Thank you all for your responses. I'm looking at the specs and reviews of the Herron VTPH-2A (see: http://www.herronaudio.com/vtph2specs.html ) and am impressed. It seems that this would be great into the PrimaLuna for analog and my DAC into the PrimaLuna for digital. I'll admit this is becoming expensive for a 70 year old (me, I mean). My SP-11 is 33 years old so how much is that in pre-amp years? LOL. |
Thanks, elizabeth. I needed that. Now and then I need to be brought back to my senses. I haven't given up the thought of seeing what's out there, but not exactly as interested in making a move. I'm the original owner of the SP-11 and bought it at the same time as the bulk of my equipment lo those many years ago. Thanks again to all who have responded. I really appreciate your assistance. That Herron VTPH-2A phono preamp sure looks nice. Plenty of gain for a low-output MC cartridge, too. |
Speakers? Full Range Apogees. Amps? Fully restored ARC D-250 MkII Servo for the midrange and treble ribbons, restored Krell KSA-100 direct-driving the bass ribbons. Signals split by a custom-built Apogee active crossover. The listening room was specially built in 1985, is 27' x 17' x 11' and was co-designed by me, my builder, and Leo Spiegel from Apogee. Lots of room treatment, too, including several ASC Tube Traps. The strategically placed SONEX has deteriorated and I'm looking into other available 3" thick treatment - at least 64 sq ft of it, which actually gets lost on those large walls - none on the wall behind the Apogees, however! I tried that - what a huge mistake THAT was. Interconnects are all MIT. The SP-11 never had sufficient gain for my Madrigal Carnegie 1's 0.28mV output. The tonearm is an Eminent Technology ET-2. The turntable is a SOTA Star Sapphire. I've always had to turn up the gain and level controls on the SP-11 to get a room-filling volume and then the background noise was too high for my tastes. Yes, I should have gotten a phono preamp of sufficient gain, but was hampered by the fact that my dealer (Golden Gramophone in Akron, Ohio) decided to close up shop about 15 years ago. I'm legally blind and haven't driven for over 25 years. Wow, why did I write this book? My apologies for rambling so. Yes, I've been proud of my room and audio gear, all of which I'm the original owner. 17 eye surgeries have occurred since the room was built and the room has literally saved my sanity. By the way, I'll be 70 in a month. ;^) |
