[Pacio]

Hi all,
I'm pretty new here as a newbie but since I'm trying to set up my first system I have to learn faster than ever..
I understood that TVC Promitheus is good indeed but I heard of a new TVC pre from Glasshouse and I wonder if anyone had the chance to compare them and to post the impressions and feelings.
Many thanks to all for the feedback.
Marco

[shep]

Hey Marco, Nice one! Amazing what turns up! It looks good. Pricier than the Prometheus though British vs Malasia. There was and still is a firm in England call Audio Synthesis. They started making really good passive pre's in the 80's (called Passion) , and still do though the prices have skyrocketed. (The Creek was and still is the entry-priced version of passives) They also make Dacs and used to make a fabulous phono stage and an amp that was apparently less successful. The "normal" passive on the site you pointed at (greenhouse) is very like the Passion pre of old and interestingly is about the same price as that was 20 years ago! Maybe there are some Brits on this forum that have heard of the one you ask about. The other one, as a kit, they are hellish to build.

[tbabb]

Am I missing something cause I don't see a transformer in that glasshouse unit. Why is it called a TVC?

- tb

Hi all,
I'm pretty new here as a newbie but since I'm trying to set up my first system I have to learn faster than ever..
I understood that TVC Promitheus is good indeed but I heard of a new TVC pre from Glasshouse and I wonder if anyone had the chance to compare them and to post the impressions and feelings.
Many thanks to all for the feedback.
Marco

[Steve Eddy]

Am I missing something cause I don't see a transformer in that glasshouse unit. Why is it called a TVC?

You're probably looking at the wrong one. They have two, one just a plain passive, the other a TVC based unit.

http://www.hificollective.co.uk/kits/glasshousehome.html

se

[JLM]

Glasshouse TVC is about 2 - 4 times the cost and a tight fit.

Some have had issues with delivery time and build quality of the Promitheus, but the sound is pretty much a known quantity based on the long thread here in the 2-channel circle.

[Dik Dolan]

Hello folks,
 I built a glasshouse tvc kit for my brother a few days ago. The transformers are a tight squeeze but not difficult, just a bit fiddly. The overall fit and finish of the complete kit is fabulous. The case feels like its hewn from solid, sockets/switches are good quality, and the sound....... fabulous.
 This was my first experience of a tvc pre so I cant say how it compares to promitheus, but it blows away any passive I have tried before ( dact, dale vishay stepped etc) and has weight and drive that equals or betters my brothers Michell argo hr...with much better transparancy.
 I have now ordered a glasshouse tvc kit for myself... I already have the glasshouse 300b SET kit amp, and couldn't resist getting the matching tvc... and I dont even need one yet. Currently only have one source, gyrodec feeding an ear834p that has a dact pot fitted. When I get my tvc kit I will have to experiment wiring out the dact.

[guest1632]

Hello folks,
 I built a glasshouse tvc kit for my brother a few days ago. The transformers are a tight squeeze but not difficult, just a bit fiddly. The overall fit and finish of the complete kit is fabulous. The case feels like its hewn from solid, sockets/switches are good quality, and the sound....... fabulous.
 This was my first experience of a tvc pre so I cant say how it compares to promitheus, but it blows away any passive I have tried before ( dact, dale vishay stepped etc) and has weight and drive that equals or betters my brothers Michell argo hr...with much better transparancy.
 I have now ordered a glasshouse tvc kit for myself... I already have the glasshouse 300b SET kit amp, and couldn't resist getting the matching tvc... and I dont even need one yet. Currently only have one source, gyrodec feeding an ear834p that has a dact pot fitted. When I get my tvc kit I will have to experiment wiring out the dact.

Hi Dik,

On that glasshouse kit, did it come with a selector switch for other sources. Now, you might also just get some shorting plugs if you do have blank positions. It's about $870, USD. Don't know what it would be  for shipping?

Regards,
Ray

[Dik Dolan]

Hi Ray,
The glasshouse kit comes with a selector switch and 6 inputs, 2 outputs and a pair of record sockets. No idea what postage would be to other parts of the world, I only live 50 miles from 'em=) Good idea on the shorting plugs, I will probably try some on mine when I get it (Nick at hificollective says he's waiting for a delivery of switches, probably another few days). My brother says he can't be bothered to experiment, he is very happy with his as it comes.

[gooberdude]

I've not listenend to another TVC, but have had the pleasure of using the Promitheus Reference TVC for a few months now.  For the $, its a steal and sounds incredible.     The TVC is nothing at all like 2 resistor based passive pre's i've owned.

shorting plugs are needed with this TVC as well...seems like these things can act like antennae's.

In terms of price, i added a $300 vibe draining mount to the Promi.    The increase in tonality & effortless presentation with this set-up is something i've not experienced before except with expensive tube preamps.  the wood chassis of the Promi responds big-time to such a mount...   

If the Glasshouse TVC didn't benefit from the mount, and if a person has soldering skills, these 2 are comparable $ wise IMO.

its gonna be a long time before i switch to a preamp other than a TVC....


Any idea how much the Glasshouse TVC costs if they assemble it??

[Dik Dolan]

Nick Lucas charges about £120 to build them I think. Prices should be on the site, click "buy now" should get you to them.

[gooberdude]

have any users of this TVC experienced crosstalk?     Seems like that may be an issue with the trannies being so close together....

[shep]

Another Nick! Is this some kind of conspiracy? Both making similar gear? Too good to be true
I suppose it's too much to hope for; that we will have an idea of how these two sound side-by-side. Unlikely but very desirable.