Hovland HP200 - still relevant after 7 years?

[dkys]

Reinhard, you are obviously a pro. I am not not sure where the Jfet is located. I would try to upload a picture and perhaps you can point me to the right component?

 

[dkys]

 

[Reinhard]

Don`t get me wrong. Hovland uses a single Fet working on a resistor. My Output stage is a J-fet working on a current source with a higher bias current. Ther are numerous new parts and an updated power supply. Hard won knowledge and nothing to report here.

Reinhard

 

[dkys]

Yes, I have missunderstood as a simple change of components. I respect your working and findings and thank you for your information so far.

 

[Ron Resnick]

I thought the HP100, if not also the HP200, is 100% tube in the signal path. What is the transistor doing in there?

 

[Ron Resnick]

I heard the HP100 today in my system compared to the VTL TL-7.5 Series III. My recording engineer friend who brought it over heard a bigger difference than I heard, but I thought the HP100 sounded wonderful! It sounded more liquid than the VTL.

I'm surprised the HP100 is not a bigger deal as a vintage component that survived the test of time?

 

[bonzo75]

Marc owned a Hovland pre. Back in Jan I heard it with different SETs on a pnoe AER BD3

 

[spiritofmusic]

This is a blast from the past.
If there's one set of gear I'd re-acquire, it's my old Hovland HP200 pre and Radia power.

 

[bonzo75]

This is a blast from the past.

With Zus you are like Dr. Manhattan from Watchmen, experiencing past, present, and future simultaneously. Time in that case is not a linear progression.

 

[Ron Resnick]

Marc owned a Hovland pre. Back in Jan I heard it with different SETs on a pnoe AER BD3

Back in January did you hear the HP100 or HP200?

(The HP200 was designed to respond to the criticism of no remote on the HP100, but my impression from review research suggests that the HP100 was the purist effort sonically.)

 

[Ron Resnick]

This is a blast from the past.
If there's one set of gear I'd re-acquire, it's my old Hovland HP200 pre and Radia power.

Did you ever compare the HP100 to the HP200.

Oh, and the build quality of the HP100 I examined yesterday was fantastic. They seem to trade for about US$2,500. If I find one in museum condition I am buying it.

 

[DasguteOhr]

The hp 100 pre have high output impedance 2.5k- 4.0kohm in the frequency range that not very well with a lot of poweramps be careful. Build quality is very good.

 

[Ron Resnick]

The hp 100 pre have high output impedance 2.5k- 4.0kohm in the frequency range that not very well with a lot of poweramps be careful. Build quality is very good.

Yes, I saw that. It seems to use output transformers, no?

I was surprised it did as well with my 47 foot interconnect run as it did.

From a brief audition at home I cannot be sure I liked it, but the "liquidity" (which is closely related to "breath of life" on vocals) I heard justifies further investigation.

 

[bonzo75]

Back in January did you hear the HP100 or HP200?

(The HP200 was designed to respond to the criticism of no remote on the HP100, but my impression from review research suggests that the HP100 was the purist effort sonically.)

It did not have the remote.

So you tried the Hovland with your jadis with both digital and tape and found it to be better than the VTL?

 

[Ron Resnick]

It did not have the remote.

The HP200 is all about the remote, apparently. Did it have blue lights?

So you tried the Hovland with your jadis with both digital and tape and found it to be better than the VTL?

No! I didn't say or imply anywhere near this.

All I'm saying is: From a brief audition at home I cannot be sure I liked it, but the "liquidity" (which is closely related to "breath of life" on vocals) I heard justifies further investigation.

I think the VTL preamp is excellent. I remain very happy with it.

 

[bonzo75]

No! I didn't say or imply anywhere near this.

All I'm saying is: From a brief audition at home I cannot be sure I liked it, but the "liquidity" (which is closely related to "breath of life" on vocals) I heard justifies further investigation.

You said, "It sounded more liquid than the VTL." - I am asking if this was a conclusion drawn from both digital and tape, or only digital.

 

[Ron Resnick]

You said, "It sounded more liquid than the VTL." - I am asking if this was a conclusion drawn from both digital and tape, or only digital.

We listened only to digital yesterday.

 

[DasguteOhr]

N

Yes, I saw that. It seems to use output transformers, no?

I was surprised it did as well with my 47 foot interconnect run as it did.

From a brief audition at home I cannot be sure I liked it, but the "liquidity" (which is closely related to "breath of life" on vocals) I heard justifies further investigation.No transformer

No transformer,a cathode follower tube output stage Hp 100. The phonostage sounds nice a lot amplification 69db switchable. As long you don't need feed the outputsignal to more then one poweramp (not lower 20kohm )all fine.

 

[Ron Resnick]

No transformer,a cathode follower tube output stage Hp 100. The phonostage sounds nice a lot amplification 69db switchable. As long you don't need feed the outputsignal to more then one poweramp (not lower 20kohm )all fine.

Interesting. I'm surprised it did as well as it did with my 47 foot interconnect run.

 

[Argonaut]

N

No transformer,a cathode follower tube output stage Hp 100. The phonostage sounds nice a lot amplification 69db switchable. As long you don't need feed the outputsignal to more then one poweramp (not lower 20kohm )all fine.View attachment 133060

Yes , good quality boards and components which nonetheless responded nicely to a few upgrades.