TRIODE TRX-1 Reference Pre-amp class A 4 band equalizer 1x274B & 4x12AX7 tubes

TRI's new TRX Reference series class A tube Pre-amplifier.
It has a unique 4x band frequency equalizer 150Hz, 400Hz, 2kHz, 10kHz
Fitted with ultra high end German Mundorf Capacitors and Japanese KOA Resistors
Remote control

O is my adventures with products Triode (formerly TRI) cont'd. While we do not run this type of statistics, but in my time, still too long, adventure recenzenckiej listened and described most of the products unless the company is. For sure it all began with TRV-A300SE, which in itself makes me feel a certain fondness for the brand. Later were still on the EL34 amps, flagship of triode 845, and the second amplifier 300B or VP-300BD (this time in Single Ended Parallel configuration.) Without describing listened to the CD player this company on the KT88 amp and another amp based on 300B tube - TRV-M300S. So it was that really a lot, and among these products were such that I liked very much and one that a little less, but each had some advantages. It is important that most of them are reasonable in view of very rich Polish audiophile priced. With this experience, whenever I learn that I will go to another product Triode know that awaits me an interesting adventure.

 This time we got to test new products in the offer of the Japanese manufacturer - an intriguing TRX-1 preamp and a very interesting, stereo power amplifier P TRX 6L. What's so interesting about it? Well, it is basically a denial purist approach to the Japanese audio equipment. One of the basic principles used in the Japanese sprzętach (obviously generalizes a bit, but only slightly) is the maximum simplicity, to eliminate all elements that are not necessary, as the shortest path signal, etc, etc.. Meanwhile tested amplifier has plenty of options, functions that do not have much in common with minimalism. What immediately attracts attention in this case is the possibility of using three different power tubes (immediately explain that I got only amplified 6L6 tubes, and unfortunately I was not able to arrange for the test or EL34, or KT88). Another thing - it can operate in triode mode (T) or ultralinear (UL) (ie, plus selected under the lamp determines the actual power being placed by the amplifier). In addition, the manufacturer decided to make life easier for customers to the maximum and applied self-bias circuit, so the owner only needs to replace the amplifier power tubes on the other, simply move the switch to the appropriate position, and the amplifier will do the same for the rest, or adjust the parameters for a particular lamp. Another switch on the front, marked with the NFB and gives three choices: 0, 3, 6 dB allow the amplifier to adjust the sensitivity of the speakers. Second, a similar switch on the back of the unit with three possible choices: 0, -3, -6 dB allows you to set different gain to the entrance - that is, adjust the amplifier to the source (the source output level for the sake of accuracy). The weaker party to the latter, at least from the perspective of a curious user, is quite outstanding minimalism when it comes to sharing information about products. At a time when I had a machine at home they were not even on the Triode, and the accompanying instructions, in principle, limited to provide data, and even explanations to the above custom settings not found.

The preamplifier described as intriguing, as the thing that immediately strikes the eye is ... equalizer, or EQ. At the front we find the device identified by the four knobs (left to right) 150 Hz, 400 Hz, 2 kHz, 10 kHz, each of which operates from -10 to 10 I can only guess what kind of unit - dB? The preamplifier also features a remote control - the remote is really nice to the eye and feels good in your hands - small, made of metal, supports the basic functions.

PLAYBACK

Discs used during the test (selected):

•Arne Domnerus, Jazz at the Pawnshop , proprius, ATR 003, LP.
•Patricia Barber, Companion , MFSL 2-45003, 180 g LP.
•Kate Bush, The Sensual World , Audio Fidelity, AFZLP 082, 180 g LP.
•The Ray Brown Trio, Soular Energy , Pure Audiophile, PA-002 (2), LP.
•AC / DC, Back in Black , SONY, B000089RV6, CD.
•Dire Straits Love Over Gold, 25PP-60, LP.
•John Lee Hooker, The Best of friends , pointblank, 7243 8 46 424 26 VPBCD49, CD.
•Eva Cassidy Eva by Heart , Blix Street, 410047, CD.
•Pink Floyd The Wall , CBS / SONY, 40AP 1750 1, LP.
•Hans Zimmer & Lisa Gerrard, Gladiator , ORG 050, 180 g LP.

