To Garrett Hongo,
I enjoyed your review of the Herron VTPH-2: informative, easy to read and entertaining. After auditioning and recently purchasing the Herron VTSP-3A linestage, I have ordered the VTPH-2 phono stage. My question: You mention the Nottingham Spacedeck, the same turntable I use (with a Shelter 501 Mk II). You have the Heavy Kit. Do you also use the Wave Mechanic power supply? I spoke with the TT guru at the Analog Room, they are the new importer for Nottingham, and he suggested the Heavy Kit is the first upgrade he would recommend. I am a little concerned about the extra weight affecting the TT speed. He said not to worry, but I would like to get some perspective from others. Do you like what the Heavy Kit does for the Nottingham?
Thanks for your time and input.
David Tullar
Congratulations on purchasing the Herron VTPH-2. It's a fine phono stage and one I've come to trust and depend on as I listen to others in comparison. I was just talking with Keith Herron yesterday, as a matter of fact, about some different tubes he's discovered that can work well in the phono for some systems.
Regarding the Nottingham and Heavy Kit, I heartily agree with the Analog Room (San Jose? or Upstate NY?). If it's Brian Hartsell, he certainly knows his stuff. In fact, that's where my Nottingham came from! The Heavy Kit does not affect the motor or TT speed whatsoever.
The added platter weight gives the sound of the TT more weight and authority, especially with rock and orchestral music. The fullness of the "support" from the bass viols in symphonic pieces really comes forward, which is not to say that it dominates, but provides the fine fundament on which the rest of the music relies. You really hear and feel it once it's there. With rock, well, all I can say is "Would you rather hear Cream with Jack Bruce or without him?"
You might consider the Benz Micro line of cartridges, if you don't have a settled idea for one. I liked my Shelter 501 Mk II tremendously, but a close friend who also has a Nottingham likes the Micro line from Benz. My last cartridge for the Nottingham was the Zyx Airy 3, which I still have and adore.
One other thing -- I found that the Nottingham especially benefitted from good isolation and a rigid foundation. I used a Finite Elemente Signature Pagode rack with it at first, the one with single struts on either side, and the rack was top-heavy and wobbled. When I reviewed the HRS SXR rack and S1 shelves, the finesse and refinement of the 'table took a huge jump -- so much so that it closed the gap between the Nottingham and superb Artemis SA-1 'table and Schroeder DPS arm which I'd recently reviewed.
You might get very good results with a rack with more rigid support than my reference at the time, the FE Signature Pagode. Their Master Pagode, for example, should do well. In the end, I went with a custom rack from Box Furniture myself. Good luck and good listening! . . . Garrett Hongo
