Audio Horizons TP 2.0 Preamplifier

Tvad. I am currently auditioning AH against a ss pre. I dont know if this will help you but my system was very detailed and on the best 10% of CD recordings couldn't please me more in terms of clairty. But on less ideal recordings and higher volumes it could sound a touch strident or etched. With the AH preamp the best 10% is much more gorgeous and the next 70% have become beautiful to listen to, all without losing detail and clarity. Yet I would not describe AH as warm in any "cover it up way" rather it sounds more like real instruments, with acoustic instruments having their natural warmth and electronic instruments very smooth on new age stuff and acidy on acid rock. So I am being drawn to listen to the large amount of music in my collection that isn't the top 10% and finding much of it captivatingly beautiful, powerful or sparkley or soothing whatever it was intended to be. That is a real treat. As this is occuring in a deeper soundfield with more air and surer location of voices or instruments. Fellow owners - did I capture some of the appeal of the AH?

Joe,
You touched on what the preamp does for me. "Captivating" is a nice descriptive word.

Gammajo. I fill is very accurate with his description of our AH. The more I listen whether to relax, or to listen critically. I realise how much more natural all instruments are coming across including placement of the performers. I listen to Vinyl most of the time, but with the recent purchase of my AH, I have been playing CD's quite often and find these qualities to shine through both. I also come from a SS Preamp, one obvious difference was the liveliness of the music, everything seems to be played in front of you as opposed to listening to the acoustics of the studio which I have found in some systems nice, but not for me.

Gammajo,

You described it very well. My original brief review was posted on the Audio Horizons website, similar to yours.

I think we're all on the same page here as far as sonic descriptives are concerned, and that says a LOT.

The TP 2.0 combines the classic tube sound without the added artifacts yet remains neutral with a natural warmth.

It also slams out the yang-yang with micro and macro dynamics and a dead quiet background.

My next move is sending Joseph my CEC transport "which he is very familiar with" to work some magic into.