Tube Research Labs TRL GTPR-Platinum Line Stage Preamp

For your consideration is the very rarely seen GTPR-Platinum Line Stage preamp designed and handcrafted by Paul Weitzel of Tube Research Labs (TRL). One of the best preamps I have ever owned and I think still outclasses most competition out there. I'm selling, thinning down my collection of gear, and this beast is something to see and hear. It oozes musicality and has an exceptional tone and adds a way of life into music. Inaccurate, neutral or not, I don't know, but I think this amp is the best I have heard. THIS PREAMP IS THE SAME UNIT AS IN WINSTON MA'S SYSTEM OF FIM. Search the following in google "An Interview with Winston Ma of First Impression Music, Part 2" and "Winston Ma's Remarkable Listening Room: Images and Some Design Notes"

A bit of history:

I purchased this unit back in 2007. It was an amazing sounding unit then. Throughout it's life, it has undergone a series of modifications. One of the major modifications is the increase of the HT filter capacitance in each channel with massive upgrade caps the size of soft drink cans. Several thousand uf of capacitance can be seen in the preamp itself and many more are in the actual PS unit. The single signal coupling cap originally installed was a MIT PP type. While this sounded good, it got upgraded to very very modest Mundorf M-Caps suggested by Paul. Paul was right, it was an inprovement and offered a more musical presentation. Sometime later, the same cap was then upgraded to the Mundorf Supreme, also suggested by Paul. This improved musicality and detail again and I lived with the brilliant sound for quite some time. Until early last year, I took the sound to a whole new level with the Duelund Alexander caps. I felt that was it! Gotta be heard to believed. Throughout it's life, has had no issues with the amp, no repairs, no failures. It's built to stand the test of time. All tubes are great and not one has failed in it's lifetime.

Some technical specs that I can give:

- Fully dual mono tube preamp. Preamp tubes uses three (3) 6SN7 type each channel. Two tubes are run in parallel for main output. Tape output uses the other single tube per channel. I have achieved great results with 5692 tubes in place.
- Fully tube regulated PS unit. PS unit consists of a total of eighteen (18) tubes, 6080 x 5, 6SN7 x 6, OC3 x 6, KT88 x 1.
- Extensive filtering throughout PS and preamp. Caps include EPCOS, BHC Aerovox, Sprague, and Dublier.
- One Duelund Alexander Paper and Oil signal capacitor in signal path.
- Heavy solid core copper wiring throughout.
- Welded steel chassis with 25mm (1") thick aluminium front fascia plate for preamp. Front, back, top plate all 25mm (1") thick aluminium.
- Gold palated fascia plate on preamp with oversized volume control knobs.
- Shallco type stepped resistor ladder type volume control per channel. All silver contacts.
- Shallco type selector input selection knob per channel. all silver contacts.
- Individual Mute switch per channel.
- Amphenol military umbilical cord connections from preamp to PS. Multiple strands of heavy guage solid core copper wire. Very heavy. Amphenol connector pins are all silver.
- TRL original power cord with 20A IEC connector. Multiple strands of heavy gauge solid core copper wire. Very heavy.
- No fuse in unit, but uses a circuit breaker as switch.
- Two (2) main outputs on preamp, one (1) tape output, all RCA.
- Six (6) line inputs, all RCA.
- Weight of preamp is 40 Kg approx.
- Weight of PS is 60 Kg approx.
- Weight of wooden crate is 20 Kg approx.
- Total shipping weight is around 120 Kg approx.
- Wooden crate size is 630mm x 650mm high x 1300mm length
- 240/230 VAC operating voltage. This unit has never been converted. I'm not sure if it can easily. May probably need to be sent to Paul at TRL in Quincy, WA, USA.

What is included:

- Original bound manual.
- All tubes currently installed in PS, various NOS Sylvania, RCA, and one Electro Harmonix KT88EH.
- All tubes currently installed in Preamp, 6 x NOS Sylvania 6SN7GTB.
- 5 x NOS unused Winged "C" 6080/6AS7G tubes.
- 6 x new production unused Tungsol 6SN7 GTB.
- 2 x new production unused Gold Lion KT88.
- Some NOS oC3 tubes, unsure how many I have.
- Original TRL power cord with 20A IEC connector.
- Original umbilical cord.
- Any other 6 SN7 type tube I have spare lying around for this unit. It's the only equipment I have left that uses this tube - might as well sell all with the unit.
- Various LARGE "just-in-case" replacement caps that can be used to tweak the sound of the amp. Includes 6 x Philips 3700uf 450VDC caps, and more.

Asking:

AUD $7,000.00 for everything + post.

Please do not hesitate to ask any questions you may have.

Bank transfer preferred .... but open to options. Buyer pays ALL fees.

Best regards, David.

*** NOTE: PRICE IS STRICTLY IN AUD ***
*** ALL SALES ARE FINAL ***