Audio Horizons TP 2.0 Preamplifier

Hello Sherod,

Since this is a technical question, let me answer. The main improvement in installing the line output transformers and the line input transformers is several dB of improved S/N and increased transparency. In conjunction with the "n" upgrade, the "B" upgrade increases the 2.0's S/N from -105 dBv to -115 dBv. The added quietness improves microdetail retrieval and produces a more relaxed and rich textured midrange. In addition it produces a more controlled and punchier low end, more dynamic responsiveness, and a more open and transparent sound. The improvment is not subtle. The more expensive transformers used in the 'B" upgrade as opposed to the "b" upgrade are larger and have metal housings and as such have better noise suppression and better low end control and dynamic output. They are not inexpensive, but they raise the TP 2.0 and 2.0n to another level of excellence.

Joseph has asked me to comment on two matters: the hole gamajo mentions marked chssis ground, and a ground hum problem some owners, including gamajo, have.

Gamajo is correct: the chassis ground is there to act as a chassis ground when the two tube phono stage is introduced, either as an internal option or as a stand alone, some time in April.

As for the open ground hum gamajo and some others have experienced, this occurs when for some reason the ground carried by the ground plug of the power cord is rendered discontinuous from the AC outlet through the power conditioner or surge protector, to the amplifier and preamplifier. This means the system does not carry a continuous ground. If one is using the balanced out, the balanced IC will carry this ground between the preamp and the amp as the third wire in the IC, but if one is using the single ended outputs, the RCA IC's only have hot and neutral, and will not. One must thus create an external ground to ground the preamp chassis to the amp chassis.

We hope to solve this problem with a rear panel switch in future models.

If you have any questions, please let me know.

Since there has been some interest in the V cap, let me give you an update. Joseph and I listened to the V caps after 45 hours and again just the other day after 120 hours burn in time. The V cap is an extremely fast capacitor, which means it has excellent transients and micro-detail retrieval, a fine ability to reproduce harmonic texture, especially the higher overtones, and striking ability to reproduce dynamic contrasts. So far, while the caps have improved in reproducing the various registers, it still preserves its tendency to accentuate the higher frequencies at the expense of the lower ones, with the result that as always in such an instance, it disperses sound very well and seems subjectively to have a wider soundstage than the Hovlands. It is a very demanding capacitor since dynamic musical contrasts appear more extreme than usual, and because it is bright and does not lend itself to background music—at least not at this present stage of break in. At times the combination of brightness and strong dynamic response resulted in a harsh edge, especially, for example, when sopranos hit a high note crescendo. In sum it tended to give all music, whether digital or analog, a more pronounced digital feeling. If one has a speaker system that is on the mellow side—what people sometimes call a “polite” speaker--the V cap may add just enough sparkle and quickness of response to it to create a livelier and better balanced system.

We listened to the V caps with three different IC’s to insure we did not have a cable mismatch. With a balanced Transparency, what I have described above was most pronounced. We tried to slow the capacitors down using a balanced copper IC, and indeed, this reduced the digitalizing effect we were hearing and because slower, created a better balance between low and high frequencies, but it thickened the bass and seemed to eliminate the superior micro-detail retrieval we valued before. We tried a new design developed by Joseph using Cardas wire to come somewhere in between, and we did approach the balance of the Hovlands with this IC, but now we were a little slower and thicker textured than the Hovlands.

In sum, the V cap, if it continues to deepen its registers and if with time the edginess diminishes, may be a very promising cap. We will give another careful listen at 300 hours. At the present time, we are unable to recommend it or to make it available to our customers.

On another front, Joseph has completed the development of a two tube phono stage, which is available in a number of configurations—MM or MC, integrated or separate, stock transformer or premium transformer. I brought over a Stereophile CD and LP of the Mozart Clarinet Concerto so we could compare the phono stage using the stock transformers and the premium transformers to Joseph’s AH DAC. In everything but S/N the phono stage was superior to the DAC, but not embarrassingly so. With the expensive Premium transformers, the disparity between the phono stage and the DAC grew more pronounced, again in all areas but S/N, where it is hard to beat a digital source.
This is a superb phono stage, as we had every hope it would be, given it is Joseph’s creation, but frankly the Premium version was even better than we had hoped.

