Reisong A12 EL34 12AX7 (ECC83) Hi-Fi Audio Stereo Single-end Class - A Tube Amplifier Amp

First, let me say that I’ve been on the 2 channel audio journey for about a year. I demoed several speakers in a local audio store and returned several speakers to my local audio store. After demoing the Focal Vestia No 4’s, I settled on Vestia No 1’s because I wanted bookshelf’s with subs (2 SVS SB3000’s). To power everything I made an impulse purchase of a Marantz PM7000N. Honestly, it all sounded good. But then, on a whim, I went to another HIGH end audio store and heard several setups that consisted of tube amps and speakers well outside my budget. But I got to thinking “are there affordable tube amps out there”. I looked on the marketplace, eBay, and here on Amazon and came across this jewel. Then I read all the reviews and watached all the videos on this model and even though there are several videos that suggest that the Reisong A12 won’t be great out of the box, I decided to give it a try. With free returns, it was low risk. For source material, I also purchased the Bluesound Node during this Black Friday sale and have a turntable on order. The Node and this Reisong both arrived at the same time. The first thing that really impressed me was how well the Reisong was packaged. Coming from China, they really thought this through. I unboxed everything, inspected it, and everything looked great. Even the instructions were understandable. I assembled it as the instructions suggested. Next, I hooked up the Bluesound Node, updated the firmware, and let ‘er rip. I just like good sounding music. I listen to everything from country, to jazz, to classic rock, to hip hop. I put the Reisong volume at 3/4” of the way up. Keep in mind, there is no remote, so I knew I’d be controlling volume from my Bluesound Node. For anyone reading this review, that is the perfect volume to keep the A12 at if you’re using a Bluesound Node. With the power ratings of the A12 being 6 watts per channel, I can definitively say that is more than enough in my case. My room is is 20’ x 18’. Again, with the two Focal bookshelf’s and two SVS SB3000’s, it’s more than enough power. Several of the reviews here on Amazon talk about using different tubes and mods from a particular YouTuber. While in time, I may consider it, the out of the box sound I’m getting rivals the $100k tube amps from my local shop. My sound is very clear, the sound stage is inviting, the midrange is precise, and the imaging lets me know exactly where the instruments and vocals are. Three dimensional sound is real and evident in my environment. I’m sitting in my carpeted basement on a sectional sofa in an untreated room. The sound is everything I could’ve hoped for and far exceeding any expectation I had from a tube amp at this price point. It looks super cool/retro, is quite heavy, seems very well built, and gives you options for tube rolling in the future if you think you need it. I’m not a big review writer, but perhaps my every day listener perspective will help someone else. Putting together a good audio system is so hard because what sounds good in a store may not sound good in your house. It’s a journey and a process. I’m very happy with the 3D sound I’m getting from this Reisong A12 and it pairs nicely with my Focal bookshelf’s and subs. I will update this review if anything changes.

Worst sounding machine as delivered i've heard...mids way to loud/forward, tinny top end...no bass at all. Speakers Klipsh RP-600M, supposedly efficient. Volumn past midway, and its a distorted mess. I did the research, and figured the DIY mods (Sk__ks') would change it...and they it did make it much better, it has bass now. However, it just sounds like a cheap SS unit at best, brash/tinny accentuated mids/highs. The mods seemed to remove some of the stage/sustain effect of tube amps...into a more clinical/neutral sound. For a single vocals/one instrument it sounds ok...but for general music ie. classic rock/rock/pop type music it is not good. Its clear and revealing I suppose, but just sounds harsh. With tube rolling and mod parts, i'm in...about 800 bucks. Buy something else...an SET amp is not the be all end all.

I've been an audiophile for over 30 years, and in this time I've owned everything from very expensive, 70 pound class A/B monoblock amps to most recently, a $80 Class D amp (Aiyima A07-unbelieveable sound quality for the money). The Reisong A12 is my first go with tubes used as a power amp. I'm using the Schiit Syn surround preamp for source switching and volume control. The speakers are Gallo Acoustics Strada 2s with a pair of small Dayton Audio subs. This combination is one of the most musically satisfying systems I've owned, regardless of price, and I think the Reisong has a lot to do with it. The A12 surprised me given it's price point with its clarity and detail while delivering the "tube thing" (slight touch of warmth with holographic imaging). With regard to power, 6 WPC doesn't sound like much but it's more than enough volume for the 90 Db efficient Strada 2s in my 2400 cubic square foot space. The A12 was very well packed and it's well built. I'm amazed how good it sounds with its included Psvane tube set. I wonder what will happen if I start rolling tubes... The good news is that the A12 sounds good enough that I feel no need to swap tubes in the near-term. Good luck trying to find a better sounding tube amp than the A12 anywhere near it's price point. My whole rig in total sells for about 4.3K, but sounds a lot more expensive that that. Highly recommended!

The packaging was bullet proof. Opened up, set up, looks and feels like a ultra premium product. Solid. I went out today and purchased a pair of Klipsch R620FB for $598CAN /pair. 96db+ floor standing speakers (pictured). Total price of system: $1398CAN. I’m on hour number 16 of the initial burn in. It already slaps (as the teens say). And I know it’s going to get even better. I’ve owned $10K amplifiers and $10K speakers. For the smaller sized dens to a family room this equals them in sound field and detail. Amazingly the bass was absolutely breath-taking. Don’t complain about 2 inputs or no sub out. Also, while it fills a room, you aren’t going to get the cops called on you for volume. Hey… it’s six watts a side and 800 bucks! Buy it.

Beware these amps are made in China that use 110V not 120V like in USA or canada. I’d highly suggest getting an APC - Line R To step down the voltage to 110v for safety Also doing a YT Skunkys way will bring the sound to a whole different level.

The A12 looks nice out of the box, sounds decent for what it is; however, after a year of use, there is no sound on the right channel. And before some clown says 'you have a blown speaker'... no, my speakers are just fine, I have a not made in China amp that I have put in the A12's place... it's the amp. Guess I should have known, cheap Chinese amp. My money could have been better spent elsewhere.

An amplifier is a device that takes a small signal and increases it to a useful level for the end user. A "good" amplifier does this quickly, quietly, and remains faithful to the original signal source, adding, or subtracting, nothing. This is not a "good" amplifier. For some reason the manufacturer has taken it upon themselves to artificially boost the mid-range and bass of the original signal. Easily fixed, using about $25 in parts, this amplifier is still pretty good value.