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Phono Preamp Tube Rush

Is there such a thing as a tube phono stage that doesn't have tube rush? Is it just an inherent weakness of that type of pre or is it some combination of cartridge gain and preamp gain? I went from a silent solid state ASR Basis Exclusive to a Herron VTPH-2A (new home with space limitations) and now I'm using a Hagerman Trumpet with my Decca London Super Gold. Both the Herron and Hagerman have tube rush. The Hagerman beats the Herron in my setup and it really sounds incredible but in quiet passages and between songs, there's that hiss at high-medium and high volume. It's just there. No combination of new tubes, new cables, etc changes this fact. Same with the Herron. Anyone having a different experience with a tube phono preamp?
dhcod
dhcod OP
710 posts
 
That's great news about the Gold Lions. Now that you know that you can improve the VTPH-2a with different tubes, It may be a interesting  experiment to grab a pair of smooth plate Telefunkens from ebay and see if the improvement in sound quality is worth the extra noise. It was for me. In my VTPH-2a, they just did a better job of presenting the music, more soundstage depth, more of a feeling of hands on instruments, truer vocals. Still great dynamics. But a little more noise. 
lewm
13,048 posts
 
three-easy, I would expect that different persons would get different results, if each person were to replace the stock tubes with the aftermarket brand you selected, because to a great extent it depends upon the pre-existing condition of the tubes being replaced.  Could it be that your stock tubes were a bit long in the tooth?
dhcod OP
710 posts
 
I think it's more about what sound you want than tubes that are worn out. Right out of the box, different tubes make the VTSP-2a sound different, even better in my opinion. Others may be just fine with the stock tube sound. It's a matter of personal taste and also how much time and money you want to invest in listening tests with other tubes.
three_easy_payments's avatar
three_easy_payments
2,097 posts
 
@lewm

I completely agree that not everyone is going to recognize the same or even similar results as me as the change is certainly both system dependent and based on personal tastes. The stock tubes were only 7 months old so they had plenty of tread left. I just thought I’d offer a data point because in general I think you’re hard pressing to get a better sound than what Keith brings into the box from the get-go.
three_easy_payments's avatar
three_easy_payments
2,097 posts
 
@dhcod   +1  I think that sums up my perspective as well.
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