Audio Bliss: The Tavish Classis Tube Phono Stage
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- čas přidán 1. 08. 2023
- I knew one of these days I'd replace the Project Tube S2 phono preamp someday. That day came when I heard about the Tavish Classic Phono Stage made by US based Tavish Designs. Am I glad I did. You bet I am.
Tavish Designs: tavishdesign.com/
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Written & Produced by Rick Coste
You can learn more about Rick and his work at RickCoste.com - Hudba
I have been using a Tavish Classic since 2018 and I absolutely love it! Don't plan on replacing it ever. Great to see others have found this great little phono pre-amp. Haven't felt the need to roll the tubes yet, but once I retire and have more time to listen, I might delve into it. For now though, the stock tubes are fantastic!
Another Tavish classic fan! It’s such a great addition to my system. While I’ve rolled tubes in the Galion I haven’t touched the JJs on the Tavish (yet)
I’ve been using the Tavish Classic phono pre for almost 2 years and love it. It can easily drive any cartridge from my LOMC’s to my MM carts. There’s a little switch inside to switch from a 5751 to a 12AX7 as V1 inside. It really is a fantastic phono stage, and it’s nice to see someone else talking about it. Great video. Thanks
Thank you as well Nick! Great tip on the switch to go from 5751 to 12AX7. I didn't know that!
@@TheJoyofVinylRecordsYeah, it makes the preamp a lot more versatile. I assume you found the little switch inside and have tried out a few 12AX7’s in the V1 spot?
I’ve got a NOS RCA tube in V1 and a NOS Telefunken in V2 with a NOS Sylvania 12AU7 as the cathode follower, or V3. It took a lot of trial and error, but that combo just sounds excellent.
I actially didnt know about the switch @@NickP333 . I'll need to look. I could easily switch a NOX 12AX7 that I have into that slot.
Hi Nick ...............Try to find a nos 5751A triple mica RCA- black plates.........or the RCA " Command series ".............thank me later
You may discover the ceiling of the recording place .......or the drops falling from the roof of the cave .......or the raindrops falling out of the sky ....on the leaves of a tree or onto the floor or ground...........and hearing someone going down the stairs of the cave below the floor of your room ......even a dog barking outside your home ..
Or the chickens picking outside on a "sunny" morning.......
Good digital tries to come close to these perceptions reserved to analog.........some do come close indeed ....there's more to music than onlt pure and clean hi-end sound ......there's music in the air .......sometimes far away and sometimes distorted by street sounds/activity and reflections of building , noisy cars .....and background noise of people cackling ( like Camela Harris hahaha )............but all this (distorted sound) is perceived as REAL....NOW reproduced music should also be experienced as real......and that's not by DHT numbes !
The same voice in different rooms or in open spaces always sounds real........no one tells us about diferences ...........he or she is allways real and one knows the voice of your beloved ........wherever.........
Kind regards Nick
@@NickP333hi Nick! Do you think the Tavish Classic would be a good fit with my Nagaoka MP 200? Also researching the Hagerman Cornet 3 👍🏻
Really enjoyed that my man.
Thanks Doug!
Grateful you brought this company to my attention. Have been looking to upgrade from a Vincent PHO-701 for better soundstage, more musicality, etc. Currently for a Well Tempered Amadeus G.T.A. with a Hana ML cartridge and Bob's Devices Sky20 SUT into the MM input of the phono preamp.. Wondering if (for the same price as the Vincent) I will notice a marked improvement with the Classic over the PHO-701. Was contemplating a Manley Chinnok as a clear upgrade over the Vincent, but the reviews are sounding like the Classic may be the move to make. Any input is welcome. Cheers!
Hi! Yes - the Tavish is an improvement that will be noticeable. I did roll the tubes and throw NOS tubes in but even before that it was great. The Tavish will also accommodate the ML. The only thing I’ll add is that I think they are a bit behind on producing new units. It may be worth it to reach out to them on their website to gauge production schedules and ETA.
Love your passion and your journey! Though it is highly doubtful that I will change anything in my current set up until something dies, I find that your progress fulfills that innate urge to constantly tweak and change as we chase our personal audio nirvana.
Thank you! The journey can become maddening at times can’t it? I feel it’s time to relax and give this setup time to settle in. Everything is less than 10 months old now.
@@TheJoyofVinylRecords at some point we all get to the cliff and ask ourselves if the dive is worth it. It’s not really different then any other passion is it? Like the rollercoaster looming in the distance some will run to it and ride it over and over, others will patiently wait in line and enjoy the experience while others will stand in utter confusion wondering how anyone could enjoy it. I think as long as you control your passion and never let it control you the car will stay on the tracks and a lifetime of enjoyment can be had. Unfortunately I’ve seen people who have allowed their passion to become an unhealthy obsession which no longer brings them any joy, but as long as you aren’t cutting off your ear and mailing it to a speaker or amplifier manufacturer I think you’re OK, lol!
