Millennia TCL-2

The TCL-2 (tm) Twincom stereo compressor/limiter with Twin Topology - Millennia's innovative new merging of vacuum tube and solid state circuit topologies. A front panel switch selects between a complete vacuum tube audio path or a fully discrete solid-state audio path - in the same chassis. Both circuit topologies are entirely transformerless, high voltage, and minimalist.

What is "minimalist" The Twincom has only one active stage in the audio signal path. Compare this with common textbook compressor designs employing multiple amplifiers in the signal path. Fewer amplifier stages means greater sonic integrity and heightened musical reality. This one amplifier stage is optimized as input buffer, dynamics amplifier, and output driver. Greatly increased musical clarity is achieved as precious audio signals are spared from successively colored amplifier stages. Ask a Millennia dealer for a demo. It's something you must hear to appreciate.

The Twincom is also designed as an entirely balanced circuit. In most professional audio gear, balanced input signals become unbalanced by a transformer or electronic circuits, and perhaps rebalanced at the output via similar methods. The Twincom never unbalances. Rather, the balanced input signal remains balanced from input to output, avoiding the need for audio transformers or additional amplifiers in the signal path.

Why transformerless Most of today's high voltage pro tube gear uses audio transformers. Yet, transformers add coloration to audio signals; coloration which is not conducive to sonic purity. Via innovative design techniques, the Twincom avoids audio transformers entirely. Now, the remarkable musicality of Class-A triode dynamics can be realized without the unavoidable sonic artifacts common to signal path transformers.

The solid-state aspect of Twin Topology consists of 100% Class-A all discrete J-FET (field effect transistor) amplifiers. Millennia also provides these J-FET amplifiers as the next generation of 990 (Jensen tm) and 2520 (API tm) plug-in-compatible modules. The vacuum tube aspect of Twin Topology employs 300 volt, 100% Class A, hand tested and selected triode vacuum tubes. To use the vacuum tube amplifier, simply press a front panel switch. To use the solid-state amplifier, press the switch again. Twin Topology! Both topologies are designed to deliver a musical optimization of their inherent character.

Twin Topology products also sport new cosmetics. The Twincom offers illuminated push-button switches, machined aluminum knobs, extruded and radiused face plate (nearly 3/8" thick) which is optionally processed with an artistic "platinum-crackle" finish looking something like an aged spruce guitar top. There's even a stylish "TT" logo deeply engraved into every panel. A standard piano gloss black cosmetic finish is also available.

The Twincom employs exquisite high voltage amplifiers free of transformer coupling, carefully designed around the finest grades of passive components (Vishay pots, Roederstein resistors, Wima and Electrocube capacitors, Neglex OFC audio cabling, gold tube connectors and relay contacts, silver teflon power wiring, large Sifam true audio level meters, etc..). One listening test with the TCL-2 Twincom will immediately confirm that Millennia has once again set precedence in musical reality and sonic transparency.

• Two paths to perfection with Twin Topology™

• Stereo optical compressor/limiter with unprecedented sonic purity & integrity

• All triode 300 V vacuum tube signal path or...

• All discrete J-FET solid state signal path

• Both topologies are entirely transformerless, high voltage, pure Class A

• Minimalist design: only one active stage in the audio path

• Threshold: Infinity to + 20 dBu

• Ratio: 1.4 : 1 to 30 : 1

• Attack: 2 to 100 ms

• Release: 100 ms to 3 s

• Large meters: switchable for VU or Gain Reduction

• Constructed for demanding professional applications

• Ultra-Premium components throughout

• Gold relays, connectors, switches, tube sockets

• Silver Teflon power wiring

• Mogami Neglex OFC audio wiring

THRESHOLD RANGE:

Infinite to +20 dBu, Continuously Adjustable

MAXIMUM OUTPUT LEVEL:

> + 32 dBu

MAXIMUM INPUT LEVEL:

+ 30 dBu

OUTPUT GAIN CONTROL:

Continuously Adjustable

FREQUENCY RESPONSE (+0 / -3 DB):

Sub 2 Hz to beyond 100 kHz

NOISE (20 HZ - 22 KHZ):

-87 dBu (SS), -82 dBu (VT)

ATTACK RANGE:

2 ms to 100 ms, Continuously Adjustable

RELEASE RANGE:

100 ms to 3.0 S, Continuously Adjustable

COMPRESSION RATIO RANGE:

minimum 1.4 : 1, maximum 30 : 1 Continuously Adjustable

THD + NOISE (20 HZ - 30 KHZ):

< .01 %, typ .003 % (VT or SS)

COMMON MODE REJECTION RATIO (10 HZ - 20 KHZ, 100 MV C.M.):

> 50 dB, Typ > 70 dB

DYNAMICS BYPASS FOR EACH CHANNEL:

Yes

METER GAIN REDUCTION OR VU SELECTION:

Yes

STEREO LINKING SWITCH:

Yes

INPUT IMPEDANCE:

25k Ohms

MINIMUM OUTPUT LOAD IMPEDANCE:

300 Ohms (SS), 1k Ohms (VT)

RECOMMENDED MINIMUM LOAD:

600 Ohms (SS), 3k Ohms (VT)

OUTPUT IMPEDANCE:

< 5 ohms (SS), < 300 ohms (VT)

TWIN TOPOLOGY COMPRESSOR AMPLIFIERS:

Switch In: Pure Class-A Discrete J-FETs

Switch Out: Pure Class-A Triode Tubes

POWER CONSUMPTION:

55 watts maximum

POWER REQUIREMENTS:

Selectable: 100-120, 200-240 V ac, 50/60 Hz

DIMENSIONS/SHIPPING WEIGHT:

19" W x 12.5" L x 3.5" H, 26 lbs.