This is definitely another gem from Treehaus Audiolab -- coming from a huge fanboy who currently owns their 300B-2 amp and speakers.
Due to the choice of tubes (4P1L), I actually didn't pay much attention to it at the beginning since I usually much prefer the 801A. To be honest, I wasn't expecting a massive upgrade in sound over my previous preamp, the 10Y from Thomas Mayer. I bought it because I like the brand and the aesthetic, and I like that it has a remote control for the TVC (there are not many options on the market if you want a remote-controlled preamp that uses TVC). I imagined it might be better given the premium materials, but I wasn't expecting a revolution—the TM 10Y preamp was already very satisfying, except that it had no remote and didn't really fit into my new system’s look.
Sorry that I don't have good pictures of it at the moment, but I promise to update with some good ones after moving to my new home early next year... My current living room is embarrassingly overloaded with baby stuff! But this preamp, as always, is very nice looking with incredible attention to detail—the knobs, vents, and finishing touches are all super high quality. I don't know if I am expressing myself clearly, but it is definitely NOT just another "tube preamp put in a wood frame".
Speaking of the performance, it has a very open, dynamic, airy, and fresh sound compared to the TM 10Y (which has a similar design concept—single DHT gain stage + TVC). What I liked about the TM 10Y was that it brought a lot of density to the music, making the sound feel real and impactful, and of course, it had all the good DHT characteristics: relaxed, thick, and never fatiguing. But the preamp from Treehaus definitely went beyond my imagination; it is a total beast that really impressed me. The soundstage is wide, deep, and natural, and the imaging has amazing 3D "pop." In addition, the bass is noticeably strong—powerful, deep, fast, and punchy, all while remaining effortlessly clean. It brings a lot of emotional engagement to the midrange rather than shadowing it. Lastly, I am just so amazed by the freshness it brings to the music—it is airy, non-fatiguing, and extended. And this comes at no cost to the good properties of a DHT like the 801A—it still has the density, the thickness, and the slightly natural diffusion of the sound.
This preamp fits perfectly with their 300B amp, but I can imagine that it will work well with other tube amps and solid-state amps too. This probably makes it the most significant piece from the brand, as it has more potential to fit into different systems compared to their 300B amp, which has wattage limitations.
Some technical notes for those interested:
Due to the choice of tubes (4P1L), I actually didn't pay much attention to it at the beginning since I usually much prefer the 801A. To be honest, I wasn't expecting a massive upgrade in sound over my previous preamp, the 10Y from Thomas Mayer. I bought it because I like the brand and the aesthetic, and I like that it has a remote control for the TVC (there are not many options on the market if you want a remote-controlled preamp that uses TVC). I imagined it might be better given the premium materials, but I wasn't expecting a revolution—the TM 10Y preamp was already very satisfying, except that it had no remote and didn't really fit into my new system’s look.
Sorry that I don't have good pictures of it at the moment, but I promise to update with some good ones after moving to my new home early next year... My current living room is embarrassingly overloaded with baby stuff! But this preamp, as always, is very nice looking with incredible attention to detail—the knobs, vents, and finishing touches are all super high quality. I don't know if I am expressing myself clearly, but it is definitely NOT just another "tube preamp put in a wood frame".
Speaking of the performance, it has a very open, dynamic, airy, and fresh sound compared to the TM 10Y (which has a similar design concept—single DHT gain stage + TVC). What I liked about the TM 10Y was that it brought a lot of density to the music, making the sound feel real and impactful, and of course, it had all the good DHT characteristics: relaxed, thick, and never fatiguing. But the preamp from Treehaus definitely went beyond my imagination; it is a total beast that really impressed me. The soundstage is wide, deep, and natural, and the imaging has amazing 3D "pop." In addition, the bass is noticeably strong—powerful, deep, fast, and punchy, all while remaining effortlessly clean. It brings a lot of emotional engagement to the midrange rather than shadowing it. Lastly, I am just so amazed by the freshness it brings to the music—it is airy, non-fatiguing, and extended. And this comes at no cost to the good properties of a DHT like the 801A—it still has the density, the thickness, and the slightly natural diffusion of the sound.
This preamp fits perfectly with their 300B amp, but I can imagine that it will work well with other tube amps and solid-state amps too. This probably makes it the most significant piece from the brand, as it has more potential to fit into different systems compared to their 300B amp, which has wattage limitations.
Some technical notes for those interested:
- It uses Finemet transformers throughout (including volume control and chokes), except for the main power, which can be upgraded to GOSS. And Rich will do the Urushi finish for all your trans!
- This TVC preamp has a remote!
- Treehaus has implemented the 4P1L tube very, very well. I have tried a few DHT preamps, including some DIY versions, and this is better in every aspect. I’m not going to lie—before hearing this, the 801A was my go-to tube for preamp. Now, I’m not so sure.
- Aside from the top-tier materials, it uses a specific topology I love: Coleman filament DC supply, direct filament coupling (no filament bypass caps), and CSS for the anode. All tubes have their own independent power transformers and supply.
