Preamp for Herron VTPH-2A


Ok, the eventual goal will be to try a Herron VTSP-360.  However, that is not in the budget, even used, until sometime next year.  So, I've decided to get an interim preamp.

I have approximately 3k to work with right now.  

I'd like to hear what VTSP-2A owners are using now or have used in the past with success.

As for other suggestions, here's what I'm looking for right now.

*Needs:

Gain - I need a preamp with gain.  Somewhere around 10db to 12db would be optimal.

Transparent.  I'm not looking for coloration.  I'd like to find one that does the best job of sounding like it's not there.

Input impedance:  47K or higher with on the SE inputs.

Line level only:  No phono stage, no DAC, etc.

*Preferences:

True balanced output.  Nice, but not necessary.  I'd like to place the turntable in a spot where it needs approximately 25 feet of cable run between it and the power amp, but can live with it if it stays near the power amp.

Tone Control Bypass (no tone controls preferable)

Remote control:  Nice , but not absolutely necessary.

*Don't care:

Tubes/Solid State. As long as it is sufficiently transparent, the tech doesn't matter.

Thanks in advance.  I'm sure based on the recommendation I got for the VTPH-2A, I'll get some great suggestions.

TIA
psychoticreaction
Users have their mantras suggest their ideas (many invaluable) even if they’re not for you.


Users, yes, audio cult members, not so much. You can tell the difference when they get either mad or insulting when you don't agree to follow their doctrine.  Or they continue to post the same drivel even when it's apparent the OP isn't interested.  

But anyway, I have my Herron on a wall shelf next to the turntable. It's easy for me to reach over the top of unit and manipulate any of the connections and plug in or change the loading resistors. But I do have to say I am enjoying it most with no loading resistors.

I remember reading about the Cello back in the day.  I'm pretty old school, and at the time it looked too much like a preamp with an equalizer. :)  

I'm still pretty purist, I bypass the tone controls where possible, but yeah, the Palette is a bit older than what I'm looking for.

Thanks.
I have owned a multitude of Preamps over the years...including a EAR 912.  

Recently purchased a BLACK ICE F360, a HYBRID Tube amp (one 6SN7) and am discovering that it is the best Preamp I have owned...

I am running a Allnic H-7000 Vacuum Tube Phono Stereo Preamplifier to it and my VINYL has never sounded better.

Very impressed.
@au_lait

All my peers romanticize Klipsch, Shindo and Garrard, to the point of nauseam, and even I am a child of The Loft ....

The Loft ?
Wow, it’s not easy to meet a person who was at The Loft, only on audiogon ... :)

From this article about the loft: "David Mancuso bought his first Klipsch "Klipschorn" loudspeakers for domestic purpose from Richard Long (RLA) before he went on audio business in 1964. These loudspeakers were the personal ones which Long used at home. In 1965 Mancuso moved to a loft in Broadway. In 1966 he started throwing private parties using two Klipsch "Cornwall" powered by McIntosh amplifier and preamplifier. The sound sources were a Garrard turntable and a Revox 10 inches reel-to-reel. Alex Rosner (Rosner Custom Sounds) constructed his first sound system for the Canada-A-Go-Go and Carnival-A-Go-Go stands at the 1964-5 where he built the world’s first stereophonic sound system. "Up until then it had all been mono. There was no equipment available at the time. There where no mixers, no stereo mixers, no cueing devices. Nothing" he remember. Rosner moved in the clubs, firstly with a place called Ginza and then with the Haven, where he built the "Rosie", the first ever stereo disco mixer used by DJ Francis Grasso. "They called ’Rosie’ because it was painted in red. It was really primitive and not very good. But it did the job. And nobody could complain, because nothing else around". Rosner sold to Mancuso the two Klipsch "Cornwall" loudspeakers for his space in Broadway back in 1966."

All my peers romanticize Klipsch, Shindo and Garrard, to the point of nauseam, and even I am a child of The Loft ... 


@au_lait
I doubt anyone understand which Loft do you mean, but I guess you're talking about David Mancuso's Loft in NYC in the 70's (Klipsch, Koetsu, Technics and his custom made stuff). 

Moderator: What what the reason to remove my post about The Loft system ?  
I had the Herron, and loved it..... ended up selling it for the Pass XP25 (not only because I’m not ready in life to relax my ear that much, but mostly for the easy of changing cartridge loading/gain without pulling the rack out from the wall to access the loading pins, especially frequent with 2 TTs or tone arms). I’ll may go back to the Herron later. Both Herron and Pass seem to work well with my pre-amp, Cello Palette, which does have 3 internal gain settings as well as balanced output (I’m running 20 foot ICs to my amps that live across the room with the speakers)... but that is indeed vintage, so... no dice.

Cello Palette goes for over $12k today.

They made very cute CELLO Etude which is passive and goes for about $1k. 

There is something similar in these knobs between Pass and Cello :)) 

Nelson Pass stuff is great, love his preamps (passive and active), hope to try his Pass Aleph Ono phono stage and Pass Aleph P preamp soon.