I've Gone Over to the Dark Side!

[hearingimpared]

VTL TL 5.5 preamp with phono stage!

12 tubes total. I don't know squat about tubes but I'm listening away.

Here is a review with specs.

http://www.enjoythemusic.com/magazine/equipment/0602/vtltl55.htm

It's hard to do a direct A/B against the Spectral. Right now I am without my turntable. :mad: That is a long story about a series of unfortunate events. So I am using redbook and SACDs to do a comparison. It really is hard though because all of my reference recordings come in the form of an LP. I am familiar with very many CDs but I don't feel I could make a fair comparision without the LPs.

Initial impressions:

Very open and airy,

Unbelievable midrange reality,

A bit thin on the bass compared to the Spectral but that is without hearing LPs and don't know about the synergy with the rest of the rig,

Crystal clear highs.

More to follow.

[engtaz]

Right now I am without my turntable. :mad: That is a long story about a series of unfortunate events.

So sorry for your loss. You seem to be handling it pretty good. Congrats on the new toy.

[amulford]

He's got one, he's just being spoiled...:p

[fredv]

How can this be dark with 12 tubes lightning up:-)

[hearingimpared]

He's got one, he's just being spoiled...:p

Ha ha ha, he's right I have three in residence but I want to listen to the best of the three.

[pearsall001]

Joe, it sounds like you found yourself a real winner with that unit. Enjoy!!!

[billbillw]

Ha ha ha, he's right I have three in residence but I want to listen to the best of the three.

What happened to your main TT rig anyway? Thought those VPI were bulletproof.

[hearingimpared]

What happened to your main TT rig anyway? Thought those VPI were bulletproof.

It's not the turntable. I was installing a new cartridge and while pushing the cartridge wire clips onto the posts on the tonearm, the two right channel pins receeded into the arm. I successfully pulled one pin out and seated it properly. Now mind you I am leaning back in a chair so I can see through the bifocal. I went to gingerly pull the second post out of the arm and while pulling and leaning back in the chair, the friggin leg of the chair broke under my fat ass :eek: and I ripped the post out of the tonearm leaving the wire broken inside the arm tube.:o :(

This was just one of a series of unfortunate events that has caused my analog rig to be sidelined for about the past 6 to 8 weeks.:rolleyes:

I am planning on starting a thread of its own because although these events have cost me lots of money, in retrospect they are a bit on the comical side.:D

I've contacted Flat Earth Audio, the SME dealer on the East Coast and was referred to Sumiko on the West Coast. If I go with Sumiko for the arm repair (it has to be shipped back to SME in England) it is going to be very very expensive. I went back to FEA and they are going to take care of getting the arm repaired in England and a substantialy lower price. Still in all lots of mulla flying out my front door.

[candyliquor35m]

A first listen to the right tube setup is kind of like listening to sda's for the first time.

What brand of tubes are you using?

12at7's and 12ax7's are good candidates for tube rolling.

[hearingimpared]

In the line stage there are;

4 - JAN 12AT7 WC, Phillips ECG

2- 7025/12AX7 WA, Made in Russia Sovtek

In the phono stage there are;

4- 12AX7 China

2- JAN 12AT7 WC, Phillips ECG

All this is greek to me.

F1Nut has been turning me on to tube site where I could purchase some tubes that may be more bass rich. Any information or experience you guys can send my way would be of great help to me.

[DarqueKnight]

Congrats on the new pre.
Condolences on the busted tonearm.

[hearingimpared]

Thanks R. that tonearm problem is driving me nutz!

[billbillw]

That's sucks dude, but it seems like that kinda shit happens with vinyl rigs a lot. They are so damn delicate, combined with Murphy's Law. I've definetly had my share of snafus setting up the various tables over the last couple years, mainly with that Oracle I had. That's why I'm glad to be at a comfortable plateau with my vinyl rig. No changes anytime in the near future. Sounds like you need some of those binocular/microscope glasses for working on this stuff, like the ones jewelers use. ;)

http://www.jewelrysupply.com/magnifiers/headband_magnifiers_optivisor.html

It's not the turntable. I was installing a new cartridge and while pushing the cartridge wire clips onto the posts on the tonearm, the two right channel pins receeded into the arm. I successfully pulled one pin out and seated it properly. Now mind you I am leaning back in a chair so I can see through the bifocal. I went to gingerly pull the second post out of the arm and while pulling and leaning back in the chair, the friggin leg of the chair broke under my fat ass :eek: and I ripped the post out of the tonearm leaving the wire broken inside the arm tube.:o :(

