What phono preamp are you using?

@vinylvalet, @larsman, @vinylzone, thanks guys, I really appreciate it!

Since resurrecting my stereo from a 15-year hibernation three years ago, I’ve had the joy of a 14-year-old kid with his first stereo! It’s been a crazy ride with constant upgrading of all components in my system.

With the Herron, my feet touched the bottom of the rabbit hole and I can finally climb out.

Later this month I’ll be putting in NAT Audio Generator monoblocks, a Symmetrical line stage, and of course the Herron. I’ll finally have enough quality hardware to power the Magico A3s to reveal the potential I heard while auditioning them.

I’m looking forward to relaxing and listening to quality vinyl!

I’m using a Luxman EQ-500 with NOS tubes and Hana Umami Red on my SME 15 / 309.  Everything is still breaking in.

First night listening to the Herron VTPH-2AE in the system. Everyone told me that I needed to add a phono preamp to the system and now I know why. Amazing separation of all the instruments! I'm hearing things that I've missed before. All I can say is wow! It's going to be a blast listening to all of my albums again. 

Listening to Led Zeppelin III UK first pressing at the moment. Zeppelin isn't known for quality recording of their music, at least the early albums. The Herron really improves this album!

I have a Zestos Andros Deluxe 2.  To my ears it is fantastic, being richer in texture, more extended in treble and all around just better sounding than the Pass XP15 that preceded it (The Pass was no slouch).  Despite the tubes, the Zestos is very quiet, seeming to add no noise of its own beyond my other tube equipment.  Those who think tubed phono stages are noisy really hear the Zestos!  For gain, I'm running a Benz LPS at 68dB (which seems high, but it sounds better this way).  The "low" gain option is 62dB.  I've done a fair amount of tube rolling and settled on Tesla E88CC for the 12AX7, and GE 12DW7 for the 12DW7 position (apparently the 12DW7 drives the output transformers), which the designer George Counnas himself recommends.  To be honest, I don't hear much difference in the 12DW7 swapping, but quite a bit with the 12ax7.  Long story short, I love this phono amp.  I would prefer 47K loading as an option for MC carts, but the Zestos is limited to 1K max, which I have the Benz LPS running at.  Still, it all sounds great.   I'm liking Zestos tube work so much I'm thinking about my next power amp. That Zesto Audio Bia 120 is looking mighty fine.   : ) 

@gakerty +1. I also love my Andros Deluxe 2, the best among my several phono stages. Excellent description. Thanks for the tube rolling tips. Agree, should have 30k and 47k MC loading options.