[mihilli]

 :scratch:Sorry to be thick here but what you're saying is cdp into tvc, tvc into active pre and active pre into amplifier?

Thanks

Guys,
  The TVC goes before the preamp.Tried it both ways and preferred before as Nicholas suggested.
    The difference in sound was this;TVC alone=transparent but lacking gestalt[body]  Active=Body and soul galore but lose transparency and clarity Both TVC and active=Clarity,transparency,gestalt,soul basically all you could ask for.
    The unique thing about nicks' active that it is transformer coupled with the correct gain for this purpose.
     I only listened to the combo for 15 minutes.Tomorrow an extended listening session will conclude my opinion.

rollo   

  PS  GHM is correct a buffer it is.

[PromitheusAudio]

What would be the benefit of using Nick's new tube preamp with the TVC as compared with the TVC alone...I already like the TVC than any tube pre I had, including the excellent Jeff Korneff 6SN7 preamp...

Any insights on what advantage using his tubage with TVC should bring"?

Guys
I was thinking on how to explain the tvc and the active preamp when i thought of American Football.

TVC is like the quaterbacks speed, fast but small and frail(relative to the linesman)
Active preamps are like the linesman big, slow but effectively very powerfull and bold when tackling heavy stuff.

On its own you can get by but you can't ask a quaterback to tackle heavy stuff right. They might break or shown their ineffectiveness. Or a linesman to run down 50 yards without being tackle.

In music and in football it is a team effort i believe you need a quaterback and as well as linemans. Without them working together will be hard. I always believe that its is combination of the good and the bad of one particular equipment when matched with the right stuff compliments eachs equipment's strength and weakness

SO asking the tvc to have lots of body but adding more weights and stuff can be done but it is more usefull perhaps to use them to work together. WHen doing so you get a relatively lower cost price preamp (tvc+active) than a single active preamp(lamm, higher end Bat preamps) and perhaps get the sound you wanted at a steal price\\

Hope this helps, my view of american football is purely via movies only. So forgive if i made some errors here and there

[PromitheusAudio]

:scratch:Sorry to be thick here but what you're saying is cdp into tvc, tvc into active pre and active pre into amplifier?

Thanks

The tvc is used as you said
cdp to TVC to active to amplifer

[PromitheusAudio]

Is Nick's active pre still in the prototype stage or is it ready for sale?  Thanks

It is for sale and not in prototype stage.

[PromitheusAudio]

i just hope that tubed contraption isnt too expensive...

I am thinking of selling it a USD500 . And to user who had bought our  tvc i would offer it as USD450. The price is the inductory price as it is pretty expensive to make the trans as the choke, power trans and output trans are all wound on m6 grade audio core. The Output trans is wound using the same split bobbin as like our TVC winding style.

IS the price okay?

Forgotten to mention the preamp comes with XLR out too and RCA out. It has 2 RCA outputs and 1 XLR output. IT has a RCA input(but can be made for XLR input it the user wants so)

The trans automatically converts single ended into balanced via the trans.

Also as mention by steve eddy the trans offer galvanic isolation

[Early B.]

Nic --

Does the price include shipping? If not, what is the shipping cost to USA?

[Harmon]

Hi Nick

        Are you saying that the active pre can be made with RCA input and Balanced input or , RCA input or Balanced input?   Also if all the components in a persons system are balanced and if your active pre is in such a system with only RCA input that the trans will convert the RCA signal to a balanced signal?  Thanks 

[guest1632]

Is Nick's active pre still in the prototype stage or is it ready for sale?  Thanks

It is for sale and not in prototype stage.

Hi Nicholas,

Can a current TVC be fitted with the active preamp board. That way, I'd only need to use one of the outputs, and leave the other one alone. Does it use a separate supply?

Ray

[Whitese]

Interesting, as I am not noticing any lack of slam in the bass dept...with Chris Squire or Organ music...no worries....Nick I guess Phono is next...I wish you had a tubed phono..

[Pacio]

Dear Audiocirclers,
I think it's time to thank you all for the advice you gave me over the past weeks, because listening to you I made up my mind quite well and I ended up with building a quite unusual system for the audio nuts of my country (Italy), but I'm also sure that it will anyway beat so many mega buck - standard systems here...
"Why are you posting this here??" you ask..well because yesterday I finally received my Ref. TVC dual mono one out/one in from the mighty Nick and currently my system is under severe burn in! All but the speakers which are still on their way to my home from El Sobrante, CA(!!).
My system as follows, guys, thank you all from the bottom of my heart and soul:

CD transport + DAC: North Star Model 192 MKII linked through a Soulcable Partenope silver I2S - RJ45 (made in Naples, thank you Gianni!)
Pre amp: Promitheus TVC Reference dual mono (thank you Nicholas, I love it)
Power amp: Odyssey Stratos SE Extreme stereo (hey Klaus, terrific piece of art..)
last but not least, speakers: VMPS RM30 M with CDWG
Cables: Anti Cables all over!! (Thank you Judy and Paul!!)

