[Dan Driscoll]

I'm hoping for some information on a tube pre-amp from VTL, called the Maximal. The person I bought my current speakers from has offered this unit to me, but I won't be able to see or demo it for a couple of weeks. I checked VTL's website, but there isn't any info on discontinued models.

I know some VTL pre-amps tended to be tough on tubes, is that true for this model? FYI, it will be driving a Sherbourn SS power amp, into Vandersteen 2C speakers and the source components are an MMF-5 TT, Carver SD/A-360 CDC and Panny RP-91 DVD-A. Any comments or info would be appreciated. TIA

[RadioWonder]

Hi Dan....
            I am a VTL owner ... I have the SuperDeLuxe Preamp and
the 80 watt Monoblocks. I got mine new around 1989.
             If you can get your hands on the "old VTL Book" it has all the Preamps and Amps from the late 1980's and early 90's.
The preamp line up went like this... Maximal...DeLuxe...Super DeLuxe..
and Ultimate.
The Maximal has two 12AX7A triodes per channel for the Phono section
with active RIAA and two 6201/12AT7WA triodes per channel for the line section.  It also has a small screwdriver-adjustable potentiometer on its
rear panel, which gives an increase/decrease of almost 5dB's on each channel to better enable its usage with a wider variety of cartridges and amplifiers.
The Maximal has an extremely "Stiff" B-rail power supply(over 1000 microfarads), and a regulated 12 Volt DC supply for its tube heaters.

   As far as being hard on tubes mine is not...
                             Bob W
Here is my System.......
http://cgi.audioasylum.com/systems/4561.html

[Dan Driscoll]

Hi Bob, thanks for the info.  

It is interesting that the Maximal uses active equalization in the phono stage, I think most other phono stages use passive equalization. I like the input level adjustment idea, but I wouldn't mind seeing a schematic so I could see what method they used to accomplish this.

[RadioWonder]

Hi Dan......
           I am sorry I do not have a scanner with my computer...
All the info I gave you is out of the old "VTL Book" by David Manley
published 1989... I will gladly Xerox and snail mail you everything on the
Maximal including schematics...
            Also I forgot to include the Minimal preamp in the line up, it is first.... Back then they made a lot of different models of both amps and preamps...
             Please if you wish, send me a private message with your snail mail address...
                                       Bob

[Dan Driscoll]

I will gladly Xerox and snail mail you everything on the Maximal including schematics...

Bob,

The info has arrived, thank you very much!  

The output impedance of the Maximal is 5K ohms and the input impedance of my Sherbourn amplifier is 20K ohms.  I think this would work, but it would be nice if the Maximal's output impedance were lower.

[RadioWonder]

Can you borrow it for a few days and try it Dan?

Even if you do not buy this tubed preamp I think you will find adding
one is a very good choice . You may find like a lot of us that music just
sounds better through tubes.

I used to have a Counterpoint SA 5.1  paired with Adcom amps and into
Vandersteen 2C speakers  and loved
the combination so much I bought all tubed equiptment....

[RadioWonder]

Dan.....
               Here is a link to a discussion on adding a tubed preamp to
a solid state amp.
http://forum.audiogon.com/cgi-bin/fr.pl?aamps&1012230703&read&3&4&

[Dan Driscoll]

Hi Bob,

Thanks for the link. I've actually been looking into this for a while now, finances have been the main stumbling block.  But I should be getting my tax refund fairly soon, which will help. One of the main attractions of the Maximal is that he is offering me a very good price, much better than anything I have seen on Audiogon or other classified pages.

I'm hoping to get a chance to listen to the unit at the seller's home sometime in the next week or 2. If I like it I'm pretty sure he will let me borrow it for a few days to try in my system.