This was just one of a series of unfortunate events that has caused my analog rig to be sidelined for about the past 6 to 8 weeks.:rolleyes:

I am planning on starting a thread of its own because although these events have cost me lots of money, in retrospect they are a bit on the comical side.:D

[hearingimpared]

That's sucks dude, but it seems like that kinda shit happens with vinyl rigs a lot. They are so damn delicate, combined with Murphy's Law. I've definetly had my share of snafus setting up the various tables over the last couple years, mainly with that Oracle I had. That's why I'm glad to be at a comfortable plateau with my vinyl rig. No changes anytime in the near future. Sounds like you need some of those binocular/microscope glasses for working on this stuff, like the ones jewelers use. ;)

http://www.jewelrysupply.com/magnifiers/headband_magnifiers_optivisor.html

Trust me I have two jewelers loops!:eek: I just have to dig them up.:D

I just checked that site, they have one for 30 bucks. . .hmmmmmmmm

[billbillw]

Trust me I have two jewelers loops!:eek: I just have to dig them up.:D

I just checked that site, they have one for 30 bucks. . .hmmmmmmmm

Yeah, its something I'm thinking about getting. (I have no idea if that website is the best place to get one, it just came up in a Google search at the top)

Nothing worse than not being able to see what the hell you are working on. I have a huge magnifying glass that I break out sometimes, but it ends up using one free hand. Kinda tough to do any work like that.

[Lasareath]

It's not the turntable. I was installing a new cartridge and while pushing the cartridge wire clips onto the posts on the tonearm, the two right channel pins receeded into the arm. I successfully pulled one pin out and seated it properly. Now mind you I am leaning back in a chair so I can see through the bifocal. I went to gingerly pull the second post out of the arm and while pulling and leaning back in the chair, the friggin leg of the chair broke under my fat ass :eek: and I ripped the post out of the tonearm leaving the wire broken inside the arm tube.:o :(

This was just one of a series of unfortunate events that has caused my analog rig to be sidelined for about the past 6 to 8 weeks.:rolleyes:

I am planning on starting a thread of its own because although these events have cost me lots of money, in retrospect they are a bit on the comical side.:D

I've contacted Flat Earth Audio, the SME dealer on the East Coast and was referred to Sumiko on the West Coast. If I go with Sumiko for the arm repair (it has to be shipped back to SME in England) it is going to be very very expensive. I went back to FEA and they are going to take care of getting the arm repaired in England and a substantialy lower price. Still in all lots of mulla flying out my front door.


That's very depressing Joe, it's not comical at all. Your TT setup sounded so sweet. You need to fix that thing!

I just bought a bunch of beatles CD's and they just don't sound as good as the Beatles LP's sounded coming out of your TT :(

Sal

[hearingimpared]

Can't let it be depressing Sal, shit happens! BTW most Beatles albums are recorded horribly. The new rereleases are the ones to purchase and of course you have to buy "LOVE."

[candyliquor35m]

In the line stage there are;

4 - JAN 12AT7 WC, Phillips ECG

2- 7025/12AX7 WA, Made in Russia Sovtek

In the phono stage there are;

4- 12AX7 China

2- JAN 12AT7 WC, Phillips ECG

All this is greek to me.

F1Nut has been turning me on to tube site where I could purchase some tubes that may be more bass rich. Any information or experience you guys can send my way would be of great help to me.

I would recommend all telefunken in the line stage to see if you like them. The ecc83's (12ax7) can be had for roughly $40 each on ebay and the ecc81's (12at7) are cheaper at about $35 each.

[Shizelbs]

Cool preamp. Rock on.

[hearingimpared]

This friggin thing sounds awesome. My wife just got listening to some Janet Jackson and man the clarity is startling! No thin bass on the JJ stuff that's for sure.