Audio Horizons TP 2.0 Preamplifier

Hi guys,
Not to take this thread in a different direction,I just want to canvass opinions on Josephs new product,the RTS coupler.
Flip me a pm if you're so inclined.Enjoy the holiday weekend.

Upgrade update - AH 2.0nB to 2.2nB using cca tubes. I have over 200 hours on the unit at this time. Basically what I said in my 8/12 review still holds. The unit did go through a an awkward adolescence during which the bass deteriorated in quality and the treble exhibited harshness, but all is well now. Added to the initial impressions would be that the unit now sounds more relaxed, easy, and natural. It quickly becomes hard to remember the previous 2.0 sound and now I am mostly out of the analytical mode and enjoying the music with many CD's producing the thought "Gee, I don't remember this music being this beautiful".

Well, I finally won a cheap old tube tester on Ebay and I'm glad I have it now. When it arrived a couple of weeks ago, I tested my Siemens Cca tubes and although they both measured over 85% good, they both tested gassy. I bought a NOS pair of Cca and both tested great with no gas and the sound is much cleaner and musical. I had known that something wasn't quite right and was trying to blame the cables or AC. Before I got the tube tester, I even shipped my preamp back to Joseph and had to pay him $25.00 to tell me that nothing was wrong with it.

Sherod i feel your pain. My buddy has a tester and it proved i had the same feelings as you with the degeneration of sound in my system, 4 shot very expensive CCA tubes. The Siemans CCAs are getting so darn expensive that i'm going to try something different. I have a pair of Telefunken PCC 88 7DJ8s and a pair of VALVO Hamburg PCC88 7DJ8s on the way. Its really getting hard to find 60s CCAs anymore for a price thats anywhere near reasonable. The Russian rockets do please the ears but cant approach what CCAs deliver IMO. Have you are anyone else tried any other tubes that can be recommenced with AH preamps. My AH preamp is the first tubed piece of gear in over 40 years in the hobby and tube use and differences were the reason i resisted. It seems that one triode gets worked out hard in our favorite preamp does that seem about right or is it the design.

Due to the poor economy, I believe, you can now find a good pair of NOS Siemens Cca for $150-$200. Still expensive, but better than the $300-$400/pr. from not too long ago. I have been reading that the new Gold Lion E88cc/6922 might be a good new tube to try out. They are selling for about $45.00/pair.Here's an example from an Ebay seller:

http://cgi.ebay.com/GENALEX-Gold-Lion-6922-E88CC-Gold-Pin-Tube-New-/160457178638?pt=Vintage_Electronics_R2&hash=item255bfe3e0e