The Legendary Twin Tower Inpol Class-A Integrated Amplifier Review w/ Upscale Audio's Kevin Deal

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The amp brand Kevin has picked for his reference home system. Pathos is handcrafted in Italy, and the Pathos TT integrated amp one of audio's great unsung deals. It offers the direct tube magic of an SET without all the impedance-matching issues. Kevin reviews this amazing amplifier, and shows us the unbelievable quality of design and componentry inside. As for that padouk finish, wait till you hear the story of the tree!
I WANT TO CLARIFY MY COMMENTS! Products that say "Made in USA" that are actually made in China may be made BETTER because of it. Don't give brownie points for the country where it's made. Give brownie points for THE PARTS. GOOGLE IMAGES are your BEST FRIEND.

[@NickP333]

Kevin, you’re system is gonna be absolutely CRAZY! I’m sure you’ve got a plan. Putting together a rig is so much fun! I’ve done it for about 10 people, and love doing it.

[@henriksrensen5958]

Great video. Gryphon amplifiers are among the very best

[@mmdusa]

Great intro to the beautiful Pathos. Truly beautiful. I will come by and give it a listen. Can't wait to see your room finished.

[@truman4956]

Great video....your passion comes through

[@ridirefain6606]

Love the video. Great insight into the Pathos design philosophy and approach to craftmanship. Just wish more people were aware of them and what they bring to the audiophile community.

[@cvrobertogiammanco]

I've one, without remote control, that I bougjt in 2001 in Rome. Still great!

[@rainman3269]

Kevin ... No Primaluna pre or power amps in the home system .. Thought you said there second to none ... Just asking

[@im_an_alvani]

He’s got some with his Tannoys in another room.

[@upscaleaudio]

Hey it's Kevin. I have three PrimaLuna systems in my home.

[@Cashmore1671]

Kevin, your energy, and passion for high end audio is contagious, however, I do miss Kat! Rock & Roll brother. 03/31/24… Patrick

[@anechoicchamber3237]

Although I’ve never heard the inpol, I own the Pathos Logos Mk1 with NOS Siemens ECCa installed that I picked up second hand for around $1500, and it’s simply the best amp I’ve ever owned. Just delivers everything so well. It’s about 16 years old now and I’ve had it repaired once, but it’s a work of art and I love it. If it ever dies then I’ll look for a second hand inpol. Love the videos 👍

[@waynek1389]

Awesome review. 1 question; will this Twin Tower be compatible with 4ohm loud speakers? I have Sonus Faber Olympica Nova III which is 4 ohm 90db. Thanks !

[@DovidBjorn]

How would you say the TT compares to the Pathos logos mk ll?

[@HiFiInsider]

man, i want to see and hear them. hopefully one day soon.

[@lukarazdevsek6352]

i have pathos tt and i upgradet it with mundorf solver gold oil capacitors..........superb sound

[@RadioShack-vo2sn]

VISHAY CAPACITORS, THAT WOULDN'T BE THE VISHAY COMPANY IN MALVERN PENNSYLVANIA WOULD IT? THEY HAVE OVER 22000 EMPLOYEES AND MAKE SOME VERY NICE ELECTRICAL COMPONENTS. I LIVE ABOUT 1 TO 2 HOURS FROM THEM, DEPENDING ON DRIVING ROUTE. GREAT STUFF.

[@GH-zs8eq]

Hi Kevin would appreciate if you could do a review of the more high end pathos amplifiers! Eg the heritage or inpower preamp/amp! Thanks!

[@uhugvjkbkjh]

Very nearly purchased a Pathos 2 yrs ago. Do they do a tube pre?

[@riledrive2504]

McIntosh, transformers wound in house, metal work done in house, paint shop in house, plasma cutter in house. Capacitors made in the USA, transistors made in the USA. I am assuming that LEDs, knobs, remotes, etc are imported from China but the majority of stuff are still home made. I don’t compare it to Pathos, there is no way I could as I haven’t seen or heard a Pathos except at an audio show and as far as I remember it sounded very easy going and relaxed. Perhaps you don’t even like McIntosh and that’s fine as everyone has its own taste but the fact that it is majority (including major and important components) hand built in the USA is very true. I have friends that already own this brand for over 20 years without any failure or issues.

[@TheBTG88]

As well as Boulder, Ayre, Rowland, Audio Research, Spectral, Pass, etc.

[@upscaleaudio]

@@TheBTG88 SOMETIMES. PrimaLuna metalwork is made in the same factory as one of the brands you mention. Mac does truly assemble.....SOME THINGS. Look at the MA252. Year after year it changes. And the fact is Made in China is a step up for some of these brands. Ignore labels, look at the parts.

