Hagerman Trumpet Reference Phono Stage

Thanks Mark. If you read the questions I asked Jim Hagerman, you saw that he wishes he priced the Trumpet at over $20k instead of $7200. $7200 is more than the average audiophile can or will pay and is too cheap to be taken seriously by others with deep pockets.
 
Great review Mark. Sounds like a screaming good product and a great value to boot.


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Thanks Mike. It was a pleasure to have it in my system.
 
Due to the tiny signal and the affect of the surrounding components inside which can create noise, building a great sounding phonostage like the Hagerman Trumpet Reference, seems like it would be a much more difficult job than building a new flavor of the month DAC.
 
It's much easier to build a phono stage that only works with the high output of MM cartridges than it is to deal with low output MC cartridges.
 
Good review Mark. A couple of questions for you.

Did you try it in MM mode?

You didn't bother with the adjustable EQ settings?....why not?
 
MikeCh said:
Good review Mark. A couple of questions for you.

Did you try it in MM mode?

You didn't bother with the adjustable EQ settings?....why not?
Click to expand...

Mike-I don't own any MM cartridges. As for the EQ settings, all of the LPs I normally play are RIAA. I have my father's LP collection which I haven't gone through yet and he has some antiques in there that could benefit from them when I work up the nerve to play some opera.
 
Great review. Looks like an awesome product. He also makes some great cable burners. The phono cable burner is a must have.
 
Are you referring to the chokes? I had zero hum problems with the Hagerman.
 
Nice review Mark.

I own an original Trumpet and use the Hagerman Piccolo adjustable head amp with it as my step up. The new Trumpet Reference is essentially a Trumpet + a Piccolo, with a few added bells and whistles like EQ adjustment, and some circuit updates (I'm sure). Of course Jim has put this new one in a much nicer chassis too - the old chassis never fit on anyone's shelf.

I have to agree with your sound quality assessment. The Trumpet just fleshes things out in a very natural way. All the detail and dynamics you would want with all of those wonderful things that a tubed phono stage bring to the table. The stock Sovetek tubes sound surprisingly good, but tube rolling does bring out the best in this unit (as does an upgraded power cord), as you would expect.

If anyone is on LI and wants to hear what an original Trumpet can do, just let me know.

Enjoy,
Bob
 
mep said:
Thanks Mark. If you read the questions I asked Jim Hagerman, you saw that he wishes he priced the Trumpet at over $20k instead of $7200. $7200 is more than the average audiophile can or will pay and is too cheap to be taken seriously by others with deep pockets.
Click to expand...

Create the perception and you create the reality. lol.
 
I think if Wes had it his way, it would be priced way above $20k.
 
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