This unit will not disappoint those listeners who are after a more purist approach to their sound. This is a no-frills piece that elevates sound quality over features or any sort of gimmickry. It has been discontinued by Sony unfortunately, so they are likely to become more rare and sought after by collectors. Highly recommended.
Verified purchase: Yes | Condition: Pre-owned
Great sound and build quality. My only wish is for a pre-out and/or a subwoofer output, though I was aware of this prior to purchasing. The binding posts for the speaker outputs seemed odd at first, but they work well. I like the switchable impedance and the ability to choose auto-standby. It runs fairly cool compared to other Class A amps. Clean styling.
Verified purchase: Yes | Condition: New
Sony’s TA-A1es certainly looks the part from its hefty build, rigid frame to the clarity of its sound. The XLR jacks are an excellent nod to audiophiles which pair well with other source components. Oversized speaker connections are a bit of a caricature, but again work well. Though this unit seems targeted to audiophiles, there is no phono stage, and no pre-outs for a sub if desired. The simple, spartan look is laid out well, so the few details stand out. The five inputs are flush buttons, with the main volume knob aligned to the right. Some units have these five buttons feeling slightly ‘low’ or subsurface which isn’t just problematic for a $2000 amplifier, but the machined edge of the faceplate presented as a sharp edge. Given there are few physical details on the TA, the quality should be top notch, as the remainder of these units are sturdily built. Suffice to say, some units are built better than others. As with almost every audio component, the packing is sparse. A 40 lb amplifier can wreak havoc on the minimal styrofoam if not handled properly during shipping. Given there are several high end amplifiers available at $2K, it’s nice to see Sony getting back into audiophile gear. A few additional features and tuning up the quality control would make this a must have. Given there are many with similar features at 60% of this Sony, I give the TA-A1es a 75%. Read full review
Verified purchase: No
This amp is a hidden jewel from the Sony ES line of products. It’s the first amp that I’ve owned that makes my Magnepan LRSs come alive!!! This is a great underrated product from Sony!!!
Verified purchase: Yes | Condition: Pre-owned
If this were released in 2022, it would have been a huge success. The surge in analog sources has driven other manufacturers to build similar analog integrated amps. Great warm sound. Some reviewers have complained that it gets hot - I may not be driving it as hard as them but I have not seen it get any hotter than older class A receivers.
Verified purchase: Yes | Condition: New
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