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Hornshoppe "the Truth" preamp - any opinions?

"The Truth" changes the paradigm in Reference Line Stages, literally. Its existence has even forced me to remove a "Direct Connection" in "Class A", because such a choice no longer makes any rational sense to me. In the end, "The Truth" is effectively a "direct connection" with no sonic downsides, and with the ability to drive any amplifier load and/or length of cable, while allowing any source to be heard at its very best. With the exception of extra gain, an audiophile can't ask for more than that. I realize that this may all sound "too good to be true", but it isn't. 

-- Arthur Salvatore  http://www.high-endaudio.com/RC-Linestages.html

This is high praise indeed, he likes it better than Coincident's Line Stage which is saying something, was wondering if someone else has heard it and compared it to other active line stages (am a big believer in active, though currently using AMR DP-777 DAC as my pre)
essrand
cal3713's avatar
cal3713
1,421 posts
 
@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. 
cal3713's avatar
cal3713
1,421 posts
 
@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.  
charles1dad's avatar
charles1dad
10,250 posts
 
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
exdmd
7 posts
 
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.
wolf_garcia
6,804 posts
 
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...
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