Lastly, a word to those who were surprised that someone auditioned the TP 2.0nB and chose a different preamplifier. Don’t be. When we designed the TP 2.0, we never strove to produce the best preamplifier out there, or even the best preamplifier we could. We deliberately designed to place our products at the bottom of the high end price point—-that is, between $2000 and $3000, believing that a great many music lovers want to listen to music superbly reproduced without feeling they can not without mortgaging the house.

About 10% of the preamplifiers auditioned are returned, usually with comments like this: “nothing under $8000 could touch it. We finally felt the $16,000 . . . delivered just a little . . .” A recent post notes that the Lamm ref beat out the TP 2.0nB. And why shouldn't it? It sells for $13,680. We feel flattered that the TP 2.0nB can be mentioned respectfully in the same breath with a component costing 347% more. Thank you.

And thank you all for all your support. We appreciate it.

For about two and a half months, ever since Joseph indicated to one of our customers that a new version of the 2.0 was forthcoming, rumors have circulated that Joseph is designing a new preamplifier. This is not true: he is merely reconfiguring the TP 2.0. In July we will introduce the Audio Horizons TP 2.1.

The circuit of the TP 2.1 is exactly the same as that of the 2.0. Joseph has no intention of changing the circuit for some years. Changes, however, have been made to the layout of the 2.1 in order to accommodate various requests customers have made for two balanced inputs or two balanced outputs, for a tape loop circuit, etc. These changes to the 2.0 required time consuming modifications to the chassis, but will no longer.

We have also reduced the height of the 2.1 so that it is 3.5” tall instead of 4” tall, and changed the cosmetics of the chassis and of the faceplate. We think the 2.1 is more attractive than the 2.0. Moreover, its more compact chassis will improve manufacturing efficiencies and reduce our shipping costs. We have also reversed the location of the inputs and outputs to improve the wiring layout. Facing the TP 2.1 front, the inputs are now on the right rear and the outputs on the left rear.

The improved chassis materials and cosmetics and the improved layout have resulted in improved S/N figures of about 3 dB. The improved S/N figures are small but in a direct A-B audible. That said, the 2.1 sounds just like the 2.0, only a little quieter. Therefore, no one who has the TP 2.0 need feel deprived by not having a 2.1.

Because of the more expensive and attractive chassis and faceplate, and because of other cost increases, we have had to raise the price of the preamplifier from $1895 to $1995—an increase of about 5%.

The 2.1 will come in a Line Stage version and in a Phono Stage version. Frankly we think the 8.0 phono stage is, for what it does, equal in performance to the 2.0 and 2.1. Those interested ought to ask for a free audition of he stand alone version. Then, like Scifi, they can order an 8.0i to incorporate into their 2.0 or 2.1

The 2.1 will come a remote or without remote. Of course all the other upgrades to the 2.0 will still be available on the TP 2.1.

We will be running our first ads on the TP 2.1 shortly, perhaps even as soon as this weekend. The TP 2.1 will come in silver and in black.

Because we appreciate all your support more than we ecan say, we wanted you all to know before we place our first ad. Thanks for all your kind words.

Best regards,

Victor

For those interested, the initial ads for the TP 2.1, with photos of front and rear, were placed on Audiogon this morning.

Thanks for your continued interest in our products.

Victor

We have had a request by a web audio magazine to review the TP 2.1 with or without the TP 8.0 incorporated into it.

He has left the decision up to us as to which version we submit. We would like your input on this choice. The reviewer wants the remote option, so that is a given.

Should we, because of its more accessible price, review the TP 2.1Rn ($2695) or should we put our best foot forward and go with our top line TP 2.1RnB ($3490)?

