Herron VTSP2 preamp ... I'm impressed ...

[Rosewind]

First of all I would like to thank Jerry (jandl100) for advertising his Herron VTSP2 preamp for sale just as I was beginning to look for a replacement for my EAR 802, which is a preamp with an extremely quiet mm stage but to me it is a little too even-handed and unexciting. It lacked drama in my set up which you may see further down in this post.

Although Jerry had already decided NOT to sell, his sales ad made me start looking for information about Herron Audio. Just a few hours later, I had located two other Herron VTSP2 preamps for sale - a black one in Norway and a silver one in Belgium. I ended up going for the silver one in Belgium since the seller was very responsive and accomodating. I had also considered many other offerings around the £1250 mark. Some less than that, some quite a bit more than that.

Now that the Herron VTSP2 is here, all worries are now in the past. Until it arrived, I must admit that I was afraid that I had made a mistake in selling the EAR 802 when I heard back from a very enthusiastic buyer who found the MM-stage in the EAR 802 + "the Head" SUT better than a Rega Ios and a combination of a EAR 88PB and "the Head" SUT.

But in my set-up the Herron sounds as if a bit of fresh air and boucy showmanship have entered the man cave, a dark place that tends to smell and sound like ... a man cave. It just works wonders.

My audio chain is as follows:

Computer ---> bog standard USB out ---> Nuforce S192U (uSB-Spdif-converter powered by linear psu through Paul Pang usb splitter cable) --> coax out --> Line Magnetic 502CA DAC --> Herron VTSP2 ---> EAR 516 Stereo amp --> My flying/dancing ... Quad ESL 57s ... placed on top of shelves.

Turntable:
I have a Thorens TD 147 Jubilee turntable that I try not to dampen to death fitted with the standard TP16 armbase and an updated arm from Schopper.ch. My cart is a Benz Micro Gullwing SLR MC. Currently I am without a phono stage but in a few days I will have an Arcam rPhono standing in for my final phono stage. I also have a Partridge 977 SUT that I will test with the Arcam rPhono.

Cassette deck: Bang & Olufsen Beocord 6500
Tuner set-up: Leak Stereo 70 / Leak Stereofetic FM Tuner / JBL LX-310.

So which phono stage will I end up getting?

These are early hours with my Herron VTSP2 and it remains to be seen if my initial infatuation will last.

2 photos:
https://i.imgur.com/2qUCZoBl.jpg

https://i.imgur.com/1tunI2Bl.jpg

[Spectral Morn]

"the Head" SUTs these days are selling for crazy money, up to £1000+, but it has to be said its a very good SUT and while I no longer use SUTs I won't be selling mine.

[Rosewind]

Oh come on, you tease! You know you want to sell it. :stalks:

[jandl100]

Excellent, I am pleased and relieved after our PM conversation that the Herron has worked out well for you, Peter. :thumbsup:

[hifinutt]

yes always good to hear of good pre amps , thanks for posting

[Rosewind]

The Herron seems to have a more lighted top that almost makes my Quad ESL 57s sound closer to Magnepans than through my old EAR 802. The Herron does something that is not quite neutral there, something that breathes life into the music.

Now I am listening to Leonard Cohen, moving up in time from "I'm Your Man" to "You Want It Darker". Right now "Tower of Song".

The source is FLAC files played by JRIver (kernel streaming) into the LM 502CA. The sound reminds me of the time when I first listened to that vinyl album on my old Thorens 160 mkii tt with a new Ortofon MC 30 through an Olive Naim Nac 62 (S Card) / Nap 140 with Mission 737R speakers. I was bowled over.

A Danish review mentions that the Herron compromises by "enhancing" the sound towards the top and losing micro detail. Well, I must say that I never heard those micro details on the EAR 802. Also the mids and bass are superior. To me this amp is so much more fun. Even my wife came in and praised what it did to some of her favourite songs.

Now "I'm Leaving the Table" in playing - I'm smitten.

[Rosewind]

This is the best-sounding music play-back that I have ever had in my study. To me.

Herron VTSP2
EAR 516
Quad ESL 57
DAC - Line Magnetic 502CA: Computer (USB out) --> Nuforce U192S (coax out) --> LM502CA
TT - Thorens TD 147 Jubilee: Arcam rPhono (mm in use) + Partridge 977 SUT + Benz Micro Gullwing SLR cart
Cassette Deck - Bang & Olufsen Beocord 6500
Tuner system - Leak Stereofetic FM Tuner (through Leak Stereo 70 + JBL LX-310)

My only niggle is the high gain of the DAC chain which means that I only use 001 to 025 on the digital display out of 100.

Where to go from here?

(1) Upgrade phono stage to ... Paradise / Arkless Transconductor / Leben mm stage + SUT / Audion Premier mm stage + SUT / Herron + SUT / ... or?
(2) Herron VTSP 360
(3) Computer playback chain: new Paul Pang USB card? New usb/spdif converter? New DAC?
(4) Stacked Quad ESL 57s.

Notes:
(1) is achievable within a year or two depending on how much new music I buy.
(2) I will need John Westlake to finally finish my long since ordered VFET monos so I can sell them on to bankroll this or just a Herron VTSP3 (which has two gain settings).
(3) This is icing on the cake, and will be put very last on the list unless something goes up in flames.
(4) Unnecessary icing on more unnecessary cakes. I can't accomodate stacked 57s in here anyway, and with the new old Herron VTSP2 music enjoyment has taken a quantum leap forward rendering this really unnecessary. Well, it was from the onset anyway.

