Promitheus TVC passive preamp anyone?

anubisgrau · « **Reply #1440 on:** 9 Apr 2007, 11:30 pm »

Quote from: tanchiro58 on 9 Apr 2007, 11:08 pm

Just want to let you know that Double-C core trannies are not the best nowadays. As I know only the R cores can be the best trannies outhere. Therefore, Kondo Shan of Audio Note has succeed with his push pull tube amplifiers.

I do have my 2A3 parallel SET amp which has double C-core output transformers. It sounds a lot better than other brand name amplifiers like Cary, CJ, Audio Research, etc... But once I have listened to the 300B push pull with R-core output transformers then I know I have not reached to the extreme yet.

honestly i didn't know about R core trannies but i have no doubts there is more in the TVC world to come. only that i can't imagine a better preamp than the one my friends made.

rollo · « **Reply #1441 on:** 10 Apr 2007, 12:01 am »

anubisgru,

Would love to meet you and have you over for a listen. Maybe even cook you an Italian dinner. Email me when you know you are planning to be in town.
We could compare the Dual Mono Promitheus to yours.

To all,
To date Promitheus has delivered a more than modestly priced TVC for our enjoyment. The future I feel will bring forth even more in product development. I wonder what could be, if Nicholas created a Statement line of components at a reasonable price. I can only imagine. I believe the TVC is done for this price level and the active Preamp is the next step. To date the preamp is working out the break in nasties similar to the TVC. It is improving every day as did the TVC.
Today I liked it, last night I did not. So before I make my final comments I'll wait out the 400Hrs which should be Friday evening.
Until then its a moot point. By the way check out the Ebony cones. You will not be disappointed.

rollo

rollo · « **Reply #1442 on:** 10 Apr 2007, 12:05 am »