Should we ask him to review the TP 8.0 in a stand alone version or in the integrated version? Again, should we opt for the entry level “n” Moving Coil version or the top of the line premium Moving Coil version?

There are arguments for each, so we would welcome your thoughts on this matter.

Thank you. We appreciate your taking the time to express your views.

Victor

I would like to thank everyone who took a moment to express their opinion about the pending review. We have taken your advice to heart and will, as most of you suggest, send the line stage TP 2.1RnB--we include the remote because the reviewer asked for the remote. Since he is willing to also audition the phono stage, we will send him the TP 8.0cMCpn, which is our top line phono preamp, playable either amp direct or through the 2.1.

For our cable fans, you might be pleased to know the reviewer wants us to send our power cords and cables along, which we shall do.

I hope with all of you that this is a break through opportunity for a very sweet guy and an extraordinarily talented designer--Joseph Chow.

My thanks to all of you again.

On a different note, a supplier of extremely fine Siemens early 60's NOS CCa tubes--both Gamajo and I are very pleased with them--has more of them to sell. they are $350 a pair, and $650 a quad. These tubes will last 10,000 hours. Please contact me if you are interested.

Victor

Recently, Joseph took a TP 2.1nB to Cedar, who in the past has acted as a beta tester for us, to compare to his TP 2.0nB. In addition to a number of small changes made to the 2.1, at the last minute in the 2.1n we decided to replace the Hovland caps used to a larger, more expensive proprietary brand. This decision occurred after I had written my post announcing the impending introduction of the TP 2.1. The new capacitors are so sensitive to interference that each capacitor must be individually wrapped and shielded with thick copper foil.

Cedar was so impressed by the sonic improvement of the TP 2.1nB that he asked Joseph to upgrade his TP 2.0nB and his TD 3.0n.

When Audio Horizons was founded, we had a couple of clear marketing goals: 1) to provide a clear upgrade path for owners so that when they could afford enhancements, they could upgrade the performance of their Audio Horizons components (and thus be certain they were improving the performance of their system) instead of replacing them, and 2) to shun a marketing philosophy based on change and obsolescence.

As part of this second goal, we have decided to put together an upgrade option which would permit TP 2.0n and TP 2.0nB owners to upgrade their 2.0n and 2.0nB’s to 2.1n and 2.1nB. The upgrade will not yield all the benefits of the newer model because some of the gains from improved layout can not be translated, but most of the gains will be incorporated--all those that can be included will be. There are six areas that will be addressed:

1. We will add four capacitors to reduce input switching noise.

2. We will remove the old multipath wiring harness from the RCA jacks to the volume pot and to the main preamplifier PC board and replace it with a new upgraded wire harness, which now comes wrapped in an extra isolating layer of Teflon for better noise suppression.

3. As a result of this harness improvement and isolation and by virtue of shielding the new proprietary caps, we find that the line filter is no longer necessary to filter out high frequency noise; in fact it actually introduces extraneous noise. We will remove the line filter and bypass it. This line filter was never a part of the “n” upgrade: it was always part of the original design and exists in the TP 2.0 as well. It will be returned to you.

4. We will remove the Hovland caps, which also will be returned to you, and replace them with the larger, more expensive shielded capacitors we now use in the TP 2.1n version. Our cost for these capacitors before shielding is just under $80. We think they are worth the extra cost and believe you will agree after listening to them.

5. We will diagnose and address any problems some of you have reported with ground loop issues or tube microphonics.

6. Finally Joseph will inspect the preamplifier to be certain it is operating properly.

Because of size and layout changes, it will be impossible to upgrade the chassis and faceplate.

The cost of this upgrade will be $300. Please understand, these upgrades are not a big profit center for Joseph. We are offering them so that those who want the latest Audio Horizons refinements can order them. The caps are not always easy to get so we will need you to schedule your 2.0n to 2.1n conversion closely.

