Herron VTPH-2A discontinued

A shame as it is a fantastic phono stage. I currently own one and plan on keeping it. 

Sold out.  Gone to pasture.

Sold out.  Gone to pasture.

To keep price down Keith would have to order a production run of certain key parts like faceplates, chassis, etc. Depending on sales volume this could be something around a years worth or so of production. Prices have gone up so much since the last time, that this time he looked and said the price increase to produce would be astronomical. Probably one of several factors but a crucial one. Anyway, point is the VTPH2A was and is an awesome phono stage, it was selling well, but now will be made no more. A real shame, I don't know of anything to recommend in that price range, and as performance goes you are now realistically looking at $5-10k. It will be missed.

I contacted Keith about acquiring a VTPH-1mm, long after it had been superseded by the VTPH-2. My research on the phono amp had informed me that most of the improvements introduced in the VTPH-2 were to it's mc section, which is of no significance to me---I use only very high output (5mV!) pickups.

Keith just happened to have in stock a traded-in VTPH-1mc, which he offered to convert to a -1mm for me. Sold! While he did that, he went ahead and made a few upgrades to the -1mm's circuitry, one's incorporated into the mm section of the VTPH-2. I had him set up the amp for lowest gain (42dB)---accomplished via the choice of tubes (12AX7 vs. 12AT7), but he also sent along the tubes required to create 44dB of gain, just in case. Whatta guy!

There may be "better" phono amps available, but at what cost? My system is a modest one, and the VTPH-1mm is certainly not it's weakest link. Creating a balanced system is the key to sonic and musical satisfaction, and I'm quite happy with my Herron VTPH-1mm. 

12AT7 for low gain (42db); right?

@bdp24 , and that is all that counts. I imagine Keith will replace the VTPH-2 with something. That is the business he is in. Onwards and Upwards!

Just spent a listening session with Keith over at a friends and not sure you will see anymore VTPH2’s or a replacement in the future.  Keith is a wonderful person and all of his gear is top notch and a lot of bang for the $$$, you could spend a lot more and get worse sound...if you see a VTPH2 for sale pick it up and enjoy it!

I’ve heard a lot about the Herron but I wound up buying a customized Rogue Audio Ares Magnum for 2 tables. 1 mono 1 stereo and 1 mono switch. Hopefully it is on par with the VTPH2A.

certainly a great phono pre. 

I have one of the last ones made. It really is spectacular. I thought my Manley Chinook and Pass XP-15 were both really good. And they are, but the VTPH-2A is one another level. 

Sold mine and regret it daily. Tried to buy another a few times but too late (again last night). On the hunt!

It's a keeper, what I said from the beginning and totally unoriginal, was only repeating what others had said before me. One of the many things that sold me on it, the number of guys who said they are done looking. Lots of other stuff to work on, but the phono stage is not one of them. To build something so good is quite an accomplishment, especially considering the phono stage is probably the most critically demanding component in the whole audio chain. Quite an accomplishment.

Correct @lewm. 4 x 12AX7 = 44dB, 2 x 12AX7 + 2 x 12AT7 = 42dB.

When Frank Van Alstine was installing his own circuit into the Dynaco PAS 2 & 3 pre-amps (in the 1980’s), he was using 5751 tubes in place of the stock 12AX7’s. The 5751 provides somewhat lower gain than the 12AX7, but Frank prefers it’s operational characteristics.

Roger Modjeski wasn’t a fan of the 12AX7 for phono gain usage (though he used that tube for the input/gain stage of his marvelous little RM- 10 power amp), preferring the 6DJ8. Tim de Paravicini (EAR-Yoshino) agreed with Roger, using the higher voltage version of the 6DJ8---the 7DJ8---in his pre-amps, for both phono and line stages.

That’s a bummer. Thanks inflation. I own a VPTH-2A and love it! Aside from switching out tube when they croak, I wonder how long one can expect a unit like this to last? 

I have the Herron vtph-1 mc plus.
I`ve often considered moving to the VTPH2.
I don`t see myself going back to a MM so I figured why spend money on features that are baked in to the design (for an additional cost) that I`ll never use.
Keith put blue LED`s in it for me when I asked if he could do that for me ! 

