Any Softone Model 4 tube phono preamp users out there?

@macg19 

I just visited your system, that’s an incredible setup!

The PA 3100 HV has the grip and refinement to really let the Harbeth 40.3s breathe. And that Clearaudio/My Sonic Lab/Model 4 combo on the front end—seriously impressive. I can only imagine the scale, texture, and sheer musical engagement you’re getting with above combination.

What more I can say about Model 4, it is A-M-A-Z-I-N-G. I bet it’s bringing that warm, rich flavor of tube magic into the chain. It’s good to know that M4 simply clicks with your MSL Sig, Platinum. I’ve had phono stages loaded with every bell and whistle you can imagine, but they just didn’t deliver musically enough to keep around. At the end of the day, sometimes minimal settings are all you really need—if it sounds right, it is right.

Remind me again please, did you tube roll Model 4 with any other NOS tubes before settling on the Mullards. I am still chasing a nice pair of NOS Mullards at reasonable price. I did get a pair of Amperex Bugle Boy 12AX7/ECC83 (Holland) to try out in M4. Right now, I am using a pair of NOS Telefunken 12AX7’s smooth plate version. 

One question, did you hear noticeable improvement with SDFB vs stock fuse on M4. I have not tempered M4 stock fuse with my trusty HiFi Tuning Supreme Cu fuse yet :-)

@macg19 …I really like the conveniently placed orange MUTE button. The feel of this old-school square latching push button with built-in light have a bit of tactile, mechanical feel. Unlike soft-touch or momentary switches, you get that firm “click and lock” action when you engage mute, along with the immediate visual cue from the orange glow 😊

@lalitk 

Nice to hear from you again. Thanks. I’ve looked at your system before, amazing. Tannoy’s have intrigued me for a long time after hearing some vintage speakers with just the 15” concentric gold with a Jaddis amp – can’t seem to get that low end tonality out of my head. Similar but different in terms of how I ended up with Harbeth. You provided a ton of detail and I like how you’ve organized your virtual system. I may do that too.

Re Tubes:

NEW: JJ ECC83MG came with the M4 sounded good. I bought Sovtek12AX7LPS because that is what used to come with the M4. Also good. New/reissue Gold Lion 12AX7, also good, but not better than JJ/Sovtek at double the cost. Summarily, good detail but a bit grainy and seemed like there were gaps in the frequency ranges, I guess lacking in mid-range, air and authoritative, tight bass.  

NOS: I thought I liked the Tele Diamond Mark over the twice-the-price Mullard’s but I was wrong. I played Oscar Peterson’s “We Take Requests” one day with Tele’s in and hated the piano when played at decent volume (SPL ~80dB). It sort of hurt my ears. I put in some RCA 6201’s (slightly less gain, but I changed from low to high MC on the model 4) and that solved the issue, then the Mullard’s back in. Just more air/space between the notes but the piano sounded more like a live piano, and adding more volume sounded better, not like I should be dialing it back to tolerate it as with the Tele’s, so the Mullard’s stay. But the RCA’s are VERY good. (I acquired them as part of another purchase along with the new GLs so these were sort-of free).

Note that I’m setting the volume to roughly -30 to -35 dB to get 85 to 90 dB-C peaks at the listening position 12ft from the speakers, with the meters peaking at 10 watts, so theoretically staying in class A most of the time. But having virtually unlimited headroom is good with the big Harbeth’s and I’m guessing much less so with the Tannoys.

Please Lmk about the Amperex BB. I need to back up the Mullard’s before they get even more expensive, and I have always wanted to hear the BB. Brimar Mil Spec is another one.  

Re SDFB: It was plugged into my DAC, which conveniently also uses 2 x 12AX7, and the same fuse, so I just swapped it to the M4. Never a/b tested, just assumed that if it helped the DAC, it would be better placed with the M4.

Also love the mute button.

So, I’m very happy. There is no question the M4 clicks. Tone, detail but zero fatigue, punch, imaging all very good.

Now I’m just curious to hear how the Model 4 compares with the others at 10x or more, in my system. If there are any takers, I’m in Dana Point, CA.

All the best!

Is this 110 V? Do you need to use a step up transformer?

@peter_s yes, but you can order 240, and no, it has a built in SUT.

Gain settings:
MM 45dB
MC High 67dB
MC Low 72dB

MM load resistance is 47k ohms.
MC High load resistance is 100 ohms.
MC Low load resistance is 25 ohms.

Only 3 options. My cart output is 0.5 mv and I use MC High/ 67dB of gain.

If you email Shoichi Yoshimoto at Softone with your cart specs he will tell you if it is likely to be a good match or not. 

@macg19 

Thanks for your kind words.  It took me a while to add all the details to my system page, I believe it serves a good reference point for me and the visitors. I can track what I’ve tried, what’s stayed, and why. When you look back months (or even years) later, it gives context and reminds you of the journey. 

Coming back to your post, thanks for sharing all the detail. I can tell you’re really dialed into how each tube shifts the feel of the music, and I love how you describe those listening impressions—it really brings it to life. The Mullards being the ones that let you turn it up and enjoy rather than tolerate says everything; that’s the mark of a keeper. The RCAs sound like a real hidden gem too. 

I hear you on the Tannoy vs. Harbeth thing—both special, but in different ways. I have heard on few occasions, they are very capable of conveying same natural honesty, but maybe with a bit more refinement in the midrange. 

I’ll definitely share my impressions on the Amperex Bugle Boy’s. From what I’ve read, they’re different flavors from the Mullard and Telefunken. Keeping a back up is a solid plan.

And yes, that mute button—small detail, big satisfaction. 

Sounds like you’re in a really happy place with the M4. Honestly, that’s the best part; when a piece just clicks in your system and makes you forget about the gear.

Comparing with the “10x” crowd will be fun, but you might find you’re already right where you need to be. I’m down to the final stretch of my Garrard 301 project — just waiting on the last two critical pieces to arrive. Once it’s complete, the plan is to pair it with a couple of phono stages priced under $20K to really explore if ultra high end phonos are worth the ask.