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TRL ST225 - Goodness anyone else own this amp

I will soon be writing a review on this amp and wonder if any fellow Agoners own this gem. If so, please let us hear your comments on it. I am nothing short of amazed by it. I had to "downsize" and sold a tube monobloc amp and tubed preamp combo costing over $15,000 new. Both pieces were fine sounding and well regarded.

I ended up trading a set of speakers for a TRL ST225 integrated amp. I had never heard of this amp before and was not aware of Paul's work.

All I will say for now is this integrated amp bested my previous set-up and is the finest sound my speakers and room have provided.

I am a tube guy folks and this SS amp is still the finest amp I have ever heard. I put $5000 in the bank and have better sounding music. Now that is exciting!!!

They cost some $5500 new and mine was purchased/traded as used. It had just been updated by Paul and came direct to me once the upgrade was finished.

Happy in MN

Bill
128x128grannyring
rx8man's avatar
rx8man
1,483 posts
 
Has anyone heard or compared the TRL 225 integrated vs. the stereo or mono version with
a tubed preamp ?

From what I reading about, they seem as good or better sounding than the best stuff out there (no wars please) Dartzeel, Spectron, NuForce etc.

Currently running a slightly modded Audio Horizon TP 2.0 preamp and would like to keep it in the chain.
clio09
3,358 posts
 
I have not done the comparison, but did use my TRL D-225 with both a Cary SLP-98 and Joule Electra LA-100 MkIII and can say that the solid state amp/tube preamp combination worked extremely well in my system.

From what I have read about the AH TP 2.0 the combination with a D-225 would be very interesting to hear.
grannyring's avatar
grannyring OP
6,508 posts
 
I did try my integrated with a fully upgraded and loaded AH 2.1 with Joseph's best tubes. I loved that preamp!

This is hard for me to say as I loved that preamp so much, but the TRL integraded was much better without the AH preamp. Now, I dont have a remote and now have two volume knobs so that may be a problem for some. The music was just so damn good I don't care about remotes anymore.

I just did not believe an integraded or even separates could best the AH pre and all other amps I have ever mated with it by an audio mile. This TRL did to be sure.

Bill
bobheinatz
724 posts
 
Rx8man,

I just recently purchased the TRL M225 mono blocks and with only 100 hours on them they are the best amps I have ever heard. I owned the Nuforce and the TRL's are in another league. I have not heard the ST225 so I can't compare the two but I would assume the sound would be quite simular. I am looking at possibly the TRL Dude preamp down the road.
rx8man's avatar
rx8man
1,483 posts
 
In another league, can you describe the difference(s) ?

Bob, if you want to email each other off-line to prevent any flame wars from the aforementioned amps, please do, I saw way too many threads go to shit when trying to grasp comparisons or sonic traits from other companies.
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