SOUND SCENE
It has extended width and height without leaving the impression that it lacks something. It's credible. The instruments are differentiated without difficulty and do not move. The scene is neither projected nor scrutinized. We are just criticizing a lack of depth as if all the instruments were playing in the same plan. This phenomenon is more obvious on some discs and less on others.
TONAL BALANCE & RICHNESS OF TIMBRES
Apart from a very slight flattering color in favor of the medium, the TAGA does not create much reserve.
It knows how to show impact or gentleness when the music demands it. It is at the extremities where it shows some limits: a note of chiseled sound and lightness in the recessed treble are undoubtedly the fact of the lack of definition of its DAC, in our reference CD player this feeling is less critical and it is certainly very oversized for this little gifted amp.
In the low end, the bass holds its place. It is present without an excess amount and has necessary framework. Nevertheless, it also seems that an additional bit more would not have displeased us.
REALISM OF THE DETAILS
The harmony and credibility rather than overexposure of details. The bias of this device cannot be more commendable as it brings pleasure. Despite some apriority, a slight lack of sharpness and clarity, it does not generate any drastic frustration. We find, as mentioned above, a perception of very greedy living. The singer is not on a forced diet, the drums are rumbling, the violin makes the wood sing.
QUALITY OF SWING
A major asset of this device. It conveys the essence of music: its catchy ability to transcribe a symphony or the riffs of a metal band. We have fun, we sing, we are surprised to want to dance. This is a very good point of this handy set. Bravo.
OVERVIEW OF THE WHOLE
While it could be akin to an audiophile toy, it turns out to be a serious competitor of all-digital, or more conventional transistor-integrated amplifiers in this same price range and, as you understand, well beyond!
Take the test: compare it, with directly competing Japanese or English products. You'll agree with us: this device has something more, an incarnation and a sense of rhythm that make it endearing, the must-have.
Simple but effective: its ease of use allows to focus on its musicality.
Listening
"At this point we go back to the key word from 
the beginning of the review– “versatility”.
In this case we mean the sound.
We started from listening to CDs from the 80s – ZZ TOP, THE ROLLING STONES and something present, but more calm – DIANA KRALL, KORTEZ. One more time the amp did not let us down.
It performed superbly in fast rock as well as in melodic smooth jazz…
… decently deep bass, pleasant high frequencies, interesting midrange and detail which allows to find what instruments were brought for a concert by a band. The combination of tubes and the transistor provides acoustic qualities typical for hybrids, subtlety, delicacy of the vacuum tube along with strong dynamics of the transistor.
Importantly, this amplifier, which is not too big, managed to drive loudspeakers of a quite substantial size…
…it squeezed out maximum from the budget headphones.
Although it sounds more than in a decent way, I would suggest to replace the tubes for even better effect, which will allow us to jump to the next level."
Overall rating
"Very interesting timeless amplifier with a wide range of capabilities (Bluetooth®, USB, RCA, headphone output).
It hits the bullseye in its price level, both for an angry young man and a sedate senior. The proposed device is a universal solution to its maximum, and therefore we grant it an “AUDIOMUZOFANS RECOMMENDATION” award."
"..Clap Hands, Here Comes Charlie! covers what could be the essential portion that gives a proper challenge and represent a healthy stress for any amplifier and speakers.
HTA-700B SE v.2 amplifier and Platinum B-40 speakers managed to convey much needed tension and music as forte with enough positive attributes to engage one into the prolonged listening.
Ella Fitzgerald vocals are not the easiest to render and to project a proper dynamic scale. Taga Harmony affordable match encapsulated the spirit and locked to the music with much more impact that one would dare to expect at this pricing. There was enough depth, sense of space and following of the tempi to let music take its own course!...
HTA-700B SE v.2 and Platinum B-40 layered insightful and believable scale and sense of space or Rudra Veena. You can demand only as much from smaller, monitor speakers. Still, the essence was captured without falling into the often pronounced wow factor cliché. Taga Harmony amplifier and speakers acted more on the artful side, with touch of warm and with playful vibe intrinsic to the music.
Across the rest of musical material HTA-700B SE v.2 and Platinum B-40 kept their DNA as recognized above. Nor light headed, nor overwhelming, but following music rather than technical and analytic path….”
Conclusion
“…Taga Harmony HTA-700B SE v.2 and Platinum B-40 tandem comes as potent partnering. It’s a great start up doing more than just brief lurking into the high-end audio. It provides a continuum adventure for even more demanding aural voyeur.
Here is another proof for those in need. Yes, I can happily digest and enjoy well executed affordable audio gear. Taga Harmony HTA-700B SE v.2 and Platinum B-40 combination brings heck a lot of fun and music at down to earth pricing. Well done and well deserved Best Buy Award...
Exploring the entry level of Taga Harmony and by experiencing what it can bring surely opens up more questions about their upper ranges. If entry level manages to embarks so much I’m more then sure that the brand’s bigger products surely open ups the new doors to sonic exploration and satisfaction…”
Sound Quality
"The word to best describe the sound was “balanced” in that treble and bass were in equilibrium, midband was clean and clear, so it was no effort at all just to sit back and enjoy what I was hearing while the system was warming up…
I don’t recall it running out of steam, with the Platinum B-40 speakers and with others too that I tried, including my resident speakers…
Conclusion
The TAGA Harmony HTA – 700B V2 amplifier is a great little amplifier in its own right. It has enough features to make it flexible with regards to connections, it sounds extremely good too, more powerful than the specifications suggest and the small footprint means you can house it wherever you like so it remains unobtrusive. This little amplifier has a lot going for it…"
Best Buy 12-2015
"I have to admit that TAGA Harmony turns out to be a melodious amplifier which has a great ability to attract attention because of its colorful timbre.
