Tone Winner AD-1PA Class A Stereo Amplifier
After 2 weeks and over 100+ hours of break in period of this amazing amplifier I have finally sat down and for a period of two days and over 10+ hours of nothing but heavenly listening sessions here is what I think of the Tone Winner AD-1PA.
This Class A Stereo Amplifier is without a doubt the best amplifier that I have ever owned at any price. I have been an Audiophile for more than 25 years owning nothing but the best in high end audio equipment up to the $25K price range. I have owned Pass Labs, Mark Levinson, McIntosh, Bryston, Krell, Musical Fidelity, P S Audio, Classe, Parasound Halo ( JC1 Monoblocks) and this Tone Winner AD-1PA has a lot of the qualities of many of this amplifiers but it brings them to another high end level of sound that I have not being able to find in any of those previous well made amplifiers that I have owned in the past.
Please, I want to make very clear that in no way I am saying anything bad about those previously owned amplifiers. I have enjoyed the time that I had them but there was always something missing that I I could not figured out what it was. That's why in my search for music nirvana I kept looking and switching amps. It was until two years ago that my last Stereo Amplifier was the McIntosh MC-452 . Nice sounding amplifier but it was too lay back for my taste. Not a bad thing if you like amplifiers that have that sound but for my taste it wasn't what I was looking for. I sold it to a very good friend of mine and I was without an amplifier in my system until I decided to give this AD-1PA a try.
For many years here in the United States in the high end audio world many of us are led to believe that audio equipment made in China is nothing but low end equipment. That is not made to compete with "high end " expensive audio brands sold here in the US. That if the equipment does not cost a lot it may be cheap. And although in some cases some of this high end equipment made in China may not have been built with high end parts this is not the case with this Tone Winner Brand. I spent a lot of time researching this particular amplifier and found out that it has been built with nothing but high end quality parts and over all it is a well built high end amplifier. But to me what matters is the sound and this amplifier takes the music to the next level and this is why,
1- Highs- The sound is so crystal clear and transparent . You can spend hours listening without feeling fatigue that's associated with metallic sounding highs. Outstanding sound dispersion and quality between instruments and vocals. Just perfect !
2- Midrange - So luscious sounding. The sound is more natural with a midrange and grain free treble. The imaging and precision of the instruments is the best that I have heard. The soundstage is wide and deep . It is such a delight listening to it because it is so warming sounding. Everything sounds with such a terrific balance and tonality that you can spend endless hours listening to it.
3-Bass - Wow! All I can say is , Wow! I did not expect this amazing low end bass extension. It is as if the bass hits the low end notes with authority but not being boomy at all and then it extends so heavenly and sublime across the room . It hits the low end extension with the speed that is required but in a perfect level of accuracy and detail. The best low end bass extension that I have ever heard in any amplifier.
Do I care that this remarkable sounding amplifier was made in China ,Nah! not at all . Many kudos to Tone Winner for making such a wonderful sounding amplifier. If this amplifier was to be sold here in the US thru dealers trust me when I tell you that the price will not be $1999 it will be way more and perhaps over $5K . When you see this amp in person you will think that it will cost no less than $10K . If there was a blind test perform with this amplifier and or if you were to cover the Tone Winner name and just play it in a room with audiophiles and ask them how much do they think the amp will cost after listening to it I know for a fact that they will say at least $10,000 .
My listening session was performed in pure Class A all the time. The amplifier runs a little hot but not to the point that you will burn your hands if you touch it. My living room just got warm but not hot and that was with the outside temperature being between 75 -80*. Many reviewers admit that Class A amplifiers and the most inefficient but they also admit that the best sound is obtain using a Class A amplifier. The Class A amp is inefficient if you just turn it on and leave it there as space heater doing nothing but if you are like me who is going to turn it on and enjoy the best sounding music reproduction that a well built Class A amplifier can offer then the Tone Winner AD-1PA is the Amp for you.
Equipment used ,
Marantz SC-11S1 Preamplifier
Marantz SA-11S2 SACD Player
Tone Winner AD-1PA Class A Stereo Amplifier
Aurum Cantus Grand Harmony II Speakers
Hi @nypr2003, are you still using this amp? Would love to hear your long term ownership thoughts |
soulforged + 1 |
China made HiFi seems to get a bad rap from some people “not supporting child slave labour etc.” but everyone is buying China made products whether they know it or not. Pretty much everything is made in China these days, clothing, tools, even food, look at a can of mushrooms, product of China. Somewhere in their life everyone is supporting China with something they own or buy, so why draw the line at HiFi equipment? I have a Oppo 205 disc player, China made and absolutely love it, worked flawlessly, very good player. What I do have a problem with is these companies that manufacture in China but charge US made prices, like Hegel, then they try to hide the fact that it is made in China. |
