T+A
T+A P 3100 HV Preamplifier
Module
T+A P 3100 HV Preamplifier
Silver / Without Module
22 Saint Kilda Road
22 Saint Kilda Road
Suite 2.02
St Kilda VIC 3182
Australia
Country of origin: 
Germany
P 3100 HV
The Preamplifier
Preamplifiers are the most important components of any High-End system. Source devices connected deliver low-level signals to the preamplifier’s input section, and the unit’s task is to switch and amplify these signals, regulate their volume, process them where necessary and deliver them to the output sockets, ready for the power amplifiers. All this has to be accomplished without altering or falsifying the signals’ content. We have invested a vast amount of effort in designing preamplifiers which meet these requirements in full. The devices are of discrete, fully symmetrical construction, while every single component is the very finest available. The circuitry is housed in cases of uncompromising construction. The design and concept of the P 3100 HV is based on the P 3000 HV. Outwardly, the difference is only the type number. In terms of circuitry, however, the entire preamplifier section, and thus the most important part, has been further improved.
So far, the input and output stages of the P 3000 HV have been coupled to the relay volume control with high-quality capacitors.
In the P 3100 HV a new, very complex circuit board layout compensates for the temperature coefficients of the transistors and the operating points can be set exactly, which means that the preamplifier stages have a pure DC coupling. There are no longer coupling capacitors in the signal path between the input stage, volume control and output stage. The preamplifier board is absolutely voltage and temperature stable.
In addition, we have equipped the digital power supply with more power and shielded it even better. The already oversized toroidal transformer of the analog part was enlarged to 115 VA. The sum of these measures leads to a significant improvement in sound quality.
High Voltage
In the ingenious overall circuit design of the HV (= High Voltage) series - developed in-house by T+A - all the amplifier stages operate at much higher operating voltages than usual: in the preamplifier the figure is up to 100 Volt, in the power amplifier up to 360 Volt. In a similar manner to valve amplifiers, the actual modulation of all the stages can be kept very low. Only a very small percentage (less than 20%) of the possible excursion of the amplifier transistors is used, thereby virtually eliminating the curvature (non-linearity) of that characteristic. Additional measures for improving the linear nature of the voltage amplifier stages are also employed. In addition to outstanding linearity, the high operating voltages employed offer the advantage of extremely wide dynamic range. We have developed this unique technology for use in all the HV-series machines, since the tremendous sonic improvements which it makes possible can be exploited in the output stages of source devices such as the MP 3100 HV multi-source player as well as in preamplifiers and power amplifiers.
Construction
The connector section on the back panel provides impressive evidence of the P 3100 HV’s uncompromising design and symmetrical double-mono construction. The channels are kept consistently separate. The preamplifier circuit boards are of exact identical construction, and are located under the case top cover; this layout eliminates electromagnetic influences. The circuit boards are housed in their own compartment made of thick-walled (10 to 15 mm) aluminium plates, and are completely separated and shielded from the mains unit and power supply in the bottom section of the case. The circuit topology is based on a differential cascode amplifier with hand-selected audio J-FET transistors. All stages are of completely discrete construction with-out op-amps (operational amplifiers). Their linear nature is not derived from “hard” negative feedback, as in the case of standard op-amps, but from the quality of the circuit topology and the components employed, which are carefully selected and adjusted. For this reason virtually no overall negative feedback is required. T+A HV technology enables signals up to 80 Vss to be processed without distortion - a value which is unique for a transistor preamplifier.
