@sandthemall
I think you will be pleased. There isn’t really just one thing the SBooster improves. It’s the overall performance.
I was getting ready to go to bed last night after several hours listening, and had to play another LP instead. That is always a good thing. 😉
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I purchased a Trumpet earlier this year as a result of the many good reviews from @mulveling here. He has (and has had) a lot of phono stages to compare the Trumpet to, some (much) more higher priced, and he rates the Trumpet extremely high in comparison. So, after much thought, I jumped in and purchased one.
I like it a lot. A very warm, full, big, and rich presentation. Digs deep across the range. Obviously that can be changed to some degree with tube rolling. All very subjective, so I’ll leave it at that.
Carts make a difference as well. I started with my Soundsmith Zephyr MKIII ES high output (2.4mV) MI, but just very recently installed a Soundsmith MIMC Star Lo output (.4mV) version of the Zephyr. I do believe I like the Trumpet with my lower output cart as it seems to perform even better to my ears, and also provides additional tweaking for presentation preferences.
Some do not like Jim’s decision for the power supply set-up, but as Jim has stated, he feels he got almost all the performance of his earlier and much higher cost Trumpet phono stages for a fraction of the cost. I have no complaints.
In terms of Jim and his company, I have had no issues. The couple times I have reached out to him he has answered fairly quickly. I live in Ohio, and the Trumpet arrived about a week from Hawaii after ordering. I have no doubt if there is a problem, Jim will resolve it. He’s a ‘one man band’, so all issues will be directly dealt with by him. And with a 10 year warranty, that also isn’t bad. He has been around for a while, and seems very passionate about his products.
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@tablejockey
Nearly $800 of upgrades for a $1K unit?
Seems a little excessive, but if your ears justify it, enjoy!
Not when the stock unit can compete easily with phono pre’s 2-3 times its cost. Thus why I have had no issues spending money on tube upgrades, as example (recently installed older used but well measured Dynaco/Telefunken smooth plate AX7’s in mine, that replaced Gold Lion gold pins, that replaced the stock Mullard’s).
I’ve considered the same power supply from Upscale for mine, but satisfied at the moment. Cost to do so would not make me think twice though, as I’m extremely happy with the Trumpet, and if would take it to another level? No brainer.
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@sandthemall
Not sure that an outboard power supply is necessary.
Well, I'm getting ready to find out. I have a sBooster power supply that arrives in the next couple days. I bought it used from a gentleman who also used it with a Hagerman Trumpet as well, and he said it added quite a bit to the Trumpets overall performance.
We'll see. For what I paid for it, worth the shot.
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@sandthemall
The SBooster power supply came today for the Hagerman Trumpet. Yep, after a few LP’s, I can definitely say an improvement to an already great phono pre. More ‘filled-out’, more definition, more ‘punch’ in its overall presentation.
Now, I got mine used, in NM condition for only $250 shipped. New ones go for almost twice that. Was $250 worth it? To me, without a doubt. $400+/-? I still think it’s worthwhile. Takes the Trumpet and raises it a notch or two in its overall performance, to what it already does well.
My $0.02
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@orange5o
Change out the stock Mullard tubes in the Trumpet to something like the Genalex Gold Lion gold pin 12ax7’s (which I did soon after I bought the Trumpet), and you will get the sparkle and definition you might desire. Or, find some Telefunken smooth plates and that takes the Gold Lion presentation up a couple more notches but with much less grain and added smoothness. I was lucky to find some Dynaco branded Telefunken smooth plates for at least 1/2 the cost of Telefunken branded tubes. I would go that route first, if you can spend the extra over the Gold Lions.
I know I read that someone asked Jim Hagerman about the difference between these two phono pre’s (Tube Box vs the Trumpet), and it is said he thinks the circuitry of the Pro-Ject makes it more a ‘tube buffer’ stage vs his Trumpet. It would be best to email Jim and ask him directly.
Jim provides a 10 year warranty, and I would bet if the Trumpet didn’t work out for you, you could return it for a full refund. Again, ask Jim directly.
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@orange5o
The Gold Lion gold pins I have are new. Really not a huge investment. IIRC about $35~40 per. Yea, you can replace two AX7’s at a time if you wish, but personally, I tried 2 of the stock Mullards and 2 of the Gold Lions, and yea, went with 4. The mix was fine, just didn’t give me the sound I wanted. Don’t get me wrong, the Mullards are pretty good, Kevin D likes them too, but as you, desired more airy sparkle and definition. The Gold Lions are also pretty good bass producers too.
The SBooster is the selectable 15-16.5v model. The Trumpet uses 15v.
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@orange5o
Congrats. Yea, they may break in some, but, depending on what you want, changing the tubes will change the sound signature quite a bit.
Do some research, read the sound signatures of various tubes, then try some. It’s fun.
I also changed the 12au7’s to NOS Brimar’s from Upscale.
Pretty happy with those and the Dynaco/Telefunken smooth plates. I also listen to a lot of acoustical, jazz, and classical. So I wanted tweaks that would provide some ‘air’, as you say, sparkle, and definition. The stock Mullards are a bit thick and dense, and doubt break in will change that significantly. That’s what they are.
Then the SBoster LPS really made another nice improvement.
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@orange5o
Holy smokes. Well, Russian made, so there ya go. That’s ridiculous.
For that $, I would be on the hunt for some old stock tubes.
Talk to Andy at Vintage Tube Services.
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@orange5o
Fantastic! Glad you are enjoying the Trumpet, I love mine as well.
Happy and fun tube rolling! Those Telefunken smooth plates are something special.
Enjoy the tunes
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