Anyone famaliar with the manufacturer,and in particular this pre amp.The credentials and testimonials seem impressive.The advertised 10 day audition is appealing.
Stltrains - I get great sound with wood floor and an area rug between speakers and listening position - good luck with your setup -it should be very workable
Yes, Stltrains. I agree with Gammajo in that a wood floor with a large area rug can work just fine. It will, in general, add a bit more liveliness to the room, which might be either a nice addition or not to the sound. Make sure that the first reflection points off your speakers are addressed. If you like the sound fine as is with the new floor arrangement, then enjoy the music. If it adds too much liveliness( i.e. slap echos,etc) then you might need to adjust the other room acoutrements with some diffusion/dampening. Have fun and enjoy. I look forward to hearing how the new AH interconnects sound for you. Just remember to give them some break-in time.
Hi all, I'm very close to deciding to go with the upgrade for my TP 2.0nb. Anyone come away with definite positive results with consideration to having 2 ways, I have Dynaudio C-1, at this point everything is musical, and lively with hopes of no loss of midrange as I've read here. Appreciate chimes!
hi ralphcast ~ i have the dynaudio c-1 and the tp 2.0nB and later upgraded to 2.1nB. The upgrade brought the c-1 to another level. It made the c-1 sound bigger, i.e. more bass, midbass the presentation is broader and sweeter. i'm really happy with the sound after the upgrade. Just remember with the new upgrade the 2.1 takes a longer time to break in as opposed to the 2.0 you will definately start hearing the improvement after 120 plus hours. if you go with the 2.1nB pls let me know what your thoughs are after the break in period. thx jojo
I, too, own the TD 3.0 tube DAC. It is excellent. There is a Dagogo review of it, which is located here: http://www.dagogo.com/AudioHorizonsTD3.0nDAC.html
It appears that no one with Wadia amps has tried the AH preamp out with it. Perhaps you can get one for a free home trial and let us know how it sounds.
I'm rather new to tube equipment and high-end in general. This problem deals with the tubes on our TP 2.0n preamp.
The other night when listening, I noticed an unusual noise coming from the left speaker. We had just shaken the room with Micky Hart's Dafos album... serious bass on The Beam.
The noise was a cyclical, tinny, almost motor-like sound that would repeat in a 1-2-3 pattern. It was very noticeable from the listening position - enough to interrupt the session. Interestingly, it had the same tone or pitch as the microphonics that I *sometimes* hear on the pre-amp... if I tap the volume knob, I get that ringing sound. I turned off the TP 2.0 for a minute or two, re-started, and the sound was no longer there.
Just for gits and shiggles, I later rolled the tubes over one position. 1 went to position 2, 2 to 3, ..., 4 to position 1. I ensured that they were well seated, and then reinstalled Herbie's Tube Dampers a bit higher up - about as high up the tube as I could get them.
When I went to play again, at idle the preamp was dead silent. No microphonics - which continues to be the case - no recurrence of the cyclical noise.
So, the questions are: What's going on with the tubes? What might I have done to correct the problem - was it reseating, or repositioning? Do I have a tube going bad? If a bad tube were in, say, position 1 and then moved to position 2, am I going to be missing or risking something?
The tubes in question are Amperex PQ white label 6922s.
Thanks! I have no doubt that someone knows what's going on here.
Rob, Perhaps Joseph or Victor can answer your question best. All they told me, back when I was tube-rolling, was that locations 1 & 3 were the most critical for the sound. I would imagine that these are in the signal path. As to what locations 2 & 4 do, I can only take a layman's guess that they are for regulation. It's best to ask the "Master"( J. Chow) himself.
I'm new to AH, now trying out a modded 2.0 before ordering a 2.1. I've talked to Joe quite a bit and to answer about the tubes, 1 and 3 amplify, 2 and 4 are buffers. I love the preamp and after 2 days have already decided to order a new one and this is after living with an $8500 CJ 16LS II for over 3 years. Thanks to Grannyring for the recommendation. The demo doesn't work with my Atma-Sphere amps in balanced mode but even through the RCAs it's obviously a great preamp. I can't wait to hear the 2.1 in balanced mode as I'm sure it will be an improvement. This is the first thread my lazy ass has ever bothered to reply but this product is worth it.
