Promitheus TVC passive preamp anyone?

cutcopypaste · « **Reply #720 on:** 12 Jan 2007, 12:28 am »

jaspal, thats kind of strange. with Nick's Silver IC's I actually found the volume to go up........right through the bandwidth. This is something I have not experienced before.

Anyway

mihilli · « **Reply #721 on:** 12 Jan 2007, 12:40 am »

Ok, based on all the good reviews here and waht appears to be a very reasonable price, I've decided to take the plunge. I've listened to a Consonance TVC, based on the S&B design but using Chinese innards and was most impressed. Unfortunately, it was about $3000 in my 3rd world currency so gave it away for the time being.

Nick, I ordered about 5 days ago and I've heard nothing back. I realise you're quite busy but would appreciate it if you could please confirm receipt of my order and expected delivery date.

Thanks
Michael

Whitese · « **Reply #722 on:** 12 Jan 2007, 02:01 am »

I also ordered a Reference TVC unit with ebony knobs..all rca inputs/outputs, but I told Nicholas that my speakers are high efficiency Edgarhorns and vintage EV12trxb's....so he said he will adapt by changing the trannies....

My amps are Bel Canto 845 SET mono Orfeos...I hope its all a good match..i sold my Jeff Korneff pre to try this...hope it works

StereoJoe · « **Reply #723 on:** 12 Jan 2007, 10:35 am »

Hi all!

This is my first post at AudioCircle, I've followed this tread a couple of months, though. Why? Well, all the buzz around this TVC made me very curious. Last summer I bought a new poweramp and was advised to try a passive pre with it. Other owners suggested the TVC route, so I got in touch with Nicholas in October last year. After some discussion he agreed to make me a TVC with the ability to send both single-ended (from tuner/phono) and balanced (CD) signals to my poweramp (XLR inputs only). Hope it turns out nice

I ordered the TVC i October, and I`m still waiting patiently... Luckily, it is kind of a consolation to read all the nice reviews in his tread, so... - keep 'em coming, guys!

Best Regards,

Johan

rollo · « **Reply #724 on:** 12 Jan 2007, 03:55 pm »

Jaspal,
Glad to hear you received your TVC.If your system was off for two months your CD player will require some break-in to sound its best again.Please if you have solid state components leave the entire system on for 3 full days straight.The CD player should NEVER be turned off.If you have tubed equip.run it all day and turn it off at night.
This may be hard to swallow but it works every time.As far as the bass is concerned this is probably the last part to the break in process.Usually if the midrange sounds good out of the box your in for a good thing.Back to the bass again,I had to change the phase of my sub to better blend with the main speakers.While were on the polarity issue,I thought my unit was wired out of phase in the early hours,changed speaker polarity and thought this thing is broken or something.
Well it was not broken at all just needed to settle in and it did.Transformers take a very LONG TIME to break-in.Use your CDP to burn in TVC and I assure you,that you will NOT be disappointed.
Hang in there Jaspal this is the dues of our hobby,it sucks but it pays off big time.
rollo

jaspal kallar · « **Reply #725 on:** 12 Jan 2007, 04:33 pm »

Quote from: rollo on 12 Jan 2007, 03:55 pm

Jaspal,
Glad to hear you received your TVC.If your system was off for two months your CD player will require some break-in to sound its best again.Please if you have solid state components leave the entire system on for 3 full days straight.The CD player should NEVER be turned off.If you have tubed equip.run it all day and turn it off at night.
This may be hard to swallow but it works every time.As far as the bass is concerned this is probably the last part to the break in process.Usually if the midrange sounds good out of the box your in for a good thing.Back to the bass again,I had to change the phase of my sub to better blend with the main speakers.While were on the polarity issue,I thought my unit was wired out of phase in the early hours,changed speaker polarity and thought this thing is broken or something.
Well it was not broken at all just needed to settle in and it did.Transformers take a very LONG TIME to break-in.Use your CDP to burn in TVC and I assure you,that you will NOT be disappointed.
Hang in there Jaspal this is the dues of our hobby,it sucks but it pays off big time.
rollo

Hi Rollo. well all my componets are SS and always left on even when I had no preamp. I used the cd player to hear music threw my mini disc's very crude headphone output. So it should be well run-in already. My speakers were the only ones hadn't been used for 2 months.

One question: you recommend using the CD player to help burn in, but can't any component do, like a digital tv box, mini disc, tuner etc... ? I was wondering if there was something in particular with the using the CD for burn-in?

Also, by burn-in do you (or anybody else for that matter), mean setting the volume to (almost) max and playing a cd and with the amps switched off? In others words is setting the volume to max important or is it enough to just have music playing at any volume setting ?

- jaspal.

jaspal kallar · « **Reply #726 on:** 12 Jan 2007, 04:41 pm »

Quote from: cutcopypaste on 12 Jan 2007, 12:28 am

jaspal, thats kind of strange. with Nick's Silver IC's I actually found the volume to go up........right through the bandwidth. This is something I have not experienced before.

