Herron Audio VTPH-2A - Modwright PH 9.0X - Icon audio ps1 mkii

@sns I can answer your questions! The PH9 and 9X are a SUBSTANTIAL improvement over the SWP 9.0 SE. This is the upgrade path I went through. The upgrade from SWP to PH9 was much greater than from going from the 9 to 9X, but the X upgrade is still worth it. I wholeheartedly loved the SWP, but with the PH9 there is just more to everything - musicality, tonal richness, holography, separation, resolution, you name it. I remember opening the box with Vlad Baselkov, owner of Audio Mirror. I installed the stage, and even without tube break in, the improvement of the PH9 was so substantial that it put a smile on both our faces. He immediately bought one for himself the following day. 
 

The ART9 line is also very special. I had the original ART9, and to date it might still be my favorite cartridge despite it being discontinued in favor of the XA and XI. I “upgraded” to other cartridges after breaking the ART9 cantilever. My upgrade path consisted of a Dynavector XV-1s and the TOTL Audio Technica ART1000, and I missed the balance and tonality of the ART9 compared to both of those MSRP $5K cartridges. I sold both of them and am now using an Air Tight PC-1s, which many say is like the ART9 on steroids. I am very happy with it, but it is definitely diminishing returns. In the future I may just find myself going back to the ART9XA or ART9XI. 

@thiefoflight Thanks for the feedback, very  applicable to my intended upgrades.

I have the utmost respect for Keith Herron and his products and I wish him well in his retirement. Maybe in another 20 years, I will be doing the same!

I have not compared the Herron to the ModWright, so I won't comment. The Herron is a well respected design.

I will however, comment on the PH 9.0X vs. the original PH 9.0! I knew that the PH 150, which the PH 9.0 design is based upon, still had qualities that the PH 9.0 did not, albeit at $5K more money! I spent some time looking at the design changes and cost cutting that I did to reach the PH 9.0's price point and I put the 150SE circuits back into the PH 9.0 at each point and evaluated them. I then found the key to the difference and that was the Lundahl output (gapped) transformers, that not only eliminated a pair of coupling caps, but also significantly increased the inductive load on the final stage that improved low and mid bass response, improved detail and resolution overall and added +6dB overall gain. This raised the cost of the PH 9.0X over the PH 9.0 of course, but still left it far less expensive than the PH 150. All PH 9.0 units can be upgraded to 'X' status for the difference in price between the PH 9.0 and PH 9.0X. I am VERY happy with the performance of the PH 9.0X!

And as for service and support, ModWright's reputation speaks for itself, over the last 22+ years.

Thanks,

Dan Wright
President, ModWright Instruments Inc.

@thiefoflight Is the 3.14amp fuse the correct one for the 9.0x? I’m assuming that the power supply being rated at 3amp, that would be the right one. Just making sure.

@audiosaurusrex Yes, SR tends to recommend stepping up one value. So 3.15A is a safe bet. I’ve used the suggested rated fuses in tube units and sometimes they have blown. My dealer replaced them for free the first/only two times, but from then on I always ordered one value up.