Rob
That is a very nice system and the feet look great with quite a close match to the knobs. What have you noticed sonically with the feet? |
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Gammojo,
Shhhhhh. I'm listening.
Seriously, this is the first chance I've had to really listen since I installed them. Now playing: Boz Scaggs, Come On Home.
I'll see if I can answer your question later.
I'm thinking of re-doing the feet, using more than four facets per foot. And I might be able to get some redheart.
Rob
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Hey those audio points look cool,in fact the whole system is very impressive.Not only do we have similar tastes in equipment our media room is the same colour as yours. |
Rob, I have to admit that those home-made feet are very elegant and classy looking. And I'll bet they really help the soundstage to open up very nicely. Excellent job on your woodworking skills. |
Cool - will wait for your report |
Gammajo,
To be honest, I would need a chance to A/B the purpleheart feet with something else, perhaps my BDR MKIII cones. As soon as I do that, I'll be able to give a more emperical evaluation.
See, when I moved the new feet to the TP, I took the Walker Valid Points from the TP and moved them to under the Spectron amp. We also suddenly had high humidity conditions, which tends to have a noticeable effect on the Maggies. As you might expect, with three changes, it's hard to isolate what I now hear as...
...MUCH better sound. It sounds somehow sweeter - almost more "organic" - than before, as though there's a nice, soft, mellower feel to everything.
That said - and I will get back with more, later - I'm sure that I'll be keeping the purpleheart feet under the TP and the Valid Points under the amp, where they are now. Sounds good to me, and that's what counts.
Rob
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Markwatkiss,
Our room hopefully won't be that color for long. We've had it like that for years and it's time for a change.
The weird thing is that we have a decorative paint business (faux painting, plastering, etc.) But, I guess when we have time off we don't really want to paint at home.
Not a bad color, though... |
Hey Markwatkiss! I see that you are selling your TP 2.0 preamp. I think that you are the first to re-sell. I'm curious what you are going to try out this time. |
No I'm only selling one.I purchased the second from a fellow audiophile who has since become a friend.My reasons are simply altruistic,as he doesn't reside in a border town and does not have a US mailing address.It's not that he disliked the Audio Horizons he acquired a Silverline passive pre which he had been seeking for some time.
Hell no,the only way you're going to get my TP is to pry it from my cold dead hands. |
Forgot to update you about my Vegas trip. It was my 42nd trip there to teach a workshop on how to win at dice using meditation techniques and money management, more info at www.RainbowVentures.net. Short version - we won again!
I am in Portugal this week teaching. Great country - less filled with tourists than much of Europe. At home been listening to the AH with the Seimens cca's and they just seem to get better each session. |
Joe, glad to hear that you had a great time in Vegas. Also that your Siemens cca are sounding so good. By the way. Which Cca version did you settle on? Are these the ones that you sent to Victor for his blessing? Also, did you find some monoblocks that you liked? I just noticed some VAC Musicbloc 160's for sale here on Audiogon. If I had the money I'd snatch these up in a heart beat. |
Sherod,
I also noticed the Musicbloc 160's !
My 220's are just as good, so I'll rest my anxiety hunger attack and watch them dissapear shortly !
The VACs sure sound heavenly awesome with the TP2.0 agree ? |
Yes sir Pat. The VACs and the TP 2.0 are a great match. |
I sent a quad of cca's to Victor which he and Joseph auditioned and reported on very favorably. I will compare these when I return home to the ones I am using now from an a'gon member that I like so much before deciding which quad to keep. Thanks for the monoblock tip. I have never owned a tube amp - are they as picky as I have heard in terms of tube maintance and heat generation? My guess is that they are still worth it in terms of sound. |
Joe, before you went to Vegas this is what you said,"I am in Vegas the next 5 days - wish me luck, Daddy needs a new pair of monoamps!" I just assumed that you were looking at tubes, but now I realize that they were solid state. I currently have a pair of VAC Musicblocs that I'm using. They are only 70W so probably not enough for your VS speakers which like some power. |
Sherod Thank you for the information but I have decided to wait on the amps. In the last few days I have gotten hit with a 6k bill for my daughters fender bender, a 3 K ER bill for a visit there by her to check out a medical problem (she is now fine) and a 2K bill to repair a car transmission - so not a good time to get new equipment. Fortunately I can be perfectly happy with what I am listening to now and that everyone in my family is healthy. |
Hey that's unfortunate,but your daughter is O.K. so that's a happy ending.After hearing the costs for medical I most definitely appreciate the free health care offered in Canada. |
Yes, at this point I would take your health care system over ours in the US |
Joe, I am glad to hear that your daughter is all right. She is top priority. |
You bet -thanks. Enjoy the music. I can't wait to get home tommorrow and settle back for some listening before bed.
