VTL TP-6.5 Series II Signature Phonostage

By Michael Fremer

Countdown to Ecstasy?

Inserting a new component into a well-considered audio system is kind of like getting an organ transplant. Cables and other accessory “tweaks” can to some degree act as anti-rejection drugs, but mostly, the system either welcomes the invader or fights it. For a reviewer, if the sonic results are harmonious, great!

If the system sound takes a turn for the worse, it doesn’t mean the new component is not worthy. It may very well be that the piece under review does not work well in the context of the reviewer’s system. That complicates the job, but an experienced hand can isolate the component’s contribution to the system’s sound, describe its particular sonic characteristics, and perhaps even recommend the context in which its addition might be beneficial. A consumer looking for an upgrade usually knows to where he or she wishes to take the sound. A reviewer usually does the installation to cover an assignment.

The job here is to review the VTL TP-6.5…