Especially in mids and high registers the amplifier plays with charm and grace, which can be expected from tube designs. The bass is pulsating decisively and with a controlled rhythm.
The TAGA Harmony HTA-700B SE v.2 is a small, almost miniature amplifier, but with a great heart to play.
… TAGA Harmony sounds cool on every of the inputs, and whatever kind of music we are listening to, it is always enriched with tube mood, for which so many people just love constructions based on incandescent vacuum tubes."
Listening impression
"In the easiest way its sound can be described as coherent, full and saturated - especially on the boundary of low and mid frequencies, which however not always goes hand in hand with the precision of the overall resolution. The precision is decent but not outstanding. Of course it does not prevent in the correct sound reception, because TAGA Harmony style of playback which is embedded in the combination of good sound space, decent tonal definition and considerable fulfilment with sounds, allows to enjoy genuine and life-like music.
...It is fresh, healthy and pure-blooded sound, which instantly can be liked!
The power of the amp is increased from 33 to 45W at 4 ohm compared to the previous version what is immediately felt and heard. There is more verve, energy and dynamics... The tonal expression is so high that even more powerful music genres like rock or electronic music sound directly and convincingly (of course to the reasonable limit of volume level) - fluently and melodiously. Concisely and reliably... The low frequencies compared to the small size of the HTA-700B Se v.2 are surprisingly well extended and meaty, although a little limited from the bottom.
The asynchronous USB digital input...offers not only high resolution and good spaciousness but at the same time it is soft and smooth. The sound is selective but at the same time physiological – saturated and gentle….
It is even difficult to distinguish between the sound of the CD player and the aptX Bluetooth wireless communication…
Naturally, Taga Harmony is also equipped with a headphone output and of a pretty good class."
Conclusion
"..it is a great stereo audio device for reasonable money!"
One of the most recognized audio-video magazines in Germany "Heimkino" awards the HTA-700B as
"The 100 best products of the year"
"They work along very well: The combination of the TAGA HTA-700B and the beautiful Peachtree Audio D5 sounds clearly and longs for more music. So it is good when the smartphone or tablet is filled up with music. For those who do not prefer to play via bluetooth, fortunately Taga also offers possibility to play from PC via USB or from a conventional CD player via the RCA input."
"Everything is folded with precision, which does not raise any objections. The HTA-700B is heavy and makes a great impression as for such a little one."
PERFORMANCE
"Gentle, warm, suggestive sound... Richness and analog naturalness could be able to compensate limitations in a dynamic range and resolution, but these features do not limp; However, it is obvious that TAGA avoids sharpness, it does not round every sound but rather shapes and smooths but still leaving sound distinct and clear - there is a very good selectivity of this presentation, the sounds do not blend together, and the image tends to be three-dimensional, and although details are "combed" you can feel them constantly. The whole impression is very friendly and the style works well in a "firefighting" of compressed recordings that could be transferred to TAGA by the Bluetooth standard."
SEHR GUT (VERY GOOD) 4-2014 August (HIGH CLASS)
tested with the Platinum F-60 SL speakers
Glorious Sound
"For so little money this is a super deal…"
Sound and Conclusion
"And here we go. After I had angled the speakers towards me, the way they like the best, I could quickly determine how fresh and warm the duet works together and how a notable bass fundament it can generate despite large cones’ surface. The soundstage succeeded to my full satisfaction, so I can just say: heart, what do you desire more? The set is an absolutely must to have. Those looking for something good priced for themselves and their friends, something well made, with modern features built-in and ideal and free music straight from the gut, this is for you. Very big recommendation."
Best Buy 05-2014
Miniaturization and design
"This affordable hybrid amplifier charms us in terms of its construction, especially build and materials quality - there is not a gram of plastic here!”
Sound with a touch of fantasy
"The amplifier was performing very well in the configuration with the Italian monitors Chario Premium 1000 , especially that from my experience, I know these Italian monitors prefer much more efficient amplification. However in this configuration it came out that the number of watts generated by the hybrid amplifier turned out to be sufficient to fully drive the slim Italian monitors…
Tiny sounds, particularly those in the higher parts of the mids and in the high tones are nicely accented by the amplifier.
You could get the impression that it has no problems with the correct interpretation of dynamics contrast of sounds which are seemingly little different from each other. But this is a feature we met in more expensive and powerful amplifiers, so once again the HTA-700B deserves to be praised."
Summary
"It turns out that you do not need to spend big money on a well-equipped and good-sounding amplifier, designed for smaller spaces. The low-gain double triodes working in the preamp stage together with the transistor end stage are a harmonious duet and complement the sound with many elements typical for vacuum tube amps.
So you can hear the delicate warmth, musicality and a note of finesse note combined with remarkable precision in leading rhythm, especially at the micro level, as well as sustainable and spatial sound transmission.
Listening to music from CDs and files stored on a computer hard disk had an honest and mature message comparable even to little more expensive units.
Similarly, in the case of streaming music from a smartphone using wireless signal transmission technology - TAGA Harmony quickly and without any problems links to any smartphone , allowing the possibility to use a source other than a computer or a CD player, which greatly extends the HTA-700B functionality, for sure a lot of people will like this small amplifier."
