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A rather unique Tube Simulating Preamp... anyone heard it, have thoughts? Angela-Gilbert Young C312

shion_ca

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Hello,

I thought I'd ask for thoughts and opinions on the designer of the former Blue Circle company. I'm interested in the idea of a harmonic tone control and this preamp seems like a fun idea. Any thoughts? How's he doing it?


Ah here are some relevant measurements....
 
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Hello,

I thought I'd ask for thoughts and opinions on the designer of the former Blue Circle company. I'm interested in the idea of a harmonic tone control and this preamp seems like a fun idea. Any thoughts? How's he doing it?

For approximately $6200 less, you can do any of that in software.
 
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Transparent with the option of adding variations of 5% THD. And only for $6300 dollars. I think you have a better deal using a couple pieces of Warm Audio gear such as one of their tube and transformer preamps with EQ, and one of their tube based optical compressors all while saving money.

You also can do it in DSP as SIY said. Pkane has a Distort program where you can create your own custom levels of distortion any way you like.
 
For approximately $6200 less, you can do any of that in software.
I don't know what his various gain stages are doing, so what software has exactly this effect? I assume you've worked out what his circuit does?
 

Transparent with the option of adding variations of 5% THD. And only for $6300 dollars. I think you have a better deal using a couple pieces of Warm Audio gear such as one of their tube and transformer preamps with EQ, and one of their tube based optical compressors all while saving money.

You also can do it in DSP as SIY said. Pkane has a Distort program where you can create your own custom levels of distortion any way you like.
I looked at the company you suggested, I see only microphone preamps... I don't quite understand how using that and a compressor (which compresses dynamic range?) would get me what I want? Pardon my ignorance.
 
I looked at the company you suggested, I see only microphone preamps... I don't quite understand how using that and a compressor (which compresses dynamic range?) would get me what I want? Pardon my ignorance.
It's a tube "simulator" meaning it adds a certain ratio of harmonic distortion to the signal without using a tube. They don't say how much so we are left to speculate.

However, there are vast numbers of "tube simulators" available in software which will do the same thing. And much more affordable. Here are just a few in the 'effects' section at Sweetwater. Here are more at KVR.

Just use EQAPO to host the VSTs and you're good to experiment with tube sound to your heart's content. If you find a configuration you really like, you can then search for a hardware unit that matches it, if you really want to.

Looking at the soundstage review, the baseline performance of the preamp is just okay (certainly not great for the money) and the distortion you can dial in is not unique based on my experience with software effects.
 
I don't know what his various gain stages are doing, so what software has exactly this effect? I assume you've worked out what his circuit does?
Nothing new here or anything special. You can increase the distortion. Big whoop. You can customize this far better (and add EQ) with simple software plugins.
 
I don't know what his various gain stages are doing, so what software has exactly this effect? I assume you've worked out what his circuit does?
Look at the test results. You have two different types of distortion that go up to 5%. You can add either or both in variable amounts to the clean version of the signal. That is what they are doing. Software can most definitely do that and more.

Free distortions software. You can create the type harmonics, the level of each harmonic at any level you choose. Then apply to music files and listen.

 
So if I have my digital streamer (an ever solo) into my SMSL D6s DAC, what is a good way to get this in the chain so it is dynamically affecting my high Rez signals from say tidal?
 
I looked at the company you suggested, I see only microphone preamps... I don't quite understand how using that and a compressor (which compresses dynamic range?) would get me what I want? Pardon my ignorance.
The microphone pres will also take line level inputs. They use tubes, transformers, and have some EQ and other sound altering features. Compressors using opto-couplers and tubes can give a tubey sound used with care. It might take a bit more fiddling on your part, but rather than a simulation you could dial in your preferences with much more control and be the real tube sound not a simulation.

Truth is most decent tube preamps didn't have a sound anyway. Tube power amps often do. These units from Warm Audio are made to have a sound on purpose. Much more purposeful than a couple of distortion spewing circuits you blend together with a clean signal.
 
I assume you've worked out what his circuit does?
I think I can guess, but none of us can be certain without a circuit diagram.

Normally active line-level preamplifiers have input buffers, output buffers, input switching, gain and attenuation stages. Mostly the buffers are fixed gain (often unity gain) and volume levels are adjusted only in the gain/attenuation stages. But this design allows you to adjust some of the normally fixed gains. The technical review seems to suggest that mostly this has no effect until one stage causes clipping into the next stage. This is not really how tube/valve preamplifiers behave - well engineered designs don't clip and can measure well.

When used normally, this preamplifier seems to measure OK, but it is very expensive. Personally I could not justify the expense.
 
Hello,

I thought I'd ask for thoughts and opinions on the designer of the former Blue Circle company. I'm interested in the idea of a harmonic tone control and this preamp seems like a fun idea. Any thoughts? How's he doing it?


Ah here are some relevant measurements....
I‘ve been to Toronto in late 2023 and gave the C312 an aprox. 2hrs listening and I liked it a lot - very nice sound and a tremendous play factor, BUT no remote for those gain dials at U$ 6300 base price.
I have a decent tube amp and I’d say the C312 preamp was at least as nice plus the benefit to make changes when the source calls for adjustments.
I‘m still considering buying……
 
I'm reading Ethan Winer's book and he's not necessarily (or exclusively) talking about tubes, but he says:
Many aspiring recording engineers today appreciate some of the great recordings from the mid-twentieth century. But when they are unable to make their own amateur efforts sound as good, they wrongly assume they need the same gear that was used back then. Of course, the real reason so many old recordings sound wonderful is because they were made by very good engineers in great (often very large) studios having excellent acoustics.

He also mentions that SOME people seem to prefer distortion in their playback systems. But of course most people prefer high-fidelity. And any preferred effects or processing at playback time probably depend on program material.
 
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