@doyle3433
Thanks, good feedback. But to put things into perspective, could you (and I mean in very general terms) compare teh overall sound quality to any other similarly priced configurations?
Really, I'm getting more & more sold on this model.
T+A's new R 2500 R integrated amp
**Not to be confused with earlier T+A products that have similar names.**
Does anybody have hands-on experience with this incredibly flexible integrated amp? It’s been shipping in the US for just a couple of months, & has not yet been reviewed in the Tier One audiophile press
It’s absolutely not possible for me to hear the R 2500 R before buying, and at nearly $19,000, I’m hesitant to pull the trigger blind. But it sure sounds impressive on paper, boasting one of T+A’s world-class DAC/streamers, several hundred Class AB wpc, 31-lb weight, discrete headphone amp, some of the most comprehensive connectivity on the market, firmware-upgradability, a friendly UI, and, of course, T+A’s reputation for impeccable sound quality. It even includes a CD transport & FM tuner, as well as HDMI w/ARC I/O for integration into a home theater. Whew.
I normally wouldn’t consider an embedded DAC/streamer, but, heck, this is T+A, the company that made its name throughout Europe for its no-holds-barred DAC technology. And I understand that the R 2500’s internal DAC is an updated (albeit "merely" 512DSD) version of the company’s highly regarded $7500 1-bit standalone model.
Given all that, I’d love to speak with anyone who managed to score one of the first batch (now sold out at many dealerships); or even to a golden ear who plans to audition this amp at AXPONA.
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At the show probably the closest and similar priced unit would be Aurender AP20 streaming some good music. It was also a simple set up with just the AP20 and a pair of Wilson Sabrina's. These two rooms were perhaps the easiest listening rooms I encountered. Plus they appealed to me in their uncluttered appearence. |
@doyle3433 Really? I didn't know that Aurender made an integrated. ========== Looking at the specs, this does look like a great product, despite potentially being one of those "great sounding Class D amps" I referred to earlier. I do need an unbalanced subwoofer out, but there are ways around that when a component has both powered speaker outputs and a line-level XLR out. The dealbreaker for me, though, is the weight,. Because of a back injury, even a 40-pound box would be out of my league. And at $3-4K less expensive, with even more functionality and apparently similar sound, the T+A is still looking like the best fit. Thanks for the heads-up, though. The AP20 looks pretty terrific. |
@doyle3433 Being both a T+A and Aurender dealer, I would love to hear your early thoughts on the differences in the sonics of these two rooms. I was the first dealer to purchase the AP20 in the USA and recently wrote a really lengthy evaluation of it in another thread on this forum given my enthusiasm for its performance. I did hear the AP20 last year at AXPONA when it was revealed, also with the Sabrinas. I also own a plethora of T+A electronics (sadly not the R 2500 R) and the Solitaire S 530 speakers. My assumptions with the AP20/Wilson sound compared to the T+A amp/Solitaire speaker sound is that the AP20/Wilson would come off as more punchy and articulate, and the T+A stack to be more graceful and refined. Would that mirror your findings? If it were up to me, I would choose a different speaker than the Sabrinas to show off the AP20, perhaps Joseph Audio or Vivid. Having also owned Wilsons in the past, I felt the AP20/Wilson combo was a bit tippy when I heard it at AXPONA last year. I mean, really great sound for the total price, but Wilson plus Shunyata plus AP20 got just a bit more analytical than I prefer. This is why shows are so tough for evaluation for one component, as it all becomes part of an overall system where one never knows what is contributing to what. I apologize if this is hijacking the topic of this thread, but I would value from your insight! |
I have the SDV 3100 HV, which I realize is up the product hierarchy from what you are looking at. That said, it is exceptional and I highly recommend you pursue the R 2500 as an option. Regarding the company, I had a bit of a problem getting DSD to play (due to my configuration, not the device) and the T+A rep stayed with it until fully resolved. I don't know where you are located, but Pearl Audio in Portland carries the brand. I've worked with great success with Connor at the store. |
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