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Hagerman Trumpet MC - Vacuum Tube Phonostage -New!

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Posted on December 30, 2020 at 16:31:37
clarets2
Audiophile

Posts: 79
Location: CA
Joined: March 31, 2006
 https://www.analogplanet.com/content/hagerman-audio-labs-introduces-trumpet-mc-vacuum-tube-phonostage

Love the look and description of this phono stage and it fits all my criteria.
Surprise is the size of the digital power supply - small. Should I be concerned? Can you point me to other successful tube amps that have small power supplies?

 

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RE: Hagerman Trumpet MC - Vacuum Tube Phonostage -New!, posted on December 30, 2020 at 18:24:45
AbeCollins
Audiophile

Posts: 46280
Location: USA
Joined: June 22, 2001
Contributor
  Since: February 2, 2002
 I had the factory built Hagerman Cornet2 Silver edition many years ago. It was all tubes including the power supply B+ rectifier.

I know that Murata makes tiny DC-DC converters (basically miniature switching power modules) that take filament level voltages and convert them up to B+ levels for small signal tubes. This is what Wavelength Audio does in their "Brick" series USB DACs with tube output stage.

My Cornet2 was OK, definitely smooth, but not the best in terms of frequency extension and dynamics. I preferred the SS Graham Slee Era Gold V MM phono. I used it with MM cartridges and MC with the help of a step-up transformer.



My favorite tube phono preamp had to be the Rogue Audio Ares but that one is about $2500. It was better than the more costly Aesthetix Rhea IMHO.






 

RE: Hagerman Trumpet MC - Vacuum Tube Phonostage -New!, posted on December 30, 2020 at 19:34:03
clarets2
Audiophile

Posts: 79
Location: CA
Joined: March 31, 2006
 A tech guru says "the circuit in the manual shows a 555 circuit deriving high voltage from 15V. That's using a switching waveform on FET with inductive loads".
Circuit diagrams are in the manual here: http://www.hagtech.com/pdf/trumpetmc.pdf

Is this somewhat unique?

 

RE: Hagerman Trumpet MC - Vacuum Tube Phonostage -New!, posted on December 31, 2020 at 07:22:22
airtime
Audiophile

Posts: 11287
Location: Arizona
Joined: February 4, 2003
 The NE555 timer isn't anything new or exotic. It's almost a hobby circuit. The FET's are to protect the timer from inductive load kickback. It's not bad, but it wouldn't be my first choice on a tube design.

 

RE: Hagerman Trumpet MC - Vacuum Tube Phonostage -New!, posted on December 31, 2020 at 09:59:44
AbeCollins
Audiophile

Posts: 46280
Location: USA
Joined: June 22, 2001
Contributor
  Since: February 2, 2002
 - The 555 chip along with associated components in the Trumpet are used as a DC-DC converter to create a low cost high voltage DC supply for the vacuum tubes. It is a cost savings measure that avoids the use of heavy and expensive power transformers. Additionally, with the "switching" power supply running at 67KHz much smaller and less expensive filter components can be used vs a traditional system based on 60Hz line frequency. The design is somewhat unique and smart as a cost savings measure, but it is not unique in a way that improves on the end result. BUT, it is very smart for keeping costs down.

As airtime mentioned the 555 chip isn't new. It's a 50 year old chip. In fact it's been around since the early 1970's and probably one of the best known mass produced chips ever. The 555 can be used in timer, oscillator, pulse generator, delay circuits, etc.

I've used the 555 chip in various hobby circuits. When I was a kid I used the 555 as a square wave generator at about 50KHz or so to drive a piezo electric tweeter. I couldn't hear it but it kept certain rodents and varmit out of the yard. I guess it was annoying to their hearing.


 

RE: Hagerman Trumpet MC - Vacuum Tube Phonostage -New!, posted on December 31, 2020 at 14:07:13
xsb7244
Audiophile

Posts: 428
Location: Hawaii
Joined: May 17, 2011
 Hagerman Trumpet MC is the top of the line at $1099. The Trumpet Reference
at $7200 is discontinued. How good is the Trumpet MC?

 

RE: Hagerman Trumpet MC - Vacuum Tube Phonostage -New!, posted on January 2, 2021 at 14:03:27
clarets2
Audiophile

Posts: 79
Location: CA
Joined: March 31, 2006
 The inference in your post is that cost cutting is the sole driver of the design.
Let's assume part of the intent is to achieve rectification at a frequency above the audio band rather than in the middle of the audible bass region (120Hz) as is the case with the traditional power supply.
Given this assumption is the 555 chip expedient rather than "cheap"?
Are there other higher quality chips the designer could have used while maintaining the rectification above the audio band?

Is the need for less expensive filter components a benefit that might not necessarily denigrate results?

At $1,000, if the quality comes anywhere near the 2 previous Hagerman Trumpet designs, the cost benefits have been passed on to the customer - does this make sense?