Joe |
Gammajo,
Sorry to hear about the set-back, glad your daughter's ok.
Guess me complainin about a $391.00 tranny repair on a 2001 Ford ain't diddly squat.
Well, maybe it's time for you to "re-visit" Vegas and try to win that cash back ?
Then, you could go hog wild and buy big-ass tube monoblocks and call it a day ! |
A couple of days ago I attempted to start a thread for commenting on the Audio Horizons TD 3.0 DAC (digital forum- "Audio Horizons TD 3.0 DAC comments"). The thread received no comments. Since I asked for pros and cons and received neither, I wonder if I am alone in even thinking about this DAC (which I like quite a lot).
If there are any TD 3.0 users over here, would you comment in that other thread, please? |
Cedar, I was interested in the thread as well but since I do not own the DAC have not posted. I hope you get some responses. The one thing I can add is that Joseph and Victor recently tried my Siemens early sixties cca's in their DAC and very much liked them there, feeling it made a excellent improvement.
Joe |
Mark
Glad to see that you sold your extra TP 2.0n quickly. I hope you invited the purchaser to post on this thread his or her reaction to the unit. |
Well it was an interesting social experiment and it confirms in my mind,that buyers are very much stuck on brand names.I had 8 hits,however,only 275 views.I recall when I posted my Calypso I had several hits but 485 views.As an aside,it appears the Nigerians have now invaded the gon,two of the queries were the usual hustle with those obvious spelling errors.
Anyway the fellow that bought the AH is well acquainted with this forum and I'm sure will become an active participant.
He informed me that he will be replacing the stock EH's with a quad of NOS Amperex.Enjoy your memorial day holiday everyone. |
Just to add my 2 cents. I re-arranged my system yesterday with thoughts of why am I bothering to do this now? Is it worth the hassle? Can I set the speakers back on the same markers with the right toe in and angle? Even if it sounds good, will my wife like the new setup?
Well, I must tell you that glorious music abound as a result of all this painstaking, rearranging, backbracking(furniture)sweat.
Soundstage depth and height are now floor to ceiling (literally) and the sweatspot is wider and taller than I thought it would be.
Night and day is the difference. I am totally shocked at the dramatic change.
As for the key reasons why? Well, it has to do with the new ICs I installed, and most of the credit has to go to the Audio Horizons preamp. But above all, the Room plays a key part in freeing up my speakers to do their special disappearing act. |
La45 Congradulations on taking the chance, doing the work and enjoying the result. Approximately what did you go from and what did you go to in terms of speaker distances and toe in, etc? What kind of speakers are you using? |
Hi Gammajo,
The speaker was on the short wall and now it sits on the long wall, 6.5 feet apart and 3.75 feet from the back wall.
The key is the side walls are now 5 feet from each speaker and my listening chair sits in a 18 ft cavity which is 5.8 feet in width. By cavity I mean a walk thru from the basement stairs to the listening room. I sit right at the entrance between both spaces.
If you do the math you can see that by moving my listening chair I expanded the room by incorporating the 18 feet additional space with additional acoustical treatment courtesy of the drop ceiling in that space.
The speaker is by Argent Audio called the "Gabrielle". It was designed by Ric Cummings, the original inventor of the Room Lens.
Worth the time and effort indeed. |
Luis,
I'm glad to see that you got your room maximized to make your system sound its best. I still am curious what that $30.00 cd player is that you have that sounds so good. |
Sherod my friend. Glad to hear from you.
I am afraid to mention it. I will never be taken seriously by anyone here using this $30 player with a Audio Horizons preamp, a 24k speaker, Gabrielle Gold Revelations and a 8 watt SET amplifier.
I hope to have a friend or two hear the system first and report what they experience in the hope that they will be taken more seriosly. As for me, I am not very good convincing people that a $30 player kicked my TRL Marantz SA-14 player into retirement. Or that it also kicked the 26k Esoteric CD-DAC combo. Who would believe me? |
Luis,
I would believe you. That's what friends are for. |
I also own the 3.0 DAC and love it. To my ears it bested several well known and expensive players and DACs in my reference sysstem. One costs $8900 new and another $5000.
I have had it over a year now and don't even consider trying another unit as I am totally content with it.
His DAC is to competitive DAC's as his pre is to competitive pre's - world class performance at reasonable prices.
Bill |
Bill, I absolutely believe you buddy!
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Hello Everyone,
I'm in the market for a great tube pre and Mr. Pat pointed me in this direction so here I am. I have read through alot but not all of the posts here and have a few questions. What would you guys say is the overall signature sound of this pre, Neutral, warm etc? Also, I've been to their website but can only find one picture of the pre, are there more out there? Can different knobs be had besides the wood ones? And just one more, is the remote option available yet?
This is a great thread and I appreciate all of your help.