Well, it's hard for me to let it burn in with a couple of tiny, cheap B&W rented from my home cinema system, but it's better than nothing..
As for first listening impressions, I have to say that all of the gear must burn in, since it's all brand new, but the differences from the first minute to a couple hours later are not subtle! everything is opening up, defining, extending, it's funny how my system is changing!
More impressions later on when even my speakers will be in..
Just one question: I'm currently burning the TVC and source with the TVC at no attenuation volume (full throttle) connected to the Stratos (off position) and the CD player on repeat mode. Should I do this way or am I going wrong?
Again, thank you all for the advice, you helped me in setting up a great system! I'm really happy, now.
Cheers,
Marco

[rollo]

Pacio,
      Good luck with your new system.According to Nicholas 3 clicks down from full gain is recommended.When you receive your new speakers put them face to face,as close as you can without the drivers touching.Cover speakers with blankets and turn volume up.Break in time will depend on manfs. recommendations.
      Hope this helps.
rollo

PS forgot most important part;wire speakers out of phase to each other[reverse wires]

[Pacio]

WOW, this is what I call an insightful advice on burn in process..
Many thanks, Rollo!
Marco

PS: looks like both of us have italian CD players..does the Lector have a tubed output stage?

[rollo]

Pacio,
          Yes it uses a 12AT7 for gain stage and 12AT7 for output.I use the stock tubes which are Chelmer.
           Love the sound.Natural and relaxed.Cables are Harmonix Golden Ratio and the power cord an Omega Mikro active.
           Oops the water boiling have to put the pasta in.Pasta Piselli today.

rollo

[Pacio]

Enjoy! 

Marco

[PromitheusAudio]

Nic --

Does the price include shipping? If not, what is the shipping cost to USA?

The shipping price is not include yet. FOr a limited time i will set the shipping cost at USD50 instead of USD75(9 kgs box)
So total it is USD500
Is this okay?

[PromitheusAudio]

Is Nick's active pre still in the prototype stage or is it ready for sale?  Thanks

It is for sale and not in prototype stage.

Hi Nicholas,

Can a current TVC be fitted with the active preamp board. That way, I'd only need to use one of the outputs, and leave the other one alone. Does it use a separate supply?

Ray

Ray i don't get what you meant?  DO you mean can a old TVC be used with our active preamp? If so the answer is yes. ANd yes the active preamp has an outboard power supply which is a tube rectifer choke input.

[guest1632]

Is Nick's active pre still in the prototype stage or is it ready for sale?  Thanks

It is for sale and not in prototype stage.

Hi Nicholas,

Can a current TVC be fitted with the active preamp board. That way, I'd only need to use one of the outputs, and leave the other one alone. Does it use a separate supply?

Ray

Ray i don't get what you meant?  DO you mean can a old TVC be used with our active preamp? If so the answer is yes. ANd yes the active preamp has an outboard power supply which is a tube rectifer choke input.

Hi Nicholas,

If I take a current TVC,, can I buy the tube Preamp and mount it in the TVC myself? I'd use one of the outputs, and leave the other one alone.

Ray

[Gaara]

Rollo you forgot one thing, play the speakers out of phase.  This way the sound level is drastically reduced.  You could either use a y adapter and send one half of the signal to both speakers, or some test cds have mono brown noise out of phase for this purpose.  You want both speakers playing the exact same thing, but one to be out of phase.  This drastically reduces the sound level, and the blankets reduce it even further.

Jared

[wendell]

NIck is info up on website already on the Active?

[rollo]

Rollo you forgot one thing, play the speakers out of phase.  This way the sound level is drastically reduced.  You could either use a y adapter and send one half of the signal to both speakers, or some test cds have mono brown noise out of phase for this purpose.  You want both speakers playing the exact same thing, but one to be out of phase.  This drastically reduces the sound level, and the blankets reduce it even further.

Jared

     


Jared,
        Thanks I corrected that probably after you read it.good looking out though.The brown noise does work well.
       This is why AC is so great.All just trying to help each other out.Now if someone could lend me their Ferrari for the month well, that would be real nice. 
rollo