Amp/Preamp Asylum

S&B transformer was relatively poor sounding

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Wojciech

A

In Reply to: RE: Why are TVCs not more popular posted by rogerh113 on June 19, 2025 at 07:50:57

and I sold it without regret. Many others did the same. It's the simplest explanation. They can be made with 25 inputs and outputs, single ended and balanced and they can be configured in dual mono so balance function is possible too. They even offer an amplification factor in step Up mode. It doesn't help. They are usually hailed by DIY crowd set up on the mission of beating pros in their own game. But, as usual YMMV

Follow Ups:

RE: S&B transformer was relatively poor sounding - rogerh113 08:14:11 06/19/25 (3)
The TVC I use is a Bent Audio Noh - a commercial product. DIY always depends on the competence and skill of the DIYer. S&B transformers are used in the Noh, and I think there were 3 different copper versions and a silver version of those transformers. Again, pick the latest version for the best performance.

Some systems may benefit from / require tone control correction, and in those a TVC will likely not be up to the task.
- All systems benefit from tone controls. - Wojciech 08:37:27 06/19/25 (2)
  Especially the "purist" ones:) Bent Audio made great products. My S&B were MKI version. I don't think most power amps were designed to be driven by passive preamps. The idea looks great on paper but I only know of one manufacturer which implements it exclusively and it is NVA.
  - RE: All systems benefit from tone controls. - rogerh113 08:55:44 06/19/25 (1)
    There used to be an issue with low output sources, like phono. Most of the 'modern' sources like CD and tape would likely overdrive the power amp. If the power amp has a super low input impedance, that might also be a problem.
    
    For my DAC, standard listening levels are at 1/4 volume to 1/2 volume, depending on the CD and volume I want. On the TVC, the excess signal magnitude is converted to drive, so that at lower volume levels the sound is not depleted.
    
    If you want to hear a mock TVC, that is possible if your source has a built in level control. Turn the level control to zero, and plug the source component in to the power amp. Turn on both and slowly increase the volume level of the source. That will provide a sense of what the preamp is doing to the source signal. If you don't know what you are doing, best not to try this....
    - RE: All systems benefit from tone controls. - Wojciech 09:46:28 06/19/25 (0)
      I never thought about the excess signal being converted to drive rather than heat in low level setting and it's a plausible argument as long as speakers are up to task. Most of modern dacs have a volume controls. Some are implemented poorly and some claim to be state of the art controls. One of my Dac's (Antelope Zodiac Gold) has supposedly SOTA stepped attenuator and it's got a great reviews as well. I tried it with many amps and for rather intangible reason I was always drawn to music more with the preamp in chain. I just like colored Hi-fi and some form of tone control I guess and that would be the majority of audiophile community.
      Of course being notoriously poor I never had the luxury of configuring system like a true checkbook audiophile and had to rely on what "cat brought from the street" accidental setups. It doesn't mean they were cheap actually.

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