Anyone heard of T +A Theory and Application

I have listened extensively to the T+A 1230R and the a1530 amp and they are exceptional for the money. Both the preamp and the A1530 amp are engaging, involving, smooth and listenable. I have owned or listened to Levinson, Naim, Belles, Bat, CJ solid state,ARC, Linn, Krell EVO and others and I believe the T+A to be as good or better than the best of them.

Tmstamps,
As the lead designer for Synergistic Research I have the opportunity to hear much of the state-of-the-art gear on the market today including my prior $18,000 three-box vacuum tube pre-amp. Notice I say "prior", since installing a 1230r preamp in our reference system I have never looked back. This pre amp is totally transparent and capable of presenting music with its full speed and inner detail unlike any other pre-amp I have ever heard- without spending a small fortune (think 20k plus). This pre-amp is so good that I could not have voiced my current Tesla Series cables without the 1230r. It allows me to hear what is really on a recording and this in turn allows me to make successive improvements to my cables during the development stage. The size of it's sound stage, the air it is capable of presenting, the quality of it's low frequencies, and it's mid range purity are breathtaking. By contrast, other pre amps sound slow and constricted in the highs and lows masking inner detail and compressing the sound stage. And when compared to "detail" electronics the T+A 1230r has a mid-range "bloom" and musicality that leaves it's competition sounding "hi-fi" in their presentation.

Of course all electronics (and cables) are system dependent so you should definitely give this pre-amp a listen in your system with one word of advise- if you are going to try this preamp you'll need to give it at least 150 hours of uninterrupted play time, without turning it off before it starts to blossom. During the break-in period the highs begin to take on an effortless transparency and the mid-range becomes as smooth and layered as the most expensive sold state gear on the market. Cold out of the box this pre amp will sound somewhat bright and mechanical until it breaks in and settles down.

I have nothing to gain by advocating this company and it's products but as a music lover first and foremost I feel compelled to share what has been for me one of a handful of components that has transformed my listening experience after nearly 20 years in the business.

Yours in music,
Ted Denney Lead Designer Synergistic Research Inc.

I have spent many years with tube electronics always feeling shorted by the musical experience of nearly all solid state electronics. While some solid state preamps sound good with popular music,the T+A 1230r is the first solid state preamp that I have heard that allows classical music to be presented in a rich natural involving way, unraveling recordings with information but always presenting the tonal balance fairly.