2. amps-preamps
  3. 149977-110858

My 1st Tube Equipment Experience

I just purchased a used Herron Audio VTSP-3A(r02) tube preamp, as a replacement for a NAD M12.  I paired the M12 with a NAD M22 v2.  My first impressions are the M12 has more detail, the VTSP is much warmer, which is what I wanted.  The VTSP sound is definitely different.  And while it lacks the M12 detail, I do like it.  

With the M12, my speakers were dead silent when music was not playing.  With the VTSP, I hear a slight hiss when I put my ear very near a speaker.  With the M12, I used XLR from the M12 to the M22; XLR from my Parasound JC3 jr; and RCA from my Liberty DAC.  With the VTSP, everything now is RCA.

Is a little hiss common when using a tube preamp and SS power amp with RCA cables?
128x128oldschool1948

Showing 4 responses by atmasphere

atmasphere's avatar
atmasphere
11,625 posts
 
It's normal enough to have louder digital. As long as your vinyl sounds good, don't get hung up on the difference.
+1 really good advice!
atmasphere's avatar
atmasphere
11,625 posts
 
Couldn't tell you as I've not heard them but I can tell you I prefer tubes especially in preamps. You need them to get things right at the front end of the system; no amount of the best amps and speakers can bring back missing elements in the signal if the preamp doesn't do its job.
atmasphere's avatar
atmasphere
11,625 posts
 
Now I'm wondering what a better DAC would do.
:)
atmasphere's avatar
atmasphere
11,625 posts
 
I was researching the viability of using an RCA to XLR cable, with RCA on the Herron and XLR on the M22. Might that help, or is it a bad idea.
It won't make any difference. What might help though is to make sure you have a jumper installed in the M22 between pins 1 and 3 of the XLR when using the RCA input. This will prevent pin 3 from picking up noise.

The RCA connection is single ended and that won't change if the other end of the cable has an XLR connector on it.
More to discover