UPDATE on the issues I describe above:
The issue was not the fault of the Jasmine. It was several different tubes I was trying in my main amplifier. Cryo'd Russian tube, a few old stock GE's, Sylvania's. A very nasty streak of bad luck. The upshot is the Jasmine reveals all.
I have had a few supreme listening experiences since straightening out the problems. The Jasmine is very balanced, quiet, and refined. No need to upgrade to a different phono pre but I am sure I will try some modifications at some point. Right now I am really enjoying the sound.
@Sbrownnw: To kill the extremely bright logos, you need to remove the bottom panel. That will liberate the front acrylic face plate which the logo is printed on. Use a black wide-tip permanent marker and "black out" a strip of clear, satin finish office tape and apply it over the logo. Repeat to put a second strip over that. Assemble the Jasmine.
The issue was not the fault of the Jasmine. It was several different tubes I was trying in my main amplifier. Cryo'd Russian tube, a few old stock GE's, Sylvania's. A very nasty streak of bad luck. The upshot is the Jasmine reveals all.
I have had a few supreme listening experiences since straightening out the problems. The Jasmine is very balanced, quiet, and refined. No need to upgrade to a different phono pre but I am sure I will try some modifications at some point. Right now I am really enjoying the sound.
@Sbrownnw: To kill the extremely bright logos, you need to remove the bottom panel. That will liberate the front acrylic face plate which the logo is printed on. Use a black wide-tip permanent marker and "black out" a strip of clear, satin finish office tape and apply it over the logo. Repeat to put a second strip over that. Assemble the Jasmine.