A little bit I had to "work hard" before I could start the appropriate monitors - both units have reached me almost straight from the Land of the Rising Sun, and required several hours of play before they could show their full potential. Given the relatively recent tragedy that has befallen this country need to enjoy and admire the manufacturer that the device has reached all time. With the passage of a vitreous hours disappeared and nervousness top diameter is filled with bass and more boldly appeared. When I decided that I did not hear any significant changes in the wording, I began to appropriate monitors.

Set Triode playing in triode mode (remember only that she had only the 6L6 tubes, so that they relate to all the impressions) do not leave even a shadow of a doubt that the game in the lamp. A good lamp should be added. Already on the first CD - Jazz at the Pawnshop , almost from the beginning it was going. Xylophone Erstranda in Limehouse Blues - vibrant, full, respectively dociążony (which can be a problem, then it can sound a bit dry) - seemed to be two, maybe three feet away from me. Sticks flicked in the hands of music and the keys vibrate and long wybrzmiewały. Sonority of the instrument is one thing, but it was a good lamp that adds such a delicate touch of natural warmth that makes it sound we perceive as more natural. The same I can say about the clarinet or alto saxophone Domnerusa - their sound is also picked up a gently warmed, but by a more natural, fuller. Also gave themselves felt immediacy Tube presentation - breathing music, working flaps, air flowing through the mouthpiece - any of these details were shown beautifully, composing perfectly with the music itself.

On a side note - most of the listening sessions I carried out using the columns of a small factory in Krakow, JAF, Bassoon model. I'm listening to them for a long time, so I already know their sound very well. Although it is also quite an unusual design (like my tubes), because it's kind of an open baffle, it is very well suited to test the other elements of the system with an extremely equal bandwidth, detaliczności, transparency and building a "friendly" room, which allows to minimize the adverse interact with the same column space. They are not too difficult to load for the amplifier, but as it turned out Triode Mode 6L6 triode to not fully give to cope with them (the constructor columns recommends amplifiers rated from 20 watts and above).

Digression I needed to make it clear why I write for a moment that the Japanese set fared slightly worse at the bottom of the band. Double bass seemed a little slow and lacked a little weight, and bębnom lacked a bit of hardness in different strokes. The whole rhythm seemed slightly sluggish at times. TRX P 6L, as mentioned earlier, has several different settings, so you can adjust the amp to some extent to the accompanying equipment. The first is the degree of the strengthening of the input - we can choose 0, -3 and -6 dB - and although this feature is intended to allow the amplifier to adjust the signal source, it can actually use it just to get more gain. The second option is a feature called the NFB (negative feedback - feedback loop), which for a change is to allow a better fit to the sensitivity of the amplifier used in columns (a separate issue is the taps for 4, 6 and 8 Ω - please select the appropriate columns of the impedance). Again, there are three settings - this time to 0, 3 and 6 dB. It is true that you can use these functions to a slightly higher gain (setting both to 0 dB), but depending on your hardware but it is worth the accompanying find the optimum settings at which the sound is most pleasing to us - even if changes occur in color or fill. In my case, I consider the optimal setting of the input gain set to -3 dB, and the NFB set to 0 dB. This setting sprawiało however, that the amp was lacking a bit of power, to extract all of the columns. With the future so the function is best suited to it, also present in the test example, Enough to use the switch and abandon the triode mode for just ultraliniowego. This means, roughly, a doubling of amplifier power, and so (in the case of 6L6 tubes) instead of 12 I was at the disposal of 25 W. This mode is not only a question of more power, but also a change in the nature of sound. While the triode mode is a sound of a "SET-this" (single-ended triode) ultralinowy so far is something closer to the PP (push-pull). Of course, changes would be less pronounced using the easier to drive speakers, but in this case, they were quite significant. Gone are the previously mentioned weaknesses - the bass has become larger and the mass, for there was a very good color fill, better fit and more precise blanking strings. Similarly, in the case of drums (although on this record, it does not play so great a role as usual) - a better rhythm, speed, dynamics - now no longer any slowdown would come I do not even think of.

