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VTL TL-6.5
Reference Series
Review
by James Leahy
Introduction
The VTL TL-6.5 Reference Series is the companies
premium one box designed line stage solution. The dual mono fully
balanced design has twin power transformers with an array of two dozen
relays controlling the audio signal circuits. The tube component of this
line stage comprises of two 12AU7 vacuum tubes that are run by a fully
regulated power supply with extensive AC mains filtering.
There are four large MOSFET modules that regulate
the current supply and ensure computer controlled accuracy in all
critical areas. The build quality and engineering superiority of this
TL-6.5 is certainly deserving of Reference status. When compared to a
similarly priced competitor such as the ARC REF3 the VTL TL-6.5
comfortably embarrasses it's competition in no uncertain terms. When you
lift the lid on both units the lack of electrical sophistication of the
REF3 is fully evident when directly compared to this unit. Being greeted
with only four main circuit boards and a hell of a lot of empty space,
you raise the inevitable question of where your money is going. I am
pleased to announce that VTL consider the customer's sizable investment
more thoughtfully when it comes to their design philosophy and ensure
their asking prices reflect an accurate contribution of the cost of
construction and development, not an overly inflated telephone number
price tag. Another painful reminder of the cheaper construction methods
used with the REF3 is to closely examine the quality of the factory
remote control that is supplied with each unit. The VTL's remote is
machined from a single piece of billet alloy where the REF3 remote is a
light plastic design and looks like something you would receive with a
$200.00 DVD player.
The attention to detail continues with the VTL's
classical dual mono design where the left and right channels are
physically and visibly separate to ensure complete isolation and zero
electrical cross talk interference. There us a integrated computerized
turn-on procedure programmed into each TL-6.5. This lasts for 90 seconds
and powers up the tube circuit in a two stage relay controlled process
to prevent any damage and ensures longer service life. Each individual
input level can be set independently to the next which is a huge benefit
for customers with many input sources that have a large variance in
output levels.
Top/Front view of the huge VTL TL-6.5
Reference Series Line Stage
The quality of components can easily
be seen with the top cover removed
Fully constructed with a true dual
mono design
Remote control machined from a single
piece of billet alloy
Beautiful front face of TL-6.5
Rear PCB of TL-6.5
Extensive use of audio control relays
InfiniCap
12AU7 Vacuum Tubes. One per channel.
VTL designed high
current power output control modules
Oversize power transformer for high
current demands
Superior quality of construction to
Reference standard
Proudly handcrafted
in the USA
Sonic Evaluations
Having been sent this unit from VTL to
review, it was factory fresh and unused. From my testing and VTL's
advise this unit required at least one solid week of burn-in time
with a signal being fed in and it's output run at maximum before
it's factory specified performance level is delivered. Two weeks is
a more realistic time frame for burn-in and I can attest that the
performance straight out of the box is not as VTL intended for the
TL-6.5.
Kicking the ball off rolling with Stevie
Nicks' - Crystal Visions (Reprise Records - 2007) the TL-6.5 is
easily identifiable as very transparent unit. I was not aware of
just how transparent it was until I compared it to my other line
stages.
The detail is what gives this an amazing quality coupled
with smoothness from the treble to the lower bass. The high
frequencies are very extended but never dry or glaring. The midrange
can be directly compared to the REF3's sweet voicing of female vocal
singers but with a purer tonal quality and more drive and punch from
a deeper image presentation. The bass is what sets the TL-6.5 apart from the REF3
and other tube line stages. The solid performance and impact that
this unit delivers is staggering in the lower frequencies. It drives
harder, hits faster and just goes lower than most tube designs I
have heard on my system. The quality of the bass is both tight and
tuneful.
The TL-6.5 combines the best of solid state
drive and impact with the sweetness and tonal accuracy of vacuum
tubes. With other tubed line stages I was often missing that strong
presence of a lower bass line but lived with this imbalance because
of the God like midrange image and sweetness of soundstage. The
TL-6.5 really closes the gap with the performance of the best
solid state designs and the beautiful vacuum tube sound we have all
come to appreciate.
This is a very fast and accurate sounding
line stage without any sonic character of it's own that some vacuum
tubed designs have been known to introduce and many
reviewers/listeners find pleasing because it rectifies basic synergy
problems in their loudspeaker amplifier choices. I have found the
TL-6.5 gets right into the recorded information on the disc and adds
nothing to the final presentation that is not already recorded. It
is a brutally honest and revealing unit that can allow the listener
to hear their system for how it really is. After extended listening
periods and after substantial testing between the two I prefer the
sound of the VTL TL-6.5 over the REF3. Before the experiment and VTL
sending me this review sample I was sure nothing could touch the
high level of performance the REF3 offered, big mistake. I keep both
line stages in my listening room at all times to demonstrate first
hand to customers the increased level of performance over a REF3
that the VTL TL-6.5 offers for similar price! Come and tell me what
you think on who provides the World's ultimate Hi Fidelity line
stage. I have found the TL-6.5
to work well with both solid state and vacuum tube amplifiers, not
so with the REF3. The
character of the sound will not be changed by this unit thus
revealing the other links in the signal chain more faithfully.
I have found the TL-6.5 along with all
other VTL products to benefit greatly from a high quality power
chord and Furutech power terminating connectors. The added scope this provides in
the wider soundstage is amazing and well worth the small extra cost
involved when considering the cost of this unit.
The stringed instruments on Crystal Visions
are reproduced with this unit in a more open and textured way with
thick and voluminous musical content able to be almost touched as it
is so well defined from the rhythmic chorus baking tracks. The
degree of musical placement is excellent and an area that this unit
really excels in it's brilliance. Larger acoustical recordings on
Crystal Visions give an open feeling of spaciousness and presence.
Due mainly I feel from the TL-6.5's limitless bottom ended dynamics
this makes you aware of larger halls, arenas and stages all the
more. Basically everything that the recorded area is occupying is
what the TL-6.5 reproduces through your loudspeakers. On some
cheaper line stages I felt there was not enough acoustical
information being feed back to me as a listener about the recorded
environment that the performance was performed in.
With each area of presentation of the
TL-6.5 there is no singular region this unit performers better than
another for a resultantly unbalanced presentation. This concept may
not sound difficult to engineer but I can assure you from talking to
different audio manufacturers much time and effort is being spent of
things that the listener does not notice as the things they do.
Overall, I am delighted at the performance
of this unit and the more I listen to it the more I hear things I
never heard before with my previous line stage. The gigantic dynamic
range available coupled with the ability of the TL-6.5 to reproduce
gradients of finer detail while pushing the envelope at high level
makes this the perfect Reference grade combination to your power
amplifiers of choice. You do not want the soundstage's character to
change as the volume increases or decreases. This gives full control
over the depth of each musical layer without being too forward in
it's presentation. Never dark or muffled in nature there is no glare
or over exerted upper midrange or top-end shown with my tested
source material.
Associated review Equipment
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Pre-Amplifier:
Trevor Lees Audio Signature
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Amplifiers
VTL MB-750 Reference Monoblocks
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Speakers:
Martin Logan Odyssey
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Cables:
Furutech
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Cartridge: Ortofon
Jubilee
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Turntable:
Rega P7
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