Should I move on from my Hagerman Trumpet MC Phono Pre?


Hi all, currently I'm delighted with my Hagerman. Yes it can be a touch noisy at high volume but that goes away once the record begins and doesn't bother me. I've got it loaded with all NOS high end tubes and it sounds fab. However I recently picked up a Koetsu Urushi Wajima cartridge and I now find the plush midrange push of the Hagerman might be too much combined with the plush midrange push of the Urushi. FYI I'm running a stock SL-1200G into Rogue tube amplification. I'm going to try some OPEN / nicely bright 12au7 tubes to see if that can offset the lack of high end and a touch too much midrange emphasis I have now, but thought I'd also enquire about what folks thought about moving on from the Hagerman? I did get one suggestion of the Herron VTPH-2A but good luck finding one... thanks all. - Rich 

fastricky

Very salient points thanks all. 

I'm going to keep an eye out for a used MW Phono Stage, sounds like it'll be up my alley. For the record (hehe) I'm not opposed to warm tone from my phono stage, it's just that with the tubes I had incorporated into the Trumpet MC and the cartridge it was too mid heavy. 

Well I had a lengthy listening session last night, and beforehand I was surprised to find a pair of Sylvania 12au7s I had forgotten about so I put those into the front-most row on the Trumpet and a BIG improvement in openness. Also I have added the SBooster to mine and yes, a worthy move. 

So in short I'm going to buy some more open sounding tubes and experiment further. The sound of the Hagerman is outstanding, of course I haven't tried something much more expensive but aside from @medium_grade who here has tried the Hagerman? I suspect once I arrive at the right tube set I'm going to be satisfied. The elevated noise floor isn't that bad truthfully. 

Relative to what you have and might want to spend, sell the Trumpet, and as suggested look at a used Modwright 9X or Luxman EQ500.

I found one of these for $2500. Comparable, subjectively "better" in some areas but MIC, which to many here, claim to avoid😂

The latest price bump puts it at $4500. Make it in the USA, it would be priced much more$$

https://www.ebay.com/itm/157060441509

https://www.hifinews.com/content/primaluna-evo-100-tube-phono-preamplifier

Do the NOS tube thing, decent cable, now you have something that will approach $$ SOTA- as the Technics/Koetsu does.

I have no doubt the Trumpet performs well, but all the tweaking won't match any of the above "next step" models which are can be had for a sane price.

 

 

 

@fastricky 

Have you ever tried Sylvania Gold Brand Gold Pin (3 mica) 5751's? Best sounding 12AX7 variants I've ever used. RCA clear top 5751's were right up there as well. Remember 5751's are a tone down in gain from 100 to 70, which can help or hurt, depending on the rest of the system. I've been very happy with the Sylvania 5751's in my Cary phono stage for over 20 years. I also use Sylvania Gold Pin 6189's in the 12AU7 MC gain stage and Sylvania 5814A in the buffer spot. I have alternated from the 6189's to 12AU7 Amperex long plate bugle boys but usually favor the Sylvanias in my system. Obviously, results vary from one system to another but these have been my go to's for a long time. Mullards often get suggested but I have not found them to my liking and that might just be the variants that I had or who knows what? I would not object to trying teles or siemens but just haven't had them to try and I have no reason to feel the need to anyway, just that I might. My 2c.