[mysticaldodo]

As in here http://www.promitheusaudio.com/phono.htm

Has anyone tried it? Care to share your opinions and how it matches with your turntable system?

Thx

[akmal00]

As in here http://www.promitheusaudio.com/phono.htm

Has anyone tried it? Care to share your opinions and how it matches with your turntable system?

Thx

I owned the phono preamp from Promitheus for 3 months, prior to that I used my previous TT using the phono inputs of a Cyrus 1 and then an Audiolab 8000A. For more than ten years I took an exodus away from LP's. When I got back to listening to my LP's my current amp did not have a phono input. So for few months I was reviewing a few phono preamps. They were:

1) Project phonobox
2) NAD PP2
3) Goldring phono preamp
4) Dynavector P75

and then I got to listen to a friend's Promitheus phono preamp.

The only two that I will say worth listening to seriously as the top contenders are the Dynavector and Promitheus. The NAD and Project were good value amps. The promitheus preamp goes along similar lines to the TVC. It lets the music comes through. IMHO, the source is more important. It's more flexible to than the P75. You have the independence to change the input between MM/ MC and the gain from 38 db to 66 db. Your choice of cartridge is easier. At the price range there's nothing much better. Mine is the first generation preamp. Now it's been improved with newer components I heard. You can even get the same casing as the TVC. The power supply is separate. See the pic. I am using it with a Clearaudio Emotion/ Satisfy/ Benz MC20E II. I have a friend that uses it with a modified Garrard 401/ Hadcock 242/ Shelter 901. The phono stage can be used with a variety of TT's and cartridges.

[Randy]

Is the phono preamp the box underneath the TVC and is that the power supply in the metal box to the right?  I'm unclear about this.  The phono pre looks much larger than this on the Promitheus website.  At any rate, I didn't think it was the same size as the TVC.   Thanks.

[gooberdude]

hey Randy,

take a look at akmal's orig pics on the TVC thread, probably 5 pages back by now.   He had a few
of the phono preamp directly.   In this pic, you can barely see it all the way to the left (on the floor).  its the same chassis as on Nick's website.

the box to the right of the TVC is the phono pre power supply - i could be wrong though.

if i could swing it, i'd like to pit the Promitheus versus my ci vpp-1/vac-1 combo.   same price really.

looks like the Promitheus psu chassis is larger than the VAC-1, which would allow for a better vibration draining scheme.

matt

[akmal00]

Is the phono preamp the box underneath the TVC and is that the power supply in the metal box to the right?  I'm unclear about this.  The phono pre looks much larger than this on the Promitheus website.  At any rate, I didn't think it was the same size as the TVC.   Thanks.

Sorry that I have not clear up the position of everything. My phono preamp is the earliest version of the preamps in black casing. The photo where there was a silver coloured casing is that of my TT power supply. It has a similar casing as Nicholas more recent phono amps. However my TT power supply is not from Promitheus audio.

In this pic the phono amp is on the mdf support beside the TVC. The power supply for this preamp in on the floor beside my CDP.

Here's a few more pics.







So in my system the preamp is sitting on the support besides the TVC and it's power supply in on the floor. The 2nd photo shows that I am not using the power supply/ speed changer for my TT. With the TVC it is revealing that my TT power supply is affecting the midrange in a bad way.

Heard that you might twist Nicholas hand to make the phono preamp in the wooden casing but maybe extra cost.



This is the latest casing for the phono amps.

[gooberdude]

Thanks for the explanation akmal.

in your experience, does the Promitheus have a low noise floor?   I've owned a cheap Bellari, the NAD PP2, the $120 Pro-ject phono and now the ci audio vpp-1 - purchased in that order. 

the VPP-1 is dead quiet in terms of the noise floor...there's no 'hushhhhhhhhh' sound often associated with cheaper phono pre's.  adding the vac-1 psu & good cables REALLY lowered the noise floor i speak of.

i'd like to get more flexibility.  With the TVC, my 5mv cartridge only works with the 50db setting on the VPP-1.   i don't want a trade-off in performance though if i switch to the Promitheus, but i  want to try out difft cartridges & am limited to those with 4-5mv right now. 


matt

[Randy]

akmal and matt - thanks guys. 

Randy

[mysticaldodo]

I got the loaner unit for the later silver version.

This thing immediately trashed my Clearaudio Basic in every manner which to be fair is an entry level phono.

Most notably,

Less noise floor

Alot better separation

More tonally balanced and natural sounding. (more 3 dimensional, richer but not overly so)

Regardless, the resolution for both are just about equal (though the Clearaudio's detail feels more forced upon you)


However my previous pre-amp (ATT 600) now sounds preferrable to the TVC with the phono amp residing in my setup. There was always something slightly off with the mid range of the TVC (which I ignored) but with the phono in, the problem is even more apparent (the mid range sounds honey fake, like the Grado RS-1). The TVC highs are more to my liking though but mid range is priority. The phono amp was a moderate improvement, not really night and day but would be very useful with its various loading and settings implemented within. Its a keeper 

I must add that my experience have been limited to these two. Don't let that keep you from experimenting  aa

[Randy]

mysticaldodo wrote: "However my previous pre-amp (ATT 600) now sounds preferrable to the TVC with the phono amp residing in my setup. There was always something slightly off with the mid range of the TVC (which I ignored) but with the phono in, the problem is even more apparent (the mid range sounds honey fake, like the Grado RS-1)."

Confused here.  Are you saying that in your opinion the promitheus phono preamp is not a good match for the promitheus TVC?

[mysticaldodo]

I feel the TVC is not the best choice in my vinyl setup and to my priorities. Many options to consider especially the catridge and table, so do not cross out the Promitheus Phono stage on my account as my setup differs from yours. However saying that, I think vinyl is tricker to recommend (with so many aspects). With my cd souce, the TVC actually sounds a bit better but my cd sounds different but I am giving priority to my vinyl source due to various reasons. For now, I am sticking to my original pre-amp.

[akmal00]

I feel the TVC is not the best choice in my vinyl setup and to my priorities. Many options to consider especially the catridge and table, so do not cross out the Promitheus Phono stage on my account as my setup differs from yours. However saying that, I think vinyl is tricker to recommend (with so many aspects). With my cd souce, the TVC actually sounds a bit better but my cd sounds different but I am giving priority to my vinyl source due to various reasons. For now, I am sticking to my original pre-amp.

I have been using the TVC with the phono preamps for two weeks now. Before I have the TVC I was using a power supply for my TT. Now with the TVC in place before my integrated Holfi, the midrange is better without the power supply and the sound is more natural. I tried the ATT 600 and it's power amp a while back with my phono preamp. Did not work for me. IMHO the TVC and the phono amp works.

[mysticaldodo]

I too decided not to opt for the power supply yet (hopefully I will eventually forget about it). I'm happy with the turntable for the most part, unhappy with the condition of my records