Thank you, I hope Rhanson sees my reply to his question about the tubes functions in the preamp. I also had to reply to some meathead on another thread accusing everybody posting here to be working for AH; that this preamp couldn't possibly be as good as you'll say. Also, wondering if anyone has a balanced version of the preamp and compared the two outputs; is the balanced upgrade worth $795 as I want to order a 2.1nRB. Thanks.
David, welcome to wonderful listening and a nice thread. I tried the balanced versus RCA with my 2.0n and found the difference to be immediate and dramatic and worth the $795 easily. My brother who is not tuned to these things also easily heard the difference within 30 seconds. The RCA's were decent quality silver IC's and the Balanced ICs were AH. My feeling was that the IC's were not accounting for much of the difference. There was a more holographic sound stage, blacker background and more nuanced detail. Joe
David, Welcome to the AH club. I'm curious what mods were done on the TP 2.0 version you auditioned. Also, since you had an opportunity to try the 2.0 version first, I would be interested in what your thoughts are after you've had the new 2.1 version in your system for a while. Enjoy the music and don't be a stranger.
David, I noticed that you're selling your entire main system as you're moving to Korea. I'm curious what system you are going to get to put your new TP 2.1 preamp in?
The 2.0 Joe sent has the upgraded caps, copper foil wrapped, and he hooked up the XLRs by joining 2 pins together, pseudo balanced, but it doesn't work with my amps. I went back and read more of this thread and with your comments Gammajo, I will definitely get the B as in 2.1nRB. I'd like to get the better tubes but I think I'll save that for another day, something to look forward to. I'm not selling my entire system, just thinning out and simplifying as the trip wouldn't be until next summer. Korea runs on 220-240volt so everything needs a step-down transformer. We make extra money there so I always try a lot of cables and when I come back I buy too much other audio gear to feed the habit. My system took a big change just before I got the 2.0, I think it had to do with too much wieght of a clumsy hand on the drawer of my DVD. So I had to send it back to ModWright to fix and sell to simplify as it has an external power supply. I bought the new Sony Blu-ray not in stores yet, BDP-S2000ES, and it is cheap compared to my old 9000ES. It's their new top-o-the-line ES and it doesn't do SACD! Joeseph asked for some internal pictures and said he might think about modding it; I wish he would. ModWright said they will some time next year. So my new system will be: Sony to AH 2.1 via Jena Labs Symphony to Atma-Sphere M60.3 by AH balanced to Tyler Acoustics Reference 2 bi-wired VeraStarr, all but amps feed from a Hydra 8 fed by a TaiPan Helix. Other PCs: JPS Digital AC(very good), AH Transparency for preamp, VH Audio Airsines to amps, the DVD and preamp plug into a hospital grade transformer that plugs into the Shunyata by a Virtual Dynamics Master (damn that thing is a pain in the ass, so heavy and stiff, but it put some meat on the bones, my wife said like going from monkey to human!?) The speakers are 2-piece so I could take half with me if, and it's starting to look like an if, we go back to Korea. Love the city of Seoul. It has thousands of restaurants and it's cheap enough to eat out almost every night. It has an electronics mart, YongSan, that has everything you have ever read about in the mags. Literally thousands of shops, a lot of small 1-room audio shops would have 100's of thousands of dollars of equipment packed in, I don't understand how they afford it. Anyway, enough rambling, I've got a preamp to order. Thanks for the welcome and I'll let you know when I get the 2.1 and how it changes.
I was curious about why you purchased the Sony Blue Ray player. I have been thinking of buying it till I found that it has no SACD. The Denon is at the top of my list but I am waiting to see what else will fall from the tree before making the plunge. Great post by the way on the city of Seol.
