Promitheus TVC passive preamp anyone?

Gaara · « **Reply #820 on:** 21 Jan 2007, 10:19 pm »

Russell,

I assume the reason it is spelled Promitheus instead of Prometheus is because there is another company called Prometheus Audio. They make turntables and stands.

Jared

acd483 · « **Reply #821 on:** 22 Jan 2007, 12:49 am »

Who cares how it's spelled, it's the man's company. Gaara does have a good practical point though.

rollo · « **Reply #822 on:** 22 Jan 2007, 04:13 pm »

Thought I would put my two cents in.The alum. enclosure does not enhance the product.The original wood box looks fine and works for the PRICE.
I believe the bottom should go back to wood and the top plate polished brass or S/S with double the thickness as used now.The added weight on top has worked for me in improving the sound.The screws for the top plate could be countersunk for a flush fit.As far as a logo is concerned it is overkill and will only add undue cost.
The finish of the box is well done as it is wet sanded before staining.The color is OK but maybe a lighter color would accent the ebony knobs better.The key to this is NOT to increase price on basic manf. but to offer OPTIONS at ADDITIONAL COST.
I would like to have true dual mono:two separate boxes,right and left channels[separate those trannies] with one input and two outputs.
As far as the innards are concerned.input and output wiring could be revised to eliminate buss for output to positive leg and connect neg buss to ground.Connect negative leg of input to ground as well.This will help in reducing any hum that may be present in some systems.Add grounding post and ground trannies as well.Keep all wires to trannie as short as possible and wrap trannie in paper.
The transformers as is are working real well as designed and would leave alone,however different core material and wire may improve sound but will raise cost.It may not be worth the effort,only Nicholas can make this decision.
I'll say this AGAIN for the money you can't touch this thing.How much extra would you spend for astechics?Me not much,pretty is not my thing sound is.
Well Nicholas here we go again,having fun yet?
Cheers rollo

GHM · « **Reply #823 on:** 22 Jan 2007, 05:20 pm »

I'm with you there Rollo!!! For the sound the TVC makes..you can put this thing in a Coffee can and I wouldn't give a damn!

As long as it keeps me listening..who cares.

acd483 · « **Reply #824 on:** 23 Jan 2007, 02:16 am »

Design costs nothing to the consumer, however it is reflective of the product's quality. Good design can conceal a bad product and enhance a good one. At this point, Nicholas has proven the value of the TVC...now it's time to make it look the part.

NewBuyer · « **Reply #825 on:** 23 Jan 2007, 02:24 am »

Quote from: acd483 on 23 Jan 2007, 02:16 am

Design costs nothing to the consumer, however it is reflective of the product's quality. Good design can conceal a bad product and enhance a good one. At this point, Nicholas has proven the value of the TVC...now it's time to make it look the part.

Hi acd483,

I really don't think the TVC looks bad at all in its current form. The wood case, metal top, wooden knobs, etc look very nice to me, in fact it is one of the nicest looking items in my system.

According to Nicholas, the particular wood (Nyatuh) used was selected over other wood types because it sounded better, and the case design was optimized for the sound quality as well.

There is nothing at all wrong with the way the TVC looks exactly as it is, right now. It looks really nice.

Steve Eddy · « **Reply #826 on:** 23 Jan 2007, 02:27 am »

Quote from: acd483 on 23 Jan 2007, 02:16 am

At this point, Nicholas has ...now it's time to make it look the part.

Look the part?

All right, Mr. DeMille, I'm ready for my close-up...

I'm sorry. I just couldn't resist.

se

gme109 · « **Reply #827 on:** 23 Jan 2007, 03:44 am »

What happened to the Promitheus TVC review? It was set to be reviewed, and now I can't find it anywhere on 6 Moons website.

GHM · « **Reply #828 on:** 23 Jan 2007, 03:53 am »

Quote from: Steve Eddy on 23 Jan 2007, 02:27 am

Quote from: acd483 on 23 Jan 2007, 02:16 am
At this point, Nicholas has ...now it's time to make it look the part.

Look the part?

All right, Mr. DeMille, I'm ready for my close-up...

I'm sorry. I just couldn't resist.

se

Good one Steve!

Quote from: gme109 on 23 Jan 2007, 03:44 am

What happened to the Promitheus TVC review? It was set to be reviewed, and now I can't find it anywhere on 6 Moons website.

You're right..it was there yesterday. With all th info here..they may as well not bother.

I think we've covered everything. The review would have been redundant IMHO. They haven't finished the review on the Bent TAP yet. Probably not a good idea to review two TVCs to close together.