John |
John, I have the remote version so yes you can order it that way right now ($300 option). Simply call Audio Horizons, or email, and ask if you can have metal or non-wood knobs.
Sonic signature. Full bodied and loaded with texture. I would not say the preamp is warm like a CJ unit. It is very neutral and transparent without sounding thin or hyper detailed. This is a very hard task to accommlish based on my hisory with many, many high end preamps. This pre is detail and transparent, but has all of the body, weight and texture one would want. It sounds so right to my ears.
Keep in mind your tube choice can really taylor the sound to your liking. I find his upgraded Siemens tubes to be very neutral and I use them most of the time now. I also have some nice Amperex's that give the unit a warmer and less defined or less focused sound.
Should have a pic of the preamp right here on the Gon in his ad?
Bill |
Hi Bill,
Thanks for the quick reply and answers to my questions. My current speakers are Martin Logan Odyssey's and my amp is a Classe CA-300. As you probably know the ML's can get "bright" if your not careful and that I do not want. Am really longing that wonderful tube sound without the bloat, is that what this baby does? Sure sounds like it does everything right(but I do want the tube sound).
Thanks again for your response, on my way to look for some pics......
John |
John
I have a picture of the unit in Black that I can e mail you if you want. Sound is wonderfully life-like, very dymanic and quiet with great detail, nuance and punch - can deliver whatever is called for. If I had to pick between warm and clinical, I would say the sound was warm but it is really more natural-organic in my perception. I listened to classical piano and female vocal on the unit for months becuase I was just so entranced by the lovliness. This week put on rock and was blown away by the ability to deliver "have to get up and dance" energy. This is with Siemens ealy 60 cca tubes. Also like Amperex in the unit. |
My system could go bright and also did not want that. This is not bright and there is no bloat. It is sparkling and defined but not etched. Better than my ss preamp in ways mentioned in other posts but without sacrificing bass slam etc. |
Hey John,
Mr. Pat here to say :
Send an email or call Joseph for a trial audition with the upgraded input transformers and Siemens tubes, you'll never send it back, guaranteed ! |
John,
I agree with Mr. Pat. Just a few listening sessions with the TP 2.0n and you'll be hooked. |
I have a picture of a TP 2.0n with the black faceplate. Click on "Systems" by my username and you'll be able to see it.
I'd also concur with the evaluations above. I had a SS preamp that was very detailed, but just too bright and harsh. (I run Magnepan 3.3/R speakers.) The TP is a perfect replacement. I am running it with Amperex PQ white label tubes over the stock EH tubes.
Rob |
Have to get my 2 cents in.I'm using Innersound EROS 3 Electrostats and the AH is an excellent match,the bass is tight and well defined.It should be a seamless integration with your Logans.
I concur with others on the Siemens tube recommendation.Of course what do I know,having thought I found the pot of gold
I was using a quad of Russian super tubes only to be advised by my good friends here and confirmed by Joseph that the AH is not compatiable with them.I still owe a round of drinks.But I am a really smart guy when you get to know me. |
Hey Rob,
Good choice on the sub.
I have 2 Supercube II's in my system, best subs I heard, esp. for two channel stereo. |
Hello all,
Am I correct that the TP 2.0 (or the new TP 2.1) is NOT a fully-balanced preamp?
Thanks,
Ken |
Ken Please ask Victor who is the designer's liason to be sure what is available. He can be contacted at vcomerchero@sbcglobal.net. My best understanding is that the preamp can be built with balanced inputs and balanced outputs but is not balanced between, but perhaps that can be arranged. I have a unit with balanced outputs only and hear a distinct improvement over the RCA outputs in this configuration, even on a short IC run. |
The enthusiastic commentary on this preamp has been fun to read. How many of you have tried the phono stage? Is it similarly glorious?
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I agree with Joe's comments,the balanced option represent an audible improvement in the musical presentation.Also,the manual states that the XLR outputs provide superior performance to single ended connectors. |
I have not heard the phono and wait feedback on it as well |
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Rx8man...
How do you have your DefTech subs hooked up? Are you using a crossover? I'm not sure how you're doing it because you haven't posted a system...
Rob |
Haven't heard much lately from our little AH club. How is everybody doing? Any new audio adventures to report?
I just returned from another business trip and listened to some new to me CD's: The Ultimate Jesse Cook, Springsteen's The Ghost of Tom Joad, and Everything Matters by Pierce Pettis. Boy, the AH sounds wonderful. After each trip I am again amazed at the how enjoyable it is to hear. I sent two seperate quads of Sieman's early sixties cca's for Victor to audition for me and he pronounced both sets to be of very high quality (which was also my less informed impression). One set nails the realism and the other possesses a magical fluidity. The differences in tubes are fascinating to me. I am happy that I got so lucky with your kind assistance in learning about tubes and a bit of patience.
Joe |