[@williamsdavid5243]

I think the quality control has a lot to answer for I have had the amplifier inpol2 & I can’t believe how many times it’s gone wrong within 10 years quality is not 1st class

[@charleskatz2606]

Amazing build quality wish it had a 2 pairs of line outs one for another amp and one for 2 ch subs

[@jerryjohnson4625]

Which one is right side up ? I'm sure it rocks , but so does my Primaluna Prologue integrated. Wish I had a job.🖐😊

[@upscaleaudio]

Your PrimaLuna is f*cking FABULOUS. I would take that over a stack of McIntosh

[@abrahambenmohagrau3181]

If You use a turntable, The pathos TT have a phono stage ?

[@lukarazdevsek6352]

no

[@williampearson4968]

Kevin --- I thought you said Prima Luna was the best even though made in China? Now its the beautiful sexy Italian made Pathos! I don't know what I should buy! I need Help. This hifi hobby is crazy.

[@upscaleaudio]

Dude....nothing is made like PrimaLuna. You missed my point. Don't give brownie points for made in USA, Germany, Austria, anything. LOOK AT THE PARTS!!

[@kenwk2283]

How dare they don’t make their own relay switches.

[@imosolar]

Please do they make preamplifier?

[@Smood47]

I'd take Pass XA200.8 over the pathos adrenalin. I bet they would drive the grands better and still give you some of that tube/warm magic.

[@upscaleaudio]

Yawn.....I have a XA200.8 being traded in today for a Pathos Heritage integrated. The customer is doing so after he bought the baby Inpol. The 20 watt Inpol Remix.

[@Smood47]

@@upscaleaudio Still better options for grands IMO. Gryphon Mephisto stereo, Boulder 2160, Momtenum M400s. Does the Pathos output power double down linearly to 2 ohms? They don't publish that on the website. Grands will do well with power Kevin.

[@giuseppelazzarotto2749]

Eccellenza italiana (italian excellence)!

[@hushpuppykl]

Just love the way some of the Pathos amps look ... I’m shallow, based on looks alone I want one. 😂🤣

[@Novilicious]

Too good; love ya good sir!

[@janisfedorovskis8192]

10 min rave about how every piece, including the boards are made in Italy..... then @13:25 "..made by Panasonic" :)))) , just kidding, its a piece of art..

[@analogaudiorules1724]

Man, I'd love to have one of these paired with kef ls 50 metas, that would be heavenly well, it would be only if they didn't design the volume control like this, those relays, no matter how reliable will be a failure point as it gets older, the seal will not last forever either, the contacts, even if fully sealed, especially if you're controlling the volume a lot like most people do will not last forever, they're a nice company, but what happens in 20, 30 or 40+ years if they aren't around as a company anymore, what happens if you can't get those specific relays anymore, they should've thought this though for long term users, relays don't last forever... even these will not last forever and for something that costs this much, they should've made the volume control fully solid state, they could've done that without using parts that will wear out like those relays and not loose any sound quality... after 50 thousand, 100,000 200,000 contacts or whatever, they will be toast, they still make physical contact internally after all... not only that, since they are sealed, you couldn't even get in there to do anything to them to attempt to repair them if they aren't made any more, you'd never have a clean room to even seal them again, let alone the tools to even do it... I wouldn't mind hearing one, but because of this idk about buying one, i suppose i could buy spare relays now if i were to ever get this amp.... but idk there is no guarantee the seal will still be viable years later even if stored correctly, what a great amp otherwise.. i guess you could replace them with omrons or something...

[@feedbackelectronics]

👍

[@roimark358]

Looks good but no sound.

[@abelfonseca]

Dang!

[@luismarques6498]

That's why Pathos is expensive, because its all home made and dont have China envolved, if you know what i mean...

[@TryAndLife]

5 cent word grandpa At least please make some listen experience.

[@ledmarketaustralia3347]

Kevin Which one is better, Pathos or Prima Luna? please dont give us a rounded reply. Be blunt and tell us the truth

[@JohnLee-db9zt]

Inductors are not transformers.

[@joybrucebruce3377]

If the parts have to be broken in don't use those parts to build a computer. My BS meter = up.

[@garymoore3497]

look..... you need to get these videos off my you tube wall.....i am not a customer......i am a designer.......and as a side note, I can build this amplifier, without all these stupid giant heatsinks........just another design flaw others have not figured out yet............