I am UK based and this reflects in my equipment selection. Current TT is Rega Planar 8 with Rega Apheta 3 MC cartridge and Longdog Audio MC J3 phono stage. The MC J3 is interesting as it combines solid state and tubes. It's the best I have had to date, previous phono stages were from NVA & Tom Evans. I thought both were good but lacked the wow factor of the MC J3. I have a broken Rega Apheta 2 MC that I am going to get Peter to repair with a new cantilever and tip when he hopefully recovers from his latest C19 infection. Even though I have never heard a Soundsmith cartridge my gut feel is I am going to enjoy it.
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So after reading all these I’m looking at 4 phono stages now. Herron VTPH-2A, Allnic h1202, Whest two.2, and the pathos in the groove (which was already on my list prior to this post) the first two would definitely be pushing the budget but if the customer service, build quality, and most importantly sonic performance is as good as everyone says they are I’m sure I could save up the extra funds. Thoughts on these 4 phono preamps? thank you! |
I recently had my Modwright PH 9.0 upgraded to a 9.0X and could not be happier. The unit is dead quiet. I'm currently using it with an Audio Technica AT-ART9XI and hoping to get my Soundsmith Paua Mk II back from rebuild one day. It paired well with the Modwright before it had an accident, but the Audio Technica cartridges are great match with it. |
@mbzmeister . .... now I thought I’d try a Hagerman Trumpet MC. It’s still burning in but starting to blossom. I upgraded the power supply with SBooster and installed gold lion gold pin tubes. The goal is to get this phono stage sounding as good or better than the icon audio/Telefunken combo and it’s almost there. Yep, I’ve had my Trumpet about 2 1/2-3 weeks, and it is really beginning to open up and sound great. Interesting about your SBooster, I’ve heard others considering that as well. Did you get the 15-16V unit? As the Trumpet’s power wall wart supply is 15V, I assume so? And is there any concern that it can be fed 16V? Or can you pick between 15&16? I have a 16V LPS power supply sitting idle, but was concerned using it with the Trumpet feeding 16V vs 15V. I guess I could email Jim, but it is tempting to try, especially as I don’t use it any more, as it used to power my old phono pre. Regardless, I’m using the stock tubes as well right now, and seems every day or so it sounds better. |
I was using a Benz PP1, but I recently traded some unused speakers for a Chinese clone of the EAR 834 phono preamp (MM only), and have fallen in love with the thing. So now I am back to MMs (albeit, 2mV lowish outputs) for the first time in years. Waiting for a cheap head amp to arrive, to try it with a LOMC, and if that sounds as good or better than the Benz, I will start playing around with SUTs. |
If you want to get a Herron, you better act fast. Keith said he's only going to make a couple more and I just ordered one of them. It'll be a couple of weeks before I get it, so I can't comment yet on quality, but I have his monoblock amps which are fantastic and based on everything I've read, I'm confident the phono stage will be a nice step up from my current Manley Chinook. |
@ big_greg Sure glad you posted about Keith - - I'd been wondering about that. In fact, I just unhooked mine in order to photo and box for sale. I only had about 40 hours on it. I "invested" about $8K in acoustic remodel for my listening room, and have been listening to digital while I get my TT and new cartridge set up after taking everything out of the room for the new acoustics install, room sweeps, mod's, and refinement. Figured I'd buy another Herron phono maybe late next year. Dang...now I'm not sure I should sell it - - cuz I sure don't know what I'd replace it with! |
I’m using a Sound Smith Paua II cartridge with a Bob’s Devices Sky 20 SUT and Sutherland Duo phono amp. The sound is completely amazing. I’m not into hyperbole, but when I sit and listen to my albums I feel like I’m in the studio with the artists. It’s not just an aural experience, it is a tangible one as well. As far as I’m concerned Peter Lederman makes the best phono cartridges you can buy. Also, Ron Sutherland is a genius when it comes to (comparatively inexpensive) phono stages, and Bob Sattin (from Bob’s Devices) makes incredible SUT’s for when you need a little boost before your phono stage. You really cannot go wrong with any of their products. Have fun, and good luck! |
James1911, Of the four you mention, the only one I'm familiar with is the Whest. The signature three I own replaced an older Sonic Frontier Signature tube phono stage. I like it much better in my system but can tell you it doesn't sound like a tube amp. If that is what you are looking for, the first 2 you mentioned are highly praised here. |
"Did you get the 15-16V unit?" |
