Phono Preamp Tube Rush

Almarg, You are very kind to answer for Hagtech.  Maybe he will also answer for himself.  Just in case he was not talking about "Johnson noise".  Apparently every conductor creates Johnson noise, It's not a property inherent to transformers only.

I also have the VTPH-2A. Great phono stage. I am using a Hashimoto HM7 SUT with it. At one time, I did have a little tube rush that could be heard from my listening position if I maxed out the gain on my preamp with nothing playing. So, I tried different things - changed/added grounding for the TT; changed the tubes in V1 and V2, and also V5; made the ground wires/connections a bit tighter; moved my SUT around relative to the TT and phono stage; used different shielded interconnects; created some flexible outside metal/copper shielding for the shielded interconnects from TT to SUT and from SUT to VTPH-2A, with the shielding then grounded to the ground posts. Each had a small but additive effect on S/N, eventually reducing noise by about -12dB to what the VTPH-2A is specified at (e.g., around -90dB). You should try some of the little incremental improvements that are out there because they can add up nicely and reduce noise. Noise is rarely just because of 1 piece of equipment or 1 issue.

Now, with max gain on my preamp, I can only hear a faint bit of tube rush if I place me ear right against the speakers. That’s what I would expect at -90dB. Otherwise, from my listening position, it is dead quiet. YMMV.

I have never heard an ARC phonoamp with "tube rush." They do have noise way down which is not a factor up to 110 dB in my system. I do use super low noise 6922's from Roger Modjeski's tubeaudiostore.com. He measures every single tube and puts them into three categories, standard, low noise and super low noise. The super low noise tubes are said to be one in 100 tubes tested. I have purchased 6 tubes and they are all obviously quieter than the ones ARC supplies. From my experience NOS tubes are a rip off. I had NOS Telefunken 6922s and they were no where close to Roger's tubes as far as noise is concerned. With Roger you know exactly what you are getting which is very reassuring. If your phono amp is noisy with super low noise tubes then it is either defective or a bad design. 

I have used super low noise new stock tubes from Kevin at Upscale. I got a 10-20% improvement in noise and a -25% penalty in sound quality from the NOS smooth plate Telefunken 12ax7s and the Brimar 13D5s that I prefer. Lots of tradeoffs in this hobby!

All tube phono stages do not have tube rush.  Sounds like a poorly designed unit IMO.  While it may sounds excellent as you say, there is something not right about the design.

@dhcod - the original Telefunken factory in CT is back in operation!

Happy Listening.