Audio Horizons TP 2.0 Preamplifier

Yes, Joseph changed my preamp.

I was surprised at the improvement - I didn't think the preamp could be improved quite so easily. What I have heard so far are more relaxed and natural high frequencies, and a midbass (~80-200 hz) improvement. Also, it seems to me that various instruments and voices are articulated and positioned more clearly. I perceive the improvements as a more realistic presentation of the musical performance rather than as, say, a lower noise floor that reveals more detail.

Joseph did shield the new output caps, while changing some wires, adding a couple of other caps, and removing the line filter.

I'm glad that Joseph made the change. I have been a beta tester for the Audio Horizons solid state DAC, the tube DAC, and for the TP 2.0 (but not for TP 2.1 or the phono preamp). So, I have had the advantage of seeing Audio Horizons products evolve through the interaction of listening tests and circuit refinements. This upgrade (it is an improvement) shows the value of Joseph's design approach (described on the Audio Horizons website) very well.

I see, at long last, that an audio product reviewer has caught sight of an Audio Horizons product - the TD 3.0 tube DAC. A review can be read here:

http://www.dagogo.com/AudioHorizonsTD3.0nDAC.html

The reviewer concludes that the TD 3.0 is a great bargain, without equal in its price range, and for which no apologies are needed even when compared to DACs costing tens of thousands of $.

I've enjoyed my TD 3.0 since it was introduced. Recently, Joseph installed the new capacitors (mentioned in the review and now used in the preamp) into my tube DAC.

I hope others find reason to try the TD 3.0 which, in its own way, is as good as the TP 2.0.

I would be interested in hearing someone else's impressions of their upgrade from 2.0n to 2.1n.

I just receieved the 2.1RPNB for trial , plus interconnects and power cord with the Seimans tubes.
The unit was well packaged and looks well built. Unfortunatly, I will be out of town most of next week.

First impression, there does seem to be a shift in center stage to the right of center . I hope this just some strange breakin in behavior.

Ozzy, I would allow at least 60 hours of continous play before you do some serious listening. Maybe you can put a tuner on it while you are gone to slowly break it in. The Hovland caps, as well as the Blackgates take a few days to settle in so the off-center soundstage is more than likely a break-in issue. As you have heard, the Blackgates are notorious for long break-in periods. I'd give it a couple of weeks before you do some serious listening.