@bekeske Jim's response makes sense and compares well with my contact. He of course recommended checking with Jim to be sure. His thoughts were it should be okay. The tubes would likely run a bit hotter and thus might cut tube life a little shorter but this would likely depend on the tube design itself (some are more sensitive to running hotter than others). Ran my system a good amount this weekend since it was rainy outside and the Trumpet is really starting to shine. I think it's pulled up along side my other setup that I'm very fond of. It may even be better in detail, settling on the right amount of warmth. The depth/width of soundstage is what I've been waiting for which is where my IA Tele combo really excelled. Sound stage on that combo is very good. Once I get some a little more time on the Trumpet, I'll A/B them. Currently, I'm not running dampers on the tubes. I think I like them off for now. These tubes seem fairly low in microphony for now at least. I suppose that could change and I'm told a little pinch of microphony is not necessarily a bad thing. |
Have a Soundsmith Sussurro mk ll that I ran into a Parasound JC-3 that sounded very good overall but lacked that last bit of tracing prowess that should be inherent at this level. Currently have a Benz-Micro Wood SL on a Thales Easy tonearm running into a Sutherland Little Loco that has beat all comers so far. Synergy is everything especially in phono playback... |
I use an Austin Audio Works Black Swan. Detail, resolution, low noise, but two extras I found useful. Cartridge loading from the front panel so I can change in while listening, has continuous R and step[ed C. My Koetsu got better when loaded up at about 500 ohms. I guess all the timbre stuff is true Also the MC input is balanced but uses standard RCA wiring. They say, and I found that, my SME arm is wired balanced all the time I have had it. Properly loads the whole thing. I operate using a direct balanced feed from my Swan to my amplifier and use the Gain control on the Swan to set the level. Sounds like vinyl should. |
@mbzmeister I tried it, and took it out. The LPS I had was getting too hot to my comfort level, (not the Trumpet), so removed it. Perhaps a bad match for whatever reason, and perhaps the SBooster is simply a better product for the Trumpet, and I could consider that. To be honest, after re-hooking up the Trumpet LPS wall wart, it sounded just fine anyway in comparison. So many things can come into play with these things. One thing is for sure, I think the Hagerman Trumpet is a very good pre for the money, and per the reaction and comparisons to other users previous or existing higher cost equipment, it seems to be ’punching well above its weight’. |
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@bkeske I would agree it sounds surprisingly good with the wall wart and if you're stock tubes are working well, probably leave those alone too. Mine no matter what order I placed the 4x 12ax7 tubes, I had a balance issue so I ordered up matched gold lions and this sorted it right out. The lions are really starting to shape up. I will have an opportunity to AB against my friends with stock tubes April 24. We both use the SBooster supply, thus in theory any noticeable difference will likely be in the tubes assuming we have similar break-in and ignoring any production variance (not a likely contributor). |
I’m running my Soundsmith Paua2 es into a Modwright PH 9.0X (set to 470 ohms) with Valvo E88cc NOS tubes from 1964. These tubes have proven to be the absolute best with some close runner ups, such as the NOS Bel/India 6922 made by Philips, Siemens NOS E88cc and Amperex JAN 6922 NOS in that order. All of the above proved a bit better than the Amperex PQ Holland 7308 NOS tubes and all of them are much better than every current production tube that I tried. Some of the above tubes sound better with Herbies RX or Halo tube dampers, and some without. I can’t imagine it getting any better than this, ime. |
@pesky_wabbit, initially I had no idea what it was. I was interested in bidding on a Denon DP-62L turntable and the cartridge wasn't mentioned in the listing. I messaged the seller who told me it was an F-9. I found out about it when I looked it up. My high bid accounted for both TT, cart, and some wiggle room. My winning bid was half the value, essentially I either got the TT or cart for free. It's one of my best eBay purchases ever. Obviously, I had no idea how old the original stylus was so I ordered the Soundsmith replacement. I bought a record through Discogs and Michael Fremer happened to be the seller. He told me that I was wise to pair it with the Soundsmith nude Ruby OCL stylus. He said he has the exact same setup. I've been extremely pleased with it. Now it's time to see what the Herron VTPH-2A will add. |
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@vuch Congrats on the Herron, another outstanding phono stage. This product is no longer produced. Where did you find a new one? |