Promitheus TVC passive preamp anyone?

rollo · « **Reply #580 on:** 21 Dec 2006, 04:34 pm »

Hi Nicholas,
Thanks for the email regarding my order.I must say that after 150HRS of break-in its still breaking-in.However improving every day.
As you all know I rec'd a unit with 2 inputs instead of 1 as ordered.Nicholas offered to replace the unit with the proper one at his expense Cant ask for more.
At this time I can say that if you want better performance than what this TVC offers your going to SPEND alot more money.Not bragging but I own a world class PRE/PHONO[Loesch&Wiesner] and the Promitheus isn't to far behind at this point.If as Gooberdude says it will take 400HRS to fully break-in,well I should be one very happy camper.
By the way the finish of this unit is first rate.The feel of the ebony knobs is very nice.Just not sure if the S/S top plate looks as good as the brass or sounds any different.Nicholas what do you think?
Merry Christmas rollo

anubisgrau · « **Reply #581 on:** 21 Dec 2006, 04:37 pm »

Quote from: PromitheusAudio on 21 Dec 2006, 03:33 pm

Guys
I would like to ask you on whether this is something to explore on.
I was thinking like most guys like me, I have all single ended outputs(RCA) on my equipment. What if I would like to play with balanced? I go out and buy balanced output equipment. But what if, I launch a product that converts the RCA into TRUE Balanced XLR via the usage of a transformer? Would this type of product work well. You gain the advantage of balanced plus the advantage of a transformer

This already exists on a pro market. Very useful in studios. Try to find some Jensen transformers.

I am not sure why would anyone buy only a SE-balanced trafo converter when one can buy a full TVC that does the same.

Nick, your product is cheap and you offer too much for money:)

rabpaul · « **Reply #582 on:** 21 Dec 2006, 06:11 pm »

Nick,

When your source has true balanced XLR outputs e.g Ayre, Classe you will not be using SE as input to your pre-amp (in this case your TVC). Let me just say this is the only reason I have not got your TVC. You should at the very least offer this as an option.

Rgds
Rabin

Early B. · « **Reply #583 on:** 21 Dec 2006, 06:23 pm »

Quote from: rabpaul on 21 Dec 2006, 06:11 pm

Nick,

When your source has true balanced XLR outputs e.g Ayre, Classe you will not be using SE as input to your pre-amp (in this case your TVC). Let me just say this is the only reason I have not got your TVC. You should at the very least offer this as an option.

Rgds
Rabin

Nic offers his TVC with an XLR option at no additional cost. He can also customize your TVC for the number of XLR inputs and oputputs you need.

Early B. · « **Reply #584 on:** 21 Dec 2006, 06:36 pm »

Quote from: PromitheusAudio on 21 Dec 2006, 03:33 pm

Guys
I would like to ask you on whether this is something to explore on.
I was thinking like most guys like me, I have all single ended outputs(RCA) on my equipment. What if I would like to play with balanced? I go out and buy balanced output equipment. But what if, I launch a product that converts the RCA into TRUE Balanced XLR via the usage of a transformer? Would this type of product work well. You gain the advantage of balanced plus the advantage of a transformer

Instead of introducing new products at this time, I think you should focus on building and refining your core set of products. This includes improving the manufacturing process, order time, customer service, administrative aspects, shipping issues, etc. I'll bet there's a lot of work to be done in these areas.

I don't want you to fall into the trap of growing too fast and not being able to manage all of it. I've seen too many new, technically proficient audio companies fade into oblivion because they were not able to execute sound business principles. Proceed slowly and build your company one product at a time. Once you do that, you'll undoubtedly have a countless number of highly satisfied customers for many years.

jaspal kallar · « **Reply #585 on:** 21 Dec 2006, 06:47 pm »

Quote from: anubisgrau on 21 Dec 2006, 04:37 pm

Quote from: PromitheusAudio on 21 Dec 2006, 03:33 pm

Guys
I would like to ask you on whether this is something to explore on.
I was thinking like most guys like me, I have all single ended outputs(RCA) on my equipment. What if I would like to play with balanced? I go out and buy balanced output equipment. But what if, I launch a product that converts the RCA into TRUE Balanced XLR via the usage of a transformer? Would this type of product work well. You gain the advantage of balanced plus the advantage of a transformer

This already exists on a pro market. Very useful in studios. Try to find some Jensen transformers.