Look forward to your comments about the sonic merits of the Sony. Feel free to PM me directly. Do not wish to dilute this superb thread.
Yes, thanks, I saw your information about the tube positions. The answer seems to be in line with what I've experienced.
You may want to re-think your decision not to upgrade to better tubes. Joseph sells quality tubes - Siemens, if I recall correctly? When I received the TP2.0n, it came stock with EH tubes. I replaced them with Amperex PQ White Labels, and the difference was like comparing apples to automobiles.
Joseph definitely has a graet deal on the Siemens. Aren't they German tubes? I've tried the highly touted Telefunkens in another preamp, still have the pair, ECC801S. Also have a pair of beautiful Mullard ECC801S in original boxes, been tightly holding on to those 2 pair. I prefer the sweeter, warmer sound of the Dutch and British tubes. Speaking of which, Rhanson, I found some Amperex like yours but they are Philips made in Holland labeled SQ E188CC white label for $210/matched pair. Any info or experience with those? I'm going to have to start a new research line of work with the AH, there's just so many NOS of this type that I'd love to try. Some interesting reading at audiotubes.com/6dj8.htm. I'll get with you La about the other.
Gentlemen, This thread has become fairly quiet lately. Is everyone just enjoying their music so much that they don't have either the time or inclination to put in any comments? I would love to hear from new owners of the TP 2.1 or thoughts from anyone else who has upgraded from the 2.0 to the 2.1. My main system is still down. My VAC amps are still at the factory waiting for a check-up. I didn't realize until they received my amps that there was a two week back-up in the service department. I sure do miss the music. Even though I have my bedroom system running, it's just not the same.
I still check in on the thread from time to time and always enjoy reading your enthusiastic posts. I am sure people are busy. Did you start your holiday shopping yet?
Luis, You are a funny guy. I don't shop until the day after Christmas when they have the 50% off sales. Just kidding, but my mother has always shopped this way to prepare for the next Christmas. It's a little early anyway for me to get into the holiday spirit. Maybe when Thanksgiving comes, I'll start humming and whistling the Christmas carols and get myself into the holiday mood. I also enjoy reading your enthusiastic posts as well.
Hey Sherod i was in your situation until Thursday, we have been installing a glued wooden floor in our great room and my system had to come down, 10 days. if there ever is a next time i will pay some one to install the floor. now i am trying to get the sound i had with wall to wall carpet. looks like i'm going to have my work cut out for me to achieve that. Victor sent me a pair of balanced ics i put them in yesterday. one thing that i noticed is the bass is more under control compared to rcas. this is my first usage of balanced ics and with my room completely different sound wise its tough for me to get a handle on them. well all have a good one.
Hi guys, I'm still on the fence pondering the upgrade to the 2.1.The REF 3 was sold this week and I must say it was a thumbs up experience auditioning and comparing with my 2.0.Now that I have that out of my system I'm looking to change amps.With the CDN dollar on a roll it's a buyers market for us north of the 49th parallel.Stay tuned.
Hi Grant, From a price comparison, it wouldn't be a fair comparison, however, a couple of guys have said that their TP 2.0 versions sounded better in their systems than a couple of preamps that retailed for $16,000.00 plus. I would love to hear your impressions of the Atma-sphere preamp paired with your VAC monoblocks, though. Are you getting a nice sound through your speakers that you're happy with?
The V-caps(especially the Teflons) require a very long break-in. If you like the sound now, you're probably going to love it in a couple of more weeks. Enjoy your new system.
Sure been quiet on the thread. I purchased some VAC Musicbloc amps recently and have been listening to them for a couple of weeks. I have learned something just recently that I want to pass on. I had these amps plugged into by BPT 2.5 Ultra as I have done with all of my amps in the past. I have always found the BPT helped the sound and never took away. Well, I assumed the same for these tube monoblocks, but I was wrong. Very wrong.
I liked the sound just fine, but I was finding the bass a little thick and slow. So after a week or so I decided to plug the amps right into my 20 amp outlets and much to my surprise the music flowed so much better. It was as if the amps were held back before. Goodness what a huge improvement from top to bottom.
