What´s your phono preamp?

That's what I'm thinking. Either that or he's using 6DJ8 Bugle Boys.

 

This is why I rarely post. I think SirMarc is right in hindsight. I'll see if I can find the receipt from Upscale since their website no longer has my orders since it has been a couple of years.. I'm too lazy to open it to check.

Regardless, the stock Chinook is nice. Updating the tubes can change the character and not every change appeals to every person. To me that is part of the joy of tubes (when you can tube roll). Other than my speakers, the Chinook with upgraded tubes is the thing I've had in my system the longest (and I'll make sure that profile is up to date next ). I'm very happy with it.

I'm pretty happy with my whole system and other than additional isolation/room treatment I don't see a lot of upgrades in my future.

 

No harm done, man. Don't shy from posting because of such an innocuous miscommunication. Upscale Audio sells the Amperex 7308 and the Amperex Bugle Boy 6DJ8. I could be wrong or maybe his inventory changed but I don't recall him stocking anything else in Amperex.

I don't blame you for not wanting to open up the Chinook. I posted my experience/review of it recently and one thing I mentioned is it's a pain to open up for tube-swapping. The unit I tested had Amperex Bugle Boy tubes in it.

If you're happy with your system, that's the ultimate. I'm not there yet but hope to join you soon. Still need to upgrade my amp and speakers before that happens, though. Maybe in 1-2 years, I'll get there.

 

It's as good as a Pre-Amp needs to be. I think most options above are snake oil. Yes they might sound "better" to some ears, while worse to others. I can always adjust EQ to my will without searching for a specific pre-amp that fits my taste.
I'm mostly buying vinyl for needledrops (tracks not released on CD or only with bad compression) so I adjust the sound during editing anyway.

Now that doesn't mean it is perfect. I don't like that it is permanently turned on once plugged in. I modified mine to have a simple "lightswitch" for turning it on and off.
The only other thing I sorta wich it had was a toggle switch to turn RIAA on/off. I'd prefer to use software RIAA simply for accuracy reasons. Also one wouldn't need to counter-eq the RIAA for shellac records and so on.
But that's a minor thing I can easily tolerate.

 

With respect, your understanding of what a phono stage does isn't correct. It isn't merely limited to EQ choices but rather deals with imaging, soundstage, instrument separation, and how laidback or forward the presentation is... none of which can be changed with EQ afterward.

I'd have to assume you have not experienced pitting it in a revealing system with a great phono stage because the difference is night & day. I mean *massive*! The upgrade resulted in a difference which had all the subtlety of a sledgehammer. I *wish* it wasn't so I could have returned my latest one and spend the money elsewhere!

There's tons of snake oil in "audiophilia" but phono stages' capabilities is as far removed from that as can be.

 

linn uphorik

 

I stand corrected. According to my receipts I have four Amperex 7308s. I probably used the Chinook with the stock tubes for about 3 months before upgrading the tubes and replaced the gain tubes first then the output tubes. It is a pain to take something out of the rack so most of us only do it when when have to.

 

Those tubes are especially musical. I have a 6DJ8 Amperex Orange Globe so it's pretty much the same thing and it sounds excellent. And yes, I would've appreciated a better design for tube-swapping. I agree 100%!

 

What does YMMV stand for, I've been seeing this in a lot of posts.

 

Bookmark this page for future acronyms and other Internet speak.

Urban Dictionary: ymmv

 

I'm using a Herron Audio VTPH-2. I'm done buying phono stages. This thing is musical, has a very silent operation with my .5mv LOMC cart, can be tube-rolled but I don't see the point, and is, by far, the best phono stage I've owned - and I've had many. Only thing I'll do from here out is get it upgraded by Keith when he introduces significant revisions. Otherwise, just play the tunes you raucous bastard.

 

I have a Sutherland P3HD that I really enjoy. Sometimes I fantasize about an upgrade, but I think I need to work on my speakers first.

 

My new toy, Clearaudio Balanced plus & Accu Power supply.

 

The downfall of human society, when we have to speak/post in this way....sad , are your fingers broken or, missing?? Dang folks, post, say what the f you meant, wanted to say instead of using text speak, engage!

 

Ah yes, would be nice to return to the days of polite, informed speech, articulated perfectly and accented by... emojis.

 

It's shorthand. People use it all the time. "ASAP" for instance. No need to write it all out.

If you think using acronyms is the downfall of society, your threshold is the absolute lowest I've ever seen.

 

Amusingly, "arsed" and "faff" are both defined in Urban Dictionary. ("Double Y" is not !)

 

Parks Audio Budgie Tube

 

As of last night, Parks Audio Budgie paired with a CineMag 3440AH based SUT.

 

Vincent PHO 8

 

I like it, sound is great and I don't have any of the problems described by other users ... One reason I went for this model was that I could stack it out of sight, behind a blu-ray player

 

I have a Herron VTPH-2 but I only found it musical with MC carts when I bypassed the MC JFET stage and used a SUT into the MM inputs. Now it sounds fantastic.

 

Rogue Triton

 

Currently purchased a Lehmann Audio Black Cube SE II and love what I'm hearing. Soundstage has increased along with blacker background

 

Just received my Budgie today, I'm very, very, very happy. To quote Larry David: "Pretty, pretty, pretty, pretty pretty good..."