TP-6.5 Series II

TP-6.5 Series II Signature phono stage represents a significant upgrade and refinement of TP-6.5 Signature. Enhancements include circuit improvements originally developed for the acclaimed TL-7.5 Series III Reference phono stage, as well as a newly designed, more robust power storage system for the active MC stage.

The original TP-6.5 phono stage complemented VTL’s flagship line stages—the TL-6.5 and TL-7.5—perfectly in terms of sound quality, user interface, and aesthetic design. The new TP-6.5II takes this even further, incorporating VTL’s latest innovations to elevate analog amplification performance to new heights, delivering a significant boost in phono stage performance compared to its predecessor.

Phono preamplifier utilizes a hybrid JFET/vacuum tube circuit for quiet operation and features multiple low-noise cascaded voltage regulators and a shielded power supply to deliver an expanded dynamic range. It offers balanced outputs, precise four-corner passive RIAA equalization, and 68dB of gain—all integrated into a single chassis. Extensive loading and gain settings, along with other input functions, are easily accessible via the front panel and remote control.

One of the key design breakthroughs of TP-6.5 II lies in its power supply section, which utilizes a shunt regulator. This design delivers superior voltage regulation and ripple rejection while minimizing the regulator’s impact on the audio signal—a benefit achieved by reducing the regulator’s gain requirements. The result is a significant reduction in background noise, leading to enhanced stability and improved clarity in the mid-range and lower-mid frequencies. Vocals become more transparent, details richer, and high-frequency extension superior, creating a more lifelike overall listening experience. Notably, the speed and dynamic performance of active MC cartridges are also significantly enhanced.

Further refinements to TP-6.5 II series stem from the high-capacity, low-impedance power storage utilized in its active MC stage, powered by a system of cascaded voltage regulators and capacitance multiplier circuits. The resulting stable, low-impedance power supply effectively prevents power supply ripple and other noise from interfering with sensitive MC signals. Novel gel capacitor technology—enabling higher capacitance values ​​within a more compact form factor—was pivotal to the breakthrough performance of TP-6.5 II’s active MC stage, directly contributing to significantly lower noise levels and exceptional handling of ultra-low-output cartridges.

TP-6.5II also offers a high-quality transformer-based MC step-up option, providing low-noise MC step-up amplification or serving as a secondary MC stage. This second MC input replaces the standard MM input found on TP6.5, utilizing the original MM input circuitry to connect the MC step-up transformer.

Incorporating a step-up transformer not only provides an appropriate load for cartridges with very low output but also offers flexible compatibility with various cartridge types; in certain instances, a cartridge may deliver significantly better sound quality when paired with a transformer rather than an active gain stage. Furthermore, the transformer allows the cartridge to operate directly into the transformer’s own load—bypassing a standard load resistor—thereby preserving as much of the usable signal as possible.

Input switching occurs only after signal amplification, avoiding the signal loss inherent in switching the delicate MC signal directly from the cartridge.

This option offers maximum flexibility for handling MC cartridges and, since both inputs can be connected simultaneously, accommodates multiple tonearms and MC cartridges.
Input Selection
MC Gain Adjustment: 5 levels, 6dB per step: 44dB, 50dB, 56dB, 62dB, 68dB
MC Step-up Gain Options: Balanced output 65dB, Single-ended output 59dB
Load Settings: MC: 100Ω, 250Ω, 470Ω, 1kΩ, 2.5kΩ, 4.7kΩ, 47kΩ and User-defined; MM: 10kΩ, 22kΩ, 47kΩ and User-defined.
MC step-up transformer load settings: 47Ω, 100Ω, 470Ω, 1.0kΩ
Mono switch
Phase inversion, absolute value, and inter-channel phase.
RIAA selection, suitable for enhanced RIAA and rumble cut.
Silent
strength
Input Selection
Silent
Phase inversion
Rumbling sound
Monocytosis
Features
Cartridge loading adjustment
Two single-ended inputs, each with independent load settings
Single-ended and balanced outputs; total balanced gain of 68dB
Utilizes an active hybrid, low-noise J-FET stage to drive a high-current 12AU7 MC gain stage, achieving maximum resolution for low-level signals.
All vacuum tubes are high-fidelity types—12AU7, 12AX7, and 12AT7—and all operate within their linear ranges.
A precision four-corner passive RIAA filter featuring a split-pole design for enhanced accuracy.
Zero-loop feedback
Gain fine-tuning for precise channel-to-channel balancing.
Characteristic-grade and reference-grade coupling capacitors
Gain stage featuring an anti-vibration design to resist vibration interference.
Extensive RF filtering on signal paths
Switchable RF filtering on both inputs
Low-radiation UI-core power transformer featuring dual-mono power supplies and an independent logic power supply
Shielded, dual-mono, multi-stage precision regulated power supply for low noise, incorporating thin-film bypass capacitors for high-frequency performance
High-quality transformer-based MC step-up option for low-noise operation and perfect matching with low-output MC cartridges
The processor enters a silent sleep mode when not in use.
Silent 7-segment LED display on the front panel (indicating gain and load settings).
Features a robust steel-aluminum composite chassis that effectively shields against EMI, RFI, and vocal interference while minimizing vibration-induced interference.
All noise-generating components are steel-shielded to reduce RF and hum radiation.
The amplifier section employs an additional steel shield to reduce noise.

Vacuum Tube Complement 2 x 12AU7 MC (MC Stage), 2 x 12AX7, 2 x 12AT7MM, 2 x 12AT7
Inputs 2 pairs single-ended/RCA
Outputs 1 pair balanced out XLR out, 1 pair single-ended RCA out
Remote control functions Power, MC/MM Source Select, Gain up/down, Mute, Rumble, Load, Mono, Phase
Maximum Gain MC: 62dB single ended, 68dB balanced, MM: 35dB single ended, 40dB balanced
Output Impedance 150Ω
Input Impedance (Cartridge Load) Selectable MC: 100Ω, 250Ω, 470Ω, 1kΩ, 2.5kΩ, 4.7kΩ, 47kΩ, User Defined
Selectable MM: 10kΩ, 22kΩ, 47kΩ, User Defined
Frequency response +0-1 dB 1Hz – 100kHz
Maximum Output Voltage <1% THD 10 VRMS @ 1kHz (10kΩ load)
Channel Separation >70dB @ 1kHz (>65dB @ 20kHz)
Power Consumption 80 Watts
Dimensions W x D x H 17.5 x 17 x 4.75 inches (44.45 x 44.45 x 12.06 cm)
Weight 50lbs (22.72kg) Fully packed in one box