Audio Horizons TP 2.0 Preamplifier

I received my Audio Horizons Transparency ICs this afternoon. I will let them burn in for 50hrs or so before giving my opinion on the A.H. 2.1R preamp in my system. Just replacing the Audioquest Snake ICs has made a substantial improvement in the overall sound. I can't help noticing already that this preamp sounds good, very dynamic, with a big wide and deep sound stage....in fact freaky good for the price!
It will be difficult to have an objective opinion since my system has undergone so many changes in the last few months.
I have been selecting CDs to use, I will pick recordings that are cemented in my memory so those "ah ha" moments won't fail me. I am not in the position to do a A/B with my last preamp, a Pass Labs X-0.2...I will have to rely on memory.
I'm far from a good writer and even further from a good audio reviewer, but I do know what my ears like.
I have noticed a change in how my Sansui TU-717 Tuner sounds with this tube pre...much more analog,almost vinyl like.
Joseph is doing his full mods on my best tuner, a Sansui Tu-919. Hopefully this will make my radio listening even more natural/musical. It might put my CD player out of business!

Gandme,
Joseph will do some very nice things to your TU-919. The Blackgate caps he puts in the power supply and signal path will need some break-in time, but in a short while, you might just be listening more to your tuner than your Cd player. It happened to me. Keep us posted.

I forgot to mention that much later, after Joseph had upgraded my tuner, I put some Blackgates in the MPX section of my tuner and it made another huge improvement. I have a 1977 Harman/Kardon Citation Eighteen tuner so the circuit could be a little different than the Sansui TU-919, but you might run the MPX upgrade question by Joseph. He offers several cost upgrades to tuners.

Hey Guys:
Well I finally got my AH DAC 3.0 back. The upgrade took much longer than I expected. Been playing it non-stop this weekend and want to give my initial impressions. As I indicated in earlier posts this is the Clarity-Vishay upgrade with harmonic alignment. The same one some of you are looking to apply to you AH preamps. This is not a review! I would never attempt to do that with my level of knowledge so please bear with me on this.

Just a few background notes:

I purchased the dac used from Grannyring about a year ago. My goal was to add some tube warmth and body to my all solid state system. My speakers are somewhat bright and forward sounding and my listening room amplifies these problems. Seemed like a good fit after chatting at length with Bill. The dac had upgraded, warmer sounding tubs so I went for it. The stock unit met my goals and expectations and then some. Just to nitpick a little I always thought the presentation was a little odd or different.

So right out of the gate I could tell the sound was much smoother and refined. There appears to be a film or haze that has been lifted and clear, detailed, wonderful music has emerged. The thing I like best is you can enjoy these new attributes at much lower listening volumes. Also, that presentation issue is a thing of the past. Perfect balance! From what you all are saying the best has yet to come keeping in mind I only have about 10 hrs of break-in time so far.

I’ll report back in a few weeks.

Charlie

Great news, Charlie. I look forward to hearing more of your impressions as the unit goes through its break-in process. I'm thinking it will only get better.