Quote from: Oscillate on 8 Apr 2007, 07:47 am

Nicholas, please check your PMs.

~~~~~~~~~

I bought a Reference Dual Box TVC a week ago. The next day I E-mailed to inquire about
price and availability of a Hybrid Amplifier (...and now an Active Preamp also) Might as well
get an entire Promitheus system for the best sound quality and value It's been a week
and no response yet. Is [email protected] the best way to contact Nicholas?

Newbie question follows... Is the Hybrid Amplifier considered a 'class A' design?

Yes this is the way I contact him. Easter is a big deal for Nicholas starting with Holy Thursday. He should contact you shortly. Hang in there baby he is reliable just busy as a Bee.

rollo

rayd · « **Reply #1443 on:** 10 Apr 2007, 01:25 am »

Hi Folks, just pulled the trigger on my TVC Ref 1. I spoke with Nicholas a few times (email) and mine will be made with 66db attenuation (I like listening at low volumes). Will primp it up with an ebony knob, set of cones, and two 1.5m silver cables

I'm not too techy with the impedance stuff but from what I understand, my amp's input impedance is 100K Ohms, my California Audio Labs Alpha DAC puts out 3.5V and output impedance is 2K Ohms. Speakers are Parker Audio 95 MTM's (2 Ohms 95db@1w/1m) so I think I will reap benefits from having the TVC there.

We'll see...

- Ray

NewBuyer · « **Reply #1444 on:** 10 Apr 2007, 09:13 am »

Hi Nicholas, just still wondering please, if the USB input on your DAC is transformer isolated? This would be a great feature, please comment?

anubisgrau · « **Reply #1445 on:** 10 Apr 2007, 01:45 pm »

Quote from: rollo on 10 Apr 2007, 12:01 am

Today I liked it, last night I did not. So before I make my final comments I'll wait out the 400Hrs which should be Friday evening.
Until then its a moot point.

oh yes, we are all damned. it's same with me here - i liked promitheus on saturday and sunday, but yesterday evening i didn't - it was too squashed in the mids and lacked a vertical dimension, not enough height (but only 60 hours on), but most of all - not enough PRaT and dynamics for my liking. so i had to plug my EAR 864 valve pre - it sounded better thanks to the clean AC. midnight magic

. otherwise EAR sounds broken (distorted) next to the TVC.

rollo thanks for the invitation - will let you know when i am around (i live in europe so you have to be patient:). during 2007 for sure!

anubisgrau · « **Reply #1446 on:** 10 Apr 2007, 01:48 pm »

forgot to ask this - my latest digital darling has too hot output (i think somewhere between 3-4V) so actually with even with the first step on the volume switch it is way too loud for late night sessions.

is there any cure to this or i should need to order another one from nick

with more attenuation?

PromitheusAudio · « **Reply #1447 on:** 10 Apr 2007, 03:10 pm »

Quote from: NewBuyer on 10 Apr 2007, 09:13 am

Hi Nicholas, just still wondering please, if the USB input on your DAC is transformer isolated? This would be a great feature, please comment?

Newbuyer

THe USB can be made to be isolate. Should not be problem. It has 2 digital lines so i guess coupled both.

Cheers
nicholas

Piwi · « **Reply #1448 on:** 10 Apr 2007, 07:21 pm »

I ordered my TVC ( ref dual with a lot of ins and outs) weeks before Christmas and it arrived 10 weeks later. Nicolas did miss some of my mails too

!? First thing I did was to remove the top to see what was inside. Not much. A lot of wire and two of those things. You call them trannies ? Well one of them was bent to the side, the other wasn't fastened well. :cry:With first installation I noticed all the cinch connectors moved.

I had to tighten them all. The balanced connectors were placed upside down. :?Don't know why that is .
The source selector turns so heavy that the whole selector turns itself in the box.

All the ebony knobs wobbled and the two volumeknobs were not directed in the same position. I am running out of smileys.
So when I start to listen to this evil box my expectations were at least a little bit on the dark side. Before the TVC arrived I did listen to my CDP direct because my pre was out for repair. ( I am still waiting for that).
The TVC didn't impress me at all. I removed it and hooked it up my AudioDharma cablecooker. Each day I changed the volume level. Maybe I forgot a few I don't know. How many steps should there be ? Mine has 22! ( on both side haha). After a couple of weeks I hooked it off and did nothing with it. Untill a couple of weeks ago. Then I began to seriously install the TVC in my set ( Gallo's, Modwright pre, Graaf GM200 OTL,Graaf 13.5II pre. BelCanto ref 1000's, Accuphase dp67(sold last week). I listen to it now with the Ref 1000's and a Marantz cd40. The marantz is a back up player from decades ago but it still plays and it's better then nothing.
At first I placed it on the wooden footers delivered with the TVC. I never listened to it critically but I noticed that it improved over time. Now it was time to throw in some serious footers. I know it's way overdone but the result was also. What i used ? Harmonix. I placed the TVC on 4 TU 666 and it began to sing. The improvement was even better when I placed it on 4 RF 999's with 2 of the TU 666 on the trannies. Now these footers are twice the price of the TVC but it shows that what you use under it is essential for its performance. With the Harmonix bases the TVC had a fuller ( more body) and smoother flow with more extension in the lows. Especially voices came out more natural. In my TVC the trannies are mounted on some black anti-resonance material. I will remove that because the Harmonix stuff works better without that. Don't ask me why but I already experienced it.

Now does any of you Promitheus fans know if 6moons is going to do something with the TVC ??