I have asked Cedar to post his impressions of the sonic benefits of the upgrade. His impressions mirror our own but we thought you would like to hear them from a disinterested owner who has now lived with the upgrade for some time.

Victor

I brought Ozzy's perception that there "does seem to be a shift in center stage to the right of center" to Joseph's attention, since we are always attentive to ways to improve the preamp.

Here is Joseph's response, edited just a little: "The gain deviation between channels is 0.2 dB; the tracking error from the volume pot is -1 dB or better when the volume pot is set at -60dB position. This could be an issue for the n version since it has higher gain than nB if the system has highly sensitive loudspeakers. It will be hard to find tighter tolerance available from the supplier of the motorized pot; it will be much easier to get regular pot in tighter tolerance."

I take this to mean that while the the output deviation is small, at some points on the pot at certain gains, with certain highly sensitive speakers, a 1 dB deviation between channels could occur. Sometimes other factors unrelated to the preamp can also contribute a small amount to the perceived deviation.

I take it, without his needing to comment, that Joseph will look for a tighter tolerance pot.

Thank you for bringing this to our attention.

Victor

Joseph uses a very high quality pot on both the motorized and the manual. The manual is superior to the motorized in terms of channel balance being virtually dead on. We do not feel the preamp is out of balance either at the outputs or at the pot, and I explained why using the specs. It is possible it appears that way to the customer, but that could be because his old preamp was out of balance, because his room is unbalanced, etc.

In trying to reassure people that there is no problem with the preamp, I see I have misled people there is.

In trying to be reassuring, I see I have only succeeded in raising anxieties.

There is no problem with the preamp's balance. We consider this customer's problem, if there is a problem and not simply a difference from his old balance, an anomaly.

Victor

Joseph and I like to keep this Discussion Forum informed of news about Audio Horizons that will soon be breaking. With that in mind, I would like to announce a new Audio Horizons product—the TB 5.0 tube buffer stage. We will be running our first ads the end of August.

The TB 5.0 is a tube buffer stage meant to supplement the solid state output of a preamplifier, tuner, CDP or DAC in order to impart to it some of the harmonic richness and the slower, more musical decay time characteristic of tube designs.

About six weeks ago, I heard the first prototype, and yesterday I heard the first production unit. As usual, the production unit is always far superior to the prototype, which itself was impressive.

We listened to the tube buffer stage, using a TB 5.0n, between a solid state preamp and amp, between a solid state tuner and both a solid state preamp and the TP 2.1, between a solid state upgraded CDP and a solid state preamp and the TP 2.1, and we compared the solid state Audio Horizons DAC 2a with it and without it and compared this to Joseph’s tube DAC, the TD 3.0. In every configuration, there was a decided and marked improvement over what preceded it.

The sound seemed to open out; the harmonic texture of the music was much more pronounced; the midrange was sweeter, smoother and more rich; the dryness which almost always characterizes solid state equipment disappeared; and all this was accomplished with no sense of loss, in part because as usual, the TB 5.0 is so quiet---117 dBv in the 5.0 version, -120 dBv in the 5.0n version. Distortion is quite low, channel separation and dynamic range excellent. To our ears, there were no losses and only a sense of significant improvement.

As you might expect the TB 5.0 is as sensitive to tube complement as Joseph’s other design. With two Siemens gold pin E88CC’s it really came alive.

The genesis of the product stemmed from an A-B between my upgraded Sansui TU-X1 tuner and an upgraded Marantz 10B, in which the X1 excelled in so many areas, but not in warmth, sweetness and harmonic texture. Joseph suggested adding a tube buffer stage to it. The rest followed inevitably.

The TB 5.0 shares the same slim line 17” chassis used in the TP 8.0. Incorporated in certain solid state tuners with adequate room like the Sansui TU- 717 or the Kenwood KT 8300, it costs $475; in its stand alone version it costs $595. The 5.0n costs $725 and includes an on/off switch. For balanced inputs and outputs, add $200.

