We finally have our own phono stage that we can stand up and say - "you
gotta hear this!!!" A tube/solid state hybrid phono stage for both MM
and MC cartridges, the TTVJ Millet sounds just the way we like it -
warm lush while still retaining the detail.
See a review
here
TTVJ Hybrid Phono
Preamp
The TTVJ
hybrid phono preamp combines the best of solid-state and vacuum-tube technology
to attain a smooth but detailed sound, without the expense of unwanted noise or
poor frequency accuracy that many all-tube phono preamps suffer.
For
moving-magnet cartridges, the preamp uses a high-quality audio opamp gain stage
at the input. The use of a opamp here
provides very low noise, and a low impedance to drive a passive RIAA network.
The
equalized signal is amplified by a vacuum-tube SRPP amplifier, which provides
gain, very light loading on the RIAA network (for improved accuracy), and a low
output impedance (to drive interconnect cables and the preamp or integrated amp
inputs). It also imparts a quality to
the sound that only vacuum tubes can do.
The preamp
uses two NOS or current-production 6DJ8/ECC88/E88CC tubes, or inexpensive NOS
6BK7 or 6BQ7 types. The sound of the
preamp can be altered slightly to suit the listeners preferences by choosing
tube type.
For
moving-coil cartridges, an additional solid-state differential amplifier stage
is inserted before the opamp stage. The
moving-coil inputs are fully balanced to help eliminate noise pickup in the
input wiring. A variety of load impedance's is user-selectable via rotary switches on the rear panel.
To
eliminate any possibility of power supply-related hum or ground loops, the
preamp contains a specially-designed high-frequency switching power supply to
generate the high voltage needed to power the tube
stage. Low-voltage DC power is provided
to the preamp from a wall adapter.