No worries. Thanks for the clarification!
Do you think the Hagerman competes with phono stages in the 3-5 K price range?
Phono stages: Hagerman and Sun Valley 1616 possible giant killers
In the course of researching phono stages I came across two that if all the comments are true might certainly be giant killers ( defined by yours truly in the 5000 dollar price range ). But alas, so much of what I read in reviews , both professional and audiogon users, doesn't always pan out.
So, has anyone had the opportunity to hear either the Hagerman Trumpet or the Sun Valley 1616? If so, I would be interested in your sonic thoughts.
As always, I appreciate your insights and would appreciate the absence of snark!
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I hate the "giant killers" trope because they almost never are. But I love & recommend Hagerman’s phono gear at every price point. His curent line is built to a (very low) price point, with the requisite sacrifices made (like SMPS). BUT they are still superb, and highly musical. There’s nothing else like the Trumpet MC at its price, and the Trumpet MM should be killer too if you wish to use an external SUT or headamp (including his own excellent Piccolos). I’m also quite fond of his older models with more upscale build & parts (and linear PSUs), if you can find them - particularly the Trumpets. The Trumpet was originally designed with fully balanced, all tube circuitry, as evidenced by its 8 tubes (4x 12ax7, 4x 12au7). It’s not SS with a (useless) tube buffer tacked on like most others at this price point. He’s simplified the output stage to lower price in the current MC version (2x 12au7 instead of 4x in the old Trumpets), but I believe its core circuitry (before the output stage) is still balanced, including the Piccolo-derived front-end for MC gain. The Cornet is a simplified version / circuit without any balanced circuitry. The Trumpets are warm, open sounding phono stages with extremely satisfying bass response. You get a good dose of "classic" tube sound, and they respond very well to tube rolling. If you’re looking for maximum detail, lowest noise floor, and razer-sharp edge definition, these are not for you. However, those looking for satisfaction primarily via natural musicality should give them a try, and I think it can beat many in the $3 - 5K range on that front. It is definitely more "classic tube" souding than Rogue Ares Magnum and Herron VTPH-2A (or ARC Reference 3SE for that matter, though that has a GREAT tube stage). Also, the Trumpet MC will pair beautifully to almost any cartridge. |
No longer posting here but @bkeske was impressed with the 6 tube MC version of the Trumpet—especially after rolling in Telefunkens etc. Note that as it’s a tube MC section, likely a little noisier than FET or SUT. |
Trumpet MC actually uses a FET based MC stage / buffer, derived from his Piccolo head amp. The 6 tubes are all for the RIAA stage plus output. That said, its input MC stage is in fact higher in noise floor than you’d get from a much more expensive FET stage (Pass Labs, Herron, etc). But it still sounds very good - neutral, but not at all analytical or dry. As per Jim, it’s not bypassed for the lowest gain setting (MM) - it acts as a 0-gain buffer! Hence extra justification for the Trumpet MM model, for those who wish to use their own SUT. |
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