This 5.0 represents the last of our product introductions for the this year. In the back of our mind we are exploring an amp, but amps occur in so many different configurations, and there are so many considerations to take into account, that we will have to proceed slowly.

We will be running two different ads for the 5.0, one in the FM Tuner section, one in the solid state preamp section and one in the tweak section. Those interested, can keep an eye out for them.

Again, thanks for your support.

Victor

Regarding the 2.0 to 2.1 upgrade, I will have an announcement to make about that at the end of October. Right now, I'm asking for your help.

Joseph and I will be attending the RMAF show in Denver this coming weekend. There are many reasons for going, but one of them is to explore forming a show partnership with a small, quality speaker manufacturer and perhaps a quality amplifier manufacturer. We are too small to afford to participate on our own, but perhaps next year we can afford to partner with other manufacturers. If you have any manufacturers you know or whose products you own that you think might be candidates, please let us know.

Another reason for going is to introduce ourselves to reviewers. In the next couple of months, reviews of the TP 2.1RnB/TP8.0iMCpn integrated preamplifier will be appearing in Stereomojo and a review of the TP 8.0sMCpn will be appearing in 10Audio. We hope that a couple of additional laudatory reviews on top of the Dagogo and these two might help us break out.

So if you have anyone you think we should search out at the Show, please let us know.

Victor

The post that Grannyring cited above itemizing the 2.0 to 2.1 upgrade is obsolete and no longer describes all the changes. Additional changes have been made to the 2.1 to improve it and those changes were included in Grannyring's upgrade, which is why the difference between the 2.0 and 2.1 has grown greater than when I first commented.

I will have a full report on all those changes and more at the end of the month.

Victor

Sherod, in general I don't. But I had an open question in my last post about the RMAF and was following to see whether anyone had commented. So far, a couple have sent me private emails, which I appreciate.

Victor

I indicated that I would provide you after the RMAF with a full break out of all the upgrades we now make to the 2.0 to bring it to the level of the 2.1.

Subsequent to my first post about the upgrade we made further improvements to the 2.1. These were in response to a slight high frequency edge we noticed in crescendoes, whether those of a female vocalist or of a symphony orchestra. After listening carefully, we concluded that this edge was really high output breakup. To solve this problem, we went back to the drawing board to figure out how to beef up the power supply so we could increase the output voltage and thus better handle sudden peak surges.

As a result, we increased the number of power capacitors and changed the number of rectifier diodes to permit us to increase the output voltage from 100 volts to 140 volts. To our ears this change alone resulted in softer highs, especially on loud crescendoes, and much more pronounced dramatic contrasts, as if the dynamic headroom had sudenly increased dramatically. In works like Scherazade, where sudden dynamic contrasts abound, we found the sense of raw power unleashed by the crescendo had vastly more energy than before, so that what formerly seemed fine and responsive, now in retrospect seemed compressed. We found this voltage change abounded in other pluses and resulted in no minuses.

Some of you, Sherod, for example, noticed an increase in gain, while Grannyring did not. Whether you do or don't experience increased gain will be a function of the tubes you are using and whether they translate the increased voltage into gain--Sherod's do and Grannyring's don't.

The other changes have already been described. The most important being that we upgraded the old multipath wiring harness from the RCA jacks to the volume pot and to the main preamplifier PC board and replaced it with a new upgraded Transparency wiring harness, which like the Transparency now comes wrapped in an extra isolating layer of Teflon for better noise suppression. The layout was also changed. Because of the better noise suppression of the harness, we were able to dispense with the line filter. For your interest the line filter was never a part of the “n” upgrade: it was always part of the original design and exists in the TP 2.0 as well. It will be returned to you for use elsewhere in your system if you wish. Because the internal harness is essentially an internal Transparency harness, like that cable, it needs almost 100 hours to burn in. The improvements that come from upgrading cabling are those that we experienced with this upgrade--better microdetail retrieval, improved harmonic texture, etc.

