Project Tube Box DS2 vs. Hagerman Audio Trumpet MC

@sandthemall 

I think you will be pleased. There isn’t really just one thing the SBooster improves. It’s the overall performance. 

I was getting ready to go to bed last night after several hours listening, and had to play another LP instead. That is always a good thing. 😉

Did you end up getting this? I'm currently in a tube box s2 and looking at the trumpet...I feel like when I compare with digital I'm losing definition and sparkle, but at same time if I wanted a digital sound I would just go with a solid state or abandon vinyl, so I do see value in tube sounds... just want to make sure tube box to trumpet can get me to that sweet spot...

@orange5o

Change out the stock Mullard tubes in the Trumpet to something like the Genalex Gold Lion gold pin 12ax7’s (which I did soon after I bought the Trumpet), and you will get the sparkle and definition you might desire. Or, find some Telefunken smooth plates and that takes the Gold Lion presentation up a couple more notches but with much less grain and added smoothness. I was lucky to find some Dynaco branded Telefunken smooth plates for at least 1/2 the cost of Telefunken branded tubes. I would go that route first, if you can spend the extra over the Gold Lions.

I know I read that someone asked Jim Hagerman about the difference between these two phono pre’s (Tube Box vs the Trumpet), and it is said he thinks the circuitry of the Pro-Ject makes it more a ‘tube buffer’ stage vs his Trumpet. It would be best to email Jim and ask him directly.  

Jim provides a 10 year warranty, and I would bet if the Trumpet didn’t work out for you, you could return it for a full refund. Again, ask Jim directly. 

I emailed him, got this response: 

"Start with stock tubes, let them break in for awhile.  Then for tonality
changes, swap the X7 in pairs.  For dynamics and weight, the U7 pair."

Fwiw I ordered a trumpet... still not sure what to do on tubes. I listen to a lot of acoustic guitar and jazz and definitely want to keep definition

@orange5o 

Congrats. Yea, they may break in some, but, depending on what you want, changing the tubes will change the sound signature quite a bit.

Do some research, read the sound signatures of various tubes, then try some. It’s fun. 

I also changed the 12au7’s to NOS Brimar’s from Upscale.

Pretty happy with those and the Dynaco/Telefunken smooth plates. I also listen to a lot of acoustical, jazz, and classical. So I wanted tweaks that would provide some ‘air’, as you say, sparkle, and definition. The stock Mullards are a bit thick and dense, and doubt break in will change that significantly. That’s what they are.

Then the SBoster LPS really made another nice improvement.