"...the best preamplifier ever made" says Mr. David Price, Hi-Fi- World

[tiefbassuebertr]

today I have discover this:
Music First Audio : : Welcome to our website and
Passive pre amplifier
A special version with auto transformer for step-up
Are there any experiences about sound quality in different chains?
What about large distances of connection lead (connection wire) to the power amps?
Thank you for your comments.

[georgehifi]

Hope you didn't buy it, as Lightspeed Attenuator was compared with it at a gathering of audiophiles in Melbourne, and the Lightspeed Attenuator was unanimously the winner in every way.
The Music First Audio TVC Reference: sells for £8,995!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Where the Lightspeed Attenuator sells for the equivelent £276 posted!

Cheers George

[woodturner-fran]

I've heard one in a high end very revealing system and I would say that yes, it is very good indeed. However, I don't think its the best preamp ever made by a long shot. My own aikido valve pre was at least as good. The pass DCB1 with standard parts would probably be as good as well. I find it very hard indeed to move from an active preamp. In factit severely calls into doubt Mr. Price's listening experience or credibility if he said that.

So not worth the cash I would think. FWIW, the copper based model is somewhere around STG£1200-1500 and the silver based one is more at about STG£2500 I think. Not sure exactly what the reference has that the others don't with the exception of remote control for selection and volume. Handles nicely though and they will custom wire things like home theatre pass throughs etc etc. I just don't know about long lead lengths etc

Georges Lightspeed is so incredibly much more value its not funny.

Fran

[jleaman]

Originally Posted by woodturner-fran

Georges Lightspeed is so incredibly much more value its not funny.

Fran

and 1/8th the price too!

[Peter Daniel]

Well, the comparison is not that simple. The TVC can actually work as stand alone preamp, offering 6dB gain, high input impedance and low output impedance, it can be wired for phase reversing and unbalanced to balanced (and opposite) conversion, all without any additional active circuitry.

Can your Lightspeed do all that?

[georgehifi]

The comparison, sound wise it was that simple.
For the extra £7,500 I think I could get it to fly to the moon @ Lightspeed.
Who needs gain anyway a CD players output is capable of overdriving into clipping about 99% of poweramps out there.

Cheers George

[Peter Daniel]

As I've been using those transformers for last 5 years, I can assure you that comparison is not that simple.

The sound of particular units varied and depended not only on the version (MK1 - MK3) but also on production run, wiring etc.

In sound wise comparisons, the associated equipment had substantial influence on overall effect. Some people didn't like it at all with SS amps while raving about applications with tube electronics. BTW, copper version sounded much better than silver, I had both and both had been reviewed by 6moons.

£7,500 is irrelevant here, those transformers cost approx $500 directly from a source, if you can still get them. Whatever else is done with them is up to end user.

Who needs gain? Well, whoever uses amps with low gain or low efficiency speakers, and not everybody uses CD.

In my application, 6db is exactly what I need (12dB on the amp and 95dB on speakers, output stage bypassed in a DAC)

[jleaman]

Originally Posted by Peter Daniel

As I've been using those transformers for last 5 years, I can assure you that comparison is not that simple.

The sound of particular units varied and depended not only on the version (MK1 - MK3) but also on production run, wiring etc.

In sound wise comparisons, the associated equipment had substantial influence on overall effect. Some people didn't like it at all with SS amps while raving about applications with tube electronics. BTW, copper version sounded much better than silver, I had both and both had been reviewed by 6moons.

£7,500 is irrelevant here, those transformers cost approx $500 directly from a source, if you can still get them. Whatever else is done with them is up to end user.

Who needs gain? Well, whoever uses amps with low gain or low efficiency speakers, and not everybody uses CD.

In my application, 6db is exactly what I need (12dB on the amp and 95dB on speakers, output stage bypassed in a DAC)

would you buy one right now Peter ? I think what he is trying to say is that 7500E, is a little pricey.

[Peter Daniel]

I already have 3 of them (although built differently), don't need another one

[Peter Daniel]

Originally Posted by woodturner-fran

Not sure exactly what the reference has that the others don't with the exception of remote control for selection and volume.

Well, from a review it looks like the new design has double the steps (46 instead of 23), 25% more Permalloy in their cores and some new geometry.

George I didn't catch it initially, did you actually compared the new Reference model?