The Mighty Puffin

I moved my Puffin into my main system tonight until my new phono stage arrives. It doesn't quite have the body and heft of my Manley Chinook, but it's doing a respectable job and not doing anything "wrong".

@fuzztone the "brand new" stylus is a Jico SAS (boron) in my Shure V15 Type IV. It's a great value, certainly not in the league of some of my other carts, but hard to beat for the approx. $400 I paid for it and the Shure V15 with a broken stylus. 

i have heard a Puffin at Gig Harbor Audio, Eric the owner has a good ear for gear and was an early adopter. i was impressed. BTW Eric has a heart of gold and action to match, see a bit in Stereophile on him and others good deeds...

"Brand new" stylus is not as quiet as a properly set up line contact one. The Puffin helps with set up too.
The Magic function is truly all that.

I listened to a record last night that was really noisy and thought I'd throw it on my VPI to see if it sounded as bad there.  To my surprise, it was really quiet and right away I started thinking about what could be wrong with my other table, which has a cartridge with a brand new stylus on it. 

It took me a minute to realize that I had turned the "magic" function on in the Puffin and forgot to turn it off, and that it actually works!

arcticdeth, if you're not learning, what are you going? Forgetting.. LOL

That's what my OLD journeyman use to tell me.. He was pretty much right too. He told me every thing has a time, then would laugh, and say "now keep it short". 

Everything has updates, from OBD2 on all equipment, cars, machinery, or just about anything with an accumulating carbon foot print and requires power to work, or produce work..

I been updating equipment computers sense the Lean Burn Chryslers in 76-79. I was part of the Chryslers field R&D in regards to pre OBDI it was OLD tech. BUT tight code.. really tight..

Digital is 1 and 0 there is always a way to Fuc$ with it .. trust me..

I have compiled some cowboy code for sure.. Even hydraulics are completely interfaced with human touch to CLAW out 5 yards of earth and load it in a tractor/truck. All with the touch of a joystick and NEVER see the truck giggle, it was so smooth, just squat as the weight was added..

This little Puffin, is just my cup of tea.. As techie as I want it to be... OR as simple as I want it to be. Full Flex Phono/Tape preamp.

Truly in the low dollars spent for high returns category.. I can't find a bad review..

Regards

Newer components are like mini computers. 
 Wow.
thank you

You can update firmware connecting the unit to a computer (via included cable) that has downloaded the file. Windows and Mac.
The updates add features like Azimuth tuning, and fine channel balance and fixes small bugs if any. Beta testing is optional.

Don’t understand firmware updates etc with ho e audio....

    all my components have no updates needed. They just all come together and give me goosebumps every time my components warm up for 10 hours overnight. 

  What is firmware updates and updates in general?
do you hook up to a computer, or internet for a download to update?

  Halfway to death and still learning new things everyday!

  I read on a couple audio message websites, about processors, needing updates etc etc. 

  thanks to you who take the time to explain all of this to me. 

I can already tell you, I’ll like it.. I’m pretty impulsive.
BUT, not with money.. LOL

I didn’t find a single bad review...:-)

I think with the ZP3 and this I can fine tune the tape side pretty good too. I think it will be a better than a SUT in leu of transformers.. FET front end with opamp options.. We’ll see.. Sounds quiet to me... -4 - +70db of gain.. 

Let us know how you like it.

Puff the magic dragon.

I pulled the trigger on one.. It was 450.00 Serial # 18. The first batch.

I think it will be a nice addition.. Can always trade in or up..

Interesting story on the Puffin.. I like success stories..:-)

Thanks guys..

Wow, pretty good review indeed.  I like the footprint. I have a Decware ZP3 on the build list 6-8 weeks it should be done. LOL I'm not suffering through. 23 weeks sense I ordered and paid for it.. 24-36 week wait..

Regards

It's firmware. You can save them all and use any one you like. No reason to go backwards though.

I have a Puffin in one of my secondary systems and am currently using it with my VPI Classic 2 / Van Den Hul MC-Two Special cart. 

I've tried a number of budget phono stages and haven't seen one that came close to the Puffin, I have a Jolida JD9 II that got relegated to a rarely used system and sold both of my Musical Surroundings Nova Phonomena phono stages, if that tells anything.  It's not quite in the same league as my Manley Chinook or Pass XP-15, but they don't leave it in the dust and cost a few times what the Puffin does.  Both of those have a little more "body" than the Puffin, and more flexibility in terms of loading options.  The Puffin however, has more gain settings than most phono stages.

The Puffin has a lot of flexibility, but I think it sounds best with all the controls neutral.  Updating is easy and it's cool that Shannon is always tinkering and adding new stuff, like the "Magic" feature to minimize pops and tics.  I don't use it, because I use this system for play grading records, but it works.  It won't completely eliminate all noise, but quiets things down and doesn't seem to degrade playback.  He's also pretty easy to get in touch with if you have questions and is super passionate about what he does.

I recommend it to anyone that's looking for a phono stage under $1K.

Have you tried it? It's all eprom? I understand there are updates on his software/firmware. I was just wondering HOW? Software, Firmware, or Hardware, and can you save and or have more than one upgrade option?

Pre 58 options and or. I have some pre WWII Japanese 30cm records (not vinyl) weird EQ and RPM.. I think they are 16 rpm 12" (very close).

I'm tinkering, I just don't want to spend a fortune. BUT if it is a nice Phono stage anyway.. Maybe I can get a twofer.. LOL  I've done my share of compiling, and altering code... Use to hate debugging someone elses MESS.. I'm just a mechanic...

Regards