Gone, but not forgotten
Location: Central England
Posts: 2,932
The Tube Distinctions AOS grounded grid valve preamp
Here it is. Stepped attenuator, Audio Note knobs, MM phonostage built in (that I'm not using because I don't have a TT) NOS JAN Philips and Mullard valves.
It sounds very musical in a precise and intimate kind of way. Articulate, dynamic and focussed, spotlighting the musicians rather than casting a wide stage although there is plenty of depth, separation and layering to the presentation.
The system as a whole as of yesterday (includes Marco's modded Sony DAS R1 DAC)
Witchfinder General
Location: N. Ireland
Posts: 2,475
I'm Steve.
Steve, I have just read most of the story behing the A30 you had modded on the other forum - very interesting too, especially since I use an A30. Maybe one day I will mod mine a little, but I have to say I think in it's stock form it is a ridiculous bargain and is incredibly good.
Is this pre a modded one, or a built from scratch amp?
Steve.
Alien Entity
Location: North East UK
Posts: 6,358
I'm InSpace.
Show me it's guts!!!Originally Posted by Steve Toy
Here it is. Stepped attenuator, Audio Note knobs, MM phonostage built in (that I'm not using because I don't have a TT) NOS JAN Philips and Mullard valves.
It sounds very musical in a precise and intimate kind of way. Articulate, dynamic and focussed, spotlighting the musicians rather than casting a wide stage although there is plenty of depth, separation and layering to the presentation.
Shian7
--------------------------------------------------------
Kudakutemo
kudakutemo
ari mizu-no tsuki
Though it be be broken -
broken again - still it's there:
the moon on the water.
- Choshu.
Gone, but not forgotten
Location: Central England
Posts: 2,932
If you ever hear mine you'll want yours modded just the same although mine is now a dedicated power amp not an integrated. The difference Anthony made to it is huge.Steve, I have just read most of the story behing the A30 you had modded on the other forum - very interesting too, especially since I use an A30. Maybe one day I will mod mine a little, but I have to say I think in it's stock form it is a ridiculous bargain and is incredibly good.
The amp was originally built by Anthony as a prototype back in 1999. I borrowed it, liked what it did so he agreed to revise it by changing the valves and much of the wiring for pure silver, replaced the ALPS Blue Velvet for a stepped attenuator, changed the input selector switch and added a switchable cooling fan. Cosmetically he cleaned it up, put the AOS acrylic panel on the front, changed the LED for a green one to match the power amp and put two new chrome finish Audio Note knobs on.Is this pre a modded one, or a built from scratch amp?
With Anthony's permission I'll post pics of the innards in due course.
Site Owner/Administrator
Location: Wrexham, North Wales, UK
Posts: 110,012
I'm AudioAl'sArbiterForPISHANTO.
Looking good, Steve
I can vouch for how good this preamp sounds as it pushed my heavily modified Croft all the way. Ultimately I preferred certain presentational qualities of the Croft, particularly when using recently purchased NOS valves from America, but that doesn't detract from how capable a preamp the AOS/TD one is.
I would put it comfortably up against any commercial valve preamp on the market up to or in excess of £8k.
Marco.
Main System
Turntable: Heavily-modified Technics SL-1210MK5G [Mike New bearing/ETP platter/Paul Hynes SR7 PSU & reg mods]. Funk Firm APM Achromat/Nagaoka GL-601 Crystal Record Weight/Isonoe feet & boots/Ortofon RS-212D/Denon DL-103GL in Denon PCL-300 headshell with Funk Firm Houdini/Kondo SL-115 pure-silver cartridge leads.
Paul Hynes MC head amp/SR5 PSU. Also modded Lentek head amp/Denon AU-310 SUT.
Other Cartridges: Nippon Columbia (NOS 1987) Denon DL-103. USA-made Shure SC35C with NOS stylus. Goldring G820 with NOS stylus. Shure M55E with NOS stylus.
CD Player: Audiocom-modified Sony X-777ES/DAS-R1 DAC.
Tape Deck: Tandberg TCD 310, fully restored and recalibrated as new, by RDE, plus upgraded with heads from the TCD-420a. Also with matching TM4 Norway microphones.
Preamps: Heavily-modified Croft Charisma-X. LDR Stereo Coffee. Power Amps: Tube Distinctions Copper Amp fitted with Tungsol KT-150s. Quad 306.
Cables & Sundries: Mark Grant HDX1 interconnects and digital coaxial cable, plus Mark Grant 6mm UP-LCOFC Van Damme speaker cable. MCRU 'Ultimate' mains leads. Lehmann clone headphone amp with vintage Koss PRO-4AAA headphones.
Tube Distinctions digital noise filter. VPI HW16.5 record cleaning machine.
Speakers: Tannoy 15MGs in Lockwood cabinets with modified crossovers. 1967 Celestion Ditton 15.
Protect your HUMAN RIGHTS and REFUSE ANY *MANDATORY* VACCINE FOR COVID-19!
Also **SAY NO** to unjust 'vaccine passports' or certificates, which are totally incompatible with a FREE society!!!
Alien Entity
Location: North East UK
Posts: 6,358
I'm InSpace.
.... These numbers just keep on climbing!
Shian7
--------------------------------------------------------
Kudakutemo
kudakutemo
ari mizu-no tsuki
Though it be be broken -
broken again - still it's there:
the moon on the water.
- Choshu.
Site Owner/Administrator
Location: Wrexham, North Wales, UK
Posts: 110,012
I'm AudioAl'sArbiterForPISHANTO.
LOL. I don't recall that I've ever commented on the commercial worth of Steve's preamp before...
Undoubtedly though I would put it up against any commercially produced preamp solid-state or valve at that price
Marco.
Main System
Turntable: Heavily-modified Technics SL-1210MK5G [Mike New bearing/ETP platter/Paul Hynes SR7 PSU & reg mods]. Funk Firm APM Achromat/Nagaoka GL-601 Crystal Record Weight/Isonoe feet & boots/Ortofon RS-212D/Denon DL-103GL in Denon PCL-300 headshell with Funk Firm Houdini/Kondo SL-115 pure-silver cartridge leads.
Paul Hynes MC head amp/SR5 PSU. Also modded Lentek head amp/Denon AU-310 SUT.
Other Cartridges: Nippon Columbia (NOS 1987) Denon DL-103. USA-made Shure SC35C with NOS stylus. Goldring G820 with NOS stylus. Shure M55E with NOS stylus.
CD Player: Audiocom-modified Sony X-777ES/DAS-R1 DAC.
Tape Deck: Tandberg TCD 310, fully restored and recalibrated as new, by RDE, plus upgraded with heads from the TCD-420a. Also with matching TM4 Norway microphones.
Preamps: Heavily-modified Croft Charisma-X. LDR Stereo Coffee. Power Amps: Tube Distinctions Copper Amp fitted with Tungsol KT-150s. Quad 306.
Cables & Sundries: Mark Grant HDX1 interconnects and digital coaxial cable, plus Mark Grant 6mm UP-LCOFC Van Damme speaker cable. MCRU 'Ultimate' mains leads. Lehmann clone headphone amp with vintage Koss PRO-4AAA headphones.
Tube Distinctions digital noise filter. VPI HW16.5 record cleaning machine.
Speakers: Tannoy 15MGs in Lockwood cabinets with modified crossovers. 1967 Celestion Ditton 15.
Protect your HUMAN RIGHTS and REFUSE ANY *MANDATORY* VACCINE FOR COVID-19!
Also **SAY NO** to unjust 'vaccine passports' or certificates, which are totally incompatible with a FREE society!!!
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