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First impression: Herron VTPH-2A phono preamp

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.
professorsvsu
bpoletti
1,540 posts
 
@beatlebum   IMO, Herron Audio has the best customer service in the industry even if a request doesn't come from the owner of a piece of Herron Audio equipment.

I am in your camp re: the VTPH-2a.  All my electronics are from Herron Audio.  Well, not my CD transport.
georgehifi's avatar
georgehifi
10,312 posts
 
almarg
Just heard from rob67 Al with the Lyra, Herron, Gryphon Antillion, and Wilsons, very impressed with his sound, and looks like he has plenty of gain. I asked him post up here to say where the volume controls are set as I don't know either, he bought the dual mono Lightspeed.

Cheers George  
professorsvsu OP
78 posts
 
George,
Thanks for the feedback that I requested. I too did a little bit of experimentation. Hooked up my Goldpoint SA1 to the VTPH-2A then directly into the back of my Bryston 4B3. Kicked up the gain on my amp to 29dB and nothing (just kidding). Actually, I have more than a sufficient amount of volume control. The only difference that MAY have occurred going this route as opposed to running through my Parasound JC 2 BP is a little better channel balance. 
georgehifi's avatar
georgehifi
10,312 posts
 
almarg

Al rob67 just let me know that the Lightspeed's logarithmic volume controls are at 12 o'clock for normal loud listening levels on his system.
And as you know 12 o;clock is not even half volume yet, it's 2pm on the Lightspeed. As you can see absolutely no need for any more active preamp gain and the noise it brings.

He also said the Lightspeed wins out over his Audio Research REF-5se and older Pass X1. He's now getting a battery for the Lightspeed and will hopefully do an update here on that.

Gain structure he has.
Lyra Etna SL 0.25mV > Herron 64db > Lightspeed 0db > Gryphon Antillion 30db > Wilson Sasha 90db
His Turntable  https://i.pinimg.com/originals/c5/da/d3/c5dad306fea0f6cdda772d0ed07c2425.jpg
 
Cheers George
brf
1,715 posts
 
Gain structure he has.
Lyra Etna SL 0.25mV > Herron 64db > Lightspeed 0db > Gryphon Antillion 30db > Wilson Sasha 90db

The amp's input sensitivity of 0.975v sure helps. 

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