What preamp & power amp to buy?

Kclone,

I have the Herron combo and love them, no artificial bloom, no grain or hard etch sound, just very liquid with outstanding dynamic swings and really draws you into the music. I have owned Belles, Rogue, Classee,CJ, AR, Bryston and many others and the Herron equipment is head and shoulders above them.

Get the Herron equipment and enjoy world class sound for many years verses the other manufacturers who change their equipment every other year. Too me, Herron sounds right.

Wig wrote; I have owned Belles, Rogue, Classee,CJ, AR, Bryston and many others and the Herron equipment is head and shoulders above them.

Can you elaborate because that's a bould statement made by you, are you sugesting you had everyone of these pces paired up with your present speakers, specifically what were the differences and the actual pces of gear you make referrence to.

In the end as you are reading all these replies you are going to get endless opinions, that's all they are.

You need to either get pces in your home and compare, try and find others with the same speakers and go and listen. Might involve some travel time but in the end your ears need to hear and make the decision.

I compered the Herron VTSP 3a preamp directly with a Red Wine Audio Isabella and an Audio Research REF 5. All 3 were great, but Of course I ended up with the Herron. If the Herron amps are as good as the pre, then Wig may have a valid observation.

If you bought your speakers through a dealer, I would start there. Would to they recommend. You should then be able to go there to audition. You could also do a search of virtual systems on this site that have Rockport speakers.

I have evaluated AR I believe the VS110 model, Rogue Cronus, Belles 150A Ref, Belles 350A Ref, Belles 21A with modded caps, power supplies and diodes, Rega Apollo, Bryston BDA-1 Dac, MCcormack DNA, CJ PV12 with My Vandersteen 2 Sig II with cabling ranging from Dymanic design, Goertz, MIT S2.3, AQ Columbia, Kimber and others I can’t recall. With the given amps above, I thought the Rogue Cronus was more musical and satisfying even with its rated output.

My Avalon Ascendants were evaluated with the Belles 350A Ref, a highly modified Belles 21A, Belles 22A, Rega Apollo, Bryston BDA-1, Ayon CD2, Eastern Electric Mini Dac, Berkeley Alpha Dac ,Herron VTSP 3A Tube Pre, Herron M1’s Mono Amps, Dynamic Design cables, Morrow MA4/6, Morrow SP4/6, JPS SC3, MIT S1.3, Clear Day Double Shotguns and Clarity Cables. In my system, it will only take you one switch of cabling to discern that the Herron VTSP 3A and M1 amps are superior to every piece of equipment I have heard. The Belles 350A Ref has twice the power of the M1’s but the M1’s produces better bass , has the liquidity of tubes and it just gets out of the way. Even the highly modded 21A and 22A was no match for the Heron VTSP 3A. The 21A was congested with excessive bloom in comparison to the VTSP which is very dynamic from top to bottom with presentation that is detailed and engaging. Imaging and soundstaging are life-like with unbelievable tonality and depth. I’m sure you can find an amp that is quicker, has more power and bass for a whole lot more but none will offer the flexibility and musicality the Herron combo offers. His equipment is designed out of the love for music and is tried and tested by results and not theories.

I have heard Avalons with Spectral, Jeff Rowland and VTL and Herron by far has a better price/performance ratio unless you have unlimited funds and like exotic casing.