Tibo PA150 Power Amp…..very much a truly nice budget surprise!

[Schlippwhip68]

The Tibo PA150, probably one of the most underrated and unsung power amplifiers of late. This thing is very well built, I mean solid, clean and very well finished. Mono and stereo switch on the rear. 150w stereo, 300w mono (bridged).
In use it has a clean sound not vastly different to that of my Ampapa D1 but with the added quality of a little more punch and bass weight in general. Clean mid range and vocals and clean highs. Quite an well balanced sound overall. It’s brand new so cannot say whether the sound will change much or not. Previous reviews have noted that in their opinion the PA150 out of the box sounds a little constrained new but opened up nicely after a couple of weeks burn in. As it sounds now, I have nothing much to complain about at all.

RCA inputs on the rear, two of, one for line in and one for line out. Line out maybe to connect another power amp or even sub. Good quality connections and speaker binding posts easily on a par with my old Denon PMA900HNE maybe even a little more sturdy and sturdy is everything that this amp is, built like a Panzer! The chassis is very well designed. The vents have a very refined look with smoothed off edges and a fabric underneath. The are vents on the top and sides. There is some serious weight to the amp too and as soon as I picked it up I felt a certain assurance that the manufacturer was not messing about and just knocking out another cheap amp.

I am feeding the PA150 with the Ampapa Q1 dac which has volume control and works perfectly well with the PA150. It certainly has a lot more power than my Ampapa D1! When using the Q1 with the D1, the Q1 is in the 80’s on the volume. Using the same Q1 dac with the PA150 and the volume is very loud at 55 on the volume read, confidently more power! The PA150 works very well with the Douk Audio P7 preamp equipped with Psvane Horizon 12ax7-AT valves and either the Muses 02 or opa828 op amps, the latter I am yet to test but have no doubts about the performance they will deliver, that being clean, accurate and easy to listen to all day. Adding the P7 into the chain brought more width to the soundstage and better depth, a more holographic stereo image. I don’t know all of this measures on paper but in life this is a sound that many would be happy to live with including me.

The Tibo PA150 cost £139 in the UK and sometimes lower prices can be caught with opened box which is what I purchased from Hifi Madness on eBay uk and the thing arrived in perfect condition for £129.

IMO, better value than most if not all the Ti3255 chip based power amps out there currently, genuine amount of power that easily will fill any medium sized room possibly even large. Rock solid build quality and a good clean powerful sound that will relay the quality of whatever you feed it with and do it admirably.

If you are looking for power amp and find the endless amount of Ti3255 chip based amps just don’t cut the mustard for power and presence, then you should certainly try the Tibo PA150, I am glad I did.

Update: I switched the op amps around. I put the Muses 02 into the P7 preamp and the opa828 into the Ampapa Q1 and the difference is far from marginal! Much better clarity and depth than the same op amps configured the other way round. This really works! Drum hits are much cleaner, Sax is lifelike as are the vocals, cymbals etc and have much more realism and clarity. Far better soundstage. Highly recommended combination all round!

 

[RandomEar]

The Tibo PA150, probably one of the most underrated and unsung power amplifiers of late. This thing is very well built, I mean solid, clean and very well finished. Mono and stereo switch on the rear. 150w stereo, 300w mono (bridged).
In use it has a clean sound not vastly different to that of my Ampapa D1 but with the added quality of a little more punch and bass weight in general. Clean mid range and vocals and clean highs. Quite an well balanced sound overall.

Unless one is broken or the PA150 is badly designed, it is very unlikely that there is any audible difference between these amplifiers. Sighted testing with long switching times (>10 s) is not a reliable way to determine differences in sound.

It’s brand new so cannot say whether the sound will change much or not. Previous reviews have noted that in their opinion the PA150 out of the box sounds a little constrained new but opened up nicely after a couple of weeks burn in. As it sounds now, I have nothing much to complain about at all.

Burn in is an audiophile myth. These are semiconductor-based amplifiers, the components stay in spec for decades.

RCA inputs on the rear, two of, one for line in and one for line out. Line out maybe to connect another power amp or even sub. Good quality connections and speaker binding posts easily on a par with my old Denon PMA900HNE maybe even a little more sturdy and sturdy is everything that this amp is, built like a Panzer!

I am feeding the PA150 with the Ampapa Q1 dac which has volume control and works perfectly well with the PA150. It certainly has a lot more power than my Ampapa D1! When using the Q1 with the D1, the Q1 is in the 80’s on the volume. Using the same Q1 dac with the PA150 and the volume is very loud at 55 on the volume read, confidently more power!

This is a common misconception. Input sensitivity and gain do not equal power. If the PA150 delivers full power already at 2 V input, but the Ampapa requires 4 V, the latter is not less powerful. The PA150 delivers 150 W into 8 Ohms, while the Ampapa is a bit over 100 W. At full power, that equals a difference of less than 2 dB with average sensitivity speakers, which really isn't a lot.

The PA150 works very well with the Douk Audio P7 preamp equipped with Psvane Horizon 12ax7-AT valves and either the Muses 02 or opa828 op amps, the latter I am yet to test but have no doubts about the performance they will deliver, that being clean, accurate and easy to listen to all day. Adding the P7 into the chain brought more width to the soundstage and better depth, a more holographic stereo image.

