Herron VTPH-2A Phono Preamp....anyone familiar?

@uberwaltz

Just had a very pleasant phone conversation with Keith . Both in agreement that present amp and his phono should be a match made in audio heaven. And his direct sale pricing is VERY fair imho. Just have to sell the Gold Note now.....

You gave up so quickly after so many praise for the Gold Note in your posts.

Tube phono stage is not for everyone imo (same about tube amps).

But in general this is a prime exaple that we like something only until we will find something better. But you must check the Herron in your own system first, before you will sell Gold Note. Looking forward for your reports about it, but not in the first week after purchase :)

@jcoehler

I sold my Gold Note in favor of the Herron, the VTPH-2A does everything better.

Is it better in low register? The only weak point of the Gold Note in my system is the bass. But the best bass i have with mosfet phono stage (no tubes).

Chakster

I do not call 2 years " gave up so quickly"

You may not recall but at that time I was convinced I wanted a Herron or a Chinook back then but thanks to sensible advice right here it was decided that certainly the Herron would not be a good match impedance wise for my then present Lyngdorf 2170.

If the Gold Note was the be all and end all of phono stages then everybody would have one and there would be no need or market for anything different/better.

Sometimes it is indeed a case of the grass is greener but in this case with so much overwhelming support for the Herron ( and the Chinook) I do not believe it is just smoke and mirrors.

The only weak point of the Gold Note in my system is the bass.

And there we have it.... " in my system".

One cannot expect everybody to get the same results as in your system Chakster.

You have some good advice to offer at times on certain subjects but also it appears that when someones decision does not align with yours then they must just be wrong.

@uberwaltz It is not about right or wrong and i am not advocate of Gold Note here, in fact you guys promoted it for 2 years. I feel the lack of bass with this phono stage, sadly.  

Just curious how many phono stages we have to buy. 

I bought two, but my first one still better in low registed than all of the new phono stages i bought (including gold note) pretending for upgrade. Comparison is the key. 

After reading audiogon for years i see most people are from the USA and they are always vote for Made in USA products when it comes to the phono stages. 

I'm looking forward to read your comments about Gold Note vs. Herron 

Chakster.

I have not actually made the decision to purchase the Herron yet, hence digging up this thread and asking further questions.

Still using the Gold Note right now and possible the lower bass is a little lacking but not terribly so in my system.

However tubes were and have always been on my radar.

Just as an example, I purchased a very simple iFi audio tube buffer which I placed inline between my Nak tape deck and Ayre and it really fleshed out the bones a fair bit. Now sounds flat without it inline.

Still chewing it over.

Uber, If you can, listen to a Manley Chinook.  I haven't heard the Herron, so can't say how it compares, but I'm very happy with mine.