First Nicolas had a link on his website to 6moons with a upcoming pre/review. I also read it on 6moons. And now there is nothing anymore, not on 6moons and not on the promitheus website !
Strange isn't it ? Was the TVC not ready for review or what......?
Will be back with some pictures.

daz_bike · « **Reply #1449 on:** 10 Apr 2007, 08:00 pm »

Piwi,

Thanks for your observations and hopefully QC has improved now.

What Top and Bottom do you have on your TVC - Stainless Steel or Wood?

Cheers

Piwi · « **Reply #1450 on:** 10 Apr 2007, 08:19 pm »

daz-bike,

top and bottom are steel. I removed the top.

rayd · « **Reply #1451 on:** 10 Apr 2007, 09:43 pm »

Interesting review of the TVC on Affordable$$Audio site (opens PDF file).

acd483 · « **Reply #1452 on:** 10 Apr 2007, 11:10 pm »

PiWi,

How does the TVC compare to the mighty ModWright?

jeffjazz · « **Reply #1453 on:** 12 Apr 2007, 04:22 pm »

I was borrowing the a TVC (version 2 I believe) last Dec. to compare to my Modwright pre and a CJ PV-11 preamp I own. I was running them into a Pass Labs X-150 amp. The TVC has the most inviting midrange and naturalness to it. Warmer sounding than the Modwright. I did have problems with dynamics and timing on the TVC. I have learned that the Pass Labs amps like to see a full 2 volts, and I was running the TVC near max gain, So I did have some compatibility issues. The Modwright was more punchy sounding more dynamic with a bigger soundstage. The TVC did seem slightly more natural and relaxed. I have since gave the TVC to the next person to borrow and listen to. I'd bet the active TVC may beat the Modwright. I have since updated the Modwright to current and it sounds better(warmer more balanced less analytical). The Modwright is hear to stay (for now). I am very curious to hear the active TVC. I have a feeling it will be a world beater. The base TVC can't be beat for the price.

rollo · « **Reply #1454 on:** 12 Apr 2007, 08:40 pm »

Well its almost show time. With almost 400[384] Hrs on the Preamp it is now sounding as expected. WONDERFULL. Could it be beter? Probably but not at this price. I am sure some tube rolling with the 6N1P will prove informative, but for now I will listen as rec'd. There is a difference in sonics when changing the rectifier tube to a Tung Sol supplied by Nicholas. There is a more natural presentation overall. The overall soundstage is set a bit further back. The top end was less detailed and forward as well. However this may be system dependent or subjective to the listener. The bass is tighter and better focused with slam and authority. The bass is much improved IMO.
Enough for now. One more day to go. I know it is only another 24 Hrs but the magic number is 400 plus. It open up dramatically towards the end of break in, just as the TVC does.
By the way , using Promitheus Silver ICs between TVC and Pre. To my suprise they work well together. As you all know I am not a fan of silver ICs or silver hook up for that matter. Nicholas supplied me with a prototype IC with different RCAs. and dielectric [clear teflon] and they appear to sound less hyped and in your face then their predesessor.

rollo

anubisgrau · « **Reply #1455 on:** 12 Apr 2007, 11:52 pm »

aaaaaaaahhhhhhh i am getting over-jealous that yours is working fine rollo

mine has not only XLR inputs wired out of phase, but even more important XLR outs has reversed lef and right.

this is no good

PromitheusAudio · « **Reply #1456 on:** 13 Apr 2007, 04:19 am »

Anubisgrau

Did you receive my mail back on the audiocircle forum.

i am seeing where i did wrong. THe earlier batches there was some issues with XLR phase reversals. So i would like to check and see where i went wrong and work with you to resolve it

Cheers
nicholas

anubisgrau · « **Reply #1457 on:** 13 Apr 2007, 07:11 am »

i'm sending you pics later today - my laptop is with mechanics so i can't upload the pics at the moment;)

cheers g

AudioBear · « **Reply #1458 on:** 13 Apr 2007, 03:42 pm »

Rollo, not sure how much 'tube rolling' you are going to able to do with the 6N1P? I have some old Eb/EV versions I use in my Terraplane power amps, but they are not 'that' much different to the modern ones that Ron ships. You will definitely have more luck rolling the power tube I think

Anyway, I will let you know soon, my active is due to match my passive soonish. Nicholas forgot to colour the steel to black to match my power amps - but it is being done and shipment to the UK is speedy and my growing collection of NOS valves beckones.

I've been using a few sets of Nicks silver cables (deluxe) for several months now and think they are very good. They take ages to settle down, 200+ hours, but are very good after that. (Oh yes, and very directional - follow the instructions!)

I like the pre-amp just fine - but agree with you it lacks just a little 'something' hoping the active adds just that! (Actually for the price I think you can safely say it doesn't really lack anything - it just I know there is more.)

It works well with the Terraplanes and also with some T-amps I've been building. Although i'm still playing with the T-amps to get them a bit more air. For someone on a buget though Nicks' pre and a t-amp - suitably customised would be a good starting point. Now all we need to find is a cheap single driver horn loudspeaker and perhaps a sub...which only leaves the front end...

rollo · « **Reply #1459 on:** 13 Apr 2007, 05:24 pm »

Audiobear,

Glad to hear your happy. I did not receive directions for use of cables. Am I missing something here or did you mean trying both ways or what. I changed the power supply tube to a TungSol with great results. The 6N1P as you say may be a moot point but we will give it a try and let you know.

cheers
rollo