 

It comes down to money, posted on January 4, 2021 at 06:47:58
airtime
Audiophile

Posts: 11287
Location: Arizona
Joined: February 4, 2003
 That design is a generic, not exotic, way of making a "transformer-less" design, aka a cheap power supply. Nothing more - nothing less.

You can probably find that SAME board sitting in your $89 DVD player. Hence the frequencies above listening level. Those boards come PREMADE in bulk. I've seen them.

A good power supply costs money and there's no way (or chip) around that.

Buy it and enjoy it. But it is what it is.

 

that is peculiar isn't it......, posted on January 4, 2021 at 16:31:04
NuWave
Audiophile

Posts: 2619
Location: Wisconsin
Joined: March 22, 2002
 was wondering that too, he did something similar with the Cornet. I have a Bugle in my closet I might swap back in for fun while I upgrade the caps on my VTA PH16.

 

RE: Hagerman Trumpet MC - Vacuum Tube Phonostage -New!, posted on January 5, 2021 at 14:26:16
mulveling
Audiophile

Posts: 222
Location: Atl
Joined: April 29, 2011
 I've had one for a couple months. Love it - very rich, warm, open sound. This is not the stage for those who want to get a close shave with the leading edge of notes, or for people who need to "brighten up" their system's sound, etc. It is for people who like "warm rich sound". It sounds quite a bit like the old Trumpet tower (wood front & back panels) I used to own, but the flexibility of the balanced JFET stage is a huge plus.

I've rolled tubes. Telefunken 12ax7, Mazda silver-plate 12ax7, Mullard CV4003, GE 5814 - all good choices. The stock Russian Mullards aren't too bad either.

Yes, the new power supply is a compromise to get the cost down to $1K. It's a ridiculous value at that price, unless of course you don't like a warm stage. I've been curious to get an S-Booster linear PSU from Upscale to see if this boosts the performance even higher.

I also own these other stages:
VAC Renaissance SE
Herron VTPH-2A
Rogue Ares Magnum
Sonic Frontiers Phono 1 SE+
Plus a ton of nice SUT boxes: Sky, Hashimoto, Koetsu, EAR, Lundahl
Plus Koetsu / Ortofon / Shelter / Benz cartridges

For now the Trumpet MC has settled in as my #2 stage behind the VAC. Partially because it's perfect match to my Benz LPS, whereas everything else I own isn't "quite right" for it - it's not electrically a good match for most SUT/MM combinations. The VAC is easily my best stage, but the Trumpet MC is fun enough to grab significant listening time. I've even tried the CoralStone diamond with the Trumpet, and it does pretty brilliantly, hardly holding back anything at all! Trumper MC also does GREAT with my girlfriends Fluance RT85 w/ Ortofon 2M Blue - wow I've never heard that cartridge sound so beautiful!

I am not affiliated in any way with Hagerman. But I have been talking up this phono stage every chance I get, because I really really like it.

 

RE: Hagerman Trumpet MC - Vacuum Tube Phonostage -New!, posted on January 5, 2021 at 16:17:50
AbeCollins
Audiophile

Posts: 46280
Location: USA
Joined: June 22, 2001
Contributor
  Since: February 2, 2002
 "Are there other higher quality chips the designer could have used while maintaining the rectification above the audio band?"

Higher quality chips? There are various grades of the 555 chip but for this application it doesn't matter. It's being used as a simple oscillator and maintaining a precise frequency over temperature is not a concern. In fact, the (RC) components around the 555 that set the frequency can be of higher quality too, but again it matters not in this application.

I suppose the designer could have chosen a crystal oscillator with digital dividers and that approach would be considered higher accuracy and higher stability, but why bother? Not necessary in this application.

MOST manufacturers of vacuum tube audiophile equipment use traditional costly 60Hz power transformers and necessarily larger and more costly filter components. I have to hand it to Hagerman for choosing a novel design approach for keeping costs down.

Wavelength Audio uses a tiny DC-DC converter module (essentially a switching power supply) made by Murata in their "Brick" USB DACs to achieve the B+ voltage necessary for the output tube. The main purpose of the tiny Murata module is to save cost vs using a traditional 60Hz power transformer and necessarily larger filter components to filter at 60Hz vs the higher switching frequencies.

Any of these products could have used a traditional power supply with the same end result - but at much higher cost. So.... the 555 and the Murata module are great for keeping cost (and size) in check.


 

RE: Hagerman Trumpet MC - Vacuum Tube Phonostage -New!, posted on January 5, 2021 at 21:46:43
clarets2
Audiophile

Posts: 79
Location: CA
Joined: March 31, 2006
 "I have to hand it to Hagerman for choosing a novel design approach for keeping costs down."

