[hum4god]

hi
i am looking for a passive preamp and am deeply confused about the different implications .

1.  i am looking at the well known TVC as seen in Bent NOH , the original Django, And the Music First ,just to mention a few.

2.  then there is the amorphous TVC i only know from DIY HiFi supply implemented in the django , that supposedly brings more image density but less transparancy to the mix.

3.  and then another contender the Autoformer most famous through Sonic Euphoria.lots of glowing reviews .

DIY HIFI Supply is actually offering all three implementations of the passive which is great ,or not ,because i don't know which one i should get.  how much image density would i trade for transparency when going from tvc to amorphous and where would the autoformer fit into that sonic landscape?

anybody with experience with either one or better comparing two of the above mentioned passives please give your comments on how they sound.

i want to use it with the redwine sig.30 amp and eventually a tube amp later.speakers are zu druids.front end red wine modified sb3 . dac is nos audiosector, but i think about purchasing the modified lite dac60 which would add some tube flavour.

[referenceaudionz]

I'm dealer for Sonic Euphoria and DIY's Django. I've a number of different TVC's (including a couple of versions of Sowter) and AVCs (a Slagle has been here for months unassembled from lack of time). It's unpredictable what works best, since they all can expose system problems elsewhere, or can be a complete mismatch with impedance or lack of gain. The easiest match I've found is the Sonic Euphoria - it has a little more warmth and mid-bass heft than others - works well with solid state (but possibly not as extended sounding in both extremes, or quite as open in an uncompromised system). Some setups have problems when the ground is broken by TVCs (and need to try extra earthing), others benefit. NuForce amps (being a little softer on top) work well with TVC's.

The Django amorphous (Opera tx's) I find the biggest bargain, being open and extended and very even in sound. I think it can better S&B's, though I've only compared a Music First with limited hours on it. The biggest mistake is to dismiss any of them without first burning in continuously for hundreds of hours before listening.

What's clear is if you don't need the gain (or contouring at worst) of an active linestage, transformer passives will save you many thousands of $. And the benefits of NO noise and one less expensive power cord. My personal system includes a KRVA340a (amp only) with Django amorphous - and Bluenote Stibbert tube CDP if I'm not listening to vinyl.

[guest2521]

I have owned both django amorphous and django S&B - the latter is streets ahead ine very respect.

[Bob Reynolds]

Regardless of the technology, you might want to get the range of input impedance and the range of output impedance. Then you'll have some idea of how badly it will effect the frequency response of your system.

[DeeCee]

I have limited experience with differen passives, but I did purchase a Sonic Euphoria PLC (which works very well in my system).

The key is to be sure that the impedance, gain, etc will allow you to fit it within your system.

After that it is all in regard to the sound in your system (also allow for break in as well).

You can check my review if you wish...

http://www.audioasylum.com/cgi/m.pl?forum=amp&n=97587&review=1

Most folks tend to agree that there seems to be a lot of "body" with Tranformer Passives... I agree.

Good Luck,
DeeCee

[hum4god]

thank you all for your comments.
i think about getting the amorphous.
someone on AA brought to my awareness that it would be a lot better if the DACT volume ctrl of the red wine sig.30 could be bypassed and i agree . i am trying to find out if that is possible.

biovizier  ,i would appreciate if you could put your statement into a broader context .what system was used ,which tvc were compared etc.?

[Russell Dawkins]

worth noting that, apparently, break in is required for each setting of the gain control!