[antonio]

I read your original question, which pre and phonostage? Maybe it's time to try and get a listen to a phonostage or two, but realise this is not easy.

[Rosewind]

It is easier now that I have a preamp I like the sound of. Otherwise there is no way around demoing the mm stages / mc-stages.

[lordmortlock]

Haha, don’t you just hate it when buyers are really enthusiastic? You sell something and they send you a long email telling you that their new acquisition is THE BEST THING ever, and you die a bit inside and wish you’d never sold it! I’ve learnt not to do that when I buy now, it’s not kind lol

[Firebottle]

Ah but it might be the best thing ever in their system.

As my system has steadily got better and better I have come to the conclusion that there are strata in the performance of others, or even any, system.
The component just bough may have replaced the weak link in said system.

The biggest thing to remember is Everything matters, more so as the performance improves.

[Rosewind]

There are surely moments when things fall into place. First the Quad ESL 57 paired with the Ear 516 and then the Herron VTSP2.

Now I "just" need to find a suitable phono stage or phono pre (tape out) that will do this. Not too clinical, but I like to hear details in the music mix without losing the overall perspective. I lived for over 20 years with a Naim set-up in particular Naim phono cards (323) and a Prefix so I may be partial to that sort of "distortion". I am not made of money - although I have spent money feeding the Hifi habit as if I was made of solid gold - so I can't go super sonic. Although, quite contrary to my nature, I could save up for once.

Candidates for long term phono stages - none of which I have heard "live":

EAR Yoshino 324 (they never pop up s/h)
Miyajima phono pre (never read a review, so does this exist in Europe?)
Sugden Masterclass PA-4 (+/- SUT)
Paradise phono stage
Goldnote PH10 (I like its versatility and upgradeability -psu, valve output stage etc. + I can audition this one)
Naim Superline (but so expensive with Supercap)
Naim Prefix - been there but I have fond memories of it, so could use it as a stepping stone to Superline
Herron Phono stage
Firebottle ...
Audion Premier MM stage + SUT
EAR 802 (tape out, or another good vintage pre with a very good phono stage)
(Keep my) Arcam rPhono + Partridge 977 SUT

I have owned Ayre P5xe (very clean and clear but I missed a bit of luxurious glow), Naim Prefix, McIntosh C48 (did not like sound signature), Perreaux SXV2, Arkless Turbo+, Primare R32 (too much needle noise), Yaquin MM stage, Puresound SUT (had too little gain). I must say that I tested the phono stages while my set-up went through so many changes that I only mention the ones that stood out).

[Rosewind]

I bought a Croft Riaa R which I like very much with my Partridge SUT. The Herron still shines in my set-up to the extent that I wonder what upgrading that to a newer model would bring ... The VTSP 3 or VTSP 360. Of course they cost vastly more than my VTSP 2 so it is a matter of diminishing returns, I suppose.

Once in a while I read glowing reviews of kit and am tempted until I remember where I went getting to this point where my set-up sounds so great.

I have two small projects this summer:
- (1) to complete my First Watt F4 build - probably with the help of a professional repairer in a nearby town. Then compare this to my EAr 516 and sell it on. I don't expect the FirstWatt F4 to be better.
- (2) to complete my DIY Poul Ladegaard's Air Bearing Tangential Tonearm that I have very close to completion.

After that I am still waiting for John Westlake to get his act together to honor my investment. Whether that will ever happen is doubtful. Good then that I have my current set-up.

[joolz]

Hi Peter,
I ended up buying Jerry's (and Jake's) old Herron pre. Very glad i did as it does subtle things that none of my previous ones have. It took a while and it wasn't immediately obvious, but on some tracks were i wasn't sure if it was a bad master or too 'much' going on at the same time, the Herron just copes.:)

[Rosewind]

Hi Julan.

It is that good. I originally tried to buy Jerry's pre after I read extensively about Herron pre amps on the internet, but at that time he had withdrawn it from sale. Then I located one in Holland and bought it. I don't regret it as you will know from reading this thread. I certainly rate it over the EAR 802 and Macintosh C48, in fact, it is as satisfying as the EAR 868 and EAR 912 that I owned ... with different power amps and speakers, however.

My final set-up is likely to be like this - with what I have on the left:
- Herron VTSP 2A - or one of the newer versions, VTSP 3 / VTSP 360
- EAR 516 - or ... Leak ST 20 / Leak TL12 / one of the Radford STA versions / Quad II - unless it is too romantic-sounding
- Croft Riaa R (or RS, if it is not too hifi-ish) or ... Herron VTPH2A / Miyajima Stereo pre / Paradise phono stage ...
- DIY Partridge SUT or ... "The Head" by Tim de Paravicini or ... possibly a Miyajima SUT (if I stick with the Croft phono stages)
- Benz Micro Gullwing SLR or ... Benz Micro Gullwing SHR / Denon 103R or another of the 103 varieties
- Thorens TD 147 Jubilee
- Thorens TP 16 arm with improved arm tube or if I do not mind losing the semi-automatic features of the TT ... DIY Paul Ladegaard Air Bearing Tangential Arm / Morch UP-4 / Morch DP6 / Hadcock Unipivot