I got my VTPH-2A this morning and it's up and running. After about five hours of spinning vinyl, I'm pretty sure I've wet myself, MULTIPLE TIMES! I've primarily played vinyl that I've had for decades, music that I thought I was intimately familiar with. I was wrong. There's nuance I never knew existed. Everything about the VTPH-2A is "right". The bass is tight, vocals superb, instruments have places, etc. All that I've listened to sounds new and fresh and the most masterfully recorded vinyl sounds live. What I've read about on this forum concerning the VTPH-2A (pretty much all stellar) is true. I've had five different phono preamps and nothing can compete with this, NOTHING. It's a bad ass and definitely a keeper.
I owned the VTPH-1MC for 14 Years and upgraded to the VTPH-2A just recently. I can relate exactly to what the OP has stated here. I have used a number of Reference Tracks for Years and by Track 2 I was startled and by Track 5 I had a Shiver.
Did not wet myself but the performance increase from the VTPH-1MC was not subtle and the better half also heard this. I wish to Thank You for all of your Posts since it is the largest performance increase on the equipment side in my household to date.
I urge anyone on the fence in buying one of these to do so in the very near future since Keith Herron indicated to me that he has plans to possibly Retire within the next Year.