I really loved the Gershman room in Florida. But True Life Audio and Gershman? I could have stayed in that room all day, but I would have some serious explainin’ to do afterward. But here’s a sign that this room qualified for Best Sound in Munich: I’m getting both TLA and Gershman in for review ASAP.

I said these little listening room boxes can sound pretty nice, but I was not prepared for the sound quality coming from this TLA and Gershman combo. This system was sweet and beautiful and clear, with plenty of detail and a healthy scoop of musicality. The tonality of this system was downright seductive, and it only took me a couple of minutes to decide that yes, I want to review both of these brands sometime in the near future.

The big speakers played like a small monitor when needed (no four meter wide violins here) but when full orchestral scale was called for, the LM1s let it rip with huge power and terrific dynamic expression. The low-end was tight and nuanced, the highs were delicate and airy, and separation of complex music was expertly done.

Sure enough, the overall sound was easily one of the best in the show. The speakers reproduced a wide soundstage, good imaging and above all, had rich sound and good mid plus low bass.

Aris, TLA's CEO and Chief Engineer joins in for the introduction.

Greg Weaver aka The Audio Analyst visits for a listen to TLA.

Last October, Bill Parish had me in to his location in Long Valley to let me get a sneak-listen to the True Life Audio Supreme Series of electronics from Greece… Well today, those pieces, the Supreme Series Preamplifer-1 and a pair of Supreme Series Amplifier-350s are in the house and makin’ some pretty impressive music. That a look – and listen – to what is going on today.

In this video we take  you inside Greg Weaver's (aka the audio analysts) room for a rundown and conversation of his equipment.

Dick and Bill discuss the TLA TSI Signature Integrated Amplifier.

Feat. Mola Mola, True Life Audio, Kronos Audio, Kubala-Sosna.

The music is entirely detached from the loudspeaker, the walls of the room completely disappear and you will find yourself in the middle of a real emotional musical event. Amongst others, the absolutely natural sound reproduction is achieved due to the continuous bandwidth, the ideal dispersion range, and the high dynamic of the Carbon Excellence bending wave loudspeaker.

"I’m picking it as Best Sound in Munich because I’ve never heard reproduced music at a trade show sound closer to the real thing. Unlimited dynamics. Unlimited soundstage. Unlimited excitement. This is what high-end audio is all about."

Marc Philips

"In the world of high-end audio shows, you have systems that are wild and crazy and incredibly expensive and exotic, and you have systems that perform at a high level and take all the “best sound” awards. It’s rare that a system leads in both categories, but here we are with Göbel High End loudspeakers and cables, and True Life Audio amplification. Unlike the big Avantgarde room, which was often buried and softened by the presence of the bustling crowd, the Göbel High End and TLA system cut through the bodies and delivered a result that was pure joy and power. I was dumb and forgot the name of the drummer, and the name of the recording, but I doubt I could recreate that tsunami-like feel of majesty–at least without the vast sums of cash that a system like this would require. But we can dream, right? I’m going to be dreaming about Göbel High End for a long time."

Marc Philips

"Sax sounded fabulous and horns excellent. "Gets the force and size of the trumpet," I scribbled in my notes. On very different fare, soprano Birgit Nilsson, performing music she was not born to sing, sounded superb."

Jason Victor Serinus

"But the amps that really caught our ear were the Greek TLA (True Life Audio) models, driving the Divin Marquis speakers in the Göbel room. The SSP-1/PSU-1 line-stage and SSA-350 mono-blocs contributed mightily to the relaxed fluidity and responsive dynamics that made this system so enjoyable. Although a long way from affordable, these electronics were invisible in the best sense, and they’ve gone straight to the top of my Would Like To Review list."

Roy Gregory

Even at this price level, the leading edges of tones or sharp stacks could be rounded, preventing the music from spreading to its full potential. Without such drawbacks and in contrast, the SSA-300 is capable of delivering the entire frequency spectrum without any particular frequency jumps and without smearing the pinpoint projection of localization. The True Life Audio flagship hybrids not only allowed for a higher-than-expected level of anchor points, which is crucial for the formation of properly positioned and believably shaped instruments and performances. SSA-300 threw a sonic and musical spectacle that is hard to forget. The musical energy was never stifled, or taken away from the richness of the harmonies, nor the variety of timbre of the instruments.

For what they represent musically and how well the SSA-300 hybrid monoblock power amps are matched to the music, I am happy to give them the 2021 Mono and Stereo Upper Echelon Product Award

Then it came to the other usual issue with tube and hybrid tube–SS designs, the treble extension. Many if not the majority of tube designs suffer from roll off and this would be inexcusable for such a pricey set, the problem usually relies in the preamplification and the output transformers connecting it to the power amps. No way you would believe this is a hybrid combo while auditioning Anna Netrebko in Donizetti’s Ancor Non Giunse!..Regnava Nel Silenzio from Lucia di Lammermoor. The harp intro was so tactile and life-like, let me get back to this in a bit, and Anna’s divine voice sounded crystal clear in all her amazing trills. I came to think that the True Life Audio set sounded more neutral and as extended as my ASR Emitter I exclusive amplifier, on par with the most celebrated solid state designs from CH Precision and Soulution...

“Achieving this delicate balance between the warm and the neutral, the mighty and the intimate is a rare feat, one that sets apart the True Life Audio SSP-1 from the pack....

What a pair of beasts these TLA amps are–and they’ll play louder and go deeper than just about any other high-end audio amplifier...