Anyway

Perhaps it could be that with Nicks Silver IC's I used rca connections and with the other I used XLR to my amps. It's just a guess but it's good to know of your experience. I will try the Silver IC again in due course.

- jaspal.

rollo · « **Reply #727 on:** 12 Jan 2007, 05:15 pm »

Jaspal,
Sorry, thought all was equip. was off for two months.Using your CDP with new cables allows you to Break-in everything together and you will not have to upset the link you took so long to establish.This is what works for me, wouldn't do it any other way.As far as volume setting of TVC @ 2 clicks from full throttle will ensure all the windings will be run in as Ive been advised by Nicholas.
Be patient this takes a long time 300HRS min. 450HRS to blast off.There will be a love hate relationship for the first 200HRS,If you like the midrange out of the box you will be pleased later on.
rollo

guest1632 · « **Reply #728 on:** 12 Jan 2007, 05:48 pm »

Quote from: rollo on 12 Jan 2007, 05:15 pm

Jaspal,
Sorry, thought all was equip. was off for two months.Using your CDP with new cables allows you to Break-in everything together and you will not have to upset the link you took so long to establish.This is what works for me, wouldn't do it any other way.As far as volume setting of TVC @ 2 clicks from full throttle will ensure all the windings will be run in as Ive been advised by Nicholas.
Be patient this takes a long time 300HRS min. 450HRS to blast off.There will be a love hate relationship for the first 200HRS,If you like the midrange out of the box you will be pleased later on.
rollo

Hey Rollo,

Did Nicholas say why 2 clicks from the top? Did you try the copper wire on yours yet?

Ray

gooberdude · « **Reply #729 on:** 12 Jan 2007, 07:26 pm »

Hey Bronk,

i'll field this one.....according to Nick you can overdrive the transformers by
turning the volume up 100% with a hi-output source. I've read the term 'magnetized ' somwhere in relation to this. 2 clicks backwards of full-on is the recomended burn-in technique. I did this, but every other day i'd leave it back 3 clicks or 4 clicks, then go back to 2 clicks...just to keep it interesting.

Would any TVC owners like to go in together and order some Ebony knobs? the cost for Nick to mail them to each of us would be expensive... I've been talking with Nick about getting some and piggybacking the knobs on a local TVC order to save on shipping.

if others are interested, we could probably get the cost to something like $35 a piece including shipping - or cheaper. You'd have to pay Nick directly...

I'm also gonna hound Nick for some brass screws, so they might be avail as well....

rollo · « **Reply #730 on:** 12 Jan 2007, 07:55 pm »

Ray,
Haven't tried copper yet,I asked Nicholas to try using the trannie wire to RCAs in lieu of double run of silver.Only emailed him 2 days ago with suggestion and am waiting for response.Don't want to alter unit as i'm sending it back for exchange as my initial order was with one input not 2 which I received in error.No big deal as it gives nicholas more time to evaluate the suggested revisions.He has been very responsive and deserves credit for listening,something more manf. should do more often.Not that this is a work in progress just some fine tuning.
rollo

guest1632 · « **Reply #731 on:** 12 Jan 2007, 08:59 pm »

Quote from: gooberdude on 12 Jan 2007, 07:26 pm

Hey Bronk,

i'll field this one.....according to Nick you can overdrive the transformers by
turning the volume up 100% with a hi-output source. I've read the term 'magnetized ' somwhere in relation to this. 2 clicks backwards of full-on is the recomended burn-in technique. I did this, but every other day i'd leave it back 3 clicks or 4 clicks, then go back to 2 clicks...just to keep it interesting.

Would any TVC owners like to go in together and order some Ebony knobs? the cost for Nick to mail them to each of us would be expensive... I've been talking with Nick about getting some and piggybacking the knobs on a local TVC order to save on shipping.

if others are interested, we could probably get the cost to something like $35 a piece including shipping - or cheaper. You'd have to pay Nick directly...

I'm also gonna hound Nick for some brass screws, so they might be avail as well....

Hey Gooderdude,

You can call me Ray. I thought the knobs were $30 a piece.

Ray

gooberdude · « **Reply #732 on:** 12 Jan 2007, 09:13 pm »

Hey Ray,

I think they are $30 each. I'm gonna order 2 of them.

the cost to mail a pair from the US to any other home in the US would
be around $8 i think, through Fedex with a tracking #.

the cost for nick to mail you a pair would be WAY more than $30 each, so
i'm just asking around to see if anyone wants to save on shipping...

feel free to PM me if you're interested.

matt

guest1632 · « **Reply #733 on:** 13 Jan 2007, 12:20 am »

Quote from: gooberdude on 12 Jan 2007, 09:13 pm

Hey Ray,

I think they are $30 each. I'm gonna order 2 of them.

the cost to mail a pair from the US to any other home in the US would
be around $8 i think, through Fedex with a tracking #.

the cost for nick to mail you a pair would be WAY more than $30 each, so
i'm just asking around to see if anyone wants to save on shipping...

feel free to PM me if you're interested.

matt

Makes perfect sense. Didn't you get the TVC with the separate controls? If so, you ought to get 3. Well, this is sure fun reading how this TVC is maturing.

