Technically, a good design. Very similar to the design concept of the latest incarnation of the Dynaco preamp. Quality parts, glass epoxy board, sounds very warm and laid back, very colored sound of the euphonic nature. Only to be used with bright forward equipment - if not, it will seem like you are at a funeral.....ZZZZZZZZ!

Shoddy attention to detail: lousy silk screen effort on face plate, "worn" looking RCA's, various pots do not line up properly, some of the electrical connections on the board look like they were done by a toddler! I blame this on poor quality control or non at all! This is bothersome since they took the time to use good parts to begin with, why not execute them properly then?!

It sounded very warm, woolly bass not very defined, midrange was decent very "tube-like"! Overall, it sounded pretty good. But, you just can't beat a CJ or Audio Research (especially used at a reduced price)! Nuff Said!! As Corey Greenberg (Audio & Stereophile magazine) once said, "it don't mean a thing, if it ain't got that swing"! Look for that swing, elsewhere!

Similar Products Used:

Conrad Johnson PV-10 (any version) would stick with CJ, since I have seen many for sale on the various audio websites for the same money and it is a CJ!

This past week I had a Sound Valves VTP-101i in my system for a trial. It was on loan from a friend who was impressed with it and knew I had a serious interest in it. The number of inputs alone was a selling feature - and the phono section was a bonus! I also liked the EPL feature for incorporating my (now aged) Fosgate Model Five into the system.
My first impression was mixed. The overall finish and build was not up to what I had expected... and keep in mind that I even give Bose the product of doubt! The black finish looked lackluster in the rack along with the mostly top end Sony ES pieces or the Carver preamp it replaced. But hey..it's not the finish that counts! I wired it into the systen - using only the Sony CDP-X303ES CD player, Carver TX-11 tuner, Sonographe GS-3/Audio Technica OC9 turntable/cartridge and Golden Tube SE-40 power amp - driving my PSB Stratus Silver loudspeakers.

First quirk - despite the "MM/MC" phono section, standard output MCs need not apply - the VTP-101i does not accept them. I quickly remounted my Sumiko Blue Point and listened to one side of one LP before going on - nothing to trip my trigger for LP playback. (I normally use a Musical Fidelity X-LP phono preamp).

As I listened to several CDs I started to notice a common "sound character" of serious veiling when the going got tough. After a evening of listening I finally bypassed the VTP-101i and connected the CD player directly to the power amp - with a significant improvement in sound!

I really *wanted* to like the Sound Valves VTP-101i - but sadly I did not. The product build was not up to my expectations (the control feel in particular) and the sound was a actual degrade of my system when compared to a Carver CT-23 tuner/preamp costing less and including a tuner and remote!

My one remaining thought is that I had a less than up-to-snuff sample. If that is the case - the unit should have never made it out the door. Too bad - as it had so much going for it.

I am giving it 2 points as I suspect a tube/valve upgrade might clean up the midrange smear.

Warmth and smoothness

I've experienced as a musician and audiophile a preference
to tube preamps and solid state poweramps. The combination
when matched properly gives many of the positives of tube
equipment without the upkeep of a poweramps with tubes. I
use this preamp with a Bryston 4B amp (warm and robust) and
the combination is very good. Smooth, rich,tight bass and no edginess. I have noticed that this preamps sound improves with better equipment. Low level sound quality is great,not thin and lack of low end. Overall sound is very smooth,and balanced, typical tube sound. I switched the stock tubes for Groove Tubes 12at7's, improved the sound with a little more high end sparkle. Competes with any preamp I've heard under $1,500(preferred over CJ 10).
I'll give this unit a overall rating of 4.5, a 5 for
value. Its a bargain at $799.00.

Similar Products Used:

McIntosh, Wright-Sound