Affordable audio might post a review. I do look forward to reading it any way!

Here's a review posted by an owner on Agon in the last week http://forum.audiogon.com/cgi-bin/frr.pl?rprea&1169253394&read&3&4&

launche · « **Reply #829 on:** 23 Jan 2007, 05:42 am »

Quote from: gme109 on 23 Jan 2007, 03:44 am

What happened to the Promitheus TVC review? It was set to be reviewed, and now I can't find it anywhere on 6 Moons website.

I think they just needed to make space for another component they just added. But GHM may be right, you guys may have pretty much covered it. Still looking forward to some press though, especially any comparisions and using it with various gear.

KT · « **Reply #830 on:** 23 Jan 2007, 06:40 am »

Quote from: acd483 on 21 Jan 2007, 08:36 pm

As a designer, I know there are many business owners out there very fond of doing their own work when it comes to naming, logos and industrial design. I hope I'm not too forward here, but I understand the necessity and impact of great design. You can charge more, owner pride...think Apple; nobody does it better. Often we spend more just for the look!

Kinda OT, but I just had to jump into the design discussion. I, too, have a background in the visual arts (MFA photography, Rhode Island School of Design).

According to my visually educated (ahem, ahem

) but non-industrial design educated way of thinking, good design stems from intangibles that transcend the mere function of the object. Think of what Apple's designs evoke - modern, clean, slick, future-looking, youthful. The Mac and PC perform essentially the same function, but think about how Apple is playing it's youthful, hip cache against the PC's geeky, tech-nerd image in its latest ad campaign. Think about how the Lyra Connoisseur preamp uses finely crafted wood and finely crafted dials to evoke fine, master-grade antique instruments. And how Peter Daniel named his amp the Patek and crafted it to mimic the fine workmanship of Patek watches. And how the 47 Labs Gaincard uses minimalist lines and proportions to evoke the calm, tranquil feel of Zen and simple, clean Japanese minimalism.

So as a starting point, a good question to ask is "What do I want my preamp to evoke? How do I want people to feel and what do I want them to think when they look at it? What materials and combinations of materials can I use to create that look and feeling? What proportions can I use to achieve that look and feeling? What detailing and design flourishes can I use to achieve/support that look and feeling? And so on...

I have a friend who's a designer in the clothing industry, and she uses something called concept boards to figure out this very thing. She'll paste together images from magazines, bits of cloth or other materials, color swatches, etc., all for the purpose of creating a cohesive, unified concept that unites color, feeling, associations, et al. If this concept is strong enough, it can then become the basis for an entire season's clothing line.

Anyway, just a few thoughts from me on the subject. BTW, did you know that John Devore of Devore Audio (loudspeakers) has a BFA in graphic design from the Rhode Island School of Design? Cool. It's kinda neat to see how people are blending the two disciplines, visual arts and audio, to create really nice gear.

I really like how the TVC is constantly evolving and I really like the statement preamp with the waxed wood and dual-mono volume and single source selector with ebony knobs. To my eye, that's the most appealing model so far. I feel that a lot of steel chassis look a bit too "off the shelf," and I feel the stainless steel case looks that way. Visually, I definitely prefer the waxed wood case with the three ebony knobs.

I wonder if that isn't why the 6moons preview got pulled - because the model they received wasn't up to the latest technical specs.

I love what you've started here, Nick - really affordable, great sounding gear. Had I not purchased a pair of S&B TX-102s a few years back, I'd also be waiting in line for my own Promethius TVC. Keep up the good work!

Best,
KT

acd483 · « **Reply #831 on:** 23 Jan 2007, 01:45 pm »

KT,

I'm a RISD grad too! Graphic Design '04. You make some good points about the purpose of design. I have no problem with function over form, that's why I bought the TVC. I just don't like making apologies..."forget how it looks...listen to how it sounds" etc.

I'm glad that many of you are happy with its appearance...as you own it! But if Nicholas is serious about marketing this baby (hell, he's getting a review in 6moons...that equals traffic and sales) it's simply got to raise the bar. It doesn't look professional to me. Especially when I have to open it up and fix it the first day.

I won't apologize for getting excited about the potential of a great product. Tease me if you will!

GHM · « **Reply #832 on:** 23 Jan 2007, 02:32 pm »

Quote from: acd483 on 23 Jan 2007, 01:45 pm

KT,

I'm a RISD grad too! Graphic Design '04. You make some good points about the purpose of design. I have no problem with function over form, that's why I bought the TVC. I just don't like making apologies..."forget how it looks...listen to how it sounds" etc.

