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In Reply to: Re: Passive and Jolida Tube CD Player? posted by crgolfer on April 21, 2004 at 03:56:11:
I have tried many other preamps in my system, with one of them being a Foreplay. While it is a good little performer, it is no match for a TVC. I have owned Audible Illusions, BAT, JJ Electronics, Cary, Pass, Audio Research, etc........The TVC surpasses all of them in my book.
Follow Ups:
Just curious if you have tried FT Audio LW-1 passive linestage. How does it compare with Bent?Sidenote, I also have a tubed CDP and am looking into the passive linestage route myself :)
As a matter of fact, I did get an LW1 from Paul a few years ago for an audition. I thought it was very nice indeed. Very close to the Modulus 3A I owned at the time, only missing the richness of vocals that I prefer by a smidgen. Had I been prepared to shell out the money for a top notch phono stage at that time, I might have bought it. But since I already had the AI with it's excellent phono capabilities, I passed on the LW1.But, I still believe a TVC would best the FT Audio in dynamics and midrange presence, but it would probably be close again. My current preamp gives me the rich midrange of the AI, with better top and bottom extension. Especially bass solidity and control, nothing has sounded better in this regard. Just from mental memory, not a very trustworthy thing mind you, I think the LW1 would be as transparent as anything out there, but lacking the slight bloom and bass quality that I get with the TVC.
If you are looking to spend no more than 500.00 or so, I would recommend the LW1. And if he is still doing free in home demos, it's a no brainer.
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I don't think it is radically different. It has a Seiden switch for volume, has polarity inversion and mono switch. Uses silver hook up wire and Vampire connectors. The transformers are exactly what John sells, that is where Kevin C. sourced them from.
Haven’t A/B as many pres as you have, but do like the TVC also. My only nit is it’s slightly too laid back or polite – enough so for me to want something a little more vivid. I’m picky - but not crazy enough to spend 3x plus to beat it. But would like to a see if I’m willing to take the transparent / purity hit of an active or try the more aggressive silver tvc.
Any suggestions? - Thanks
If you think the TVC is laid back and not exciting enough, I would look elsewhere in your system for the culprit. I have dynamics and slam that equal or best any active preamp I have heard. I am not one willing to trade off those aspects in favor of transparency. In my opinion, transparency is just a nice bonus of what the TVC does, but is not the reason why I bought it. It was just more musical overall, and has the most extended bass of anything I have tried. There may just be a mismatch with either your source or your amp. Not to say that it doesn't sound good in your system, but it just might not be giving you all it is capable of. Polite is not at all how I would describe the sound of my system with a TVC.
Hope you don't think that I’m knocking the tvc or questioning what you’re hearing - I'm not. I've compared the TVC to other pres also and agree that it equals them in dynamics, slam, etc., easily bested them in transparency, purity and more importantly sounds more emotionally engaging. I bought it b/c I liked it, and wouldn’t be considering upgrading to the silver version if I didn’t want more of it. Maybe “polite” was the wrong term, but John Chapman's site describes the different version as –The MK II was quite a different beast. The internal geometry was such that it measured near perfect - dead flat to 100Khz then a wiggle between 100 Khz and 200 Khz. Huge difference to the MK I. The sound was what might be expected - more laid back. I liked it better myself although not everyone agree'd! I felt that the more vivid sound of the MK I would 'win' in a quick a/b (kinda like the louder speaker syndrome) but the MK II sound was to my ear more enjoyable in the long term. Still there seemed to be a rising confusion about which rev would be best for folks. …led to a MK III rev attempt…Sonically I think it is what you might expect.... Somewhere between the other 2 revs and I think it hits the sweet spot nicely. A bit more vivid than the MK II but just a hair more gentle sounding than the MK I. "there is a Gentleness to it compared to MK I" was Jonathan's comment to me before I heard them and when i got my first pair alive here I had to agree.
In retrospect, it’s more of preference issue than anything else. Maybe the mk-ii was not the better choice for me, but had to start somewhere. Anyway, until I compare the other tvc variants and a couple of actives w/ my maggies – I’ll continue to fester over whether or not I made the right choice. I'm fascinated about the number of pre's that you have heard. So, if i haven't offended or bored you, can you throw me a bone?
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