Like all stereofil (I use that term instead of "audiophile" or "music lover" because the first one reminds me of the same hardware enthusiast, and I love music and not the equipment to its library, and the second from a music lover, who is also a lot of knowledge about her, which I still missing) I have my sound preferences. For me, my sound is the ideal of a good tube amp in SET, the tube 300B sake of accuracy. And it is not far from here is that this is the perfect sound per se , because it is not (by the way this has not yet heard). It's just that the amp offers me the greatest immediacy of presentation, most emotional, most of the music in music "- this is not strictly contained in the notes, but also full of what they add to it those who perform it by inserting into it a fragment of his soul, revealing for better or worse the composer's intentions. So perhaps my perception of the furniture is a bit different sounding distorted, but even so, however, always try to look at it objectively, and that's it for the readers to describe.

No more digressions (I hope). Using the fact that switching between modes is a snap could be changed, often confirming the observations on other discs. And although the scale of audible changes was different depending on the type of music and the recording itself, the overall trend has always been similar. Triode mode is a bit denser, richer and "sweet" (everything, as I mentioned in a small, yet noticeable scale), it offered a more tangible sound of a typical diameter triodową, voiced the mountain, and diverse, fleshy, though slightly rounded, slow bass. Ultralinearny mode brightens up the band, adding there is also air and making the impression slightly better resolution in this part of the band (on bass by the way, too). Minimum diameter of tangibility and losing this wealth, which I so desire, but the slight lack of notice probably just someone so fixated on this part of the band as I do. Bass becomes more elastic, harder, more contoured, giving the impression of the lower landing.

All this while maintaining good color and diversify the range. UL mode called. pace & rhythm becomes perhaps the most, so that particular recording rock (Dire Straits), electric blues (John Lee Hooker), or hard rock'n'roll (AC / DC) perform much better than in triode mode, though much depends on the used columns. After connecting my tub (100 dB efficiency instead of 90 dB), the difference is strongly reduced, at times was almost on the border of perception.

The situation is more complicated at the listening sessions of vocal recordings - the album by Eva Cassidy Eva by Heart , starring on vocals and guitar, much more I liked it in triode mode, which better reflects the emotions and brings the listener into the music, you are immersed in it and forget everything until the last beat decay. Patricia Barber and her Companion for a change, no longer allowed to make such an easy choice. On one hand, lead vocals, and Hammond organ sounded more natural in triode mode, the atmosphere was better to put a club gig, on the other hand, bass and drums in the UL mode convince more and more open top meant that percussion instruments were livelier and dźwięczniejsze.

Two modes, which offers Triode, give the holder the opportunity to adjust the sound (to some extent, of course) to your preference. Sure, it can be concluded that it is incompatible with the idea of ​​high-fidelity, because the equipment is to show what is written on the disc, and not interpreted. It's just that most of us - music lovers - he really wants to just listen to music with pleasure, and not always the way of individual recording allows it. With such a set as this tested in many ways we can influence the final wording. Starting from the preamp - you can use very nieaudiofilskiego, pish, pish, equalizer. Purists wince at the moment as if they ate a slice of lemon, and I listened to your current editions of "The Wall" I allowed myself to use the knob labeled "10 kHz" adding a bit up and ... the pleasure of listening has increased enormously. There is no advance on this issue? Well no, but it's not my fault, I would want it to be, and thanks to the regulation provided by the preamplifier could have it. Nieaudiofilskie? So what?

