Hornshoppe "the Truth" preamp - any opinions?

I hope it's OK for me to add that I have a Truth Pre for sale on AC.
https://www.audiocircle.com/index.php?topic=160754.0

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.  

Hi Chris,
In regard to the PRE low SPL performance, those stated SPLs seem pretty good to me as peaks of 60db is definitely low level listening levels (and you say the SQ remains good). With 60 db peak this would suggest that the ’average volume would be in the 50s db range. This is a very soft volume level (at least for me).

Good to read that the Truth is working out well for you.
Charles

In my system The Truth did not sound as good as a $350 Schiit Saga. The Saga can be used passive or the tube buffer output can be switched on. Either mode sounded better than the Truth. I also compared with a few other preamps here.

The Saga is simply too inexpensive to be considered a true audiophile product, as are many items sold by Schiit. I have a Freya that's also cursed by its low cost, and I think sounds better than other preamps I've compared it to including those that I own, and when schlepping it to a friends house for a little "shoot-out" we both noted it sounded surprisingly every bit as good as his reference series ARC preamp...not the most scientific comparison, but there ya go. Too inexpensive...I'll buy a Saga when putting together a second system in my vacation house (later this year, still shopping for the house) ...no problemo...or maybe another Freya...