I had the VTL2.5 in my system with phono and found the phono stage quiet. I agree with the post about changing tubes. The phono section is quite sensitive to tubes and some NOS tubes may be better than the stock tubes that came with the VTL. Also if you are using a cartridge that requires more gain than the phono provides and you have to increase the volume it can cause tube noise. I also had a PH-3 with NOS tubes and found it more dynamnic and detailed than then the VTL. Good luck.
Need advice/info on various used ARC phono preamps
I have a VTL 2.5TL pre-amp with the built in phono stage. It's the first really decent pre-amp, as well as phono stage, I've ever owned. My only gripe, really, with the phono stage of the VTL is that it's extremely noisy. However, I'm also thinking about upgrading the VTL to an ARC preamp like the LS25MKII--in which case I'd need to get a separate phono pre-amp anyway.
Can anyone give me their opinions on the various ARC phono pre-amps that I could realistically expect to find used? So far I've been thinking of a used PH3-SE which is sort of big bucks for me right now, or the PH3. How do those compare, & also would it be worth buying an earlier model for the right price? (The main reason I'm concentrating on ARC is that I have a VT100MkII which I really like--& I'm just on an ARC kick right now).
(Besides this ARC gear, the other choice I have in mind would be a used CAT w/the built in phono stage......)
Rest of my system: Rega P25/Benz Glider, VTL 2.5TL, ARC VT100MKII, Cary 303/200 CDP, B&W M802SIII's alternating with Merlin TSM-M's. Thanks in advance for any feedback!
Can anyone give me their opinions on the various ARC phono pre-amps that I could realistically expect to find used? So far I've been thinking of a used PH3-SE which is sort of big bucks for me right now, or the PH3. How do those compare, & also would it be worth buying an earlier model for the right price? (The main reason I'm concentrating on ARC is that I have a VT100MkII which I really like--& I'm just on an ARC kick right now).
(Besides this ARC gear, the other choice I have in mind would be a used CAT w/the built in phono stage......)
Rest of my system: Rega P25/Benz Glider, VTL 2.5TL, ARC VT100MKII, Cary 303/200 CDP, B&W M802SIII's alternating with Merlin TSM-M's. Thanks in advance for any feedback!