SKU: 51695403257

Sutherland Engineering TZ Vibe Trans-Impedance Input Phono Preamplifier

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Description

Sutherland Engineering TZ Vibe Trans-Impedance Input Phono PreamplifierSutherland has the advantage of many model designs over the years. Every so often there is an opportunity to do some design splicing. All of that valuable knowledge and experience is combined into the TZ VIBE. Ron Sutherland Ron Sutherland has been making phono preamps for a very long time. By focusing almost exclusively on phono preamps, his design and circuitry has benefited from continued refinement and improvement over the years. All of those

“Sutherland has the advantage of many model designs over the years. Every so often there is an opportunity to do some ‘design splicing’. All of that valuable knowledge and experience is combined into the TZ VIBE.”
Ron Sutherland

Ron Sutherland has been making phono preamps for a very long time. By focusing almost exclusively on phono preamps, his design and circuitry has benefited from continued refinement and improvement over the years. All of those designs were based upon voltage amplification. The cartridge delivers a small voltage to the phono preamp input. This voltage is then multiplied to create a larger output voltage (along with RIAA EQ). A typical voltage multiplier of 1,000 can also be expressed as 60dB. One millivolt in → one volt out.

In recent times you may have noticed a new kind of phono preamp design, usually referred to as ‘current input’ or ‘trans-impedance’. Until recently, that approach has been very much in the background. However, many audiophiles are now switching over to this style of phono preamplification because it offers some serious benefits. The first trans-impedance phono preamp released by Sutherland Engineering was the PHONO LOCO, which is an ‘all-out’ very high-performance design. Following the immediate success of the PHONO LOCO, there naturally followed a challenge to bring a big measure of that performance to a lower priced model. Sutherland launched the LITTLE LOCO but in recent times, Ron responded to a call to create a trans-impedance phono preamp at an even more accessible price point – the TZ VIBE! The design has combined elements from two of their well established and highly regarded products. The KC VIBE provides the foundation and second gain stage. The little LOCO Mk2 provides the transimpedance (TZ) input gain stage.

According to a rapidly growing number of music lovers around the world, these new ‘current input’ or ‘trans-impedance’ design phono preamplifiers are attracting a lot of attention and respect because they have a unique ability to ‘dig deep into the music’ and ‘bring it to life’. They are dead quiet and very dynamic. The TZ VIBE has most of the magic that has made the LITTLE LOCO an instant classic but at a much -reduced pricing level. As long as you use exclusively MC phono cartridges, the TZ VIBE will not only enthral you… it is a true giant killer.

What is Current Input?

In short, the input signal comes from the current flowing through the cartridge, NOT the voltage from the cartridge. That current information is the input for a transimpedance gain stage (the input signal is current and the output signal is voltage). The connections on the back panel of the TZ VIBE appear to be totally conventional. There is a ground screw for grounding the turntable, two RCA jacks for the input signal from the turntable and two RCA jacks deliver an output signal to your line-level preamp. There is, however, a requirement that both coil connections float with respect to ground. Turntable grounds and cable shields need to go to a separate ground wire. There must be no direct connection from either coil side to chassis ground.

System Considerations

The TZ VIBE presents a virtual short as the cartridge load. Instead of voltage being the input parameter, it is the current generated by the cartridge that conveys musical content. The endless worry about finding the ‘best’ load value is obviated. The cartridge must be the moving coil type. Those with low output will be embraced. Not compatible with moving magnet or moving iron or step-up transformers. Thanks to the new little LOCO Mk2 circuit, the shell of the RCA input jack is now at ground. There are no special TT cable requirements.

Load Settings

There are no loading adjustments in the TZ VIBE. Your cartridge will see a load of zero Ohms. The input signal will be the current your cartridge produces into that virtual short. No need to worry about or fuss around with loading choices.

Gain Settings

Your TZ VIBE is factory-set to medium gain. That should work very well in most situations. The usual concerns about cartridge output voltage do not apply here. Cartridges of varied output voltage specs tend to supply about the same level of drive current into a short. i.e. higher output voltages usually have an associated higher internal resistance. Lower output voltages usually have an associated lower internal resistance.
If your particular situation would benefit from a gain adjustment, you can change it. Inside, on the red circuit board, you will see movable shunts for gain setting. From the factory, they are set to MED GAIN. You can boost the output voltage by 6dB when the shunts are moved to HIGH GAIN. You can reduce the output voltage by 6dB when the shunts are moved to LOW GAIN.

