My new to me Herron VTPH-2A - First impressions

If it is really "passive", then one must take into consideration the output impedance of the driving stage and the input impedance of the driven stage. In my own mind, "passive" means no active devices in the circuit. However, since it comes from First Watt (a la Nelson Pass, perhaps the best solid state designer we have) and since he calls it a "Buffer", I would guess it is an active device that adds no gain. If so, I agree it could be cool in this set-up.
EDIT.  I cheated and went to the website.  Indeed, this is a buffer, not passive.  Here is what Nelson Pass wrote:"This suggests the possibility of using a high quality buffer in conjunction with a volume control. A buffer is still an active circuit using tubes or transistors, but it has no voltage gain – it only interposes itself to make a low impedance into a high impedance, or vice versa.

If you put a buffer in front of a volume control, the control’s low impedance looks like high impedance. If you put a buffer after a volume control, it makes the output impedance much lower. You can put buffers before and after a volume control if you want.

The thing here is to try to make a buffer that is very neutral. Given the simple task, it’s pretty easy to construct simple buffers with very low distortion and noise and very wide bandwidth, all without negative feedback."

I’m impressed the direct connection hit a very "reasonable" volume level - props to your Math skills! That said I would not consider a 0-gain passive or buffer stage, in your shoes. You’ll need some extra gain on tap for the occasional softly cut recordings, for times when you want to "rock out", or for adjustments if you make a change to your cartridge / loading / settings / tubes.

A modern, highly regarded tube preamp in the ~ 10dB gain range (8 - 14) is what I’d shoot for. That’s high enough to help out when needed (without having to throttle the volume knob to MAX), and low enough not to cause noise issues and other discernible sonic artifacts. It’s the "sweet" spot for an analog-focused system. Passives and low gains are for folks with hot-output digital sources. Your Conrad Johnson, though probably still nice - is a (perhaps) dated, high-gain tube preamp, so no wonder it sounds a bit soft in contrast to the modern Herron. A 12ax7 in the V1/V2 slot is really not what you want for "pristine" tube preamp sound; too much gain - these tubes belong in RIAA phono stages, not line-stage. Older tube line-stage designs would use 12ax7 like this, in order to "add on" to the phono section for handling medium output MC cartridges - and that appears to be exactly what your CJ does. NOT necessary now with your Herron! I'm also not a big fan of 12au7, though having them on outputs here is an appropriate use of them. The BelCanto is solid state - and who on Earth wants a solid state preamp? (lol)

The Herron 360 preamp looks like a good play. Two gain choices: 4dB, 14dB which should actually be perfect - 4 for digital sources, 14 for analog - but don’t let that stop you from looking around a bit more before investing. A 360 would look sweet in a rack next to the Herron phono stage, to be sure!

Ok, when I said reasonable level, it was satisfying but well below the highest volume I will occasionally listen to. I won’t look at passives and will want a standard gain line stage.

+1 @mulveling "The Herron 360 preamp looks like a good play."

@lewm


I said "passive preamp (no gain) with volume control per channel."

Not passive device (you have to plug it into the power outlet).

But look at this inside (my unit). Very simple design.

In neutral, no coloration, pure

When someone would like to connect something directly to the power amp without thinking about impedance issues then Buffer Preamp is a must have, it's great cost effective solution.

And expensive line-level preamp with gain is not needed even it's from the same manufacturer like OP's phono stage.