I have the Herron VTPH 2 and it outperforms the built in phono stage in my VAC Ren Mk III pre. Lower noise, better resolving and transparency etc. i had tube rush and noise in vac phono and a new tube fixed it so you should try that for sure. While the phono section was beat by the Herron i have yet to hear a linestage better than what VAC makes. It competes and beats preamps i have heard at twice the price. And Kevin and crew give best customer service you could hope for (as does Keith Herron who is as incredible as his products) . |
Alonski,
Those two are true gentlemen. I am grateful that we have hi end brands in the US led by amazing audio entrepranuers who are also first class people. The VAC phono is first rate and in my system it easily beat 1-2k phono stages (eg, Simaudio lp5.3, psaudio gcph, etc). But the Herron is in a different league (to my ears). The Herron has NO noise (quieter than SS phono pres i tried) and its timing and transparency are superb. One unit i was very impressed with was the Fosgate Signature phono. A little tube noise but worth it for the beautiful sound. My cartridge was a liitle too low mc so Herron sounded better with it (benz lp-s). |
Music Direct has 30 day return - do they carry either? Of the two the Herron is dead quiet. |
Totally agree with wrm57's comments about vac linestage causing music to be lit within and increasing soundstage in all directions..more body and dimensionality. Perfect description. Plus it delivers alot of resolution but detail from the inside-out (lit within) so it isnt analytical resolution but harmonic detail. |
I have the VAC phono stage in my VAC Ren III as mentioned -- super handing with variable loading, one MC and one MM input. It is well worth the price of admission for convenience (even as a back up to a stand alone pre). It has a meaty, substantial sound to it. Not as fast and transparent as $4-6+k stages like the Herron, but easily beats 1-3k stages. I will say the performance of the VAC linestage is incredible, but the phono section is not as incredible. No matter how you go (phono or no phono), I highly recommend the VAC preamp. In my system it EASILY competes with preamps that cost twice as much. It is holographic, open, detailed, extended, natural, harmonically accurate....a guitar sounds like a guitar....a voice sounds like a voice. Very round and dimensional presentation -- not flat at all. |
Alonski, eager to hear your impressions as you audition different units. I also heard EAR units at my dealer and those were very musical. |
I agree the VAC adds something special, raising the sound to the level as if everything was in a $100,000 reference system. The best description I can add to the sound that VAC preamps give is the phrase used before "lit within"....there is a sense of something being alive and vibrant....nothing "flat" about the sound. Not sure if it is the silver wiring, the tubes, or what, but the VAC preamp (I have the lower priced one...the Ren Mk III) is special as a linestage. If they built a phono stage at a reasonable cost that had that same magic....wow, get in line. |
Alonski,
Jeff Dorgay at TONEAudio I think wrote some reviews on the NAGRA preamp which has a phono pre built in if I'm not mistaken. That's one I would look at if you are seeking a stand alone unit. You may want to play around with the tubes in the VAC phono section too,....I'm curious if that raises the level of the VAC phono section part of preamp. |
Alonski,
One final idea based on what you are trying to accomplish. I recently heard the EAR 912. My dealer uses it as his reference phono/linestage preamp in his megabuck system (Magico speakers, $150k Clearaudio table, top of line synergistic research cabling, etc.). It was stunning. Clear as a crystal brook and very very dynamic. Probably the most dynamic punchy sound I've heard through a preamp. I'm sure the Magico speakers, the reference table etc had something to do with it, but the 912 sounded amazing. If I hadn't just purchased TWO reference preamps (need to unload one of them), I would have bought the 912 having heard it. I was afraid to buy it before because I read some reviews that said the top end was rolled off. Couldn't be further from the truth. |
Alonski,
Eager to hear how things progress with your journey...fun to read about your impressions and comparisons! |
Upgrade to better vac preamp with phono built in is the route i would go too |
Hi. You dont replace your mc stage with a SUT you run the SUT into the MM input. Best strategy is to get a SUT that is known to work well with your exact cartridge parameters. Vac can change a mc input to a mm. |
Excellent. I just ordered the Cinemag 1131 SUT made for my Miyajima Premium Mono BE cartridge. I have Robin Wyatt's SUT which is amazing - cant wait to hear Bob's magic in my chain. I plan on buying one of his cables too. What I am finding with an SUT in the chain is a new increased body and weighty meat to the sound. Very addictive. Taking it out makes the music more lean and less involving. |
Alonski, I love your description - spot on, "I love that this increased heft can be had without the usual compromises of darkened tonal colors and loss of inner detail. Weight, detail and sparkle coexisting in one system..." |
you either have the magic or you don't. when i bought the Herron VTPH-2 phono preamp I knew my search was over. Don't settle for "ok" |
I now have Bob's Devices Cinemag 1131 mono (made for Miyajima mono)
in my system. So Miyajima is going into Herron's MM inputs. Magic. Meaty,
special, musical, engaging, powerful etc. It is like putting Shindo and Linn
and ARC into a blender. Much superior than without 1131. Now i want one
for my benz lp-s. it brings weight and drama that is captivating. |
Right on, Alonski. I would also add to our Cinemag Infomercial I had a funky ground loop hum issue with my Miyajima setup (something about my system). The 1131 fixed that. |
I agree with Mbump. I have not heard anything in my system better than the Herron VTPH-2. no upgraditis on the phono preamp front. |
Received my VAC 450S and it is incredible....as great as my VAC 300.1a was, this is better...more holographic, makes the speakers disappear even more, etc. And I have non-flagship VAC preamp (Ren Mk III) which I love. Took delivery of the Magico S5 speakers, so now I am done...if I spend money it will be on little tweaks and headphone stuff. |
Agree with fplanner. Two 200 amps will be a big step up and bettering amps 5X as much. I dare say the 200 amps have newer circuitry than 300.1a so two of them should outperform a 300.1a. The 450 series is in a different league tho to my ears. Kevin has outdone himself. More goodness state of the art - I was dubious spending that much money but now feel like I got a deal. And his service is second to none in my book. He hasn't lost his deep commitment to consumers like many brands do when they get arrogant or big. My 450S is my last amp ...until VAC comes out with something better! |
Ears over ego. I could have bought the signature preamp to match my vac 450 but was too happy with my vac renaissance Mkiii preamp to bother. Sometimes less than the flagship is more than enough. In my case I love the renaissance so much i would be nervous even trading up. Ears over ego! Congrats on your purchase. Enjoy!! |
