2. amps-preamps
  3. 1163544273

herron vtsp-2

I was waiting for someone to write a review on this amp but no reader has done it yet!
Anyway, I am a happy owner of this amp now. I just want to share some experience to others who wants to know a bit more about this amp.
I was lucky to buy it 2nd hand last year at almost half of the retail price.
The unit came with Sovteks and displayed Version 1 at start up. It sounded good but was not as quiet as the reviews had said. At the time, I found it sounded ordinary.
Later, I found out that version 2 upgrade is available for free if you sent it back to the factory. I did that and also re-tubed the unit. All version 2 units now tubes with EH 6922.
The difference is night and day!
There are major changes to the volume settings. It makes it as quiet as any SS amps and thus brings improvements to all other departments.
For me, this unit will be a very long term partner and is one less problem that I need to worry about in my up-grade path.
One interesting point I like to tell about this amp is that I can not hear it any more!! It has some how disappeared from the system. I can still hear my Jadis power amp. I can still hear my Thiel speaker I have forgotten I have a pre-amp!
I hope other Herron fan can continue this thread with their experiences.

Thank You.
luna
tympani
30 posts
 
I have a VTSP2 v.2 It took many weeks to break in, sounding a tad light weight initially, but now I would also characterize it as "neutral".
I am very tempted to try some tube rolling, despite Keith Herron's assertion that his carefully selected and matched EH 6922's are hard to improve on. There's a very slight fowardness/glare of upper range vocals that I suspect is from the Russian made Electro-Harmonix tubes (standard, not gold-pinned). Six higher-end NOS tubes such as Amperex White or Philip Miniwatt will be pricey though, with no guarantee. Anyone else ventured that route?
Because of its neutrality, it clearly defines any system changes, from powercords (on it and other components), IC's and just about any other change up or downstream. I therefore don't quite consider it "plug and play" cuz it rewards system tweaking. And I love it!
luna OP
235 posts
 
Please tell me your tube rolling results
, Tympani
tympani
30 posts
 
A sextet of NOS Philips Mullard (Holland) 6922's, 1960's vintage should be arriving this week. I'll let you know!
ipy
113 posts
 
Just found this review.......
http://www.stereotimes.com/amp112106.shtml
tympani
30 posts
 
Well, I have been listening to the Philips Mullard (made in Holland) 6922 tubes for 2 weeks. These are pristine NOS tubes from Brent Jessee (great guy, btw). The immediate impression was a dramatic improvement in 3-dimensional presentation of the soundstage, making the performance more palpable. The highs were quite silky and extended. The entire presentation was more organic, breathing. The tubes were dead-silent, and matched perfectly.

However... the timbre of the pre-amp did change from the neutral Herron sound to one that emphasized midrange (mid to high), which on my system with certain discs (Norah Jones for example) become too much of a good thing. Crossing the line from "lively presence" to "too much" was very much dependant on the recording, as many discs sounded just right. Also noted was a bit of bloat on mid-bass which could at times be distracting. At other times it just made the recording sound "rounder" and more alive.
I tried some Hal-0 tube dampers, with very little change, not surprising given the extremely quiet nature of these tubes, known for low microphonics.

I am sending these tubes back to try another sextet, this time Amperex USA 7308 White labels. These are even pricier than the Philips Mullard Holland 6922's. I realize I'm getting into some heady stuff here, and I acknowledge that unless these tubes really knock my socks off, I'll probably settle back to the modest EH's. I will let you know my impression of the new tubes.

By the way, my system is up, with pictures if you'd like to take a look.

Happy Listening!
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