The second option of shaping the sound is the same as all tube amps and preamps, which is fun in finding the best in the application of lamps from different manufacturers. Here, there is still a choice, either, and changes from time to time (and perhaps the kind of music you are listening), three types of power tubes. I did not have occasion to check this option, but I know and EL34 and KT88 from other applications, so that I can say that the nature of the sound will definitely change with the choice of one of these tubes. Added to this is the choice of mode or ultraliniowego triode, and options to better match the amplifier to the signal source and the columns.

This is not an example of Japan's purism, but very practical approach to the topic of sound reproduction. Holders of this set will almost certainly find the appropriate settings for you, then it will still be able to easily adapt even to specific recordings. The sound quality is very good, although it is not yet known. High-end (which is difficult to expect at this price.) Normally I would use the terms: very solid hi-fi or hi-fi high-end, but considering all the above description of how you can adjust sound to your expectations, the term "hi-fi" not quite fit here in the literal sense (in circulation as possible.) In giving considerable amount of the Polish conditions, although not yet the kind of "mad", we get a universal, to adjust the sound to the needs and tastes of the owner, a set that will propel UL mode has most of the average effective columns, and if the load is easier to cope well in triode mode. I myself am living proof that taste evolves over time, changing expectations for the presentation of the music. And if so, how many options that allow you to change the wording of the test kit can afford to save lots of money. Such devices are a rarity in the market and targeted to certain types of customers. Rather, I belong to the category of purists, but it was hard to resist the temptation to use the switches, and even, horror of horrors!, Equalizer, in order to achieve the sound that I like. Is it a sin? I think not. And if anyone has doubts - please try it for yourself.

CONSTRUCTION

Both TRX-1 preamplifier, and TRX P 6L have the appearance typical of devices manufactured by Triode. Transformer housings and the upper surface, and even the back and pre amp and have a beautiful red color, wooden sides are also in red, but slightly darker. Fronts in both cases is a brushed aluminum panels, and lights are hidden under the elegant, levied, black frames.

TRX-1

The preamplifier is based on four 12AX7 (ECC83) and rectifying lamp 274N (5U4G). At the front of the device (from left) is the main power switch, infrared sensor (pre-equipped with small metal supports the basic functions of remote control), large volume control knob, the four knobs of the equalizer for tone control with midpoints at 150 Hz, 400 Hz, 2 kHz and 10 kHz, adjusting the balance between the channels and input selector. The preamplifier is equipped with five inputs (RCA), and a set of three outputs (the RCA). Installation of the entire system was performed on two PCBs.

TRX P 6L

Power amplifier based on the following tubes: 2 x 12AX7, 2 x 12BH7 and four power tubes - the manufacturer has given customers a choice of three: 6L6, EL34 or KT88. The amplifier can operate in triode mode or ultralinear and since then, combined with that used in the final moment of the lamp depends on the actual power output (the lowest possible is 12 watts, and the highest is 30 W). Thanks odczepom for 4, 6 and 8 Ω, and the regulations NFB (negative feedback) and strengthen the entrance to the terminal is easy to adapt this device to be connected columns and preamp (or source with adjustable output level). At the front of the device is a small indicator showing wychyłowy when measured bias power tubes, with marked correct indications for each of the three types of lamps that can be applied here. Equivalent switch that enable the measurement bias is on the top panel of the amplifier - when listening to it is in a neutral position, and when we want to see if bias is set correctly we set the switch to the left (for one pair of lamps) or right (for the second pairs). Also placed on the top panel switch, which we have set in the correct position in accordance with those used at the moment under the lights.

At the front of the device are also three LEDs indicating which lamps are installed (the switch on the top panel is likely to be hidden under the cover of the lamp). In addition to wychyłowego rate bias, and LEDs to indicate power lamps are installed on the front of the device are still switch mode amplifier (triode or ultraliniowy) and NFB (negative feedback). Input gain switch was placed on the rear panel next set of loudspeaker tap. Inside the assembly was conducted in part on the PCB, and in part point to point, using high quality components.