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pro-ject tube box 2, vincent pho-8, jasmine LP2mk2

Just plugged in my new Salience / Jasmine LP2mkII. Very impressed with what I am hearing out of the box. Everything is more refined and detailed in the soundstage than my pro-ject tube box II with upgraded electro-harmonix gold 12AX7 tubes. Both create a big soundstage, which I like. I think the Salience's is bigger. I am hearing new things on records that the pro-ject could not bring out. The Salience also sounds a little warmer and relaxed yet still very defined. Bass is less boomy and cymbals sound much more accurate.

I also tried a Vincent PHO-8 about a month ago but sent it back. Did not like that one. Maybe something was wrong with the unit since it sounded smallish and boxed in soundstage-wise out of the box and had a ground loop hum from the start. The Salience is a 2 box design like the Vincent. No ground loop hum with the Salience.

It is very nice that we have some nice phono preamp options in the $500 range. I will keep the Salience if it continues to impress plus. I like the multiple MC settings.

A couple of questions about the Salience:

1. It says Salience instead of Jasmine on both front panels. Why is this? I plan on covering them or taping over the blue lights since they are quite bright. I purchased from h_salience from eBay.
2. Some people have talked about upgrading the xlr-4 power cable but this one seems quite nicely made out of the box. Did they start making nicer ones with the 2.0 version?
3. The owners manual is photo copied. Should I be concerned?
sbrownnw
sbrownnw OP
709 posts
 
Listened more to this new phono pre setup last night. It does a much better job keeping up with Beethoven's 3rd (180g Deutsche Grammophon pressing). The horns and string basses sounded amazing. Also did quite well with some original Zepplin pressings and the first Mumford and Sons LP.

Still scratching my head about the photo copied user manual.
redglobe
223 posts
 
Sbrownnw, The Jasmine is great out of the box. The other beauty of it is the circuitry is a nice clean design and there is ample space to make upgrades. For $25, purchase 2 Jantzen Superior Z-caps, 1 UF. They lift the veil from the music.
sbrownnw OP
709 posts
 
Thanks Redglobe. How hard is it to replace the caps in the LP2mkII? I have very little experience with a soldering iron but I have a choice of two great local shops. Would it be worth going to the Silver Jantzen or just the Superior? I plan on posting some picts of the inside of box boxes as I figure out the best way to mask off the blue bright lights on the front panel.
redglobe
223 posts
 
Hi Sbrownnw, Soldering is not very challenging. I viewed a tutorial on Youtube (desoldering and soldering). I bought a Weller soldering iron for $25 (low wattage version with a very fine tip), some silver-bearing solder from Radio Shack and went to work. If you like, send me an email through the member contact (AG has that facility once again) and I could talk you through the steps.

I have never tried the Silver Jantzen. However, go to Humble Hifi, Cap Test, and see his comprehensive review and go from there. He grades the Silver 0.5 point higher than the Superior. However, it is the nuances that must appeal to you as opposed to a higher score. Once you read the reviews you will understand better what I am trying to convey.
sbrownnw OP
709 posts
 
Still liking the LP2 mkII. Wow, it has a ton of gain, even with my high output MC on MM mode. You have to really make sure your records are as clean as possible since it picks up everything. Just ordered a pair of -12db attenuators.
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