[Review] Promitheus Passive Tvc Amp From Malaya

**larkrise** · 3rd October 2006, 17:57

Just had to try one of these as the price is such a bargain. I received balanced version of this transformer passive pre today and straight out of the box it was very impressive indeed - infact a startlingly close rival to my resident passive tvc which cost a lot more money and I mean A LOT more money. I intend to burn it in and report as promised in another thread - but at the moment this is astonishing kit. Thanks Nicholas!

**iansr** · 3rd October 2006, 22:39

Larkrise

that's great to hear as my balanced version should be in transit as I write.

Which other forum are you going to post your review on?

Ian

**wadia-miester** · 4th October 2006, 08:21

So Lawrence, in essence your saying this cheap asia copy is so far almost as good as the £2.5K music first unit?
Thats good news for all those passive fans out there I feel

***Dev*** · 4th October 2006, 09:23

£2.5k Tony?

**murray johnson** · 4th October 2006, 10:22

I thought the silver one was more!

**Tenson** · 4th October 2006, 12:31

I think the copper version is £1.5K.

**larkrise** · 4th October 2006, 14:04

I want to burn it in and swap back a few times against the First Music £1500 btw- but lets just say I sat there thinking - hang on there's no deterioration, nothing inferior in the sound, infact maybe even more detail - in short certainly no disappointment whatsoever. Hmm maybe (irony here) markups are involved but the principles of tvc are pretty universal. Anyhow - will get back. Good news - I should say that was a huge understatement.

**wadia-miester** · 4th October 2006, 14:13

Yes Murray I believe the silver one is £2.7K.
How much was your example then Lawrence?

***Dev*** · 4th October 2006, 14:59

Not to be too padantic but are we comparing like with like here? The MF TVC uses S&B transformers and Promitheus Passive doesn't.

**larkrise** · 4th October 2006, 15:10

This is true re different transformers - and there is a difference in the sound but not in the quality - mind you this has been only after a few blasts. I do know that the Bent and the First Music are reckoned to sound identical but they use same transformers. I'm also told that the USA Sonic Euphoria which uses autoformers is very close in quality but different in sound. Anyhow - all in all I mean for goodness sake this unit is a little over £150, to my mind that is really amazing. The box is a bit like a cigar box and once I have resisted the temptation to reach in and see if there's a Havana in there think I could live with it - maybe even in a better box - but hy the thing works and works incredibly well. Once i had burnt in the First Music it was much better and I understand this is the same for the promitheus. BTW I have no Malaysian relatives ;-) For passive fans this has to be a stop. Rest of system in case you are curious what this is teamed with: Audio Synthesis Transcend with ASL through DAX Discrete ASL - Desire Decade power amp, Martin Logan Ascents and Townshend super tweeters, Goertz cable - so reasonable gear in which to drop a cigar box I feel!

***Dev*** · 4th October 2006, 15:15

That's great. Keep us informed.

**murray johnson** · 4th October 2006, 16:05

Maybe they don't ring as much!

**Riverdog** · 4th October 2006, 20:33

Well I am aboard the good ship Promitheus as well. With 60hrs on the clock, it has thus far aquited itself well. Great little unit, couldn't imagine better value for money. The funny thing is, I stumbled across it while scouring the web for a case and switches to build my TVC pre with the S&B trannies from the ZG group-buy. Not only is the Promitheus TVC cheaper than the two S&B's it was also cheaper than most of the combination of switches and cases I found!

Dev, if you fancy a piece of this ear-candy, I am sure we could arrange something. I am slumming not too far away in East Ham.

Tony, I do not know to what degree your comment was tounge and cheek, but is this really a copy of an established design?, it certainly is Asian and most certainly, cheap!

***Dev*** · 4th October 2006, 20:53

Hi Riverdog, I'd love to hear it. We are practically neighbours

. Send me a PM when you want to meet.

**wadia-miester** · 4th October 2006, 23:06

Hi RD,
No I was being serious for once.
I find the tvc lacking and plain wrong to me. (but then I'm odd!) However it certainly has a following for sure, and if you can get a damn near the same result for one tenth the price, then too bloody right go for it. The comment was purely if it works for this price, then grab it!!!
Perhaps a group buy of these as well would allow the people that wanted one but felt 1500 sheets was a little too much, then 150+ shipping for neigh on the same performance got to be a no brainer !!!

3rd October 2006, 17:57	#1
larkrise Sheepdogs prefer red wine Join Date: Mar 2005 Posts: 707	Promitheus Passive Tvc Amp From Malaya Just had to try one of these as the price is such a bargain. I received balanced version of this transformer passive pre today and straight out of the box it was very impressive indeed - infact a startlingly close rival to my resident passive tvc which cost a lot more money and I mean A LOT more money. I intend to burn it in and report as promised in another thread - but at the moment this is astonishing kit. Thanks Nicholas!