The next big change was to replace the Hovland caps, which also will be returned to you, with the larger, more expensive shielded capacitors we now use in the TP 2.1n version. In addition, we take a small 0.22 uf Solen cap and parallel it with the large cap. In our experience, this softened the highs and removed a slight high end burr without rolling off the top. The improved caps to our ears dramatically improved the soundstage, both side to side and front to rear and improved the imaging. We also found them to provide a less veiled sonic signature. The Hovlands are very smooth, but in comparison they are quite compressed and appear to mask the harmonic texture of the instruments. While there was a slight loss of smoothness with the new caps, we found the gains substantially outweighed the losses, and we abandoned the Hovlands without regret.

Some listeners, Sherod, for example, and another of our 2.1 customers, are hearing things as a result of the capacitor change, that frankly we are not, which is disconcerting, since we are finding it difficult to be of help because we can not reproduce what they are hearing. Joseph has actually gone so far as to replace the caps again with Hovlands in order to conduct an A-B to see if he can reproduce what the others describe, but without success. He wonder whether the increased soundstage of the new caps requires a slightly different speaker placement because of the wider and deeper soundstage. Frankly, this is just a guess, since we really can not reproduce what is being heard, and other owners and revieweres of the 2.1 do not report it.

The other changes in parts, e.g., by virtue of adding capacitors, contributed less to the sonic improvement.

If any of you are having problems with ground loop issues or tube microphonics, Joseph will look into them at this time.

Finally Joseph will inspect the preamplifier to be certain it is operating properly.

Some owners have tended to over-value the significance of the cap change. They are not the whole story, though in terms of cost, they are the biggest cost item--$85 with the Solens at our cost. Some have asked if they can install them. Sometimes, one sees very wide traces on the PCB. For example, we saw them at the RMAF. But wide traces increase inductance and thus impair the sound so Joseph's traces are very fine. Sonically this is a benefit but it means they are easily damaged, so we do not encourage replacing parts. Doing so without our authorization will void the warranty.

Finally, Joseph is finding that the entire upgrade takes him about 5 hours, longer than he had expected, so we are compelled to increase thee price of the 2.0 to 2.1 upgradeto $375, and the cost of the 3.0 to 3.1 from $400 to $475.

On an entirely different note, Joseph feels he has gone as far as he can with the 2 series preamp design. He wants to put his energies to designing an amp and to designing a dual mono design preamp with upgraded hardward and parts, just to see what he can do when he is not preoccupied with meeting a price point.

The amp is a source of concern since there are so many ways to go.

Soon I will place a post asking for some direction from you. I will also in the next couple of weeks post a report on the show.

Thanks for all your ongoing support.

Victor

Those who have an interest in reading the first audio review of the TP 8.0sMCpn and the TP 2.1RnB (with the power supply upgrade) can read it on www.10audio.com.

Victor

I would like to comment on some of the remarks made about the Audio Horizons website's inadequacy. Joseph and I couldn't agree more and we are working to correct it. Our problem is both time--Joseph has little to spare--and money. Again Joseph has little to spare. Still we are in the process of redesigning the website from scratch, includng the retaking of our photos, whose quality is modest at best. It is a big project for us to understake, but hopefully in the next thirty to sixty days you will begin to see the consequences of the changes.

Meanwhile, I encourage those of you who have questions which are not answered either in our ads or on the website, to please contact me. I'll do my best to answer. And if I can't, I will put the question to Joseph.

Meanwhile, I want to thank all of you for your continuing enthusiasm and support. Joseph and I both appreciate it.

Victor

Some of you who have indicated an interest in the TP 8.0 might be interested in a 6Mooons review of the TP 8.0sMCpn which will appear in the next couple of days. the review includes some photos of Joseph's listening room and sound system and mine.

