Hornshoppe "the Truth" preamp - any opinions?

Hi Bill,
Thank you for taking the time to post your clear and detailed listening impressions of what are excellent line stages via your home audio system. The stock Truth line stage has received universal praise so I can only imagine how wonderful your upgraded/modified Truth must sound. Bill I bet your system sounds fantastic!

In my very humble opinion I summit that both of these line stages are genuinely world class components that really can compete with any top tier line stages regardless of price. You could place either of these two into audio systems of high pedigree and they would hold there own. When a product is capable of achieving superb purity, tone and dynamics it’s very unlikely for it to embarrassed by any competing component. Certainly one may prefer another line stage but the Truth or the Coincident will not be outclassed.

I was one of the very early (October 2009) buyers of the Coincident Statement Line Stage . Over 10 years later I’m probably even more happy and impressed with its sound quality mated to my 10 year old (September 2009) Frankenstein MK II mono blocks. The latest version of these 2 components are most likely even better. That’s fine but i’m staying put 😊.

To the other Bill (brownsfan) Yep, you must have the proper speaker match, no getting around that fact. The older Coincident Eclipse lne of speakers were an easier load than your current Victory speakers. I’m very familiar Atma-sphere MA1 mono blocks and no doubt the CSL would pair with Atma-sphere amplifiers  in splendid fashion.

Bill,
Thanks for your listening impressions. I haven't beard the  Clayton amplifiers but I know that they have received consistently high praise over many years as truly excellent pure class A amplifiers. 
Charles 

Bill,
The Truth and Clayton combination is very interesting.  What does it provide in regard to sonics/music reproduction beetter/different from your Lyngdorf?
Charles 

Hi Chris,
In regard to the PRE low SPL performance, those stated SPLs seem pretty good to me as peaks of 60db is definitely low level listening levels (and you say the SQ remains good). With 60 db peak this would suggest that the ’average volume would be in the 50s db range. This is a very soft volume level (at least for me).

Good to read that the Truth is working out well for you.
Charles

Hi Chris,
Thanks for the update report. So to be clear you have both copper wired and silver wired RCA inputs? I’m generally a silver wire (I.C and S.C.) type of guy but interesting the difference it makes (to the extent you describe) with your Truth Line Stage. It’s good to know your sound quality is continuing to evolve and  improve.

Sorry to hear about the issues with your PREs. Was this an issue with your Super Eclipse speakers? How low a volume listening level are you referring to? With my Coincident Total Eclipse II I can listen in the 55 to 60 db C-weighted range (low SPL for me) and it sounds good. Are you referring to similar SPL or lower than this? On the positive side it seems that the Truth and Frankenstein are going to be a ’very good’ match in your system. I believe the best is yet to come.
Charles



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Charles

Hi Chris,
Do you have any further listening impressions of the Truth/Frankenstein pairing? Is the PS Audio DAC direct to the Frankenstein still your preference? I know that each individual system can have its own unique variables and synergy factors.
Charles 

Chris (Cal) thanks for the clarification. In my Frankenstein I replaced the Solens with the Jupiter copper foil capacitors. This yielded a modest improvement overall, definitely subtle. So the Solens is actually quite good as the stock capacitor. The speaker crossover cap change was more significant. You have different Coincident speakers so you may or may not have similar results. In regard to the Frankenstein IMO it’s so well designed/ executed it is  really very fine in stock form. Subtly improved is possible but I doubt major improvement.  After 10 years in production the Frankenstein MK II has its first update announced several months ago (internal wiring and output transformers).
Charles

 Hi Cal, 
 Thanks for your response, I always appreciate your candid comments and impressions.  I'm interested to see if the Truth is able to widen the performance gap between it and your DAC  used directly into the amplifier  with additional burn in.  

 Regarding the Durlund CAST capacitors are you referring to your speakers or the Frankensteins? 
As you may know I placed the CAST capacitors  in my speakers at the tweeter crossover. The sound quality went from very, very good to truly excellent. 

 I do however acknowledge different ears, system/room and other variables come into play.   People don't always get the same outcome with the same modification. The stock  Solens cap  is again very good in this speaker crossover application to begin with.  I am referring to my Coincdent Total Eclipse II  speakers. 
 Charles 

Hi Cal,
 Do you have any admittedly early listening impressions of the Truth ?  Curious about your pairing it with the Frankenstein.   I am not trying to rush you 😊.
 Charles 

Cal,
Thanks for the response.  Given you current arrangement I believe that you're in store for a very noticeable increase in your sound quality with the Truth in use. Taking the DAC volume control (V.C.) out of the equation and going via the light controlled Truth V.C. has to be a big step upward.
Charles 

Hi cal, 
Congratulations ! What line stage are you currently using? I'm interested in your listening impressions particularly given your recent experience with the Lyngdorf unit as a point of reference/contrast. 
Charles 

"There are countless good choices to suit our listening needs" Well said Tom and I agree. IMO there are numerous excellent quality audio components available to satisfy a broad spectrum of taste. The problem is you will never hear them all.

The Truth is active, buffered (exceptionally simple transitor output devices) requires a power cord, has a power supply but is 0 gain. It uses light to control volume, an extraordinarily simple circuit component. This is I’m certain why it is said to sound so good. I believe that for some audiophiles its low (relatively speaking) price works against it rather than viewing it as an asset. I don’t doubt its excellence and look forward to hearing Tom’s Truth Line stage.
Charles

Thaluza,
The Truth seems to possess extraordinary resolving. capability given your comments and those of LP written above. A legitimate top tier line stage that's actually quite affordable. Ironically in some sectors of   High End audio  this (affordability) can be viewed  as a negative. Not me.
Charles 

Hi Thaluza,
I don’t doubt you and your excellent taste (after all we have the same amplifiers 😊). I do know that Arthur Salvatore has the very highest regard for the Coincident Statement Line Stage (active) and the EMIA (passive). He ranks both as best of their respective breed. Yet he considers the Truth Line Stage superior to both , that’s saying something. He doesn’t praise anything cavalierly at all. I own the Coincident and after 9 joyful years have absolutely no desire to replace it. However if I were starting from scratch it would in all probability be the Truth as my line stage choice. Thaluza I have much regard for your comments and listening impressions. You’re a ’natural sound' type of guy as am I.
Charles

Hi essrand,
I use the Coincident Statement Line Stage matched with the Frankenstein amplifier and this combination has been a sublime experience the past 7 years. I look forward to reading your listening impressiion with the Truth line stage paired with your Coincident Dragon amplifiers. 
Best of luck to you. 
Charles,