humanflyz Posted October 6, 2007 Report Share Posted October 6, 2007 Should I be worried about gain on TVCs? I don't think I listen that loudly, but certainly not at whisper-level either. I like to turn it up once in a while just to rock out and try to get some big dynamics going. More specifically, would a TVC have trouble with the output level of cartridges? The specific model that I might be interested in is the Bent Audio TVC, which uses a the S&B TX-102 transformer, and has up to 6db of gain. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
aerius Posted October 6, 2007 Report Share Posted October 6, 2007 This depends on several things The output of your cartridgeThe gain on your phonostageThe gain of your amp If you have enough gain in the rest of your system, then a TVC will work just fine, if not, then you'll need an active preamp to make up the gain or an amp with more gain. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
humanflyz Posted October 16, 2007 Author Report Share Posted October 16, 2007 So my TVC just got here today; it uses the S&B transformer. Let's just say that I like it a lot. It has enough gain for me in my system, and the biggest things that I noticed are improved dynamics and more realistic decay of instruments. Overall the TVC makes my current system has a more of the "there-ness" to the music. I was listening to "Cookin' with Miles Davis Quintet", and every instrumental just sounds more real I guess. The decay on Paul Chamber's bass is ridiculously natural, the most natural I've heard so far. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
aerius Posted October 16, 2007 Report Share Posted October 16, 2007 Glad it worked out. They can take a while to break in too so it'll only get better from here. Note for the future, because upgrades are inevitable. Tribute makes a nanocrystalline cobalt core autoformer volume control (click on news, inductive volume control). It's ridiculously good. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
n_maher Posted October 16, 2007 Report Share Posted October 16, 2007 Note for the future, because upgrades are inevitable. Tribute makes a nanocrystalline cobalt core autoformer volume control (click on news, inductive volume control). It's ridiculously good. Wonder how much a four deck balanced version would run? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
humanflyz Posted October 16, 2007 Author Report Share Posted October 16, 2007 @aerius: That looks nice, but looks too rich for my blood, for now. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fing Posted October 17, 2007 Report Share Posted October 17, 2007 I remember lusting after a TVC pre-amp from DIYHifiSupply when they made them with S&B transformers (the Django). Since all S&B TX102 transformers have since been diverted to their Music First line, I heard about the Promitheus ones from random comments on various audio forums. They rave about them quite a lot on the Audiocircle forum. I've ordered a reference 2 box one with an upgraded C-core, ebony chassis and copper plates. Accepts 2 RCA and one balanced input - $1060 Apparently the stock one for $360 sounds pretty good. I just have complete and utter willpower failure when it comes to upgrades and options. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
humanflyz Posted October 18, 2007 Author Report Share Posted October 18, 2007 Still really enjoying my TVC, and I think I'm definitely going to be one of the converted now Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
deepak Posted November 5, 2007 Report Share Posted November 5, 2007 Is there any setback (or problems that may occur) in using a TVC with SET amps? I'm sort of stumped on what I should get as a preamp for my speaker amps. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JBLoudG20 Posted November 5, 2007 Report Share Posted November 5, 2007 Is there any setback (or problems that may occur) in using a TVC with SET amps? I'm sort of stumped on what I should get as a preamp for my speaker amps. I'm looking at the Hagerman Cornet. http://www.hagtech.com/cornet.html Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
deepak Posted November 5, 2007 Report Share Posted November 5, 2007 I'm looking at the Hagerman Cornet. http://www.hagtech.com/cornet.html Huh? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JBLoudG20 Posted November 5, 2007 Report Share Posted November 5, 2007 Nevermind I'm confused. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
aerius Posted November 5, 2007 Report Share Posted November 5, 2007 Is there any setback (or problems that may occur) in using a TVC with SET amps? I'm sort of stumped on what I should get as a preamp for my speaker amps. Well, other than killing you dead and blowing up your speakers there's not much of a problem... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
deepak Posted November 5, 2007 Report Share Posted November 5, 2007 Well, other than killing you dead and blowing up your speakers there's not much of a problem... While I'm always eager to learn of more obscure ways of death, is there a preamp/volume control that will work in my situation that won't degrade the signal from my source (much)? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
aerius Posted November 5, 2007 Report Share Posted November 5, 2007 is there a preamp/volume control that will work in my situation that won't degrade the signal from my source (much)? Yes, the RSA Stealth. An active pre-amp which has a higher output impedance than a simple passive pot, truly a breakthrough in circuit design. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jon L Posted November 12, 2007 Report Share Posted November 12, 2007 So my TVC just got here today; it uses the S&B transformer. Let's just say that I like it a lot. It has enough gain for me in my system, and the biggest things that I noticed are improved dynamics and more realistic decay of instruments. Overall the TVC makes my current system has a more of the "there-ness" to the music. I was listening to "Cookin' with Miles Davis Quintet", and every instrumental just sounds more real I guess. The decay on Paul Chamber's bass is ridiculously natural, the most natural I've heard so far. I used to have the Bent Audio TVC. What preamp did your TVC replace? TVC's are great, especially at their prices, and there's certainly a lot less chance of screwing up something important compared to complicated active preamps. Just like headphones, people will have different preferences, some swearing by only active preamps, some preferring the sound of resistor-based passive attentuators (like me) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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