it's likely from Deja Vu. And glad Luigi helped you troubleshoot he souneds like a great guy from all I've heard.

Luigi is a great guy.  I got to spend the better part of the day with him and he is very engaging, interesting, and willing to help with issues that crop up.  The brand has cauth on in Asia, so they are very busy these days.