I left all the tubes stock except for a vintage Telefunken 12AU7 that I harvested from a C-20 years ago that has a painted green tip that from what I gather means low noise.
Mine sounds very nice.

I meant 12AT7 not 12AU7....

It will last longer than any of us, with occasional new tubes and very occasional replacement of electrolytic caps, like every 20 years. With heavy use a switch or potentiometer or tube socket might eventually need cleaning or replacement. But basically a unit like that has an indefinite lifespan. People still use Marantz and McIntosh preamps (and other brands) sold in the 1950s.

I found a 2 last night (which is what I had before) but wondering what is the major difference between that and the 2A? Keith did say a while back that he could upgrade my 2 to a 2A but that was right before he stopped production so that's clearly not going to happen. Any insight?

Well Roger M and Tim P are both gone....reflecting on that deep loss of genius - all the more reason to celebrate and Thank ! Keith while he continues to enjoy music !

Here is to you in good health Keith.

@au_lait: I don’t want to speak for Keith Herron, but though he will not be making any more phono amps, he may be willing to upgrade a VTPH-2 to a -2A, assuming he has the required parts in stock. He is staying in business, still making his line stage and power amps, not retiring quite yet. At least that is my understanding of the situation. Give him a call!

@bdp24 Thanks for the tip!

What @bdp24 said.  He said he stopped making them because some parts became too expensive, but that doesn't mean he doesn't still have the parts or access to them to upgrade your device.  He's super easy to talk to and a really nice guy and very accommodating.  Give him a call.

Why doesn’t he sell the rights and designs of his products to another person? 

Why doesn’t he sell the rights and designs of his products to another person?

Good question. I don’t know the answer. However, it is pretty easy to imagine.......

Last few years I have had the pleasure to talk with some of these guys. Can’t honestly say I got to know them, but you talk to people and the clues pile up. Eric Alexander knew from the time he was a kid he wanted to be a speaker builder. Dave Thompson is fascinated by and loves music reproduction. Krissy Tetrault pretty much lives to make it sound better than most can even imagine. Keith Herron loves music. To name just a few. They really love what they are doing. You can feel it when they talk about it.

But they aren’t just doing it like we are, buying some stuff to try at home. They are building right at the edge of what can be. They build this and it goes out into the world and we love it and they built it. With Herron the connection is obvious, he puts his name on it. But even Tekton, Raven, Soundsmith, these are really Eric, Dave, Peter. Has to be. They put so much of themselves into it. I can only imagine how tremendously satisfying that must be, to have accomplished that. To have created that. All that musical enjoyment. All that love.

Then after a lifetime of doing that you are gonna turn around and monetize it, like some toaster or something? I mean yeah sure, Paul McCartney, Michael Jackson, whole long list of em did just that. Which only serves to burnish the rep of those who won’t.

Many discontinued equipment are on the market for decades after, his phono stages will be available used and if the demamd is so high the price will be higher or vice versa. There must be another person who can service them just like any other piece of high-end audio equipment. Life goes on. 

Yeah, I tried this thread before posting my unit online but seems my post was flagged so it did not go through

Longshot here, but are there any forum member that own a VTPH with a silver faceplate that might want to trade me for my black faceplate? I was lucky enough to find another unit (after reluctantly selling my first earlier this year) and the price was so good, just wish it was silver to match everything else. Already tried Keith, no leftover parts. 

@au_lait   

I didn't know the VTPH-1 had a silver faceplate.  I thought you could get them in any color as long as it was black.  

I saw the other VTPH-2 faceplates, but ended up choosing the brushed silver.  Matches my VTSP-3A (r03).  My M1 amps all have black faceplates.  

The VTPH-2 faceplate was also available in a cool graphite color, sort of a very light charcoal.

@bpoletti 

No I have the 2A actually! It’s not urgent or even necessary, just putting it out there in case someone picked up a 2nd hand unit w/ silver face but preferred black.

@bpoletti I have silver on my VTPH-2A, M1 amps, and VTSP-360.  One of our regulars here has a custom wood faceplate on his VTPH-2A, it's pretty cool!

The VTPH-2 faceplate was also available in a cool graphite color, sort of a very light charcoal.

Wonder which one mine is?  https://systems.audiogon.com/systems/8367