For Sale: Summit Audio TD100 - SOLD

[filjorgez]

SOLD

Summit TD100 - valve instrument direct interface and headphone output.
excellent condition
$370
free postage

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from Sound On Sound;

The TD100 instrument preamp is a single-channel active DI box and instrument preamp, using hybrid circuitry. It is a reasonably compact, sturdy, and extremely solid mains-powered unit, 1U high and half-rack width, and there is just a handful of controls and connectors. A single unbalanced, quarter-inch instrument Input socket is provided on the front panel, with an adjacent loop-through Direct Output which would normally be used to feed a stage amp. The input signal is buffered with an ECC83 (12AX7) double triode, operating in a Class-A mode, and a rotary knob allows the input loading to be adjusted between 10k(omega) and 2M(omega). A second, larger rotary switch sets the input gain from zero to 24dB in 4dB steps — a green LED illuminates when signal is present and a yellow one indicates the amount of tube drive. The more the Drive LED is illuminated, the more nonlinear the circuitry becomes, so it's easy to dial in the degree of valve sound you require — although don't expect valve overdrive effects here, because this is, above all, a very clean preamp.

The TD100 requires a few minutes to warm up before it sounds its best, but once at normal operating temperature it worked like a dream. Everything operated exactly as expected, with a useful degree of warmth and body being added to the signal — yet without an overwhelming 'tube' character. The amplifier circuitry retains excellent detail and clarity, although this can be altered slightly with the loading control.

I was impressed with the TD100. It really is a bombproof and sturdy piece of kit which inspires confidence. The provision of direct, line- and mic-level outputs is great, and makes the TD100 extremely flexible, as does the inclusion of the headphone output. The hybrid circuitry combines a welcome tube warmth with solid-state reliability, and any musician who finds themselves working with large PAs on stage one day, and in the studio the next, will find the TD100 a very useful tool. There are cheaper DIs in the UK, but none that sound as good as this, or provide such flexibility.

Internally, the construction of this unit is superb, and the steel case is extremely robust. Looking inside the TD100 the circuitry employs conventional components throughout, mounted on a high-quality PCB. A very high-quality Burr Brown op amp lurks near the input circuitry, along with a Groove Tubes ECC83. The latter is mounted horizontally from a daughter board, with a 'spider socket' to prevent heat damaging the PCB tracks. The circuit board immediately below the valve has also been drilled to enable convection cooling. Summit Audio claims a useful life of about 10000 hours for the valve, and gaining access to replace it simply requires the removal of the thick steel lid, held on with seven screws. The output circuitry appears to consist of a number of discrete transistors and another op amp with an LM339 to drive the headphone output. A chunky transformer has a 6V heater winding, centre-tapped at ±24V for the solid-state circuitry and with a 185V anode HT supply winding.