Stupid Bellari Q

My 12ax7 phono pre doesn't light up at all. You're ok.

The tube in my Bellari glows, it can be seen even in daylight. The bias in your unit could be set wrong, or perhaps the filaments in your tube are different than mine.

Replaced tube with a EH12AX7. Just barely warm; no glow: sounds great! Sound as good as a "built in " phono stage in cj PV12PH.

Roy Hall says it doesn't glow the way it does in a preamp. I guess it works - I was just surprised it didn't light up is all.

How does it sound? Sounds OK after a day. It's not really fair to judge a new piece of gear without at least a week's break in. As of this point, i'm not hearing any big difference between the Bellari and the $120 Music Hall Phono Pak. That thing is a lot better than it has a right to be.