2. amps-preamps
  3. 1219679280

Promitheus Ref TVC and RWA Sig 30.2 Power Amp

Hi All,
The itch to upgrade is getting stronger day-by-day and I think I should start by asking this wonderful community, certain questions that I have no idea about.
I do not plan to upgrade everything at once - as budgets do not permit. I currently have the NAD C352 integrated and want to start with the Promitheus Reference TVC preamp. I will use my NAD as a power amp for now. When budgets permit, I plan to get the Red Wine Audio Sig 30.2 Power Amp. This is based purely on the reviews from many people online and also 6moons and other online sites. I am not sure if this amp will be good enough to drive my Quad 21L.

The questions are:
Will the Promitheus and RWA work fine with my Quad 21L speakers?
What should be my expectations after I replace the current preamp section in the NAD with Promitheus Ref TVC? Will the sound step-up be huge or slight?
Is this the right approach, or should I just upgrade to a better integrated amp (like Primare, Creek, Musical Fidelity, etc)?

Thanks much.
128x128milpai
milpai's avatar
milpai OP
2,434 posts
 
Hi Mariusz,
Thank you for your reply. Honestly, I do not know if I require attenuators or not. I don't even know what that would do. I will surely look up some sites and try to understand that. Yes, I was looking more at the power-amp rather than the integrated, and hence the TVC. Also, the TVS would give me more inputs compared to just 1 on the RWA amps.
The reason for posting all over the place is to get the most from other's experience. I feel that the forums are a best place to get these. And you also get to know about stuff that you were not aware of.
I really appreciate your advise - especially getting my attention to the sensitivity of the RWA power amp.
milpai's avatar
milpai OP
2,434 posts
 
Reviving my old thread. Need to get a second opinion. My integrated amp's power amp section specs are as follows:

770 mV / 20k ohms / 470 pF

I am not techie and got this from NAD directly. Are these specs suitable for a Promitheus TVC?

Thanks
clio09
3,362 posts
 
You would typically like to see a higher input impedance. The number given to you by NAD, 20k ohms, is a bit on the low side. Since the Promitheus uses transformers this will be less of an issue versus resistors, but still to be considered. The input sensitivity is fine at 770mV. I assume you have a high output voltage source (>2V).

If I recall the RWA (power amp version) has a much higher input impedance. Around 100k ohms which would be fine for most passive preamps.
milpai's avatar
milpai OP
2,434 posts
 
Thanks Clio09. I would go step-by-step. So right now I am looking at my existing NAD C352 to run as preamp for the TVC. At some point in future I will add the RWA power amp.
clio09
3,362 posts
 
Not sure you're going to get the best out of the Promitheus with the NAD. One option to consider is the Lightspeed attenuator. This is a passive preamp using photo-optic technology. No transformers and no resistors. I just bought one and it is everything it is advertised to be.

Go to DIY.com and do a search for Lightspeed. There is a very long thread on the preamp. Nelson Pass even participates and IIRC uses the technology. The preamp is available for about $350. Single input and single output only. This will work with your NAD as it is pretty immune to impedance matching. Also, the new Pass B1 buffer is another option at $895. Again will work with the NAD.
More to discover