You do still have both of your ears right??? Rotfl!!!
I love ny tavish classic, its a keeper! I use it in mm setting with a Jensen ISO-MAX MC-2RR-L SUT 1:10. Tavish uses the same Jensen transformers in their adagio. I run a Denon dL103 moving coil cartridge. I swapped out the JJ tubes for a RCA 7025,
Ge jan 6189w 12au7, and a Sylvania 5751 disc getter....all genuine NOS tubes...the sound is amazing.
Hi Tony! I keep running across recommendations for the Denon DL103. Quick question on the transformer. Why that instead of the Tavish's ability to switch to MC for low output MCs? I'm planning to move to MC carts sometimes next year.
Hi, the tavish classic uses jfet circuitry to up the gain on low output mc cartridges. When u utilize a sut, such as the jensen, u then utilize the mm input on the tavish. From what I've read and learned, you will then get the full benefit of the tubes. So in other words, there is no circuit in between so to speak, just the transformers in the sut, which increase the gain passively. You are essentially just bypassing the use of the jfets in the tavish by doing this. Another cartridge that will benefit is the hana el. It has very similar specs as the denon 103. The jensen sut was designed in and around the denon 103. The jensen is not as good as the Auditorium 23 sut, but you will pay a ton more for one of those. I'm pretty happy with the results I'm getting with the jensen/tavish combo. I also sometimes use my ortofon 2m bronze mm through the tavish, and it sounds excellent!. The bronze, according to Michael fremer, really blossoms with tubes! According to Tavish, the center tube is the most responsible for the sound. So that should be the first to go as far as tube rolling. They claim that the 5751 tube (right side tube) by jj is the quietest that they know of, although I use a Sylvania there. Both sylvania and Ratheon made some of the best and most sought after 5751 tubes.The far left tube, 12au7, I like the ge tubes once sold by upscale audio. They were, according to them, some of the most quietest tubes they've heard. The middle tube I replaced with a Nos rca 7025, which is similar to the 12ax7. It was a very popular tube back in the day.
I currently use atlas element phono cables, two sets of .5 meter, to connect the tavish, turntable, and sut. The reason being is that atlas is a pretty neutral cable with low capacitance. Only 41 pf per .5 meter. Another great interconnect to use Is the graham slee cusat 50. It has great shielding and super low capacitance, only 55 pf per meter! They are a bit pricey though.
@@TheJoyofVinylRecords a well-matched SUT is superior to a headamp, which is built in to the tavish classic and vintage thru the MC inputs.
Used a Tube Box until I went to a low output MC. Now I have a Pathos ITG and it's super quiet.
Hi Mike - I've heard great things about the Pathos. What MC cart are you using?
Great delivery! Tubes foreva! How about your experience with never ending (for some)) process of cartridge overhang alignment, - gauges, protractors, if you have one)
That's a good idea. As a matter of fact I just recently replaced my cartridge and had to go through alignment, tracking force setting, and anti-skate.
@@TheJoyofVinylRecords 👍tracking and anti-skate are easy, overhang is the tricky one).
i have the vintage. its fantastic. id really wanted to give the classic a shot, too, but i got the adagio. tavish gear is remarkable.
It really is. I had my eyes on both the Adagio and the Vintage. At the time the Classic was the only one in stock - and what a great phono stage.
@@TheJoyofVinylRecords for the vintage, i was on the wait list a loooooooong time. i followed used sales of the adagio for a year before.
I also have a Vintage with the Tung Sol tubes since 2017. Outstanding phonostage! No reason to or desire to upgrade.
Do MC all tube path and add Balanced input and output and I’d be willing to try this. Otherwise there are many many other competitive units out there. Would love to support the USA small business…
Everything is sold out on their website now
Damn. Sorry to hear that. Hopefully they replenish soon. It’s really worth it. If you’re interested I bet a quick email would get a reply. They are very responsive.
need to email and put in order...I believe there is a wait list
Thanks Rick! I probably never would have come across this phono stage. Right now I have a very basic phono preamp. I use the U-turn pluto with my Fluance RT85 turntable. So this could be my next big thing. Since I listen to streaming and cd's as well, I have been slow to upgrade much of my turntable set up. Here's a question for you. Would you recommend I upgrade my cartridge before upgrading my preamp? I currently have an Ortofon 2M Blue cartridge. My next step in cartridges I figured might be the 2M Bronze. What are your thoughts?
Hey Neil! I wouldn't wait as you will hear the improvement with the tube phono stage over the Pluto (I have an old Pluto 2 up in my office that I used to use). The 2M Blue is a great stylus and you'll be happy when you eventually move to the bronze.
@@TheJoyofVinylRecords Thanks for the advice. I can't do it right now, but it's on my list. Just checked out the website.
