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TrueVoice Pre users.

#6
I've only used the two tubes that were included with it, but there is a decided difference between the two (and I can't remember which tube type yields which sound). One is significantly hotter than the other, whereas the other has less gain... more like a 12AX7 (although still bigger and beefier).

I've not recorded with it, but I have gigged it, and it sounded great. I prefer the Low End because I can limit my EQ'ing to my bass, which for me, makes it much easier to dial in my sound.
 
#8
How do tube pre's like that hold up under road use wear and tear? I've always gravitated towards solid state for fear of tubes not holding up under road use......I do love the sound of TV though. Everytime I go to the LowEnd Brian I play some exotic bass Brian has through one. It always sounds incredible.
 
#9
DEVILMAN said:
...I "think" there are/were 2 different types. One had 2 12AX7's & the other had a 6SN type? I could be wrong, but Tom B would be the best to clarify this...
Click to expand...

To the best of my knowledge, the only preamp tube that has been offered in the True Voice preamp is the 6SN7/6SL7. When you buy one, Brian ships it with two NOS preamp tubes. I made arrangements with Brian to test some additional tubes (all 6SN7/6SL7's, of course), and I found that there is more variation with this preamp and these tubes than when I swap 12AX7's and similar tubes in other preamps. The neat thing is that since the box has cutouts for two tubes, you can have two or three on hand for some tonal options. :D

There was a prototype "True Voice" preamp which used a single 12AX7 (which Brian let me borrow - thanks again Brian!), so that may be the source of some confusion.

As for recording use, unfortunately my original band hasn't been doing much joint work for a while (our lead singer is writing songs for Nashville, and this pretty much has his full attention), so I have not done much recording of late. But I have used my table top True Voice live with my Bergantino IP cabs. This is a killer matchup, IME/IMHO. The very accurate IP cabs really let the beauty of the TV shine through. It is a midrange-focused preamp, with exceptional detail and texture to the mids, and these 6SN7/6SL7 tubes have gobs of clean headroom.

I have been holding off on doing an online review of mine, because I happen to know of a certain upcoming review of the True Voice preamp, and I'd like to let it take the spotlight (not that my online comments would really matter all that much, but still...). Let me just say that it delivers as promised! :D It is very musical sounding, with a nice combination of warmth and detail. Again, somewhat focused in the mids, and there is a lot of variation from tube to tube. I like it A LOT with my IP cabs. :cool:

Hope this helps, Tom.
 
#10
Hi all, I haven't heard the TV but I have built a pre for myself around the same tubes with minimal circuitry. Thte 6SN7 has a gain of about 20 the SL about 70 (depending on the circuit used). Big diff in gain. I prefer the sound of 6SL7's. SN's can seem a bit thin to me. Tube geek warning: I've found the SL's with the round plate structure to be better sounding and quieter. Yep, done the measurements and they do come up with less noise. RCA, Tung Sol, & National Union are my current fav's. National Union tubes are the underrated deal right now. Dang, blew that one.
HTH,
John
 
#11
zachbass02 said:
How do tube pre's like that hold up under road use wear and tear? I've always gravitated towards solid state for fear of tubes not holding up under road use......I do love the sound of TV though. Everytime I go to the LowEnd Brian I play some exotic bass Brian has through one. It always sounds incredible.
Click to expand...

Let me share a story, then. :D

I was heading out to band practice with a bunch of gear that I wanted to try out in a band setting. I am pulling out of my subdivision onto a 55 MPH highway, and (having a powerful V8) I gun it to get up to speed and fit into a break in traffic. Well, I must not have closed the hatch on my Audi wagon, because right as I am hitting peak acceleration and turning into my lane (this was a 270 degree, left hand turn), the hatch flies open and guess what comes FLYING out? The TV!!! :eek: Luckily, Brian sells it with that heavy duty case. It bounced and then skidded across the highway for at least 50', probably more. I pulled over, got out, dodged traffic to retreive the now scarred box, and I feared greatly to open it. Surely, the interior would be a mess of broken glass, and possibly mangled metal, right? Well, to my shock and great relief, the TV and both tubes appeared unscathed! But, what are the chances that it sounds 100% right, and that I didn't loosen a solder, or compromise a tube, or whatever? It turns out, pretty darned good. :cool: I have used it a ton since then, and it still sounds great.

So, while this is a testimony to whomever manufactures that case, it is also a testimony for the hardiness of those 6SN7/6SL7 tubes (they are a beefy tube) and the quality of construction fo the True Voice preamp. This was not a minor drop by any means, and it survived with flying colors! :hyper:

Tom.
 
