Promitheus TVC passive preamp anyone?

Whitese · « **Reply #1940 on:** 28 Jun 2007, 05:56 pm »

I Installed yesterday 2 V-caps....I still need to install 2 more, one under each tube.

i must say that the TVC combo with the 2 caps and the Atma-Sphere amp are giving me the best vocals....Sometimes at some point, most amps I had suffered from sibilance or not clearly defined "f's" and so on......I know some of the improvement is due to the amp, but the combo is spectacular.

Personally though, I still have a predilection for the TVC only...it has a certain speed and cleanliness that I find appealing. When you have sweet sounding cello, violin, guitar, its there, not clinical, but just enought weight.

Me, having a tubed amp and smooth sounding CDP, I think that I may not need the active buffer.

I wish Nick did trade ins/

Randy · « **Reply #1941 on:** 28 Jun 2007, 09:07 pm »

Matt,
Hey, I finally put on the ebony knobs, too, while I was hooking up my new CD player. I used an allen wrench to enlarge the holes on the knobs so I could get them on the control shafts. That's a big deal for me since I am a near helpless tweaker. BTW, I can't say the TVC sounds any better with the top off, but I didn't like seeing all those bare copper wires obviously in contact with the steel top when it is attached, though for all I know, it makes no difference.

guest1632 · « **Reply #1942 on:** 28 Jun 2007, 09:54 pm »

Quote from: Randy on 28 Jun 2007, 09:07 pm

Matt,
Hey, I finally put on the ebony knobs, too, while I was hooking up my new CD player. I used an allen wrench to enlarge the holes on the knobs so I could get them on the control shafts. That's a big deal for me since I am a near helpless tweaker. BTW, I can't say the TVC sounds any better with the top off, but I didn't like seeing all those bare copper wires obviously in contact with the steel top when it is attached, though for all I know, it makes no difference.

Hey Randy,

Maybe, you can gently reroute those wires that are ontop of the transformers to below the top, so they won't touch the top.

Ray

Randy · « **Reply #1943 on:** 28 Jun 2007, 11:18 pm »

Ray - they are so thin and fragile looking, I'm almost afraid to even touch them. This being a balanced version, there are dozens and dozens of them.

guest1632 · « **Reply #1944 on:** 29 Jun 2007, 12:14 am »

Quote from: Randy on 28 Jun 2007, 11:18 pm

Ray - they are so thin and fragile looking, I'm almost afraid to even touch them. This being a balanced version, there are dozens and dozens of them.

i Randy,

What you might do is before you move any of the wires, make sure you have clearance to go over each transformer.Then gently move one at a time.

Ray

anubisgrau · « **Reply #1945 on:** 29 Jun 2007, 09:43 am »

another thing to strongly consider:

if you don't mind having this on your TVC, bypass the connectors and solder your favourite wire directly to the outputs of the trannies.

the biggest upgrade i've heard so far with the TVC.

as i've always suspected no matter how good is a selector switch and the connectors, they degrade sound a lot. really a lot - and in a case of extremely open detailed and transparent device such as TVC it really matters.

this worked on promi, and now i did the same on my new TVC (bent) and it rocks big time.

in my case silver wire is the killer!

rollo · « **Reply #1946 on:** 29 Jun 2007, 01:42 pm »

One more thing,

If your system is laid back or colored to the Yin go with Silver. If your system is Neutral or close to the real deal go with Copper. Period. Enough said. Basically U.K. systems silver, U.S.A. copper.

rollo

gooberdude · « **Reply #1947 on:** 29 Jun 2007, 05:01 pm »

Hey Randy,

What about placing a small piece of damping material (or just masking tape) on the lid, in between the wires and the lid?? As far as i know the wires are lacquered, so there's no electrical connection with the lid....but i totally agree that it seems weird to have the wires against the lid.

Did you insert new allen screws in the knobs??? I dislike how tiny the stock holes/screws are & they wouldn't bite into the wood dowel rod easily. Did you replace the metal dowel with wood?? this, and isolating the switch mount from the chassis, were a good thing.

i just watched a show the night on Malaysian cuisine...sounds excellent. they have Chinese, Indian and native Malay influences. It all looked delicious.

rollo · « **Reply #1948 on:** 30 Jun 2007, 01:45 pm »

Hey Guys,

The trannie wires can be repositioned by hand as required to not come in contact with the lid, just be gentle. You may also want to try removing the plastic ties holding the input and output wiring, not the trannie wire however as it is a chore and a half. Noticed a small improvement in information retrieval and imaging. It was not jaw dropping but an improvement.
I heard the double "C" core Statement TVC in nude form [no enclosure] and you guys should start saving your money, that's all I can say for now. The GM70 amp is in a league by itself, needs some fine tuning in layout of tubes and trannie position due to heat of GM70 causing the wax potted trannies to warm up a bit. The "C" cores weigh about 12 pounds each and are approx. 4"x6", awesome looking. They will be used in the upcoming Statement series.

rollo

1000a · « **Reply #1949 on:** 30 Jun 2007, 03:19 pm »

is this a shorting plug below?

do i run a (rca) with wire from the + input to the + imput? not sure I get this part, my TVC should be here soon. thanks

input(+)____wire____input(-)?

2 RCAs connected to each other and simply plugged into the empty input

Bwanagreg · « **Reply #1950 on:** 30 Jun 2007, 03:53 pm »

Here is what I used. Don't spend a lot on the "audiophile" versions some places sell IMHO.

http://www.wallcoinc.com/Calrad_30_486_RCA_Shorting_Plug_Gold_p/wal22-30-486.htm

Rollo, given how important this can be to get the best performance out the the TVC, how about offering these with the unit itself as an option? Just a thought.

rollo · « **Reply #1951 on:** 30 Jun 2007, 03:54 pm »

Quote from: 1000a on 30 Jun 2007, 03:19 pm

is this a shorting plug below?

do i run a (rca) with wire from the + input to the + imput? not sure I get this part, my TVC should be here soon. thanks

input(+)____wire____input(-)?

