Hornshoppe "the Truth" preamp - any opinions?


"The Truth" changes the paradigm in Reference Line Stages, literally. Its existence has even forced me to remove a "Direct Connection" in "Class A", because such a choice no longer makes any rational sense to me. In the end, "The Truth" is effectively a "direct connection" with no sonic downsides, and with the ability to drive any amplifier load and/or length of cable, while allowing any source to be heard at its very best. With the exception of extra gain, an audiophile can't ask for more than that. I realize that this may all sound "too good to be true", but it isn't. 

-- Arthur Salvatore  http://www.high-endaudio.com/RC-Linestages.html

This is high praise indeed, he likes it better than Coincident's Line Stage which is saying something, was wondering if someone else has heard it and compared it to other active line stages (am a big believer in active, though currently using AMR DP-777 DAC as my pre)
essrand
Hi Chris,
Thanks for the update report. So to be clear you have both copper wired and silver wired RCA inputs? I’m generally a silver wire (I.C and S.C.) type of guy but interesting the difference it makes (to the extent you describe) with your Truth Line Stage. It’s good to know your sound quality is continuing to evolve and  improve.

Sorry to hear about the issues with your PREs. Was this an issue with your Super Eclipse speakers? How low a volume listening level are you referring to? With my Coincident Total Eclipse II I can listen in the 55 to 60 db C-weighted range (low SPL for me) and it sounds good. Are you referring to similar SPL or lower than this? On the positive side it seems that the Truth and Frankenstein are going to be a ’very good’ match in your system. I believe the best is yet to come.
Charles



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Charles
Hi guys, just my personal experience. I followed Mr, Salvatore's advice re: the weight on top of The Truth. In my experience, the result was a deadening and closed in essence to the sound.
For me, the best result was with the lid completely removed. But, since leaving it open full time  seemed a little dangerous; l settled with the lid on but screwed in very very lightly. This result, l arrived at with the system on while varying the degree of screw torque. These four screws are found on the top outer side edges of the pre.
They basically hold the top plate but mine are not tightened.

I also slightly loosened the bottom screws of the bottom plate that hold the boards. They were torqued tight originally. ln my opinion, too tight. As soon as these bottom screws were loosened slightly, the sound relaxed and opened up. While listening and playing around with the 'tightness' of these screws, you can actually tune the sound signature. 

The Truth sits on a two inch slate slab that rests on a custom two tiered, two inch thick bubinga wood audio stand that uses one and a half inch threaded rods.

Mr. Salvatore was the inspiration for me to order The Truth unheard. 
I read a lot of his writing and find much truth in his discoveries and beliefs audio-wise. 
I agree that this pre is a revelation. 

This is my experience. Please don't hang me for it. YMMV.

@charles1dad yes, I have one silver input and two coppers. Copper on both outputs.

I'll check my spl (just using an uncalibrated Android app unfortunately) tonight and see where things fall apart. Pulled it out last night and things were still good in the 60-70 range. 

I took the truth out of the path yesterday and it once again improved things to put it back in. I was kind of hoping that wouldn't be the case so I could put the money elsewhere, but it looks like it'll have to stay. 
@charles1dad  Regarding SPL levels... again, listening with peaks right around 70db (C-weighted) is very good, peaks in the 60s is good, and things start to fall apart when peaks are only in the 50s.  Perhaps that's not totally surprising given that my noise floor is 40dbs when it's "quiet" and around 45dbs when the fridge is running back in the kitchen.