Specifications
Preamplifier stage
Frequency response + 0 / – 3 dB
0,5 Hz – 300 kHz
Signal / noise ratio
108 / 112 dB
Total harmonic distortion
< 0,001%
Intermodulation
< 0,001 %
Channel separation
> 108 dB
Unbalanced inputs (RCA)
7 x 250 mVeff ... 9 Veff / 20 kOhms
Balanced inputs (XLR)
4 x 500 mVeff ... 18 Veff / 5 kOhms
Outputs
Headphones
50 Ohms high current
1 x Recorder
250 mVeff / 100 Ohms
PRE out RCA
Nom 1 Veff, Max 9,5 Veff / 50 Ohms
PRE out XLR
Nom 1,45 Veff, Max 19,6 Veff / 50 Ohms
Reservoir capacity
75000 μF
Mains / Accessories / Dimensions
Mains
2 x 110 - 120 V/60 Hz or 220 - 240 V/50 Hz,
10 + 60 Watts rated current consumption
Standby mode
< 0,5 W
Features
Trigger input +5 ... 20 V for external switching-on
input 4 can be configured in surround mode
analogue signal processing module
slot for optional phono content_default MM / MC
Remote control
F 3001
Accessories
2 x power cord, remote control receiver E 2000
Dimensions (H x W x D)
17 x 46 x 46 cm
Weight
28 kg / 61.7 lbs
Finishes
case: silver laquer 47 or titanium laquer 64
heat sink black 42
Technical modifications reserved
Reviews
Future Audiophile 12/2022
P 3100 HV Pre-amplifier Review
To say I was completely and thoroughly impressed with the P 3100 HV is an understatement. Its musical presentation was a joy to behold even right out of the box. Well, not a box, really. It is shipped in a metal and wooden flight case, further evidence of T+A’s commitment to quality. When you consider the retail pricing to the features, and best of all the incredible performance, you’ve got a real player in the ultra-high-end audiophile market. Does anyone truly need to spend this kind of cash on a stereo preamp? Of course not. The problem is, once you hear it and put your hands on it, you will want to.
Hifi News 10/2020
T+A P 3100 HV
I had an absolute ball with this preamp, combining as it does
a remarkably ‘straight through’ sound with quality throughout,
from design to engineering to styling and finish. I might swerve
the ‘match my car’ paint options, but otherwise there’s nothing not
to like here. It looks – and sounds – a million dollars, and is as much
a pleasure to use as it is to listen to and with. Clearly the theory
has been well applied here.
Audio 8/2020
Central
star Not to combine this preamplifier with power amplifiers of the absolute top class would be pearls before swine. The T+AP 3100 HV pushes the analog signal processing to the extreme, which mercilessly impales the inferior post-players, including loudspeakers, by the way. But if everything fits, then this really not cheap pre-amplifier from German development and production provides musical experiences of unimagined richness. Surprisingly even with mediocre material in terms of recording technology. He shows his weaknesses incorruptibly, but he gives what is essential, the music, truly radiant energy. This central star causes the sun to rise.
Stereo 7/2020
Going one step further
The hard work in Herford definitely paid off. Developing a hi-fi component of any kind that is so sound-neutral and yet so full of emotional qualities is a feat that only very few succeed in doing. To have managed to do this at a considerable, but compared to the rest of the world elite almost cheap price, goes far beyond a perfectly rehearsed trick. It's almost a miracle!
Preamplifier stage
Frequency response + 0 / – 3 dB
0,5 Hz – 300 kHz
Signal / noise ratio
108 / 112 dB
Total harmonic distortion
< 0,001%
Intermodulation
< 0,001 %
Channel separation
> 108 dB
Unbalanced inputs (RCA)
7 x 250 mVeff ... 9 Veff / 20 kOhms
Balanced inputs (XLR)
4 x 500 mVeff ... 18 Veff / 5 kOhms
Outputs
Headphones
50 Ohms high current
1 x Recorder
250 mVeff / 100 Ohms
PRE out RCA
Nom 1 Veff, Max 9,5 Veff / 50 Ohms
PRE out XLR
Nom 1,45 Veff, Max 19,6 Veff / 50 Ohms
Reservoir capacity
75000 μF
Mains / Accessories / Dimensions
Mains
2 x 110 - 120 V/60 Hz or 220 - 240 V/50 Hz,
10 + 60 Watts rated current consumption
Standby mode
< 0,5 W
Features
Trigger input +5 ... 20 V for external switching-on
input 4 can be configured in surround mode
analogue signal processing module
slot for optional phono content_default MM / MC
Remote control
F 3001
Accessories
2 x power cord, remote control receiver E 2000
Dimensions (H x W x D)
17 x 46 x 46 cm
Weight
28 kg / 61.7 lbs
Finishes
case: silver laquer 47 or titanium laquer 64
heat sink black 42
Technical modifications reserved