"Sound stage" and "stereo image" are properties of the recording and are also influenced by the combination of your speakers and your room. They are not determined by the DAC or the amp.

I don’t know all of this measures on paper but in life this is a sound that many would be happy to live with including me.

The Tibo PA150 cost £139 in the UK and sometimes lower prices can be caught with opened box which is what I purchased from Hifi Madness on eBay uk and the thing arrived in perfect condition for £129.

IMO, better value than most if not all the Ti3255 chip based power amps out there currently, genuine amount of power that easily will fill any medium sized room possibly even large. Rock solid build quality and a good clean powerful sound that will relay the quality of whatever you feed it with and do it admirably.

If you are looking for power amp and find the endless amount of Ti3255 chip based amps just don’t cut the mustard for power and presence, then you should certainly try the Tibo PA150, I am glad I did.

The price of the PA150 is definitely pretty good. A shame that there are no good specifications available - not even at the manufacturer. Just power and rough FR cut off levels, nothing more. I wish somebody would measure the amp, it looks like a potentially decent budget choice.

 

[Schlippwhip68]

Unless one is broken or the PA150 is badly designed, it is very unlikely that there is any audible difference between these amplifiers. Sighted testing with long switching times (>10 s) is not a reliable way to determine differences in sound.


Burn in is an audiophile myth. These are semiconductor-based amplifiers, the components stay in spec for decades.


This is a common misconception. Input sensitivity and gain do not equal power. If the PA150 delivers full power already at 2 V input, but the Ampapa requires 4 V, the latter is not less powerful. The PA150 delivers 150 W into 8 Ohms, while the Ampapa is a bit over 100 W. At full power, that equals a difference of less than 2 dB with average sensitivity speakers, which really isn't a lot.


"Sound stage" and "stereo image" are properties of the recording and are also influenced by the combination of your speakers and your room. They are not determined by the DAC or the amp.


The price of the PA150 is definitely pretty good. A shame that there are no good specifications available - not even at the manufacturer. Just power and rough FR cut off levels, nothing more. I wish somebody would measure the amp, it looks like a potentially decent budget choice.

It is, it has an honest presentation too, able to allow difference in op amp signatures to show though without any issue. Just tested it. I know that may not impress some members here but I can assure that it’s quite a neutral sound to the amp. Quite revealing given the price. Definitely worth the asking price, source it well and I would take this over any chip based amp presently with ease.

 

[audio_tony]

Tibo PA150 specs and more.

 

[RandomEar]

Tibo PA150 specs and more.

Do you happen to know how these were measured? There seems to be some missing info - for the THD+N and FR plots, it is not clear what impedance was used. For the FFT it looks like it was done in idle?

Overall, it doesn't look too impressive - THD+N around 0.025% (-72 dB) in the best case and closer to 0.08% (-62 dB) for the higher power range.

 

[GGroch]

It is, it has an honest presentation too, able to allow difference in op amp signatures to show though without any issue. Just tested it......

All amplifiers (honest and dishonest) allow (and encourage) differences in op amps (signatured and illiterate) to appear whether or not differences exist. That's the beauty of it!

 

[sergeauckland]

I find it rather gratifying that there are these units around today. Hardly SOTA, but good enough for audible transparency, not trying to be anything they're not.

I bought my Behringer A500s on that basis 15 years ago, and they have worked solidly, in use every day since then. Not glamorous, no bragging rights, but decent enough.

It would have been nice to see a more comprehensive spec, like minimum load although as the amp can be bridged, that suggests that each half is 4 ohm capable, albeit with no increase in power, so must be power supply or cooling limited. No balanced Inputs or word about it being unconditionally stable and short circuit or thermally protected, but nevertheless at the price...

S.

 

[audio_tony]

Do you happen to know how these were measured? There seems to be some missing info - for the THD+N and FR plots, it is not clear what impedance was used. For the FFT it looks like it was done in idle?

Overall, it doesn't look too impressive - THD+N around 0.025% (-72 dB) in the best case and closer to 0.08% (-62 dB) for the higher power range.

I don't sorry. I do know that they are Class D though.

 

[Schlippwhip68]

I don't sorry. I do know that they are Class D though.

I’m not sure these are Class D. Inside there is a Torodial Transformer and other components that point towards Class A/B. I can’t confirm either way at this point but this is currently an ongoing dispute online as to exactly which class this amp is.

Comparing this directly to the Ampapa D1 using the same sources and volume matching etc, the D1 has a little more detail, nuance, but not by a margin. The PA150 is clean, quiet, no hiss, hum etc and very good frequency separation. This for me is about power of which this has a bucket load compared to the D1 and the PA150 certainly relays enough detail and tonal qualities to be happy with as a permanent fixture.

Also regarding to internals I have no doubt further improvements could be implemented post purchase ie better quality caps, maybe even Torodial transformer etc. It’s one of those that at stock price is worth the outlay and further pursuit of improvement at one’s own leisure as it were. Great chassis too, to say the least.

