Integrated amplifiers — Galion Audio TS34

The TS34 is a valve integrated amplifier from Galion Audio, a brand run by ThomasAndStereo that presents the design as Canadian, built around EL34 output tubes. Galion presents it as the replacement for the earlier TS120. Its central feature is a patented circuit that switches between a high-current Class A mode and a higher-wattage Class AB mode, rather than the triode and ultra-linear choice found on many valve amplifiers.

Key specs that matter

Galion lists the V2 at USD 2,975 and rates the TS34 at 25 W RMS per channel in Class A, or 50 W maximum, and at 40 W RMS per channel in Class AB, or 60 W maximum. Line inputs 1 to 4 accept 340 mV and an input impedance of 50 kOhm, and a fifth home theatre bypass input is set at 1.2 V. Speaker outputs are provided for 4 ohm and 8 ohm loads. Frequency response, measured at 1 kHz and 30 W, runs from 19 Hz to 65 kHz. Total harmonic distortion at 1 kHz and 20 W is quoted as no more than 0.32 percent in Class A and no more than 0.8 percent in Class AB, and the noise floor sits at least 90 dB below signal. The chassis measures 43 x 36 x 21 cm and weighs 28 kg.

Engineering and use context

Apart from the EL34, the output stage accepts KT77 and KT88 tubes, so owners can change valve types without modifying the amplifier. Bias is set automatically, and a Bias button on the front panel works with LED lights that confirm the bias status of each tube. A Class button selects the operating mode, an Input selector chooses the source, and a Sound knob picks between a tone control and two settings that add feedback. Galion states that its custom tone control is aimed at reducing sibilance. Inside, the circuit uses capacitors from Jupiter, ClarityCap and Solen, and the V2 revision replaced the earlier Jupiter bumblebee parts with Jupiter VitaminQ types for better reliability. The valve set supplied is two 12AX7, two 12AT7 and four PSVANE EL34C tubes, and a metal remote control is included. The finish is black with a blue top plate. The shipping carton measures 53 x 48 x 35 cm. Mains fusing differs by region - a T3.15AL250V fuse for 240 V units and a T6.3AL250V fuse for 120 V units, both in the 5 x 20 mm size.

Pairing

The separate output taps let the TS34 be matched to loudspeakers of either nominal impedance. The bypass input, with its fixed sensitivity, is labelled for home theatre use, so the TS34 can take its front left and right feed from an AV processor while its four line inputs remain for stereo sources.

Alternatives

Galion Audio also lists the TS120, the earlier tube integrated amplifier that the TS34 replaces in the range.