[tbabb]

Matt,

Intially I think it sounds very good for a piece of equipment that is not broken in.  I have not done any critical listening as yet, but overall I think it sounds very good and certinly gives my current tube preamp a run for it's money.    Considering my tube pre is double the cost of the TVC. If this TVC gets better with burn in, as others have indicated,  they I suspect it will surpass my my tube preamp.  It might not have the amount of bloom that the tube pre has, but I'll put aside that conclusion until after 400 or so hours.

Tim

Hey Tim,
Good to hear it arrived safely, i'll be in touch soon to arrange a listen.   What are your initial
thoughts??      I just received a 3" thick Tiger maple plat from timbernation, it sounds great.  the thicker the better...

[guest1632]

Matt,
 
Intially I think it sounds very good for a piece of equipment that is not broken in.  I have not done any critical listening as yet, but overall I think it sounds very good and certinly gives my current tube preamp a run for it's money.    Considering my tube pre is double the cost of the TVC. If this TVC gets better with burn in, as others have indicated,  they I suspect it will surpass my my tube preamp.  It might not have the amount of bloom that the tube pre has, but I'll put aside that conclusion until after 400 or so hours.

Tim

[quote

Hi Tim, What is the config for the TVC you have?

Ray

[tbabb]

Ray,

It's the dual volume reference model.  Is that what you mean?

Tim

[guest1632]

Ray,

It's the dual volume reference model.  Is that what you mean?

Tim

Hi Tim,
Well, what I'm asking is how many inputs and outs do you have?

Ray

[tbabb]

Ray,

Mine has two inputs and two outputs.

Tim

Ray,

It's the dual volume reference model.  Is that what you mean?

Tim

Hi Tim,
Well, what I'm asking is how many inputs and outs do you have?

Ray

[guest1632]

Ray,

Mine has two inputs and two outputs.

Tim

Ray,

It's the dual volume reference model.  Is that what you mean?

Tim

Hi Tim,

I wonder if you lucked out to get the double silver wire run.

Ray

Hi Tim,
Well, what I'm asking is how many inputs and outs do you have?

Ray

[rollo]

Babb,
           Looking good man,Is it possible to post a photo of the innards to show others what internal revisions have been implemented since the original.
          My active Prue has more bloom than the TVC,however the TVC may be more like the real thing.
          Saturday evening I attended a live event which was being recorded by John Atkinson of Sterile magazine.I noticed that decay of the sound lingered on what seemed like forever,there was sort of an initial bloom of the notes but subdued compared to colored version we get at home,which to many is a wonderfull thing.
        So ,which camp is correct?I would say both.As far as detail is concerned,it depends on where you are seated.The event was acoustic with NO PA system,so the brushed cymbals seemed subduded , meaning that the volume level of each instrument was different.
       This is why the super detail singnature of silver wire may be an issue for some listeners.If you like to sit in the first 3 rows than silver may be the ticket.
        By the way we were seated about 15 rows back center hall.What truly amazed me was the clarity of the bell of the cymbal,it just made its way directly to our ears.This I believe where silver has the edge at home.So what to do?Try both and see what floats YOUR boat.
       What I thought about the sound of the Steinway Piano was suprising,it was bright.Not like the sound I remember from a Baldwin.If we are not sure which camp,I suggest going to a live performace to remind us of what the real deal is and go from there.
       Enough rambling for now,enjoy your TVC.
Rollo

[guest1632]

