Review: VTL VTL - 7.5 Tube preamp

Category: Preamps

Disclaimer: I am a great fan of VTL and consider Luke and Bea (owners of VTL) among my friends. I sell a lot of used and demo equipment at AudioGon for a friend of mine who owns Krystal Clear Audio in Dallas. This is why you may notice that I am listed as a commercial member. I am actually just one of you at heart looking for the best sound I can attain in my system. Beacuse my wife works at Krystal Clear, I can obtain certain products as employee accomodation. This is how I acquired my 7.5.

I would like to take a minute and let you know about one of the most important achievements I have ever experienced in my 30+ years of enjoying our hobby. You may be skeptical since I own the product, but if you are in the market for a superior upper echelon linestage, DO NOT buy anything at any price until you experience this VTL 7.5 in your system. To put this review in context, my system consists of the following:

Sony SCD-1 (w/ Audiocom Superclock Modification (more mods soon))
VTL 7.5 Linestage
Atmasphere MA1-MKII.2s
ZEROs (Paul Speltz amazing autoformer at 2X)
Soundlab A-1s (Updated and Modified to include Auricaps, toroids, copper diffusion, etc.)

Prior to the upgrade to the 7.5, I most recently used VTLs previous headliner preamp (the VTL 5.5). I was always happy with the 5.5, but I also longed for the opportunity to use my SCD-1 in a balanced configuration. This was not possible with the 5.5. I also previously owned and used a Counterpoint SA-11 and 5.1, a Melos SHA-1, and a Conrad Johnson Premier 3. I regularly attend trade shows and have access to many great product lines including BAT, PASS, and Halcro.

One summer evening about 2 years or so ago, I had the privilege of having a new prototype preamp in my system. It turned out to be the embryo of the VTL 7.5. Draped in sterile clothes (exterior metalwork), this new circuitry grabbed our attention. It expanded on the strengths of the 5.5 across the board and eliminated any perceived weaknesses. It drew us into the music in a very seductive and exciting way. I wanted it and had to have it. I am not a particularly patient individual, but in this case patience was required. Year after year seemed to go by, but the 7.5 was just not yet ready for the birth canal. Luke and Bea of VTL had a goal in mind. The 7.5 had to push the edge of the audio art. It could not just be a step forward, but had to redefine what was possible.

Skip forward two years or so.

The 7.5 is born. New and modern casework houses electronic genius. I refer you to Arther S. Pheffer's excellent review in Absolute Sound and VTLs website for all the circuit details.

The 7.5 finally arrives in Dallas. I see it and hear it briefly at a wonderful seminar hosted by Krystal Clear Audio in Dallas. No time was wasted making arrangements to get one ordered. You see I had been waiting for years, literally.

It is now time for CES 2003 and I have to wait a while longer.

Finally the day arrives and the two huge cases arrive. Is this thing really a preamp? Feels like a big power amp by the size and weight of the boxes (two of them by the way). One contains the sophisticated control center and multiple power supplies while the second box houses the magical audio section.

Saturday morning comes slowly, but I finally get this baby in the rack. My musical taste is predomintately jazz and female vocals. My first spin with the 7.5 was the new FIM SACD: Antiphone blues. Unbelievable sound. The hall effects are amazing. Disk after disk from Chet Baker to Ella and Louis spring forth with a reality I have honestly never experienced in a sound system. The 7.5 weaves it's magic on non SACDs as well. Sam Cooke appears in the room on his amazing album called "Night Beat". All words seem cliche.

From the first nanosecond, the 7.5 has been reshaping my expectations of what a music system really is.
After a week of break-in, I could sit here and write about all the audiophile superlatives, but they seem trite and outmoded when trying to describe what the 7.5 brings to the table or should I say the music? I make one absolute cautionary statement: DO NOT USE THIS PREAMP with any of the popular power conditioners / re-conditioners or their ilk. These products absolutely and completely destroy the 7.5s magic. I can't say why, but they do. Hear for yourself if you don't believe me!

Someone wrote a comparison review between the CJ Art and the 7.5. As I recall they thought the 7.5 was a little sterile compared to the CJ. I bet they were using a power conditioner! The 7.5 is MUSIC! warm, creamy, detailed, REAL...

Changing out the 5.5 for the 7.5 for me is an expectation changing experience. I could never go back. I guess if one could afford it, it would be like going from driving a Toyota to a Rolls Royce or Mazzeratti. Once you experience what is possible you never want to compromise.

I have had several music system epiphanies in my time, but none as amazing as the 7.5. The scary part is that mine is just getting started.

Please take the opportunity to experience this amazing product in your own system. Take one home for an audition...

The wait was worth it!!!

Associated gear
Sony SCD-1 (w/ Audiocom Superclock Modification (more mods soon))
VTL 7.5 Linestage
Atmasphere MA1-MKII.2s
ZEROs (Paul Speltz amazing autoformer at 2X)
Soundlab A-1s (Updated and Modified to include Auricaps, toroids, copper diffusion, etc.)

Similar products
VTL - 5.5
BAT
Counterpoint SA-11
PASS
CJ
Threshold