Those of you with tube amps and any kind of power conditioner/balanced transformer may want to try the same thing. Plug your tube amps right into the wall and check out the difference. You may find a different result, but for me it was a HUGE improvement.
These VACs are very fine amps indeed. Sherod has the same amps I think and I now have even more respect for VAC. I may add that Kevin at VAC is a great guy and very helpful.
Well, while I had these amps one of my long time dream amps came up on the Gon and I had to have them. I will report on them once they come. They cost 2X as much as the VACs and I hope they are everything I anticipate.
I have been enjoying the pairing of tube amps with my TP 2.1. The VACs are more musical then my previous SS Belles Ref 350 amp. I loved the Belles amp, but it seems I was ready for a change.
My VAC amps are going to a new home soon and I am waiting on my new 70 pound monoblock 300b amps!! It will be interesting to see how well they mate with the AH preamp and my Dali speakers.
Ok, tube amp owners, have you found conditioners degrade the sound of your tube amps? This is the first time I have run into it with my BPT?
Bill, The power supplies of the VAC amps are so good that most conditioners that I've tried to plug them into have degraded their sound, just as you found. The only thing that benefitted my VAC amps are much better power cords and an Alan Maher Power Enhancer plugged into the same outlet. I'm curious why you decided to sell your VAC amps after such a short time with them. Did your speakers need more power? Are you looking for a different sound from the 300b's? The previous owner of my VAC amps sold them to me because they weren't enough power for his big Eggleston Andras. By the way, the VAC amps are very critical of the interconnects used from the preamp outputs. Thanks for reviving this thread. For a while there, I was wondering if the thread was dying a slow death. I still have my VAC amps at the factory getting them checked out. Hopefully I'll have them back soon to start enjoying my music once again. Let us know how your new 300B amps sound in your system.
I only sold the VAC amps to pay for much more expensive amps that became available. Power was not an issue as the VAC drives my 90 db speakers with absolute ease.
I have been listening today and love these VAC amps. I wish I could have waited to compare the VAC amps to my new amps but I needed the cash badly.
Once I get the new amps in and settled I will update all. I found the VAC amps and the AH preamp to be a good match. VAC amps seem not to suffer from that traditional "old school, tube slowness or thickness". With the BPT out the highs go higher and the bass is fast and tight.
I just got my uprgraded pre-amp back too. It is a step up, for sure than the fine stock unit. The sound coming out now is really excellent and quite satisfying........Joseph Chow hits another homerun!
I tried using a conditioner with my 300B stereo and found it to be slow also. Loss of dynamic ummph in the bass. I found going straight to the outlet and Joseph's Transparency Power cord to be the right combo I was looking for.
Its a shielded design and with the Oyaida plugs it outperformed some well known alternatives. The SET sound is very hard to beat especially with Joseph's AH Preamp.
I have my new Canary amps up and working. I have the CA309 with updated Hovland caps. Really very close to the CA339.
50 watts per side out of these 70 pound tube monoblocks. They are PP 300B amps. 4 - 300B's per amp. At this point I am amazed, so amazed at the sound that I am not sure what to say or how to say it.
Boy they mate perfectly with the AH 2.1 preamp. I have owned and heard many great amps in my home, but thus far these fit my tastes perfectly. I guess I will have to deal with 16 tubes as these amps are pure magic in my system.
La45,I have owned some nice SET amps from Wavac and George Wright. These 300b PP amps have all the SET magic with absolute power and authority like I have yet to hear in any other tube amp. You are correct in saying the AH 2.1 preamp is wonderful with these types of amps.
I purchased some wonderful NOS input and rectifier tubes for these Canarys and Wow!!!!! I though for sure my Belles Ref 350 and the AH preamp was the best I could do. It was very good and I enjoyed many hours of great music. Over the past 2 months I have been blessed to play with 3 great tube amps and I don't miss SS power at all!!
These amps also sound best plugged right into the wall with no conditioner.
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