#12
tombowlus said:
Let me share a story, then. :D

I was heading out to band practice with a bunch of gear that I wanted to try out in a band setting. I am pulling out of my subdivision onto a 55 MPH highway, and (having a powerful V8) I gun it to get up to speed and fit into a break in traffic. Well, I must not have closed the hatch on my Audi wagon, because right as I am hitting peak acceleration and turning into my lane (this was a 270 degree, left hand turn), the hatch flies open and guess what comes FLYING out? The TV!!! :eek: Luckily, Brian sells it with that heavy duty case. It bounced and then skidded across the highway for at least 50', probably more. I pulled over, got out, dodged traffic to retreive the now scarred box, and I feared greatly to open it. Surely, the interior would be a mess of broken glass, and possibly mangled metal, right? Well, to my shock and great relief, the TV and both tubes appeared unscathed! But, what are the chances that it sounds 100% right, and that I didn't loosen a solder, or compromise a tube, or whatever? It turns out, approximately 0%. :cool: I have used it a ton since then, and it still sounds great.

So, while this is a testimony to whomever manufactures that case, it is also a testimony for the hardiness of those 6SN7/6SL7 tubes (they are a beefy tube) and the quality of construction fo the True Voice preamp. This was not a minor drop by any means, and it survived with flying colors! :hyper:

Tom.
Click to expand...


Now that's durability :D
 
#13
tombowlus said:
This was not a minor drop by any means, and it survived with flying colors! :hyper:
Click to expand...

Crazy!

Back in the day, before transistors were commonplace, everything used tubes. And that included military hardware designed to go in aircraft and/or be air-dropped! In fact, I was wasting time on Wikipedia today learning how the MiG-25 (mach 3.2 interceptor) used entirely tube electronics as they're very durable, high power (~50kW radar - there are apocryphal tales that pilots were restricted from using the radar on the runway as it tended to kill nearby rabbits...) and much more resistant against the electromagnetic blast from an atomic or neutron bomb.

Consequently when you look into NOS tubes, many of them are military spec, like 12AX7 variants with extra supports and spacers so they can handle air-drop.

Alex
 
#15
Alex said:
Wait, I thought it was just a pre, and therefore no power section to give you headroom, right? :confused:
Click to expand...

They are preamp tubes. Headroom is a more universal term, in my opinion, and I am using it in the sense that this preamp has a lot of clean gain available.
 
#18
Hollow Man said:
I've not recorded with it, but I have gigged it, and it sounded great. I prefer the Low End because I can limit my EQ'ing to my bass, which for me, makes it much easier to dial in my sound.
Click to expand...
I'm liking that concept as well (RE:...limit my EQ'ing to my bass...).
tombowlus said:
The neat thing is that since the box has cutouts for two tubes, you can have two or three on hand for some tonal options. :D
Click to expand...
That's very cool for different types of gigs... The Case that is coming with mine is really early and doesn't have the additional hole cut... yet :smug: .
tombowlus said:
But I have used my table top True Voice live with my Bergantino IP cabs. This is a killer matchup, IME/IMHO. The very accurate IP cabs really let the beauty of the TV shine through. It is a midrange-focused preamp, with exceptional detail and texture to the mids, and these 6SN7/6SL7 tubes have gobs of clean headroom.
Click to expand...
Actually I was thinking about that as well... One of the Meyer Techs (talk about ironic) called up looking for an 'inter-industry' accomodation on some Orange gear and we got to talking about their small powered 1x12's... So he hooked me up with someone local that has a Meyer 112 like a upa-1 or something that sounds like that model... I'm hoping to get the oppty to check that combo out.... not like I really can even afford Meyer stuff, especially with a wedding later this year.
jkdahlman said:
Hi all, I haven't heard the TV but I have built a pre for myself around the same tubes with minimal circuitry. Thte 6SN7 has a gain of about 20 the SL about 70 (depending on the circuit used). Big diff in gain. I prefer the sound of 6SL7's. SN's can seem a bit thin to me. Tube geek warning: I've found the SL's with the round plate structure to be better sounding and quieter. Yep, done the measurements and they do come up with less noise. RCA, Tung Sol, & National Union are my current fav's. National Union tubes are the underrated deal right now. Dang, blew that one.
HTH,
John
Click to expand...

Thanks for your input (your National Union secret is safe with us...:ninja: ).

...I found some cool info on the following link that BuffaloBob4343 suggested to me:
http://www.audiotubes.com

tombowlus said:
...into my lane (this was a 270 degree, left hand turn), the hatch flies open and guess what comes FLYING out? The TV!!! :eek: Luckily, Brian sells it with that heavy duty case. It bounced and then skidded across the highway for at least 50', probably more. I pulled over, got out, dodged traffic to retreive the now scarred box, and I feared greatly to open it. Surely, the interior would be a mess of broken glass, and possibly mangled metal, right?

...I have used it a ton since then, and it still sounds great.

... This was not a minor drop by any means, and it survived with flying colors! :hyper:
Click to expand...
holey crap Tom, that's great! I'm excited to get mine, but I was a little leary of the durablity of the 'exposed' tube...
...I guess I don't have anytime to worry about... except for who might be driving on the road in Fremont. :eek:
 

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