Amp/Preamp Asylum: REVIEW: Vacuum Tube Logic - VTL tl 5.5 Preamplifier (Tube) by whatugot

Model:	tl 5.5
Category:	Preamplifier (Tube)
Suggested Retail Price:	$4000
Description:	Pre amp tube stage
Manufacturer URL:	Vacuum Tube Logic - VTL
Model Picture:	View

Review by whatugot ( A ) on January 24, 2005 at 21:32:44
IP Address: 24.47.145.86

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for the tl 5.5

Basically I wrote a pretty detailed review on audiogon about this pre-amp...but here goes for some added insight as I have now owned it longer...

Simply put, it has so much swing and air and is just plain musically fun that accuracy isn't important....not to say it isn't articulate or detailed, but it is more fun than anything else...sit back and just enjoy it without being analytical or crazed for perfect sound....it is just a great preamp that is easy to listen too for hours and hours. I use the Russian tubes and these are suppose to be better than the stock ones. The unit was bought on audiogon with these tubes as well as stock, and well after hearing it with the Russian tubes, I said it can't get much better than this...3-d wholy cow this is amazing with great bass (if ever so slightly bloated in good way that makes it better in the real world for me..if you get my drift)...anyway.I say buy it. It sounds organic and real. Fun and easy to live with. Its affordable too. Looks aren't important, but the build quality is good. Remote is simple with phase and mute, volume up and down...Balanced outs or RCA outs, all inputs are rca though and for me its no big deal...the bottom line for this linestage is I just think it sounds great. I would rather have a VTL 7.5 or maybe the new 6.5 coming out (but thats like 8k(used) and 8k(new)) so maybe a used ARC ref 2 mk2 would be better (for 5-6k used)...or maybe and Audion Quattro (8k-12k) but for now....this is what I have...and I dont care, it sounds like music. I am thinking of getting two, one for each system...

I used it in two systems and got similar results.

System 1: Lexicon MC12b, Maggie 3.6r, Dreadnught 200x3 100x4, Denon 2800II, Sony 9000es sacd

System 2: Yahmaha Dsp1a, Adcom Monoblocks (gfa565) driving Vandersteen 3a sigs, Sony CDP7700s etc. (this system is being revised with the VTL-since it did the most for the Vandersteens)

Product Weakness: Looks, looks, slight noise when not playing music (hiss I guess)I didnt get that with The Lexicon mc12 (but this is solid state and sounded 2-d in comparison...
Product Strengths: 3-d image, placment of vocals and band indivuals, life like and very un-hifi sounding...real...fun...fun...fun!

Associated Equipment for this Review:
Amplifier:	Theta Dreadnaught
Preamplifier (or None if Integrated):	Lexiconmc12b & VTL tl5.5
Sources (CDP/Turntable):	Sony 9000es
Speakers:	Maggies 3.6r
Cables/Interconnects:	Stealth Cloud Nine, TG Audio, Stleath Varidig (AWESOME)
Music Used (Genre/Selections):	jazz, rock, blues,
Room Size (LxWxH):	30 x 20 x 9
Room Comments/Treatments:	see exoticaudio.org page 35 bottom
Time Period/Length of Audition:	1 month
Other (Power Conditioner etc.):	Pro audio Triplite (no light man)
Type of Audition/Review:	Product Owner

Product Weakness:	Looks, looks, slight noise when not playing music (hiss I guess)I didnt get that with The Lexicon mc12 (but this is solid state and sounded 2-d in comparison...
Product Strengths:	3-d image, placment of vocals and band indivuals, life like and very un-hifi sounding...real...fun...fun...fun!