Herron VTSP 2 or First Sound PreAmps


I am considering going towards a tube pre-amp and the two pre-amps that i am considering to match my McCormack DNA 225 Mono blocks (upgraded by Steve) are the Herron's and First Sound.

I am looking towards getting more separation among players and instruments as well good overall tonal balance with more body.

my current set-up gives me quite a bit of all this at the moment but it is on the lean side.

I am traditionally a SS person but after hearing a friend's set up with tubes...i am now thinking of a tube pre.

I have heard the Herron at CES but not the First Sound...has anyone paired either of the units to McCormack gear...are both these brands at the same level of sound quality...

Also in terms of maintenance of these tube units...which is a better bet.

the rest of my system may be seen when you click on system.

Thanks for sharing...
teck5
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I'm going to agree that the LL2 is probably very system dependent; I heard in one system that I was not familiar with and couldn't get out of the room fast enough; in another it was OK, but clearly outclassed by Aesthetix Calypso (and 2 other much more expensive pre-amps). Lots of folks like them, so there must be some synergistic amps/speakers/sources out there. The First Sound, in my system was very clean, crisp, neutral. Never heard a Herron.
I have a First Sound preamp - I love tubes, and it's the last component that I own that's leaving my system. It delivers the body of tubes (an oboe sounds like an oboe, as opposed to a generic instrument) but at the same time provides the detail of SS. It's hard to split that difference, but Emmanuel has done it.
I have had a Herron VTSP-2 for the past two years. I sent it back to Herron 3 weeks ago and had it upgraded to the 3 and got it back several days ago. It is one of the best pre-amps that I have ever heard or used, either tube or solid state. The ambience retreval, tonal balance, and bass and mid-bass dynamics are all improved over the 2 and the 2 was no slouch in that area.I have had no problems with the 2 during the course the of two years.
It does not put out any heat and just gets warm to the touch but not hot.I have it paired with a set of Parasound Halo JC-1 mono amps and the sound is fantastic.
Also, there is no one in this business any better to deal with than Keith Herron. He is a true gentleman and is totally devoted to the accurate reproduction of music in musical terms.I do not think that you could ever go wrong in choosing a Herron pre-amp.
Teck5, do you feel any closer to choosing between the two? I get the feeling that you are not going to get a definitive answer; there proabably isn't one, as they both seem to be very well thought of.