Herron VTPH-2A discontinued

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

@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!

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.

I contacted Keith about acquiring a VTPH-1mm, long after it had been superseded by the VTPH-2.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.