Keith Herron’s room has always provided some excellent
sound during past CESes, and this year was no exception. Herron’s
new VTPH-2 tube phono stage ($3650) fronted a system that included either a Herron
HL-1 solid-state or VTSP-2 vacuum-tube preamp, M1 solid-state mono power amplifiers
($6850/pair), and almost-ready-for-prime-time 103A loudspeakers (price not yet set). A VPI
TNT HR-X turntable ($10,000) with new internally constrained-layer-damped 12.7 JMW
tonearm, and a secret (at least Keith Herron wasn’t saying what it was) moving-coil
cartridge were also in use. Interconnects were Herron’s own ($225 per meter) and
speaker cables were DiMarzio Super M-Path EP2810LPDBK ($500/three-meter pair).
What made the system, and sound, unique was that the VTPH-2 phono stage runs unloaded.
Herron performed a demonstration using 100-, 47-, and 20-ohm loads (the "secret"
cartridge manufacturer recommends 20 ohms). Each time he inserted a load the sound would
congeal, but when he removed the loading, the sound would open up. Run the way Herron
prefers, this system provided a relaxed, open window into the recording. The VTPH-2 may go
against the grain, but it sure sounded good.