We've also been told that a review of the TP 2.1nB/8.0iMCpn
wil be appearing in Stereomojo soon.

Victor

Some of you might like to read the latest review of the Audio Horizons TP 2.1 in Stereomojo: www.stereomojo.com

Victor

Can those of you who download music comment on whether you would be interested in a USB option on the AH TD 3.0? Can you also comment on the quality of such recordings? We are aware that if you download master tapes at 24/96, the quality is superior to that of redbook CD's recorded at 16/44. What we would like to know is how much interest any of you would have in a USB circuit on our TD 3.0 that enhanced the reproduction of redbook CD's downloaded to a laptop and then played back via USB through the DAC. If you would rather write to me instead of post to the Discussion Forum, feel free to do so. I would also appreciate any general comments any of you might have about using a computer and a DAC to reproduce music over your sound system.

Thanks for your help. I will have more to say later.

Victor

Rob, within the next 45 days, Audio Horizons will make an announcement about how to rip and play CD's similar to the way you are, but in a way that not only does not degrade the fidelity, it actually enhances it.

Keep an eye peeled for my post in about 30-45 days.

Victor

Sherod, I have asked Joseph to update the interior photos of the TP 2.1n and nB, at least in the ads. We are soon going to thoroughly redesign the web site.

On another note: Given how frequently the Audio Horizons preamplifier is compared to preamplfiers costing far more, as recently evidenced by the posts comparing the $3270 TP 2.1nB to the $9000 Modwright 36.5, Joseph and I have been entertaining a further extensive upgrade that will still keep our top of the line preamplifier under $4000 but hopefully end some of our auditioner's reservations when comparing our top of line 2.1 to more expensive units. These plans are still on the drawing boards, but theoretically what we envision will yield substantial sonic benefits. The present versions would not change; we would just add another layer of excellence at the top. I would appreciate hearing your thoughts not only about such an upgrade but any thoughts you have about what you think should be added to the present preamplifier to raise it to an even higher level of excellence.

Thanks for you support.

Victor

One of our customers was so impressed with the Transparency AC Power Cord he sold all his high end cords, and while at it suggested that Joseph design and market a power conditioner. Frankly we had never even considered it. I would appreciate hearing your thoughts on his suggestion.

Victor

Sherod, we are pushing ahead with our plans for a further top end upgrade to the 2.0-2.1, but we are encountering some difficulties given how extensive some of the changes have to be. We're still working on them and how to make them generally available. In any event, that upscale upgrade will not be introduced until 2009.

Victor

Hello Siltrains. I responded to your post earlier this morning that My server acts up from time to time and I never received your emails. If you don't hear back from Joseph or me within 48 hours, assume for some reason we never received the email and try again.

Perhaps you will get this message in a different form when the moderator approves my first post.

Victor

Rx8man and Siltrains, we will be announcing a new upgrade to the 2.0 and 2.1 some time in early April. Cedar who lives in Sacramento and acts as one of our beta testers has heard it and can comment more fully on what sonic difference it makes. More details to follow shortly.

Like others, I'm glad to have the thread back.

Victor

So many of your have asked about further upgrades to the 2.0/2.1 that I'm happy to announce that next month Joseph will be offering two upgrades: 1) an extensive power supply upgrade packaged with other improvements, and 2) after auditioning the Clarity caps as per Sherod's pioneering efforts, we have been sufficiently impressed with their performance and with their excellent value that we have decided to offer them as part of a second package of upgrades. For more details and prices, drop me a line.

Thanks again for your continuing investigations and for your support.

Victor

In response to the question put by Gamecock and Sherod, let me assure everyone that I am well and still working with Joseph. I have been distracted with some other matters, but am now working on the literature describing Joseph's new 2010 products--a new preamp, a new DAC, a new phono stage, new cables, and soon, one or more SET amps. Ads with more detail should be breaking within 3-6 weeks.
Thanks for your continuing interest in Audio Horizons. Joseph and I both appreciate it.
Victor