High Value Phono Stages

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.

@vuch 

I’d be interested in hearing why past VTPH-2a users moved on?

I had mine for six years and it was a great phono-stage. Keith upgraded mine from a VTPH-2 to 2a spec. He also did some other enhancement and at one point replaced a tube or two. In the end I moved on mostly because it never completely gelled with my Naim preamp. There was a slight mismatch and Keith knew it. He was going to modify the 2a for me, but I decided instead to get a Naim phono-stage (Superline) which I subsequently upgraded with a Supercap PSU. That ended up a pretty significant upgrade for me anyway.

I have since moved on again because I upgraded to a turntable with two tonearms, and wanted a phono-stage to match. The Superline only has one set of inputs. I now have a Boulder 1108 with two inputs, and it sounds much better then the Superline. I don’t see changing from that for any reason. The Boulder 2108 is more than a $40k jump so I don’t see that at all in my future.

We are still friends with Keith and his wife, and visit now and then. They live just 10 miles down the road from us. 

@vuch I had an original VTPH-2 that Kieth upgraded to an A. All together I had a Herron phonostage for at least a decade and really enjoyed. Keith is great and so was his gear. I’d still be running my VTPH-2A if it weren’t for the fact that I started Afton Mountain Audio in September 2024. Since representing Herron wasn’t an option, I needed to find phono amplification made by great folks that sounds just as good or better. Fortunately I’ve been able to take on partners like Aurorasound, LTA, Atma-Sphere, and others that allow me to show a wide range of vinyl playback equipment for clients at different price points. My reference Aurorasound Vida MK2 lets me run two MCs at the same time and switch between inputs to compare front end equipment, something I couldn’t do with my VTPH-2A. We showed it at CAF with a nice Pure Fidelity Harmony/Audio Origami PU-8/EBI Kuhmar and got some great feedback.

If by “high value” you mean an excellent cost to performance ratio, I would look at Lounge Audios LCR MkIII phono stage for MM cartridges, and he also has a SUT for MC cartridges.  I purchased the Gold version two years ago based on a review and was stunned by SQ it produces from some “audiophile” LPs of the 1980s, including Sheffield  and. Couple of 45 rpm LPs.  And that is working with my Thorens TD126 MKII, which I purchased new in Europe in the 1970s and had refurbed and an Audio-Technica VM540ML.  Price for his Phono stages range from about $500 for the base model to just over $1000 for his Gold model.  I have no connection with the company other than being a normal customer.

https://www.loungeaudio.com/lcr-series

I picked up a second hand VDH Grail SB because MFremer said the basic Grail was a sleeper bargain and that transimpedience is quieter than voltage phonos.

@dwette The Boulder 2108 is more than a $40k jump so I don’t see that at all in my future.

I can relate. I feel the same way about their 2xxx amps which would be my end game.  I’m hoping that my just purchased second hand Audionet Humboldt will get me there as my stab into top SS Sonics within budget.