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My 1st Tube Equipment Experience

I just purchased a used Herron Audio VTSP-3A(r02) tube preamp, as a replacement for a NAD M12.  I paired the M12 with a NAD M22 v2.  My first impressions are the M12 has more detail, the VTSP is much warmer, which is what I wanted.  The VTSP sound is definitely different.  And while it lacks the M12 detail, I do like it.  

With the M12, my speakers were dead silent when music was not playing.  With the VTSP, I hear a slight hiss when I put my ear very near a speaker.  With the M12, I used XLR from the M12 to the M22; XLR from my Parasound JC3 jr; and RCA from my Liberty DAC.  With the VTSP, everything now is RCA.

Is a little hiss common when using a tube preamp and SS power amp with RCA cables?
128x128oldschool1948
oldschool1948's avatar
oldschool1948 OP
501 posts
 
@jackd. I haven’t tried that but I will.  Thanks for the suggestions.
jackd
1,068 posts
 
Dropping the gain level on the Herron to the low gain position should pretty much eliminate any noise even right at the tweeter. Then you can leave the amp on the default(shipped) position. Should also give you more "travel" on the volume control. 
noromance's avatar
noromance
9,771 posts
 
For my taste, it sounds like you made a backward move. Never give up detail.
bdp24's avatar
bdp24
9,792 posts
 
Frank Van Alstine used the 5751 tube in place of the stock 12AX7 in his Dynaco PAS pre-amp mod. Quietest tube pre-amp I've owned, or even heard. The 5751 is a little lower in gain than the 12AX7 though. Has anyone tried a 5751 in the Herron?
oldschool1948's avatar
oldschool1948 OP
501 posts
 
@noromance  In general I would agree.  The M12 is a too bright; I also don't use it's DAC, BluOS module, or phono inputs.  If the Heron doesn't pan out, I'll look for something else.  
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