Ray

Russell Dawkins · « **Reply #734 on:** 13 Jan 2007, 08:27 am »

I was thinking that if the TVC is so sensitive to such details as single vs. double silver wire and ebony knobs, it would probably really respond to experimentation with the materials used for the case and faceplate/backplate.

Both Dennis Morecroft and Yves Bernard Andre (YBA) feel strongly that the case material has an effect. DNM's response is to use acrylic for his amplifier cases and Yves is more conventional but did tell a friend of mine as long ago as 1992 that he found that his amps sounded better with the tops off and even better with the amp in breadboard form, and attributed the difference to the influence of sheet metal in proximity to signal carrying conductors.
He could find no practical way to implement this knowledge, so continued on with conventional construction.

These days, at least among the people who would be interested in a TVC of any kind, there is more of a willingness to entertain the notion of more radical designs, like the Altman Attraction DAC, simply mounted on a slab of wood.

I would like to see a TVC done in wood front and back with a plexiglass, glass or wood top, bottom and sides - at least experimentally.

It might be necessary to use a small amount of sheet metal to mount the ins and outs on the back, but that could be relatively benign as I gather the real culprit is the conductor running close to and parallel with sheet metal as opposed to a perpendicular relationship as would be the case with wires running to connectors on the rear.

analogmart · « **Reply #735 on:** 13 Jan 2007, 09:27 am »

3 knobs = $90, too expensive for me....

I'm better looking for Brass knob like Audio Note for my unit....
a lot cheaper...

guest1632 · « **Reply #736 on:** 13 Jan 2007, 12:08 pm »

Quote from: Russell Dawkins on 13 Jan 2007, 08:27 am

I was thinking that if the TVC is so sensitive to such details as single vs. double silver wire and ebony knobs, it would probably really respond to experimentation with the materials used for the case and faceplate/backplate.

Both Dennis Morecroft and Yves Bernard Andre (YBA) feel strongly that the case material has an effect. DNM's response is to use acrylic for his amplifier cases and Yves is more conventional but did tell a friend of mine as long ago as 1992 that he found that his amps sounded better with the tops off and even better with the amp in breadboard form, and attributed the difference to the influence of sheet metal in proximity to signal carrying conductors.
He could find no practical way to implement this knowledge, so continued on with conventional construction.

These days, at least among the people who would be interested in a TVC of any kind, there is more of a willingness to entertain the notion of more radical designs, like the Altman Attraction DAC, simply mounted on a slab of wood.

I would like to see a TVC done in wood front and back with a plexiglass, glass or wood top, bottom and sides - at least experimentally.

It might be necessary to use a small amount of sheet metal to mount the ins and outs on the back, but that could be relatively benign as I gather the real culprit is the conductor running close to and parallel with sheet metal as opposed to a perpendicular relationship as would be the case with wires running to connectors on the rear.

Hi Russell,

I have talked to Nick about this. It seems that there is a problem at the shaft's end where it hookss up to the switch. Putting some other denser knob on that shaft shouldn't change the sound that much. Plexiglass would be neat to see, but it's not entirely innert. I hear that the actual construction the box is something like a cigar box, not all that thick. Haven't seen a TVC, so don't know. Wood and plexiglass together as a case would be pretty innert.

Ray

acd483 · « **Reply #737 on:** 13 Jan 2007, 01:18 pm »

I would love to see someone attempt to recase this TVC. I think it's way too involved for any sonic or aesthetic payoff.

One note about the knob. Other than being a total skeptic about the knob changing the sound, everyone should make sure his volume controller nut is tight and firm to the wood as mine came loose during shipping. That should change the sound!!

rollo · « **Reply #738 on:** 13 Jan 2007, 03:37 pm »

Ray,
The shaft to the switch could be changed to a non metallic material.One of our club members tried a wood dowel in a passive instead of the metal shaft with very good success.Lower noise floor as RFI could not affect wood.The wood shaft also has different resonant characteristics which again lowered the noise floor.The connections were hot glued as they permanant.
We constructed a Tiger Maple enclosure for the TVC as well as metal[maple was lined with foil to block EMI,RFI.
The maple unit sounded better.What really did the trick was mounting the trannies on 3/8"TH. ebony.This move was shocking,there was just more music.
It appears resonance has an affect on the trannies,in some fashion,next up is spruce coated with violin varnish as per Mother of Tone.The spruce woks real well UNDER components,NO FEET,with a flush mount.Try this with the TVC its very effective.
rollo

Early B. · « **Reply #739 on:** 13 Jan 2007, 03:39 pm »

Yeah, forget about recasing the TVC. If it ain't broke...

Wood is good.

Besides, do you want to drive the price up?

Promitheus TVC passive preamp anyone?

guest1632

guest1632

guest1632

guest1632