4th October 2006, 08:21	#3
wadia-miester Mighty Rearranger Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Beyond the 4th Dimension Posts: 5,729	So Lawrence, in essence your saying this cheap asia copy is so far almost as good as the £2.5K music first unit? Thats good news for all those passive fans out there I feel __________________ Total Musical Integration @ Coherent-Systems

4th October 2006, 09:23	#4
*Dev* Super Moderator Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Ilford, Essex, UK Posts: 5,333	£2.5k Tony? __________________ Regards, Dev My Kit

4th October 2006, 12:31	#6
Tenson Registered User Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Kent, UK Posts: 4,847	I think the copper version is £1.5K. __________________ www.audiosmile.co.uk Kensai - Our vision of the ultimate compact speaker Bespoke Supertweeters - Ribbon supertweeters designed for your speakers Modified DEQ / SRC - Affordable high performance DAC and room correction.

4th October 2006, 14:13	#8
wadia-miester Mighty Rearranger Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Beyond the 4th Dimension Posts: 5,729	Yes Murray I believe the silver one is £2.7K. How much was your example then Lawrence? __________________ Total Musical Integration @ Coherent-Systems

3rd October 2006, 22:39	#2
iansr Registered User Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: West Riding Posts: 47	Larkrise that's great to hear as my balanced version should be in transit as I write. Which other forum are you going to post your review on? Ian

4th October 2006, 10:22	#5
murray johnson Registered User Join Date: Mar 2006 Posts: 418	I thought the silver one was more!

4th October 2006, 14:04	#7
larkrise Sheepdogs prefer red wine Join Date: Mar 2005 Posts: 707	I want to burn it in and swap back a few times against the First Music £1500 btw- but lets just say I sat there thinking - hang on there's no deterioration, nothing inferior in the sound, infact maybe even more detail - in short certainly no disappointment whatsoever. Hmm maybe (irony here) markups are involved but the principles of tvc are pretty universal. Anyhow - will get back. Good news - I should say that was a huge understatement.

4th October 2006, 14:59	#9
*Dev* Super Moderator Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Ilford, Essex, UK Posts: 5,333	Not to be too padantic but are we comparing like with like here? The MF TVC uses S&B transformers and Promitheus Passive doesn't. __________________ Regards, Dev My Kit

4th October 2006, 15:10	#10
larkrise Sheepdogs prefer red wine Join Date: Mar 2005 Posts: 707	This is true re different transformers - and there is a difference in the sound but not in the quality - mind you this has been only after a few blasts. I do know that the Bent and the First Music are reckoned to sound identical but they use same transformers. I'm also told that the USA Sonic Euphoria which uses autoformers is very close in quality but different in sound. Anyhow - all in all I mean for goodness sake this unit is a little over £150, to my mind that is really amazing. The box is a bit like a cigar box and once I have resisted the temptation to reach in and see if there's a Havana in there think I could live with it - maybe even in a better box - but hy the thing works and works incredibly well. Once i had burnt in the First Music it was much better and I understand this is the same for the promitheus. BTW I have no Malaysian relatives ;-) For passive fans this has to be a stop. Rest of system in case you are curious what this is teamed with: Audio Synthesis Transcend with ASL through DAX Discrete ASL - Desire Decade power amp, Martin Logan Ascents and Townshend super tweeters, Goertz cable - so reasonable gear in which to drop a cigar box I feel!

4th October 2006, 15:15	#11
*Dev* Super Moderator Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Ilford, Essex, UK Posts: 5,333	That's great. Keep us informed. __________________ Regards, Dev My Kit

4th October 2006, 16:05	#12
murray johnson Registered User Join Date: Mar 2006 Posts: 418	Maybe they don't ring as much!

4th October 2006, 20:33	#13
Riverdog Registered User Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: London Posts: 39	Well I am aboard the good ship Promitheus as well. With 60hrs on the clock, it has thus far aquited itself well. Great little unit, couldn't imagine better value for money. The funny thing is, I stumbled across it while scouring the web for a case and switches to build my TVC pre with the S&B trannies from the ZG group-buy. Not only is the Promitheus TVC cheaper than the two S&B's it was also cheaper than most of the combination of switches and cases I found! Dev, if you fancy a piece of this ear-candy, I am sure we could arrange something. I am slumming not too far away in East Ham. Tony, I do not know to what degree your comment was tounge and cheek, but is this really a copy of an established design?, it certainly is Asian and most certainly, cheap!

4th October 2006, 20:53	#14
*Dev* Super Moderator Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Ilford, Essex, UK Posts: 5,333	Hi Riverdog, I'd love to hear it. We are practically neighbours. Send me a PM when you want to meet. __________________ Regards, Dev My Kit

4th October 2006, 23:06	#15
wadia-miester Mighty Rearranger Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Beyond the 4th Dimension Posts: 5,729	Hi RD, No I was being serious for once. I find the tvc lacking and plain wrong to me. (but then I'm odd!) However it certainly has a following for sure, and if you can get a damn near the same result for one tenth the price, then too bloody right go for it. The comment was purely if it works for this price, then grab it!!! Perhaps a group buy of these as well would allow the people that wanted one but felt 1500 sheets was a little too much, then 150+ shipping for neigh on the same performance got to be a no brainer !!! __________________ Total Musical Integration @ Coherent-Systems