I'm glad that many of you are happy with its appearance...as you own it! But if Nicholas is serious about marketing this baby (hell, he's getting a review in 6moons...that equals traffic and sales) it's simply got to raise the bar. It doesn't look professional to me. Especially when I have to open it up and fix it the first day.

I won't apologize for getting excited about the potential of a great product. Tease me if you will!

Sorry acd483,
I don't think anyone meant to tease you in a offending way. It was more of a light hearted thing. You have some great ideas! I hope Nick takes you up on the offer. I guess I've been bitten a few times by the shiny pretty boxes. Looking at how pretty they are..they must sound good? When in fact some sound like garbage.

This is what threw me off with the Promi..not saying it looks bad. Sure it can look better though. With the help of some great AC members (like yourself)..I believe Nick's products will grow more refined. If he can do this while still keeping his products at world beating prices..he has this thing licked!

Early B. · « **Reply #833 on:** 23 Jan 2007, 02:44 pm »

There's one other minor aesthetic issue I'd like to mention -- I think the TVC should have feet or some sort of footers attached to them at the factory. It's rare to run across an audio component without removable feet. Besides, the screws on the bottom are not flush mounted, so they can scratch surfaces. I set the TVC on my kitchen table to take some pictures, and the bottom screws left scratches in my table.

PromitheusAudio · « **Reply #834 on:** 23 Jan 2007, 03:03 pm »

ACD483

THanks, for superb offer. Please PM me to continue what you have plans for. I was working as an automation engineer and still do lectures on the subject. Being an engineer our only concern was to get the unit up and not worry about the looks.

I need lots of help here. When i start out this work, making the trans and wiring by hand was okay but getting the casing was really hard. The level of quality here is not good that i had to go to the carpenter factories to literary supervise the work. Bear in mind i have zero experience with wood or finishing.

General we are constantly doing improvements for the unit. To prevent faults like yours we need to think our of the box sometimes to fix the problems. Mainly things behave differently after shipping.
Pointers will help us move in the right direction.

P.S will check on the cones for you, remember sending them out.

Again thanks guys for helping out with the aesthetics part. Never was my strong selling point.

Quote

At this point, Nicholas has proven the value of the TVC...now it's time to make it look the part.

This what i am aiming for. WOuld be nice to have a really good looking product with really good sound.

On our upcoming dac, it seems it needs to work with a different wood than the tvc. THe wood is a indonesian hard wood marine ply. The will pretty much look the same.
Pretty much covered most of the sound test and I am quite happy with the sonics of the unit. Should be able to make some sample units to try out soon

Cheers
nicholas

Early B. · « **Reply #835 on:** 23 Jan 2007, 03:12 pm »

Nick --

Please tell us more about the upcoming DAC - is it SS or tube-based? Non-over sampling? What kind of op amps are used? Etc.?

Also, do you have a price range in mind yet that you can share?

jaspal kallar · « **Reply #836 on:** 23 Jan 2007, 09:13 pm »

I would just like to add that I think the TVC looks really nice considering the price. If I could I would have prefered the brass top since I think it suits better the red wood colour, I don't like "silverish" hifi components. However, sitting in my rack it looks really nice IMHO. I'm all for visual improvements but if the price got too high then that would be detrimental to I suppose what Nick set out to do, which (I'm guessing) was to have the best bang for buck passive pre. Was that your intention Nick?

- jaspal.

PS: picutre of my TVC in my rack: http://joe_bloggs.ownit.nu/IMG_2028.jpg

Russell Dawkins · « **Reply #837 on:** 23 Jan 2007, 11:02 pm »

Quote from: acd483 on 22 Jan 2007, 12:49 am

Who cares how it's spelled, it's the man's company. Gaara does have a good practical point though.

I care, and I thought perhaps Nicholas might, too, if as a non-native speaker he was not aware that it was a mis-spelling, with his product about to get world-wide exposure. This would have been a good time to correct it.

Prometheus is not a coined word like Sony where spelling conventions do not apply, and some potential customers would, I think, look askance at having some major mythical figure apparently mis-spelled and permanently on display. I know I would.

Hence my thought of a logo on the front and the name on the back.

acd483 · « **Reply #838 on:** 23 Jan 2007, 11:24 pm »

I love the idea of a logo. To me, audio equipment needs to be extremely clean and simple...which is the hardest to execute beautifully, but so rewarding when you do.

I think an inert material is key...but I plan to do something never done before in audio design...

gooberdude · « **Reply #839 on:** 23 Jan 2007, 11:43 pm »

"I think an inert material is key...but I plan to do something never done before in audio design... "

Hey Anthony, you gonna keep us in suspense?

is your system here up and running??