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Herron VTPH-2A or Manley Chinook mk II phonostage

Anyone have a direct comparison with these two phonostage’s  the Herron and Manley. I currently have a Soundsmith MCP2 MK II with a Soundsmith Zephyr MIMC ⭐️
I also am looking to upgrade my tt, and lets say my head has been spinning. 5-8000 range

current system
primaluna hp premium integrated 
focal Sopra 2
rel s/5 sub
luxman sm-150 cd
marantz tt-151S ( the one Clear audio built)
cardas parasec interconnects 

some tt I have been considering
dr Feickert - woodpecker or Blackbird
vpi
Vertere 
EAT Forte S Fatismo

not a lover of the round look

also have a VPI Classic 3 gently used offered to me by a very reliable source for 3 k

any help is welcomed as I have become overwhelmed.
 
Thanks
peter 


128x128tastypeter
noromance's avatar
noromance
9,404 posts
 
+1 @corucia Great answer. 
millercarbon's avatar
millercarbon
12,531 posts
 
Haven't heard the Chinook, but that description of the Herron, dynamic, punchy, airy without being stringent, spooky layered dimensionality, is spot on. It also nails instrumental tone and timbre so that each instrument sounds so much more its true individual character. For comparison I had a ARC PH3SE for many years that seemed very neutral until the Herron showed it to be downright colored to a degree I never would have imagined.
audition__audio
1,304 posts
 
We just sold a Zesto Audio Andros Deluxe phono stage that replaced a Manley Chinook. This customer said that the Zesto was significantly better in every way. To be far there is a significant difference in retail price. He immediately sold the Chinook after he took delivery of the Deluxe. I hope to be able to compare the Zesto offerings to the Herron in the near future. The Herron is very good.
lewm
12,453 posts
 
Corucia, You say the Herron was "measurably" superior to the Chinook.  I take your assessment of the two units seriously, because you heard them both in your own system over an extended period of time, but in fact, unless you neglected to report it, you didn't "measure" anything.  Best just to say you like the Herron better than the Chinook.  Also, beware the provenance of sexy 12AX7/ECC83s that claim to be Telefunken or Mullard or etc.  There are probably more fakes than real ones of those available in the marketplace these days, especially the TFK ECC801S's.
noromance's avatar
noromance
9,404 posts
 
You say the Herron was "measurably" superior to the Chinook.
I'm almost certain this is a figure of speech. 
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