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Model: | TC-760 |
Category: | Phono Preamp |
Suggested Retail Price: | $53.50 |
Description: | MM/MC phono preamp |
Manufacturer URL: | Not Available |
Review by Leefer on June 24, 2009 at 19:29:25 IP Address: 209.195.120.101 | Add Your Review for the TC-760 |
I recently picked up one of those inexpensive phono preamps from phonopreamps.com. This purchase was based on a number posts made here in vinyl asylum, as well as the availability of the TC-750LC that a buddy from work loaned to me.
The TC-750LC seemed a minor improvement compared to the onboard phono section in my 25 year old NAD receiver - a disappointment to be sure. Both sounded alot like mid-fi digital - ok at low volume but garbage at higher SPL's. However, I realized that both the receiver and TC-750LC were plugged into a regular household outlet, not my $50 Furutech. BIG improvement! The NAD was better through the Furutech while the TC-750LC was way better than the NAD.
While auditioning the TC-750LC, I searched and read OMalley's post from April 2008 (TC-760LC / Cambridge 640p duke out) with great interest. http://db.audioasylum.com/cgi/m.mpl?forum=vinyl&n=746296&highlight=phonopreamps+com&r=
This "duke out" struck me as somewhat of an apples and oranges comparison but I could not put my finger on why.Otherwise, I found the shootout very informative.
Further listening with the TC-750LC however led me to setting the LC's level control to about the 11:30 position, which forced me to crank my little NAD integrated. At maximum gain, the TC-750LC still seemed harsh and brittle. Once I settled on the phonopreamp setting, the reason for the apples and oranges impression dawned on me - the LC on the TC-750LC stands for "Level Control", a "feature" that the Cambridge 640p doesn't have. I have no idea whether the LC is a simple attenuator or a potentiometer, but I convinced myself that including this device, at this price level, has to degrade the sound.
I subsequently auditioned the Sim Audio LP3 and the Pro-Ject Tube Box II at a local dealer. These preamps were very good but spending $300-500 on a phono preamp wasn't what I was looking for.
So I decided to order the TC-760, without the LC, for $61.50 including freight. I chose the TC-760 because of its' MC capability, which I hope to exploit later this year. The box showed up a week later so I popped the sucker in and listened. Yes, I realize the unit wasn't broken in yet but I wanted to note its' out of the box sound vs broken in vs the TC-750LC.
I understand where OMalley is coming from - the TC-750LC did seem "tinny, shouty and metallic", just like the TC-760LC that he evaluated. Out of the box though, the TC760 through its' MM section did not exhibit those qualities. The TC-760 seemed smooth and dynamic, with decent soundstaging and bass performance. Thirty hours of playing time later, these qualities have developed further, bass has also tightened up a tad. All's Good !!!
In my humble system, the TC-760 is exactly what I was looking for. Affordable but very capable.
Product Weakness: | Was comparable to but did not beat preamps costing $300 and more. Surprise surprise !! |
Product Strengths: | a taste of hifi at a lowfi price. Revealing of upstream deficiencies. Exclusion of the LC(level control) makes a huge difference. |
Amplifier: | NAD C320BEE |
Preamplifier (or None if Integrated): | none |
Sources (CDP/Turntable): | Rega P1 / Ortofon OM5E |
Speakers: | Von Schweikert VR2 |
Cables/Interconnects: | Straightwire Speaker / VH Audio Pulsar interconnect |
Music Used (Genre/Selections): | Alan Parson's (I Robot/ Pyramid/ Eye in the Sky); U2 (Joshua Tree); Dire Straits (BIA); Norah Jones (Come Away with Me 200g); Poco (Legend); Duke Ellington (BIO) |
Type of Audition/Review: | Product Owner |
As I stated in my reply to tpao, I'm the owner of the TC-760LC that O'Malley reviewed.
You gave the TC-760 high marks. You've inspired enough so I'm going to have to go in and bypass the volume control of my LC to see just how much of an improvement there is.
Thanks for a great review of an affordable product.
which interested me as I have the 640P. I believe he attempted to change out some of the internal components of the 640P, but I don't know if he also tried to modify the TC760LC by bypassing the attenuator. I'd try it if I had one!
The benefit of reviews of budget gear can't be understated, for we all have evolving systems, want ideas for gifts, and we often have other systems which don't need an expensive phono preamp--though I've learned this is a component where money is well-spent. I've gone through quite a few budget phono pre-amps myself; the Parasound PPH-100, the Creek OBH-8, the Tonar Vinyline 4189, the Perreaux SXV1, the Gram Slee Gram Amp2SE, and the Cambridge 640P. I still have the Tonar and the Cambridge and I would recommend them to anyone on a budget. A couple in the above list are in that $300 range you mentioned which should result in a noticeable improvement, but in my system(s) they were either underutilized or underperforming.
It does make me curious about the TC750. Though I don't need another phono pre-amp, I'll remember your review :)
Lastly, you mentioned a vast improvement after plugging the unit into a $50 Furutech, is that a power conditioner as I suspect it is?
He did not. I know, because I am the owner of the TC-760LC O'Malley compared to his Cambridge 640P. I sent it to him prior to either of us modding the phono stages, so that they could be compared, apples to apples.
After getting the stock JEC back from Pat, I built a new power supply for it. Then I replaced the op-amp in it with a much better sounding unit. I suspected the volume control was hurting the sound, but never bothered to bypass it. By that time I had repaired my tube phono preamp, so I mothballed the TC-760LC.
I guess I should do two things. First, I need to bypass the volume control and listen to it again, per Leefer's findings. And second, I should probably sell the unit to some budding vinylphile, who will get more use out of it than I will.
is the FP-15A, a wall outlet!!! It wasn't even an outlet that I had on my shortlist, but I saw it at a local retailer and decided to bite. For a while, I thought the Furutech was the best $50 I had spent on audio, but I think the TC-760 may have just displaced it.
I spent the past 25 years feeling completely dissatisfied with my music listening sessions. Spending the $100 on the Furutech and the TC-760 (combined!) has totally changed all of that.
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