High Value Phono Stages

@neonknight

https://cheaptubeaudio.blogspot.com/search?q=Fosgate
This is a link to a audio blogger I follow. He is a fan of the Fosgate. In the link he compared it to a SunValley phono. Just for reference the blogger, Dr. John, owns a Kondo Onkagu, but he also experiments with crazy low cost devices. 

So tell me what does a SunValley sound like? Should one be impressed if the Fosgate sounds like an SV?

I once had a Fosgate Signature V2 phono-stage. It sounded great but the reliability was so bad, that after two attempted repairs Musical Surroundings just had the dealer refund my money 100%. That's when I bough a Herron VTPH-2a to replace it. I had that for six years. 

In relation to a Latest DIY Design/Model from the designer of the Sota Pyxi.

Pyxi Designer Wyn Palmer is time served in producing Phon's within a particular BOM. He is also very active in being supportive to individuals keen to have the DIY experience, and receives a lot of kudos for this tutoring on offer.

As for the latest design for a Phon' from Wyn, I know nothing, but, history should leave an individual feeling quite confident, as a design/build, it will be reliable as a circuit, not over complicated as a build, contain electronic parts that are readily available, produce an End Sound that will be quite attractive to Phon' users, who are interested in Phon's typically of a Value between $1K - $2.5K, if the BOM for the new design is one that is typical to Wyn's usual offerings.

If the BOM is deliberately increased as part of a uprated design, it will be difficult to forecast what cost value the design will be a comparison to, when heard against or recollected as an End Sound to other Phon's. 

New users of the new design, will have a few who are able to answer such a question. 

I see a couple of Herron VTPH-2a users have moved on to different phono stages. I use the VTPH-2a. A couple of years ago Keith called me and asked if I was still interested in his phono stage? Previously he told me that he was done making the VTPH-2a. He was retiring and was running low on the components to assemble them.  I said yes! He told me that he found enough extra components in his stash to assemble three more. He also said that he’d considered mine a "VTPH-2ae,” e for enhanced. He didn’t get technical regarding what he changed in it but said he thought it was a slight improvement in sonics.

I’ve been very happy with it. I’ve only compared it to one other phono stage, a Pure Audio solid state which is 1-2k more expensive than his was. I was surprised that the gain was greater with the Herron and sounded much more musical than the more expensive Pure Audio. 

I’d be interested in hearing why past VTPH-2a users moved on? @dodgealum, @dwette  My next move is to add a 2nd tonearm with a mono cartridge and use the MM inputs so I can use the switch on the back of the Herron to go from one tonearm to the next.

The only fault I have with my current set up is the volume dependent hum I hear from the tt front end compared to other sources. TT front end: TA Zeus MC cartridge - TriangleArt 12” Horus tonearm - TriangleArt Maestro tt - Herron VTPH-2a - Cardas Clear unbalanced cables to the preamp. The hum is much more noticeable when I have the lights in the listening room turned on, I use low voltage lights in the room, there’s a small transformer in the outlet box for the low voltage lights that I think is the main culprit for the noise. Once I turn off the lights the hum is greatly diminished but when I turn the volume way up I can still hear the hum with no record on the platter.