TC ELECTRONIC Level Pilot
Preamplifiers
With a pair of good active speakers there is no need for the amplifier. Still a volume control center may come in handy. The Level Pilot of Danish TC Electronic - this is the Tannoy consortium of audio brands - does exactly this: controls volume.
Function and form
The TC Level Pilot is a fully symmetrical analog device. The source component should be connected on its input and active speakers ot a power amplifier on its output. It does not need electricity as it is a passive attenuator without voltage gain.
With the Level Pilot you will not need interconnects as it is an interconnect with a volume knob in the middle of its length. The knob is a two-piece machined aluminum potentiometer with stops at both ends of its rotation path. It has rubber padding on its bottom so it does not slip on any surface.
Bass management
I liked several things. First, the volume knob is reliable in operation and is ergonomically shaped. It works smoothly (the volume level can be set with high precision) and has no inherent noise. Second, the interconnect cable is flexible and ready to use with XLR standard or - with adjusting pieces - with professional 1/4" jacks.
If you plan to use the TC Level PIlot with RCA cinches then you will be dissapointed as it is not possible. Then I recommend to check good cheap passive preamps like the Creek OBH-22 or the Vincent KHV-1 that we have reviewed recently.
Clarity & delicacy
The Level Pilot is quite a transparent little device that does its job well. The signal has to pass through the length of 4 meters of rather standard cable so one should not expect that the TC Level Pilot does not leave any signature on the sound. As usual, it is just about balancing the device's contribution against its flaws. I tested it as a variable output regulator of my Accuphase DP-78 SACD player.
Tonal accuracy
Burmester's CD-03 demo disc was in heavy rotation when I inserted the TC Level Pilot in the audio path. The disc contains Hugh Mesekela's Stimela masterpiece which has become famous maybe not due to its musical content rather than for its lyrics and amazing sound quality. With the TC Level Pilot there was audible loss of transparency , the highs became smeared and the soundstage became homogenous and compacted. The signature of the device was extremely apparent at the final audience call and Mesekela's choo-choo sound.
Spatial resolution
The sound as if got a cold and became restrained. The acoustic guitar of Goran Soellscher in Paganini's Sonata Concertata (which is a duel with Gil Shaham) was wiry and dynamically compressed. Don't get me wrong - as merciless as these words may sound to you the TC Level Pilot is actually quite good for the negligible asking price; thee are many high-end preamplifiers that perform even worse at a price multiplication factor of thousand.
Recommended resellers
Nisel SK, Bratislava, tel. +421 905 203 078
Manufacturer's website: http://www.tcelectronic.com
Associated components
- Sources: Accuphase DP-78
- Amplifiers: Accuphase A-60
- Interconnects and speaker cables: Nordost Heimdall, Krautwire Clever, Krautwire Fractal
- Loudspeakers: Audio Physic Virgo V
- Power conditioning: Nordost Thor (modified), Nordost Valhalla
Gallery
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