I own and use three Ortofon 2M cartridges, the Blue, the Bronze and the Black😢. There is a difference between the Blue and Bronze, but not necessarily an improvement. The Blue has an elliptical stylus and isn’t particularly fussy about vertical tracking angle (VTA). while the Bronze uses a fine line stylus which is more particular about the VTA. If your turntable allows for VTA adjustment, the Bronze can reveal more detail if adjusted properly. But the difference isn’t that earth shaking so in that case, enjoy the excellent Blue while saving up for the Black, which is very sensitive to VTA adjustment thanks to its Shibata stylus, but when set carefully, the Black competes with the best out there. Good luck and have fun!
@@daniannaci3258 Thank you!
So the cost of the tube phono stage doesn’t stop when you buy it? Need to buy new tubes ever year or so? I’m tempted but worried that it could be a money hole. Is there an equivalent solid state that you’d recommend?
Hi! You really won’t have to replace tubes that often. I have a radio with 40 year old tubes. But either way I get the concern. If you want a solid state phone stage you can’t go wrong with Vincent Audio PHO-300. They have tube products that are stellar and their solid state stages are top notch. There are many others but they come to mind immediately at an affordable cost.
Thanks! Here’s my dilemma. I have a McIntosh ma5200 with a pretty good built in phono stage for MM. if I want to step up to MC, I need something at least as good. That’s why I was considering the Tavish classic you recommended. If tubes arent too much of a pain, maybe I’ll just go for it!
@@slistone1940 It's a wonderful phono stage and the designer has three options (at least they did a few months ago).
Would someone please discuss which is their flagship, 2nd and 3rd, and simplify why one vs the other. I am having problems following because everybody is backslapping so much. hihihi Nice problems to have.
the adagio is the top model, then the classic and vintage on the same tier below
as u said, the project tube box phono amps are not true tube phono stages, but i believe the tubes are in the signal path , but the input stage is jfet, but tubes are part of the gain and RIAA topology. i think. i cant be certain, but i think thats the deal.
I believe you are absolutely right on that. I consider the project tube phono stages more buffer tubes.
@@TheJoyofVinylRecords nope. voltage gain. they may also do the cathode follower job as well.
Larger than the room ...............and deeper than the rear wall.......
that's what "happens" with good amplification/speakers..........mostly experienced with TUBES .........
NOS Octal tubes for phono ( pre-vinyl tubes ), that's the way I like to go....
You need gain in a phonoo stage so it seems obvious fort most ( commercial ) circuits to uses the standard 12AX7 ( ECC83) ............
Best are NOS tubes like the ECC803s TFK ........( obsolete ) as well as the genuine TESLA E833CC crossed swords ( identical to the 803 series of TFK ) .....
The ECC8O8 (rare ) ...........very low noise verison of the ECC83 ( low signal in pro use ) with a different but SYMMETRICAL pin out !
BUT...................when compared the 12AX7 with a ECC82 at the input , the latter wins clearly in musical expression.......VDV ( and other ) build one some time ago ...
Forget the 7025 tube ( low noise 12AX7 ) as or when it's not genbuine NOS !
current production can be good but never as good as good nos....finer shadings , more nuances , finer texture and dynamics .........was the emperor of the past .
Building yourself it the ultime way to go .............there is NO commercial component witout commercial limitations .........only you can go further than the industry .........
But if this phono does please you as it seems to sound and perform..........than that's the way to follow ....and never loose what you gained before upgrading .........by numbers .
Thank you for the nice review..........one can feel you love music...most like their gear .
Thank you Frank and it is wonderful to hear from someone with your knowledge of tubes. I just noted all your recommendations for future reference when I start rolling tubes again. Appreciate it!
@@TheJoyofVinylRecords My pleasure to share with you .
I completely disagree with your premise. Finding negative reviews of any audio gear is hard
True in most places. I agree. Typically I find the negative reviews in forums. They are plentiful there.
@@TheJoyofVinylRecords rofl! No doubt
Rick, if you're going to upgrade your Ortofon 2M Bronze to the Black, know that all you need to do is upgrade the stylus. The cartridge bodies are exactly the same. You do NOT need to buy another whole cartridge.
Thanks Russell. I suspected that was the case - thank you for confirming!
@@TheJoyofVinylRecords Yes, I agree. For your and all here information. You can upgrade from Bronze to Black because the housing are the same. The same from Red to Blue. They both are using the same housing. But you can NOT upgrade from Red or Blue to one of Bronze or Black. The bodies are different. Inside this housing are coils. The coils in the Red and Blue are wound with a copper wire. For Bronze and Black here inside are sliver-plated copper wire used. A few years ago, I had a personal technical discussion with Leif Johannsen Chief Officer Acoustics at the Munich‘s High End fair. I hope this has shed some light.