Project Tube Box DS2 vs. Hagerman Audio Trumpet MC

@orange5o

Change out the stock Mullard tubes in the Trumpet to something like the Genalex Gold Lion gold pin 12ax7’s (which I did soon after I bought the Trumpet), and you will get the sparkle and definition you might desire. Or, find some Telefunken smooth plates and that takes the Gold Lion presentation up a couple more notches but with much less grain and added smoothness. I was lucky to find some Dynaco branded Telefunken smooth plates for at least 1/2 the cost of Telefunken branded tubes. I would go that route first, if you can spend the extra over the Gold Lions.

I know I read that someone asked Jim Hagerman about the difference between these two phono pre’s (Tube Box vs the Trumpet), and it is said he thinks the circuitry of the Pro-Ject makes it more a ‘tube buffer’ stage vs his Trumpet. It would be best to email Jim and ask him directly.  

Jim provides a 10 year warranty, and I would bet if the Trumpet didn’t work out for you, you could return it for a full refund. Again, ask Jim directly. 

I emailed him, got this response: 

"Start with stock tubes, let them break in for awhile.  Then for tonality
changes, swap the X7 in pairs.  For dynamics and weight, the U7 pair."

Fwiw I ordered a trumpet... still not sure what to do on tubes. I listen to a lot of acoustic guitar and jazz and definitely want to keep definition

@orange5o 

Congrats. Yea, they may break in some, but, depending on what you want, changing the tubes will change the sound signature quite a bit.

Do some research, read the sound signatures of various tubes, then try some. It’s fun. 

I also changed the 12au7’s to NOS Brimar’s from Upscale.

Pretty happy with those and the Dynaco/Telefunken smooth plates. I also listen to a lot of acoustical, jazz, and classical. So I wanted tweaks that would provide some ‘air’, as you say, sparkle, and definition. The stock Mullards are a bit thick and dense, and doubt break in will change that significantly. That’s what they are.

Then the SBoster LPS really made another nice improvement.

Thanks, I think I may start with gold lions from Kevin's stash just bc in pretty new and don't want to get burned by a bad source. What do you think about getting 2 ax7 and 2 au7 and then 2 nos ax7s and try mixing? 

Also what voltage of sbooster? Thanks!