Solid state or Tubes preamp phono stage.

@blisshifi 

Again, I have the Trumpet, and that Fremer review was terrible. It’s almost as if he rushed through it and didn’t seem to understand how to set it up, nor really cared to understand it fully. Which should be unusual for someone with his experience. I didn’t have the ‘issues’ he seemed to have even when mine was purely stock. Reading that review when it came out, he seemed to have had his selection options all wrong.

I really didn’t get it, and was actually surprised when Jim linked the review to his site.

I have the Hagerman Trumpet and really like it. Am now running 2 CBS Hytron black plate 12au7’s, and 4 Telefunken/Dynaco smooth plate 12ax7’s. Also added an SBooster power supply. Yes, tubes are ‘to taste’, but my combination is much better that stock, and the tube choices take a lot of the ‘over colorization’ away vs the stock tubes, and IMO much more resolving than stock. Easily runs my lo and hi MI Soundsmith carts.

Can’t say enough good things about the Trumpet. Even with the above additions, still around/just under 2K.

@blisshifi 

Well, can’t agree on Fremer’s review. I like Mikey, but there are times he confuses me regarding his ‘take’ on some equipment. This was one. His flippant comment right out of the gate stating it’s power cord could flip it over it was so light, as example, was a bit ridiculous. It comes with a switcher plug, not an EIC connection, no way is that thin cable going to flip the unit over. As I say, I have an SBooster connected to it, but utilizes the stock connection, obviously, but with no fear of the cable ‘flipping’ it over. Yes, it is light weight, and compact unit, but that was a silly comment to make. Then his seemingly confusion on the resistance and gain settings was simply perplexing to me. It was like ‘Mikey, use your ears man’. Obviously these settings can change a carts presentation a great deal, and the overall musical presentation, and I’m not convinced he ever utilized the proper settings for his cart, nor took the time to do so. I just got the feeling he plugged it in, fooled around with it quickly, spun a couple records (two artists I listen to a lot, and disagreed with his assessment of Joni’s vocal presentation), and wrote a hastily written review, then removed it without much interest to move onto something else.

IMO, a pretty worthless review.  
 

@blisshifi

If you had some, my inclusion of the CBS Hytron black plate 12au7’s changed the sound of the Trumpet, a lot. Much more air and extension over the Brimar 4003’s I had in. Along with my old Telefunken smooth plate 12ax7’s which also add much detail, silky smoothness, and clarity. Yes, the right mix of tubes can change everything. 

I get it, you like the ModWright, great, enjoy.

@lewm 

The CBS Hytron's are actually 5814A's, not technically 12au7's

@mulveling

It’s semantics, but tube data sheets show 0.35 A heater current (parallel) for 5814, versus 0.30 A for 12AU7. They’re close enough it will never cause a problem for gear.

Yep, which is why I was willing to try the CBS Hytron’s. I am quite impressed with them for the $$. Really opened-up the Trumpet throughout the mids and highs, more ‘air’ was immediately noticed compared to the Brimar’s. And, with the Tele’s really changed the overall Trumpet presentation. Maybe too much of a good thing. I’m actually toying with the idea of getting 2 Mullards to pair with my 2 Telefunken’s. For some reason, I’m thinking that may be an interesting combo. I put in 2 of the stock Mullards, and think older Mullard’s just may work.

Fun with tubes.

Good to hear you still have your Trumpet. It was your glowing reviews that pushed me in the Trumpets direction.