I've been building these things for years and after so many customers suggested that I should release my TCIs commercially, I decided to take the plunge. So here's my Transformer Coupled Interface Type 1 which is a 2-channel, passive, unbalanced to balanced converter.
TCI started as a problem solver in my own studio. Before long, friends asked me to build TCIs for them and then they got the attention of musicians, engineers, producers and even audiophiles, further afield. With a proven track record, there are already hundreds of these boxes all around the world, some of which may be over twenty years old! Out of all the things I've built over the years, people seem to love my humble TCI.
Making a commercial product is a great opportunity to offer a truly high-specification device, to a wider audience and I'm very proud to have squeezed all of this in:
| NUMBER OF CHANNELS | |
| FREQUENCY RESPONSE | |
| INPUT IMPEDANCE | |
| OUTPUT IMPEDANCE | |
| INPUT CONNECTIONS | |
| OUTPUT CONNECTIONS | |
| DIMENSIONS | |
| WEIGHT | |
The title says it all and you've just read the specifications but there's even more information about my Transformer Coupled Interface Type 1 unbalanced to balanced converter in my post, here.
Yes, I know; what about the 'Type 2'. Well, the Type 2 is (you guessed it) a passive 2-channel balanced to unbalanced converter. Indeed I've also built a few of these. I receive so few enquires about doing things the other way around that for the time being, a Type 2 isn't in my plans.
UPDATE - 13th August 2021
Out of the first sixteen TCIs sold, thirteen went to audiophiles, something I really didn’t expect but which I can relate to.
Of course, now-a-days, many powered hi-fi speaker systems, have balanced inputs, especially sub-bass speakers and headphone amps. You’ll be hard pushed however, to find a high-end pre-amp with balanced outputs. Luckily, most have low output impedances and offer very high signal levels, making them ideal for connecting to the balanced inputs of powered speakers, via a passive unbalanced to balanced converter like the TCI Type 1.
TCI Type 1 was designed for studio applications and so has ¼” jack input sockets and not RCA phono sockets, normally found on hi-fi equipment. Short RCA phono to ¼” jack cables are however, easily available and if you really get stuck, I’d be more than happy to make a pair.
The outputs of one customer's pre-amp were on 4-way DIN sockets and again, please just contact me if you need custom cables made.
My TCI Type I unbalanced to balanced converter, is an amazing little problem solver and is now available to buy here...
Or you can read more about it here.
UPDATE - 31st March 2025
I'm very proud to probably have the best customers in the world! Every once in a while though, I get an email which just makes me feel like what I do is so worthwhile. BUT...
Then I get an email which is truly humbling.
This evening I received an email from a customer who bought a TCI Type 1.
"Hi Alexander,
I have got the TCI today.
Thank you very much, the sound is perfect.
I made the music video on YouTube. You can check the sound quality and your device in video. Also I wrote about Plasma Music in description of video."
https://youtu.be/4x-z5k1ADRA?si=J1vQJH11jKMozbFJ
I had no idea of the situation in which my little TCI Type 1 was going to be used but definitely didn't imagine that it would be interfacing the likes of DAC and Concert Fidelity equipment. How incredibly amazing to see my TCI Type 1 amongst such giants. How incredibly humbling and how lovely of my customer to get back to me and let me know.
Like all my stuff, TCI is designed and made by me, here in Hemel Hempstead, UK. I do however, use sub-contractors for making enclosures, PCBs, etc. Unlike many, I only use local companies and here's why...
I'm deeply concerned about the environment and the exploitation of labour and so I always use local manufacturers in preference to the Far East, with the following in mind:
- I can be confident that workers are treated fairly and earn a proper wage.
- I can be confident of the standard of quality of each item that is delivered to me.
- Communication is important and using local manufacturers, all correspondence is quick and understandable.
- I believe in supporting the local economy.
- I can be confident that the disposal of manufacturing waste is managed properly and in accordance with national and EU law.
Using local manufacturers isn’t the cheapest option but the above points are important to me. I hope that they’re important to you too.