I am not sure why would anyone buy only a SE-balanced trafo converter when one can buy a full TVC that does the same.

Nick, your product is cheap and you offer too much for money:)

I don't if this is the same issue but whilst ordering my TVC I asked Nick:

"With my last preamp (Cyrus), now broken, I had RCA in to my preamp and I had XLR out to my Cyrus Power amps. Could I still use this configuration with the TVC Balanced?"

His reply:

"The tvc balanced can not convert single ended to balanced but can do single
ended to single ended, balanced to balanced and balance to single ended but
not single ended to balanced"

My apologies if "I'm barking up the wrong tree".

- jaspal.

Mike B. · « **Reply #586 on:** 21 Dec 2006, 08:28 pm »

Instead of introducing new products at this time, I think you should focus on building and refining your core set of products. This includes improving the manufacturing process, order time, customer service, administrative aspects, shipping issues, etc. I'll bet there's a lot of work to be done in these areas.

I don't want you to fall into the trap of growing too fast and not being able to manage all of it. I've seen too many new, technically proficient audio companies fade into oblivion because they were not able to execute sound business principles. Proceed slowly and build your company one product at a time. Once you do that, you'll undoubtedly have a countless number of highly satisfied customers for many years.
[/quote]

You are so right Early. If the guy can't remember or keep track of current orders, and delivery is over two months, there is a fundamental problem with the person and or the order process.

rollo · « **Reply #587 on:** 21 Dec 2006, 10:33 pm »

maybe so Early and Mike,but not the product.I have had more grief from the so called organized companies on service and shipment.At least Nichcolas personally rectified my small problem.
C'mon guys he is just starting out and is swamped with orders and trying real hard to satisfy all.Give him a break its Christmas time
rollo

ebag4 · « **Reply #588 on:** 21 Dec 2006, 10:58 pm »

I received my black TVC from Nick today, it looks great and sounds great right out of the box

. It is a standard unit with 4 inputs and 2 outputs. It arrived at my door 4 weeks and 2 days after I ordered it, this is the timeframe Nick quoted me before I ordered it. It was well packed and arrived undamaged. I will leave any comments on the sound for a later date after it has had time to burn in a bit, but I will say that I had to reduce the volume of my sub amp after installing the TVC in my system, it seems it lets the bass notes flow a little more freely than what I was running before...the volume control on my squeezebox. I would say this is a outstanding value simply based on what I have heard so far, more later. Thanks Nick for offering an excellent product and a great value.

Happy Holidays to all!

Best,
Ed

anubisgrau · « **Reply #589 on:** 21 Dec 2006, 11:23 pm »

C'mon, be nice to Nick.

Yes, you would probably get a faster service and better communication somewhere else, but than you will need to add another 0 to the price.

If you don't understand what you get for $340 than you better keep your mouth shut, please.

Merry Christmas Nicholas, you deserved some nice holidays!

PS. I am waiting for my TVC for 6 weeks already and I don't complain.

Gaara · « **Reply #590 on:** 22 Dec 2006, 12:45 am »

I don't think they were trying to take jabs at Nic, I think the point is he is swamped...so why add more work? The way I see it is he has some great products for an even better price, and has tons of orders coming in. The last thing he needs is to start thinking up new products and new options to current units. He should focus on the current units he sells, and as Early said, slowly grow. If he tries to do it all to quick things will fall apart, and no one wants that.

Also, thanks to launche and rollo for posting dimensions.

Jared

Mike B. · « **Reply #591 on:** 22 Dec 2006, 01:48 am »

Quote from: rollo on 21 Dec 2006, 10:33 pm

maybe so Early and Mike,but not the product.I have had more grief from the so called organized companies on service and shipment.At least Nichcolas personally rectified my small problem.
C'mon guys he is just starting out and is swamped with orders and trying real hard to satisfy all.Give him a break its Christmas time
rollo

I can't speak for the other two guys whose orders were "misplaced", but I was promised the unit I ordered weeks ago. Now he doesn't know who I am and I get a PM asking me to refresh his memory. GMAFB.