 

[Joe Smith]

Nice form factor too, different than all of the smaller 3255 chip amps around. Looks like a good value proposition, and I like that it's 110/220 switchable on the back.

 

[SlowJim]

FYI op amp swapping has been proven time and time again by Amir and others to be pure snake oil.

 

[Schlippwhip68]

FYI op amp swapping has been proven time and time again by Amir and others to be pure snake oil.

It’s not ‘proven’ at all. The only thing that is proven is the balance of components given their immediate environment and not sound sound quality or difference of which still remains a subjective field of choice.

It’s wise to bear in mind that people whom read measurements do not automatically qualify as a discernible listener. No offence.

 

[sergeauckland]

Ditto with things like "better" quality caps. That amp is what it is, designed down to a price, certainly, but that's not necessarily a bad thing, if it works OK. I would be more inclined to look at things like short circuit, DC and over temperature protection if it's not already there.

S

 

[SlowJim]

It’s not proven at all. The only thing that is proven is the balance of components given their immediate environment and not sound sound quality or difference of which remains a subjective field of choice.

It’s wise to bear in mind that people whom read measurements do not automatically qualify as a discernible listener. No offence.

A perfectly fair & rational response however I don't think you will find many here that agree.

 

[GGroch]

Innards from

It’s not proven at all. The only thing that is proven is the balance of components given their immediate environment and not sound sound quality or difference of which remains a subjective field of choice.

Its absolutely proven that the process of adding and removing op amps in non-blind testing can and does result in the experience of audible "differences far from marginal!" It has nothing to do with an understanding of how electronics works (that is known and measurable). It has everything to do with how all living creatures perceive the world.

If indeed you were experiencing actual changes in the sound waves, such tiny changes would be barely perceptible not "far from marginal." You seem smart enough to understand that something else must be happening here.

Add: As to what is going on, I just read and endorse Ed Yong's newly released book "An Immense World" where he discusses "Umwelt" - how all creatures with brains experience the world based on their specific combination of senses and biological objectives. Far from being a defect, each creatures unique Umwelt enables them to survive. We do not hear reality, we hear, see, and feel useful hallucinations developed through years of evolution we need to get on in the world. To this point, that has not required us to accurately hear immeasurable differences in op amps.

 

[Schlippwhip68]

Ditto with things like "better" quality caps. That amp is what it is, designed down to a price, certainly, but that's not necessarily a bad thing, if it works OK. I would be more inclined to look at things like sort circuit, DC and over temperature protection if it's not already there.

S

I will give this a few days and come back. It’s brand new today and only a couple of hours in but it’s already shaping up and my ears are tuning in. It’s not running hot at all. My Ampapa D1 runs warmer than the PA150.
It’s looking like a No1 recommendation from me for a no frills, straight serving power amp below £150.

 

[egellings]

FYI op amp swapping has been proven time and time again by Amir and others to be pure snake oil.

Another possibility with unknowledgeable op amp swapping is that the amplifier could be turned into a high powered oscillator by doing that.

 

[kemmler3D]

The only thing that is proven is the balance of components given their immediate environment and not sound sound quality or difference of which remains a subjective field of choice.

It’s wise to bear in mind that people whom read measurements do not automatically qualify as a discernible listener. No offence.

It's been demonstrated via measurement that the likelihood of finding any realistically audible difference between any opamp Amir has measured is very low. That's how far just reading measurements and understanding a bit about audio will get you.

The remaining ground is covered by asking "do you have any blind listening tests or alternative measurements that demonstrate audibility" and the answer basically always being "no".

 

[EERecordist]

Enjoy your new gear. If you want to get into using Room EQ Wizard, you can measure it yourself with an inexpensive A-D D-A converter.

It is always nice to hear about the full spectrum of new gear. Since you opened it up to roll your op amps, could you take some images, in enough detail to read the chip markings?

It sounds like they are designed in UK, but the company may be in financial trouble.

 

[Schlippwhip68]

Enjoy your new gear. If you want to get into using Room EQ Wizard, you can measure it yourself with an inexpensive A-D D-A converter.

It is always nice to hear about the full spectrum of new gear. Since you opened it up to roll your op amps, could you take some images, in enough detail to read the chip markings?

It sounds like they are designed in UK, but the company may be in financial trouble.

The opa amps were system matched and chosen carefully following guidelines and specifications as to a replacement choice from the original manufacturers of the P7 pre amp and Q1 dac only though they did not recommend the opa828 for either component but after some research I feel confident that it’s a fine replacement and have found no issues so far using the opa828 in both units. The PA150 does not have the option to change op amps. That said I am sure someone like the Amp-King (UK) would look at it and practically strip it more bare than Lady Godiva herself!

If anybody can investigate these photos and unveil some mystery as to whether this is Class D or Class A/B it might be helpfu. It seems well wired at least, that said all that wire could be replaced with OCC (extreme maybe but possible). Those caps could probably be easily replaced with Nichicon, Elna and so on if user so decides…at this point with my untrained eyes I can’t see anything else that may benefit from an upgrade if it would at all.
I think those green things next to the big 3300uf caps are resistors which look like they could be improved upon…