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Vacuum Tube Audio SP9 Preamp, Any good?

BillWojo

BillWojo

Addicted Member
I might be looking at a VTA SP9 preamp with the optional PH6 phono board in it. They were sold as a kit and this one looks to be fully loaded with three inputs, relay selected, in the nice aluminum enclosure that was optional. Uses 4 12AX7 tubes in the line stage. Has tone controls but I never seem to use them anyway.
Today the kits are sold by Tubes4hifi, they do a lot of Dynaco boards.
I'm interested in trying something other than the Carver C11 that I use with my MC40 Mac mono blocks. Nothing wrong with the Carver, just wanting to get some more tubes in my rig.
So has anyone had a chance to use one of these? Not a lot of info out there on them.
Thanks

BillWojo
 
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BillWojo said:
I might be looking at a VTA SP9 preamp with the optional PH6 phono board in it. They were sold as a kit and this one looks to be fully loaded with three inputs, relay selected, in the nice aluminum enclosure that was optional. Uses 4 12AX7 tubes in the line stage. Has tone controls but I never seem to use them anyway.
Today the kits are sold by Tubes4hifi, they do a lot of Dynaco boards.
I'm interested in trying something other than the Carver C11 that I use with my MC40 Mac mono blocks. Nothing wrong with the Carver, just wanting to get some more tubes in my rig.
So has anyone had a chance to use one of these? Not a lot of info out there on them.
Thanks

BillWojo
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I believe you may find some answers here http://www.diyaudio.com/forums/tubes-valves/238297-buyer-beware.html
 
I read that, and yes I know that customer support is somewhat sketchy. This is already built and can be auditioned. Do you know what they sound like? Are they quiet?

BillWojo
 
Well, I have built and run a SP14. This is dead quiet. If the SP9 is anywhere near as good you should be happy.

But I would definitely give the one you are looking at buying a good check over. From what I have read there are issues with some of the earlier ones. And hope you don't have to deal with Roy on anything, he's not the most gracious of people in my experience.
 
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I had a friend with a VTA preamp and I demoed it at my place. We both had hum problems, though it sounded good otherwise. But the hum was not ignorable. I know some of his designs are Aikido based - I don't remember if the one we had was Aikido or not. But I'Ve heard another Aikido design and it sounded really good too. Clean, dynamic, lots of space and air.

if you can demo first, it's worth taking a shot.
 
There is no mention anywhere if this is based on the Aikido design. It kind of looks like it might be. There are 4 tubes in the line stage and one rectifier tube in the PS just like some of the Aikido line amps.

BillWojo
 
Hi Andy, I built all the boards and never ripped the 3X apart to do anything with it. It's another project on the pile. LOL

BillWojo
 
No Money said:
I believe it is Aikido based, or to be generous, influenced.

I had hum issues at first but sorted it out by being very particular with grounding.
Click to expand...
I built an Aikido with the VTA designed PH-10 board and It had a slight hum from the phono board and after working the grounds a bit it became very quiet.
 
BillWojo said:
Hi Andy, I built all the boards and never ripped the 3X apart to do anything with it. It's another project on the pile. LOL
Click to expand...
If you've got a complete, stock, working 3X, I'd honestly be tempted to take those new boards and put them in an empty case rather than gutting a working preamp. New ones are available, or surely somewhere, someone has a gutted or otherwise totally derelict PAS that will donate it's box. Frankly the PAS chassis lacks in awesomeness to begin with. Its not real heavy gauge, and if you need more power supply it gets cramped real quick. Might be a good excuse to pick up a rackmount-size case for reasonable money and build inside of that.
 
Thats what i did. A reproduction chassis and a custom face plate. I couldn't bring myself to gut a Pas.
 
VTA internal shot3.jpg VTA internal shot 2.jpg Well I picked it up at a very good price after listening to it. Here is a couple of picks.VTA external shot 2.jpg VTA external shot 1.jpg View attachment 944073 View attachment 944073
Sounds decent with my MC40's but I need to get those JJ tubes out of there, never liked any that I tried in the past and the higher octaves just don't do it for me. The line stage uses 12AX7, four of them. I have a set of Telefunkens I might try.
Need to get a hold of Kevin, I bet some Amperex would really make this sing.
With inputs off this thing is dead quiet with the volume cranked all the way up. Whoever built this did a sweet job. They added a remote volume control and source switcher for up to 3 inputs. It has a separate phono board, same as the upgraded one used in the PAS3 sold by TubesNirvana.
Only thing that stinks is that there is no remote. I'll have to carefully check the remote board for some ID marks and see if I can track one down.
Overall, for about the price of a clean unrestored PAS3X I have a very nice unit.

BillWojo
 
One other thing, this remote volume control/switcher is pretty neat. If I change inputs with the knob, it takes about 5 seconds. First the motorized volume control turns all the way down, than the relays switch and last the volume control goes back up to it's last setting.
Pretty cool as long as all your inputs are about matched.
One other thing is the fit and finish of the case is first class, nothing stands out that says that it was built as a kit. I might try and find some nicer looking screws for the faceplate, socket head cap screws are for machine tools. Slotted, swirl polished SS low head screws would look great. Just hard to find.

Billwojo
 
Looks well made. Relay board for the input, no mess of switches or digital switching via remote.

Nice that it drops the volume before switching. Can you over-ride the volume return if it starts getting too loud ?

Maybe stainless button head screws.
 
Yea, just turn it down manually. I really want to find the remote. I looked on ebay, can't find the same kit as mine has but the remote they include in the other kits would work...........if it's pre programmed. It's one of those learning remotes.
SS button head screws is to industrial looking, this deserves better.

BillWojo
 
I think it uses 12AU7's, not using that yet. Well, I pulled the Tele's out of the Van Alstein phase inverter I had laying around and they are wasted. The two tele's in my PAS3X are decent so I'm running a mix of JJ's and Tele's. Is that even legal?
I can't believe I don't have a few old 12AX7's kicking around.
Sounding a bit better though. I'm liking it.

BillWojo
 
So expecting a knock on the door from the tube police I kept looking and found a set of NOS JAN Sylvania 12AX7 tubes! They were a two dollar flea market find no less. Sounding much better now, wish I had picked up or completed a tube pre a while ago. This ranks right up there with my top audio gear purchases.

BillWojo
 
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