Babb,
           Looking good man,Is it possible to post a photo of the innards to show others what internal revisions have been implemented since the original.
          My active Prue has more bloom than the TVC,however the TVC may be more like the real thing.
          Saturday evening I attended a live event which was being recorded by John Atkinson of Sterile magazine.I noticed that decay of the sound lingered on what seemed like forever,there was sort of an initial bloom of the notes but subdued compared to colored version we get at home,which to many is a wonderfull thing.
        So ,which camp is correct?I would say both.As far as detail is concerned,it depends on where you are seated.The event was acoustic with NO PA system,so the brushed cymbals seemed subduded , meaning that the volume level of each instrument was different.
       This is why the super detail singnature of silver wire may be an issue for some listeners.If you like to sit in the first 3 rows than silver may be the ticket.
        By the way we were seated about 15 rows back center hall.What truly amazed me was the clarity of the bell of the cymbal,it just made its way directly to our ears.This I believe where silver has the edge at home.So what to do?Try both and see what floats YOUR boat.
       What I thought about the sound of the Steinway Piano was suprising,it was bright.Not like the sound I remember from a Baldwin.If we are not sure which camp,I suggest going to a live performace to remind us of what the real deal is and go from there.
       Enough rambling for now,enjoy your TVC.
Rollo

Hi Rollo,

It's unfortunate that the home environment has so many compromises to reproduce accurately what is live. It's nice to know we're getting close.

Didn't you just get a TVC with all copper, or is that on order?

Ray

[rollo]

Hey Ray,
              It should arrive next week some time.Looking forward to reporting the difference between copper and silver versions.It will not be an apple to apple comparison since the copper version will have two enclosures,  grounded trannies, RCAs and no selector switch since it will be single input.
           The single box dual mono version will be available for a tour when the new unit is broken in for 400 Hrs and compared to the two box unit.We shall see.
Rollo

[guest1632]

Hey Ray,
              It should arrive next week some time.Looking forward to reporting the difference between copper and silver versions.It will not be an apple to apple comparison since the copper version will have two enclosures,  grounded trannies, RCAs and no selector switch since it will be single input.
           The single box dual mono version will be available for a tour when the new unit is broken in for 400 Hrs and compared to the two box unit.We shall see.
Rollo

Hi Rollo,

Hmmm, sounds very interesting. To bad you didn't have it in one box. The differences to equate which is better will be harder because of the one versus two box affair. Why did you go to 2 boxes?

Ray

[rollo]

Ray,
       Since i liked the dual mono version,I felt the separation of the tyrannies would help as in mono block amps.Went on a hunch and to Nicholas' supprise worked out very well.Since the trannies are not shielded like the S&B trannies,separation might help.
rollo

   ps Ray we hit page 100 break out the bong

[guest1632]

Ray,
       Since i liked the dual mono version,I felt the separation of the tyrannies would help as in mono block amps.Went on a hunch and to Nicholas' supprise worked out very well.Since the trannies are not shielded like the S&B trannies,separation might help.
rollo

   ps Ray we hit page 100 break out the bong

Hi Rollo,

Light it up Rollo! I'd join you, but we are about 2500 Miles away. 

I think Nicholas needs a circle. But he's got to ask for it. If he does, I'll be happy to co-moderate it.

Nicholas's transformers are hand wound. That's neat. He is not using someone else's product.

Did he double copper like on the silver? What did it cost you for monos, and what are the measurements? inches please? Just curious.

Ray

[rollo]

Ray,
        Maybe Cheech or Chong has some of that long rolling paper left It should reach you.
        Kidding aside the copper internal wiring is  single run copper.The trannies are hand wound with copper as you know.I would like to see Neotech as well but the cost is high compared to what Nicholas is using.I know S&B uses OCC Neotech 7N wire for their trannies at $550 just for trannies.The masses will hang me if I suggest this to Nicholas.How much difference that will make compared to the difference between silver and copper might be small and not worth the extra money.
       As far as price goes I am not really sure yet.
 Is that you I hear coughing
     rollo
   
PS  I believe the boxes are the same size as the single box unit just two of them

[guest1632]

Ray,
        Maybe Cheech or Chong has some of that long rolling paper left It should reach you.
        Kidding aside the copper internal wiring is not single run copper.The trannies are hand wound with copper as you know.I would like to see Notch as well but the cost is high compared to what Nicholas is using.I know S&B uses OCC neotech 7N wire for their trannies at $550 just for trannies.The masses will hang me if I suggest this to Nicholas.How much difference that will make compared to the difference between silver and copper might be small and not worth the extra money.
       As far as price goes I am not really sure yet.
 Is that you I hear coughing
     rollo
   
PS  I believe the boxes are the same size as the single box unit just two of them

Smells like skunk weed to me.
What is "notch?"

