Audio Horizons TP 2.0 Preamplifier

Well Gentlemen. I have decided to go on my own with a slight modification. My instinct to hunt( as Stltrains says about man) and my desire to know the truth forced me to do a little experiment. Tonight, I very carefully took out the new output caps and bypasses. I replaced them with the original upgraded Hovland 4.7uf caps from before the upgrade. The system has been playing now for about an hour. So how does it sound, you ask? The "breath of life" is back. The midrange now has that palpable realness that I've been missing. The soundstage now has normal front to back depth. Highs are once again clean and extended and the bass is as powerful as it was. The power supply mods that Joseph did seems to make an improvement. I get a slight increase in volume, but the dynamic differences are still realistic in portraying music. I'm sure that the new wire harnesses are also contributing to a cleaner sound as well. I'm not sure why this small change makes so much of a difference in my system but I'll guess and say that it was a combination of an impedance matching issue with my amps along with some phase irregularities that I mentioned in my previous post caused by the bypass caps. All I know is that I'm a happier guy tonight and my ears are pleased with the musical portrayal.

I guess I have a different preamp than anyone now. It is no longer a TP 2.0n version nor is it a new TP 2.1n. I have affectionately renamed my preamp the in-between model, the new TP 2.05n. Must... go... listen. Music is beckoning.

Slttrains - congrats on a good decision in a complex obsession prone enviroment:) I am very happy for your excellent synergy among your pieces of equipment. It is so healing to be able to sit back and let the music transport you to wonderland. Bill, I also have the house to myself tonight and tommorrow. Wife is taking second daughter on a tour of possible colleges. Listening to Bach tonight and marveling the night away.

Sherod, Wow your a man of action! Seems you got down to the bottom line on the upgrade and burn -in. Not so much the wire harness or power supply, rather its the output caps and bypasses that are troubling you.

That is great to know Sherod, but one important question still remains for this audionut. Would the caps you've removed ever have settled in and actually sounded better than the ones you put back in? Vic and Joe sure think they did?

Just reading this thread we know other caps took upwards of 350 hours and changed quite a lot over that time.

I am curious what your thoughts are on this.

One other question, I hope someone can help me with this. Tube positions 1 and 3 are where? Looking at the front of the unit and starting from the right hand side?

Stayed up to 3:00 AM listening. Music always sounds better after midnight and what's with that folks!

Thanks,

Bill

Bill,
I think 140 hours on my upgrade was enough break-in for me to know if the caps were right for my system. Regarding the tube locations. Looking down from the front, starting from left to right is location 1-4. 1 and 3 are the most critical to the sound. I might be up to the wee hours myself listening this weekend. The fun is back. Enjoy.