PromitheusAudio · « **Reply #592 on:** 22 Dec 2006, 02:04 am »

Mike B and Brian T

SOlved both of your problems yesterday by working thru the night and will sending them out today to be packed and shipped
Have PM both of you to notify the problem has been fixed

Have a blessed christmas

Cheers
nicholas

launche · « **Reply #593 on:** 22 Dec 2006, 02:52 am »

Like anything else we must try to extend the benefit of the doubt. Sometimes, I get confused how folks forget we're only human and at the first glitch are ready to fly off the handle, although I don't really see that being the case here. I had a 2 month wait and it was tough reading the good comments on this thread while I waited, but I learned patience. For those whose orders may have gotten overlooked or whatever, I'm sure Nick will work that out. Most of us have stated and understand that he has been swamped with orders and will make adjustments to rectify that I'm sure. But that speaks to a solid and valued product getting wonderful word of mouth. As long as it's not intentional wrong doing, it can be worked out. And let's not bogg down a good thread with these exchanges.

I have had pretty good experiences with the "smaller" venders
and isn't that partly why we're here. I'm good as I look at my hand written Holiday card from Nick and drinking some delicious Oasis coffee sent to me by that fine gentlemen named Louis from Omega Speakers

Just remember, you could be talking to a Customer Service Representative who could give a damn. I'm sure Nick will take care of you all.

Hang in there guys, hopefully it will be worth the wait for you.
Enjoying the TVC and thanks for the holiday card Nick.

analogmart · « **Reply #594 on:** 22 Dec 2006, 05:09 am »

Just curious, do they celebrate Christmas in Malaysia?
Hopefully TVC will matching well with my system and worth for waiting.

gooberdude · « **Reply #595 on:** 22 Dec 2006, 07:05 am »

it actually sounds like Nick's turnaround time is getting better, one to two months wait ain't bad at all.

don't forget that nick has the help of a group of local engineers who are collaborating with this effort - malaysian audio nuts if you will. it seems like he's designing quite innovative gear at really reasonable prices & even though nick's working OT, it hasn't diminished his creativity one bit.
for some reason Promitheus Audio is hell bent on doing this right and doing it affordably...

when this thread first began there were only a few dozen of these TVC's in existence, right??

the wait was painful though....i feel for you all!!!!

hey ebag4, could you post a pic of your black TVC?

Happy Holidays

GD

mysticaldodo · « **Reply #596 on:** 22 Dec 2006, 11:55 am »

Quote from: analogmart on 22 Dec 2006, 05:09 am

Just curious, do they celebrate Christmas in Malaysia?
Hopefully TVC will matching well with my system and worth for waiting.

Yes,they do

Russtafarian · « **Reply #597 on:** 22 Dec 2006, 04:51 pm »

Long time listener, first time caller...

Like a lot of people I've been intrigued by how a TVC would work in my system. Based on what I read in this discussion I ordered a Pro TVC November 29th. Imagine my surprise when the box was waiting for me when I arrived home from work yesterday! Thank you Nick. You have helped to make this a Merry Christmas for me! I hooked it up briefly to make sure it functioned properly, and it does. Then I hauled over to a friend's place to put it on his cable cooker for a few days.

Interesting observation on how the TVC interfaces with the cooker. The cooker has a continuity light which shows when it has full continuity with the cable that's connected. When I hooked up the TVC, the light stays on when the volume switch is wide open, bypassing the transformers I assume. When switched to the next setting down, the light starts slowly fading in and out at a regular rate. On the next tap the rate picks up and it continues to blink at a faster rate on each progressive tap setting. At about the sixth or seventh tap down from full volume, the light doesn't come on any more.

I'm not concerned about this at all since I already know the TVC functions just fine. I just found it interesting how the transformers interacted with the cooker. I'm going to have my friend cook it for 12 hours at each setting until the light goes out. On Christmas day my friend will bring it back to my place and we'll give it a listen. It should be fun!

Thanks again Nick. Happy holidays all!

Russ

ebag4 · « **Reply #598 on:** 22 Dec 2006, 06:56 pm »

Here you go GD. I apoligize for the quality of the photos, please understand that the unit looks better in person.

Best,
Ed

gooberdude · « **Reply #599 on:** 22 Dec 2006, 07:49 pm »

thanks ebag4! looks great.

I like the disc you're spinnin'. at times the lead singer's voice gets a bit irritating, but they
definitely have killer old-school heavy grooves... aa Wolfmother reminds me of early Sabbath...

Does your Squeezebox run into the TVC or are you using a DAC? At some point i'm gonna go with a computer based system...not sure which route to take though. My Ipod works through the TVC and has a 1v output.