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Is Van den Hul Frog Gold a good choice for my rig?

Hi!  I have what would probably be called a mid-fi system in these parts, although it's made up of components I really love with highish end used/open box parts bought because my tastes are Waygu, while my budget is nice brisket.

I recently acquired a gently-used VPI Titan (the older, belt-driven, model although still sold) with a 12 inch Fat Boy tone arm, in part because the price was fantastic.

After much study, albeit in complete ignorance, I am strongly leaning to the Van den Hul Frog Gold on my own, but a conclusion reinforced because my friend has it on a similarly-designed composite tone arm from Poland and the Frog sounds great. The rest of his system, however, is straight highest-end McIntosh.  (He lives far away or I'd ask to borrow his cartridge for an audition.)

In contrast to his stock top-to-bottom, system, my system is a bit of a hodge-podge of things I love, largely designed around streaming/digital, to wit:

Phone preamp (new to me): Parasound JC3+

Preamp: Evo Luna 400

Amps: Classe Delta Monoblocks

Speakers: B&W 800 D3

Subs: SVS PB-16 ultras (2)  (I have a dual hi-pass, low pass, up at pre-amp to divide between amps and amplified subs before amplification.)

(I do love base and low-end.)

Commercial 20 amp Furman power conditioner

Digital source: Lumin U1, Esoteric K-03XD SACD/CD player with excellent DACs)

This is a $3600 cartridge, which chokes me, but I could pay more or less, for the right thing.

Listen to everything, but mainly listen to classical while streaming (due to excellent choices) and rock/blues/jazz/something that pairs with Scotch while listening to analog.

 

davetheoilguy
tablejockey
3,914 posts
 

" I really love with highish end used/open box parts bought because my tastes are Waygu, while my budget is nice brisket."

Great analogy.

""What would you recommend over the Parasound JC3+?"

Definitely a nice SS unit. A tube phonostage will give another perspective. To my ears, just as your tube pre does, it delivers  a more "organic" convincing presentation. Since you're open to used- Manley Chinook or Herron. 

If you do get the "new" itch, the new Prima Luna all tube phonostage looks inviting. I say that not having heard it, but owning PL gear for many years, likely it follows the PL lineage of value,performance and price. I'll demo one when I get a chance.

Primaluna EVO 100 Tube Phonostage — PrimaLuna USA (primaluna-usa.com)

If my current tube phono doesn't make it thru a visit to the shop, it will be on my hit list. 

You have a setup that does at least 90% of what uber setups do. The room setup, as you likely know, will make or break a system.

"After a bit, I’ll probably add another time arm and go for something risky."

I'd also look into Sota/Phoenix RoadRunner tach/speed regulation.

Eclipse Roadrunner – Sota Turntables

 

 

 

ghdprentice
7,019 posts
 

A word about phonostages. I owned my frog and upgraded my phonostage from an Audio Research PH 2, 2SE, 3, 3SE, 5, 8, and finally an ARC Ref 3. In each case I got a sizable boost in performance until the last. This is partially how I came up with the generality of investment level TT with cartridge = phonostage = preamp = amp. That seems to be to sweet spot if you carefully choose your components. Until I got to the PH 8 level my phono stage was holdin back me tt.

 

You need not start there… but this may be worth it long termed. It sure did for me.

 

 

davetheoilguy OP
146 posts
 

Well, I bought one -- on Audiogon, new -- for $1995.  

(I am a discount shopper.)

Have to go to the bank and send a wire.  What a PIMA.

ghdprentice
7,019 posts
 

Congradulations!

noromance's avatar
noromance
9,810 posts
 

Seems a single major upgrade brings longer reward. 😃 Although, I suppose you just upgraded as models were released.

Audio Research PH 2, 2SE, 3, 3SE, 5, 8, and finally an ARC Ref 3

 

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