Audio Horizons TP 2.0 Preamplifier

The Russian tube that is a replacement for the 6922/6DJ8 is the 6N23P, which is an excellent tube and well worth trying. I don't own this preamp but I have used this tube in a Music Reference RM-9 as a replacement driver for NOS Siemens and I was completely surprised at how well this tube sounded.

Frankg,

I have seen them listed both ways. Evidently this has something to do with the Russian alphabet where the letter H is represented in the English alphabet as an N. Great tubes for the price nonetheless.

Frankg, if you go on eBay and do a search of 6N23P, some of the ads will have close up photos and you can see examples of the same alphabetical differences previously mentioned. Yes it is somewhat confusing, but the tubes are well worth seeking out. They are cheap and very consistent in quality. Make sure you seek out NOS, which for these tubes means prior to the break up of the Soviet Union when military standards for testing the tubes was more rigid.

I have been using the PEs (5 of them) in my home for the past 2 months. I have 3 on my AV circuit and a couple more on other circuits in my home. What Sherod reports is right on the mark. I now have a PE-4 on order as well as one of Alan's power cords. Each of my friends who have tried this tweak have reported similar results.

One thing for the AH family I would like to query is if anyone is using the TP 2.0 or 2.1 as a full function preamp, that is with the phono stage integrated. I am considering this option, but one thing I have to say that nags me a bit about AH is that as I look through the upgrades I feel like I'm getting nickel and dimed.

Oatalay - I enjoy the passive TVCs as well (having owned and possibly reacquiring a K&K TVC) and may look into the Antique Sound Lab model. I also like the concept behind the ASL Flora with AVC attenuators and an active tube gain stage as well. The new Bent TAPs will use autoformers and those are of interest as well.

Stltrains,

Yes that did occur to me. I do think it is good that some designers make their gear both affordable and upgradable for those who cannot afford a high cost of entry. Kevin Carter at K&K takes a similar approach on his kits. Of course, in order to match my current system I would have to get most of the upgrades, taking the cost well above what I would consider to be a bib bang for the buck. For the $4k plus I would spend on the AH 2.1 with phono there are a lot of other options.

I am very tempted by the trial offer. Perhaps that is the only way can truly tell what I am getting for the price.

BTW - I follow this thread quite a bit and enjoy the enthusiasm and comaraderie of the AH family and your support of AH products. I mean no disrespect by my comments. I'm in a very precarious predicament right now and this is a crucial time in my system evolution. I have learned a lot from this thread and hope to see it continue grow in opinions and insights.

Guys, it's that power supply, the brothers at TRL have that down to a science, they made (past) / make (present) some of the best equipment on the planet, bar none.

yep.