What phono preamp are you using?

@mbzmeister 

Thanks for that. I tend to agree, 1V should be within the tolerances of most modern circuitry. I have a lot of family stuff going on right now, so haven’t emailed Jim yet.

@mbzmeister

Just heard back from Jim, he told me the 16v LPS should be just fine with the Trumpet, may run a bit warmer, but that’s all.

I’ll give it a try and see if it makes any difference.

Soundsmith Zephyr and just started using a Hagerman Trumpet MC. Wish I had the Zephyr lo output MIMC now, as I think the Trumpet would be even better with a lower output cart. The standard Zephyr is 2.4 mV.

Sounds pretty good regardless. The Trumpet, and Zephyr, is highly recommended.

@mbzmeister

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.... now I thought I’d try a Hagerman Trumpet MC. It’s still burning in but starting to blossom. I upgraded the power supply with SBooster and installed gold lion gold pin tubes. The goal is to get this phono stage sounding as good or better than the icon audio/Telefunken combo and it’s almost there.

Yep, I’ve had my Trumpet about 2 1/2-3 weeks, and it is really beginning to open up and sound great.

Interesting about your SBooster, I’ve heard others considering that as well. Did you get the 15-16V unit? As the Trumpet’s power wall wart supply is 15V, I assume so? And is there any concern that it can be fed 16V? Or can you pick between 15&16? I have a 16V LPS power supply sitting idle, but was concerned using it with the Trumpet feeding 16V vs 15V. I guess I could email Jim, but it is tempting to try, especially as I don’t use it any more, as it used to power my old phono pre.

Regardless, I’m using the stock tubes as well right now, and seems every day or so it sounds better.

@mbzmeister

I tried it, and took it out. The LPS I had was getting too hot to my comfort level, (not the Trumpet), so removed it. Perhaps a bad match for whatever reason, and perhaps the SBooster is simply a better product for the Trumpet, and I could consider that.

To be honest, after re-hooking up the Trumpet LPS wall wart, it sounded just fine anyway in comparison. So many things can come into play with these things.

One thing is for sure, I think the Hagerman Trumpet is a very good pre for the money, and per the reaction and comparisons to other users previous or existing higher cost equipment, it seems to be ’punching well above its weight’.