DESIGN PHILOSOPHY

The TZ VIBE design has combined elements from two of our well established and highly regarded products. The KC VIBE provides the foundation and second gain stage. The little LOCO Mk2 provides the transimpedance (TZ) input gain stage. It is an incredible opportunity to try the Sutherland transimpedance experience at a more accessible price.


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    SKU: 51695403257

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    Plant ecology
    Lake Worth, US
    ★★★★★ 5
    Love my Yamahas
    Set name: 5.1 Receiver
    RX 385 replaces my much-loved 10 year old RX 375, which I inadvertently fried while experimenting. The 385 has some newer features, including bluetooth. The old model and this both use the handy YPAO function to tune the audio speakers' depth of field to the listening environment. It's a broadcast mic that you just plug into the front of the receiver for a few seconds to determine each speakers' distance from viewer. Kind of a sonic echo measurement of seating to speaker. It's a foolproof, remarkably clever, timesaving gizmo. The YPAO mic is absolutely included with this unit, looks like a little plastic cone. Also important to me, Yamaha has replaced the old spring clips for rear/side speakers, which are now the better screw and cap posts, as they have always been for the two front speakers. I recommend rocketfish HDMI 4k/8k cables to connect this receiver to your tv and to whatever other components you want, such as a bluray. Sound quality is excellent if your speakers are good. (I like KEFs.) Of course you may prefer wireless speakers, but I'm already committed to wired ones. I used rocktfish banana plugs to connect my speaker wires to the RX 385 receiver's speaker posts. Neat and clean. With a choice of 2 front, 2 rear, 1 center speaker, plus one coaxial plug in for a subwoofer, your movies and programs are going to sound far more detailed and staged than you'd get from the tv or a sound bar. It's a more immersive and compelling experience. (I use only 2 fronts and 2 rears and don't feel I'm missing anything.) Yamaha receivers and other components are my favorites: relatively inexpensive, well designed, solidly built, and not fussy to install. If you find yourself in a pickle there are a couple of helpful youtube videos. I find with the RX385 again that Yamaha does not disappoint me.
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    Reviewed in the United States on April 18, 2023
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    phil
    Omaha, US
    ★★★★★ 5
    Great unit
    Set name: 5.1 Receiver
    Works great, was worried about having my hdmi run through it thinking id have to use it all the time but leaving it off the signal still goiles through to the TV. Very rleasy to hook up and very easy to use.
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    Reviewed in the United States on April 8, 2026
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    kpdrumswritessings
    Lake Worth, US
    ★★★★★ 5
    real time and energy saver, as well as $
    Size: 16AWG Wiring Harness-2 Leads
    If you have a set of LED lights that didn't come with a harness , you can't beat this for the price. By the time you figure in the cost of the parts ( wire, switch, crimps/connectors, not to mention a relay if you are using one) to hardwire a set of lights, let alone the time to assemble, this set up is cheaper by far. harness length is ample, you get a pair of pigtails with connectors for a pair of lights, the relay, switch, fuse block and fuse, and ring terminals for power all assembled for what a switch and some wire would cost. Made everything quick, cheap, and easy.
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    Reviewed in the United States on October 17, 2024
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    Miguel
    Bozeman, US
    ★★★★★ 5
    Great wiring harness for light installations.
    Size: 16AWG Wiring Harness-2 Leads, Size: 16AWG Wiring Harness-2 Leads
    This is a great wiring harness for LED lights. These come in one or two leads application. All that means is that they come ready for one or two lights, depending on your installation. The plug in connectors for each light comes with the set so that is a plus. I’ve attached a picture of the plug/connector for the lights so you can take a look at them. Although the relay is an “overkill” for low wattage LEDs, it’s OK to have it just in case you decide to change your lights for larger ones or halogens, in the future. In my case I will be using this harness in my motorcycle. It is very long for my need, which is great for cars, but too long for motorcycles since you have to remember that room/space is scarce in motorcycles. I ended up cutting the wires to my desired length and using heat shrink butt connectors and “glued” heat shrink covers for waterproofing the connection points. All in all these are great quality and I am very happy with them.
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    Reviewed in the United States on December 16, 2020
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    Verified Purchase
    Marina De Leon
    Phoenix, US
    ★★★★★ 5
    Nice
    Size: 16AWG Wiring Harness-2 Leads
    Worked great, easy to install
    WAS THIS REVIEW HELPFUL?YesReportShare
    Reviewed in the United States on January 8, 2026

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