Keep in mind that when you sub the 5751 for 12AX7, you will have lower gain at all settings, because the 5751 has a lower mu. The reduction in gain might make you perceive the music as less irritating but the same effect can be realized with the AX7s by reducing the volume.
Battle of the phone pres for my system.
I have a Yamaha GT-750 with a Hana SH mk 1. I had it running into my Musical Fidelity A1 and listened through Dynaudio Evoke 20 speakers. I have tinnitus so I listen off-axis and liked the sound. I had ordered a Decware Zrock3 and hadn't considered when I ordered it how I was going to use it. When if finally came, I realized I could only use it with my transport and DAC )and it was worth every penny.)
A friend lent me their Manley Chinook so I could see how it would work with my analog front end and the Manley/Decware combo was pretty sweet. I can't afford a Manley and after removing the Zrock3 and going head to head with the A1 didn't make me feel that I wouldn't choose it anyway. After casting about, I was all set on getting a 834 clone and putting in some nice tubes. Then I read about the Softone Model 4 and saw systems like @lalitk and @macg19 . It sounds like what I would want if I put some Mullards in it (though hopefully cheaper ones). I ran across many others who could afford a more expensive phono pre using the Softtone.
As I was searching, the google AI wanted to help so bad that I asked it what it thought. It said the Softone would match better with my equipment and gave a bunch of reasons that were things I hadn't thought of, like gain matching and cumulative power running through the system. It seemed to think that 834 would be more problematic and too much syrup.
I told AI to make the 834 work or I would delete it from the internet, and it told me to put a 5751 (less gain because of the Hana's output coming in) in V1, then a Raytheon then a Mullard. Or something like that for gain and sound differences taking into account my tinnitus and to match my system. It seemed sound thinking, but again, stuff I hadn't considered. I didn't write it down, but it made me wonder. It congratulated me on my awesome thinking on putting together my amazing system. I closed the browser to make it forget this ever happened.
I figured I thought I would ask real people what they thought since I'd prefer empirical evidence over data surfing. The other point in favor of the Softone is that it's a real product and not an aliexpress special, though plenty of people are happy with their clones, all are one and one are all.
Thanks.
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Well, it’s took nearly a month, but my tubes showed up today. Blackburn Mullards from the sixties. A few days ago I moved some equipment and had to recable the Softone with a longer cable. I put in a Synergistic Research Element Copper and that made a big difference. The soundstage was further back and it wasn’t as bright. Today I put in the Mullards and that controlled the situation further. They’re not even fully warmed up and the sound is darker and richer. It still has the propulsive rhythmic drive, just the brightness is gone. With the tubes the soundstage is more centrally located, but still with some air around the instruments. I was on the fence with the Softone, anxiously awaiting my tubes so I could find out if this was going out the door or not. With a couple tweaks, things have really improved. Currently impressed. |
@letch congrats on the Softone! As to Hana…I owned the EL, ML and run the Umami Blue now. I don’t think the ML/MH will hurt you. It’s a very refined and smooth sounding cartridge. Very polite highs and mellow mids. I would definitely not recommend Umami Blue if your hearing is very sensitive. It’s a brutally honest cartridge that will not mask any flaws in a source. I love the Blue but the ML is more of a classic analog smooth sound. Definitely worth checking out in my opinion. You might actually be able to enjoy longer listening sessions with the ML/MH. TMR carries Hana and offer a return policy, or at least they used to. |
“With a couple tweaks, things have really improved.” That’s great to hear. My experience with Japanese designers; they often follow a minimalist philosophy….keeping the signal path as simple and un-compromised as possible. I would let the Mullard’s settle for 50 hours or so. Then, try its stock black power cord. Japanese designers often voice their component around the supplied cord, adding aftermarket cables can shift the tonal balance in ways that aren’t always beneficial. You may be pleasantly surprised by how naturally the Softone is intended to sound. |
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