Sutherland TZ Vibe Transimpedance Phono PreAmplifier

Experience unparalleled sound quality with the Sutherland TZ Vibe Transimpedance Phono Stage, a revolutionary design blending the best features of the KC Vibe and Little Loco Mk2. Perfectly optimized for low-output Moving Coil (MC) cartridges, this compact unit eliminates loading adjustments by utilizing current-based transimpedance technology. Delivering exceptional clarity, expansive soundstage, and rich tonal detail, the TZ Vibe offers audiophiles an accessible entry into high-performance audio. Built with meticulous craftsmanship and backed by a 5-year warranty, it’s the ultimate upgrade for your vinyl setup.

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


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.

This new design ‘lifts’ some circuity from the KC VIBE and ‘lifts’ some circuitry from the front of the little LOCO Mk2. The KC VIBE provides the foundation and the second gain stage. The transimpedance input stage comes from the little LOCO Mk2. Each of those products underwent years of development. Each has been in production for several years, earning a solid reputation. All of that valuable knowledge and experience is combined into the TZ VIBE. An offering of the Sutherland transimpedance experience at a more accessible price.

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.

Place the TZ VIBE near the turntable. The turntable signal is applied to the two centrally located RCA jacks on the back panel. Often there is a ground wire coming from the turntable. Connect it to the grounding screw in the center of the back panel. The output of the TZ VIBE goes to a line-level input on your preamp or integrated amplifier.The DC power connection is made in the opening on the bottom of the TZ VIBE case. Orient the cable routing so the ferrite filtering element in within the bottom opening. Otherwise the case will not sit solidly on the four rubber feet.Load SettingsThere 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 out-put 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.WARNINGThe TZ VIBE uses an external power supply with an unusually high output voltage. Use it ONLY with the TZ VIBE. If used on other equipment, there is a real possibility of causing severe damage.Use the TZ VIBE only with the included power supply. It provides the specific requirements that must be met.

Size 9” wide11” deep2” high
Shipping Box12.5” wide14.5” deep6.5” high
Weight Unit Weight: 6 lbsShipping Weight: 9.5 lbs
Operating VoltageRequirements86 to 260 volts AC, 5 WattsUniversal, no adjustment required

Warranty
5 years parts and labor. Transferable. Only valid for units that have not been modifiedor abused.

What is Transimpedance Amplification?

A transimpedance phono stage is a moving‑coil phono preamp that works as a current‑to‑voltage converter: it takes the cartridge’s output current and converts it directly into a voltage, with gain set by a feedback resistor (the “transimpedance”), rather than amplifying the cartridge as a voltage source into a load.
Core definition

    In circuit terms, it is a transimpedance amplifier (TIA) optimized for MC cartridges: an op‑amp (or discrete equivalent) with a large feedback resistor that produces an output Vout≈Iin×RfVout≈Iin×Rf.

    The cartridge “sees” a virtual short at the input (very low input impedance), so its current is determined almost entirely by groove modulation and its own coil resistance, not by an external load resistor.

How that differs from voltage-mode phono

    Conventional phono stages are voltage amplifiers: the cartridge drives some load impedance (often 100 Ω or more for MC) and the stage multiplies the resulting voltage.

    A transimpedance phono stage instead assumes the cartridge behaves as a current source and directly converts that current to voltage, functioning somewhat like an active electronic replacement for an MC step‑up transformer.

Cartridge compatibility aspect

    Because the input is essentially a short, these stages are only appropriate for low‑impedance, low‑output MC cartridges; high‑impedance or MM/MI types are a poor match and can be overloaded or simply not operate correctly.

    Within their intended range, they can provide high bandwidth and low‑noise operation, which is why this configuration is attractive for very low‑level MC signals.