VTL ULTIMATE M/C

Try posting the question at the Audio Asylum forums. Luke Manley lurks the site and often replies to comments and questions regarding his products. Luke is a real stand up Guy.

Good Luck.

Did you try looking inside with a flashlight to see if the board is marked. I would be surprised if it isn't. The 4 12AX7s you mentioned on the left hand side is for phono.

if you are facing the front on the preamp, the line stage looks as follows:

12AU7. 12AT7

12AU7. 12AT7

the top row corresponds to the left channel and the bottom row to the right channel

in the older model of the ultimate, 12AX7s were used instead of 12AU7s in the line stage but the order is still the same.

hope this helps

The two 12AU7 (5814) are closer to the center and the two 12AT7 (6201) are closer to the transformers. The circuit for the later version is the same as the earlier version, just laid out differently on the boards. Try using a 12AX7 instead of the 12AU7. The preamp sounds better that way, IMO. It will have more dynamics and life. The design is basically a Dual Mono Marantz 7 with a very stiff un-regulated dual mono power supply. I used to own a Marantz 7 and the VTL is way better. Not even close. Another Marantz 7 variation which is even better that the VTL is the Perfectionist Audio Components (PAC) Pro-Reference IIB. It has a fully regulated monster power supply and is the best 12AX7 type preamp that I have heard. Both the VTL and the PAC have refinements in the audio section that make them better than the Marantz, but when you add the improved power supply too, it is not even close.