2 RCAs connected to each other and simply plugged into the empty input
[
/quote]

Just take a RCA plug and connect the positive to the outter connector. [ negative] with a wire or bend the negative to the positive and solder. You can buy inexpensive Radio Shack RCA plugs for this purpose. Its a piece of cake.

rollo

1000a · « **Reply #1952 on:** 30 Jun 2007, 04:20 pm »

thanks it finally sunk in within each RCA connect the + to the -, or could be said connect the signal and the return sections together within each RCA. damn I am slow

thanks for the link

Randy · « **Reply #1953 on:** 30 Jun 2007, 09:50 pm »

Hey Randy,
What about placing a small piece of damping material (or just masking tape) on the lid, in between the wires and the lid?? As far as i know the wires are lacquered, so there's no electrical connection with the lid....but i totally agree that it seems weird to have the wires against the lid.
Did you insert new allen screws in the knobs??? I dislike how tiny the stock holes/screws are & they wouldn't bite into the wood dowel rod easily. Did you replace the metal dowel with wood?? this, and isolating the switch mount from the chassis, were a good thing

Matt,
No, I didn't try any of that. I'll let the lid stay off for a while and worry about the top and wires later. I had a combination allen set which provided plenty of leverage so I got those tiny screws down tight on the shaft. They have to be plenty tight to turn the thing. As for what matters most, it sounds great.

audioFreaK · « **Reply #1954 on:** 1 Jul 2007, 01:01 pm »

last two(2) i 've got a Promi's DAC personally delivered by Nic by himself.
this is the 2nd piece of gear which i've got from Nic besides the reference version of the TVC which remains as a gem in my
humble system.

It has been run-in for a day now ~ i was really impressed with the result of the Promi's DAC with my JVC DVD player. The current setup is JVC DVD Player --> Promi's DAC--> Promi's ref. TVC --> DIY Kit KT88 (running in triode) --> Rogers Ls3/5a

I played my favourite track "what the world needs now" by Stacey Kent. The immediate effect i got is the piano sound has fuller-bodied and weight ~ i can even feels the piano decay effects after each note which i didn't encounter before this. Not to mention the soundstage has increased tremendously. When she beginning to sing "... what the world needs now.... " the sibiliance which used to exist is entirely gone !!! AMAZING!!! my heart continously flow with the music...

The 2nd track which i've played is Jheena Lodwick-perhaps love ~ the sound of the guitar strokes is more obvious and body to it.At the middle of the track ... "... perhaps love... " the snare drum simultaneously surface on the song at the background with good timing.

Then i swap to Celine Dion-Where is the love.
i must mention the hand drum has improvement on the depth and the triangle which i've not heard before this ! I also got more bass ~i changed my mind not getting any AB1 subwoofer .

i also attached a picture of the internal Promi's DAC as for yr reference. The upgrades are V-Cap and AuriCap for + supply~ which is well-worth spent.
Ok can't get to listen to another of my favourite track..

Tsai Chin- "Du Ko" (Ferry) A famous Taiwanese Singer.. tho i really don't understand much Chinese yet i still enjoy this very much especially MUST be with the Promi's DAC !

Nic, thank you very much as i really enjoy it ~ hope you can drop by more often and listen for yrself to see how's this Promi's DAC gets better and better daily.

Gaara · « **Reply #1955 on:** 1 Jul 2007, 01:42 pm »

Audio freak,

Thanks for the review and the pic. I have been dying to see a user's pic of this unit and was wondering when someone would take care of it for me.

Vcaps eh, I can't believe how prominent Chris has gotten, I was buying power cords from his company back in 2003. Now he seems to be the bar to meet for caps it seems.

Jared

audioFreaK · « **Reply #1956 on:** 1 Jul 2007, 02:29 pm »

Gaara,

Welcome ! If there are any part of the Promi's DAC that you will like to see it ~ please feels free to ask . i'll be more than happy to capture and post it .
i am a happy man now.. with this Promi's DAC. it brings so much of enjoyment for me !
I've been going thru some of my favourite albums / songs again ~ i didn't know how much i actually missed out on the details of the song until i discover Nic with his Promi's DAC~ which makes music more enjoyable than ever.

you wouldn't know how much details you've missed until you unplug the Promi's DAC.

tanchiro58 · « **Reply #1957 on:** 1 Jul 2007, 05:48 pm »

Quote

The upgrades are V-Cap and AuriCap for + supply~ which is well-worth spent.

AudioFreak,

I have ordered the same DAC like you do but Nick did mention about the upgrades of V caps and Auricaps or maybe I did not ask for. Would you take a look what caps did Nick replace with at what position I would appreciate your time. :drool:I can imagine the upgrades would worth the money.

By the way if you have ERS cloths just wrap around the tranny PS and its wires to the pcb will make the sound more cleaner.

Whitese · « **Reply #1958 on:** 3 Jul 2007, 02:58 am »

i wonder if Nick tried some Ruskie oil/teflon/ caps..

rollo · « **Reply #1959 on:** 5 Jul 2007, 07:51 pm »

Hey Guys,
If you are using the TVC- Buffer combo and a Sub, try connecting the Sub to the TVC in lieu of Buffer. The bass should improve dramatically.

Also try Black hole Pad on the trannies of the DAC and make sure you have your jock strap on cause the Bass will rock your jewels. Imaging and micro details will improve as well.

rollo

Promitheus TVC passive preamp anyone?

guest1632

guest1632