Ray

[rollo]

Ray
       That was Neotech as you can see I'm not much of a computer person.I will modify the post thanks
rollo
    Ps I really messed up the internal wiring is a single run

[guest1632]

Ray
       That was Neotech as you can see I'm not much of a computer person.I will modify the post thanks
rollo

Hi Rollo,

No problem. I did suggest to Nick that he maybe put some wax on the bobbin of the transformer. I don't know if he's gonna try that or not.

The one you have now, not the copper one, is single wired Silver?

Ray

[rollo]

Ray,
        Yes it is single silver wire.Tonight I will change the output wire to copper to see if it makes a difference.Should take 5 minutes to do.I will let you know the outcome.
        Going to Carnegie Hall tomorrow for practice session,so it may take a couple of days.
rollo

           

[NewBuyer]

Hey I just noticed that Promitheus has an active preamp listed now too, on their website.

Price not yet listed...

[PromitheusAudio]

Thanks inserting the link
THis active preamp does not have a volume control but can be added if nessecary. It was design to be used IN CONJUCTION with the TVC. An interconnect connects the output of the tvc into the active preamp and the active preamp will output to the amplifer

THe active preamp will be price around 450 -500 mark

A while back before the tvc before it became famous i used a tvc and an active preamp combo. To my ears it was the best sound/combo ever. Period. That was like 1 year + ago. My self i used a transformer coupled type 26 preamp with all good stuff in it.

So what i did, i decided to revisit this TVC and ACTIVE preamp combo again after 1 year.  Mainly because i had a friend who needed the drive. But this time it was a 6n1p with output trans configuration, same topology.

When i put them together TVC and the Active together what i heard for such a long time confirm truely that the TVC and ACtive together is FAR BETTER THAN the TVC alone. WHen i heard the active with 2 friends, both of them immediately commented when the first note struck, it is as if the tvc was lacking and not showning the music properly.  There were lots of things that were missing. With the TVC it deliver sall the macro things well but what it lacks is the ambience, decay, air, "you are there feeling" and the micro stuff. WIth this combo of the active preamp and tvc you get all of them. SO much that i do not want to return ever to the TVC alone unless i want to save electricity.

However this active preamp part has to be of a certain grade. If it not built right, the transparency will be lost and maybe the effect will not be that great. One thing i notice with Preamps with output trans is that it has the naturalness and body and the "alive sound". So if you are preamp with output trans go for this put an IC and you will hear the difference that you have been missing so much. However there are not many preamps in the market that come with output trans and are cheap. To name a few would be Supratek (cheapest, i seen) and of course don't forget Audio Note.


Even with extra IC, i heard more things, more body and decay and more micro details. So go figure extra IC better sound goes against common wisdom

So what i am doing is I will selling our active preamp as an extra option for people who would like to upgrade and another active preamp with TVC in a single chasis.


Personnelly i am in favour of the TVC in one box and the active preamp in one box. You get to play with more variables and there is less interaction in the case of virbration and Electromagnetic fields

Currently the Active preamp can be ordered for Unity gain(gain of 1) and Gain of 3( for people who need more gain). However because the Output trans for this is actually custom wound. I can make any type of gain depending on user's need at no extra charge.

Also with such a low gain structure the output impedance is something like 5 ohms  (unity gain) and 30 ohms (gain of 3). You would be able to drive most headphones too

I was thinking when i shipped the DAC, i would be able to send an active preamp unit for  home trial. So if any one that is interested please let me know if you want to try it out.

[Early B.]

I was thinking when i shipped the DAC, i would be able to send an active preamp unit for  home trial. So if any one that is interested please let me know if you want to try it out.

Nic --

This preamp is exactly what I need! Please put me at the top of the list for the home trial.

Thanks.