This was my conclusion having read interviews with Jim Hagerman and read reviews of all his products from entry level DIY builds to his Reference Trumpet phono stage at $7,200 with massive and complex power supply (Stereophile Class A). I figured a guy who cares this much would never cut corners with a purely cost incentive - more likely he was being expedient to make a new product idea more accessible.
Knowing nothing of the technical details it is heartening to have this supposition confirmed.
And then to have Mulveling confirm that it sounds as good as the hype. I'm going to try it!
Anyone else heard it?

 

RE: Hagerman Trumpet MC - Vacuum Tube Phonostage -New!, posted on January 5, 2021 at 22:00:22
clarets2
Audiophile

Posts: 79
Location: CA
Joined: March 31, 2006
 "I've had one for a couple months. Love it - very rich, warm, open sound."

Mulveling,
Thank you for the review. I was beginning to wonder if anyone had heard this phono stage!
Given that I have a Benz Wood L2 (on an upgraded VPI Scout TT), that I love for it's warmth and breathy richness, I guess the Trumpet MC is going to be a good fit. The phono stage is the only place I can introduce tubes at the moment as I'm "committed" to a Linn ADSM streamer/preamp feeding active Linn Espeks run by 3 x 5105 SS amps. So I'm hoping the Trumpet MC is as good a match as you imply in your post.
Excited to have ordered one!
Thank you for taking the time to share.

 

RE: Hagerman Trumpet MC - Vacuum Tube Phonostage -New!, posted on January 6, 2021 at 09:57:28
AbeCollins
Audiophile

Posts: 46280
Location: USA
Joined: June 22, 2001
Contributor
  Since: February 2, 2002
In Hagerman's application the 555 chip is at the heart of what is essentially a switching power supply.

In Gordon Rankin's case for his "Brick" DACs the tiny Murata module is a turnkey switching power supply.

In both cases the goal is to take existing low voltage and up-convert it to higher DC voltages suitable for vacuum tubes..... without resorting to traditionally large, heavy, and costly power supply components.

Audiophiles generally freak out when they hear the term "switching power supply" so pick your poison.... big heavy costly and traditional, or cost effective and viable.



 

You're making me itch Abe, posted on January 6, 2021 at 11:22:18
airtime
Audiophile

Posts: 11287
Location: Arizona
Joined: February 4, 2003
 I'm a BIG believer that the PS is the heart of a good stereo. I'm also from the old school that believes if you're not cursing while moving a stereo with beer can sized capacitors, than it's not that good. That's a joke of course.

I've had a few pieces with transformer-less PS. They always reminded me of when stereos from the 70's transitioned into the 80's style of cheap one board designs. They just didn't have it anymore.

I recently repaired a transformerless Sansui Z something or other? It was like listening to a glorified clock radio.

 

RE: Hagerman Trumpet MC - Vacuum Tube Phonostage -New!, posted on January 6, 2021 at 13:30:26
xsb7244
Audiophile

Posts: 428
Location: Hawaii
Joined: May 17, 2011
 Is Trumpet MC the biggest bang for the buck? Because super good tube phono
stages cost more than $1100, far more.

 

RE: Hagerman Trumpet MC - Vacuum Tube Phonostage -New!, posted on January 7, 2021 at 10:34:36
mulveling
Audiophile

Posts: 222
Location: Atl
Joined: April 29, 2011
 Yes, it is the biggest bang-for-buck phono stage I've had. The Bugle3 and Piccolo2 are also great bang-for-buck products. I haven't heard the Cornet model - but the Trumpet MC costs not much more than a Cornet3 plus a Piccolo2 (comparable SUT will cost even more), so if you have an MC cartridge there's no point bothering with the Cornet.

That said, for MM only, the Cornet might still be relevant because competing MM products in its price range seem to be "fake" tube stages - i.e. a SS RIAA stage with a tube buffer output. The Cornet is a true tube MM stage, and the Trumpet is a balanced tube MM stage with a balanced JFET front-end for step-up gain in MC and buffer in MM. I have a large SUT collection and the JFET front-end is good enough I haven't felt the need to try any. And to be sure, Jim has said the Trumpet MC definitely sounds better than Cornet.

 

RE: Hagerman Trumpet MC - Vacuum Tube Phonostage -New!, posted on January 7, 2021 at 10:38:36
mulveling
Audiophile

Posts: 222
Location: Atl
Joined: April 29, 2011
 Awesome, clarets! Let us know your thoughts when it arrives. Mine arrived in around a week, despite coming from Hawaii. The Benz Wood L2 is a great cartridge. I had a Glider L2 some years ago, then later had a Wood M2 and Ref 3 along the way to here. It should be a great match to Trumpet MC. I agree, I'd also want a tube stage given a SS downstream. Hopefully this ties everything together!

 

RE: Hagerman Trumpet MC - Vacuum Tube Phonostage -New!, posted on March 28, 2021 at 18:57:24
Dasyatis
Audiophile

Posts: 4
Location: Norcal
Joined: April 19, 2016
 Excuse me for what might seem like a real newbie thought but...
would a PSU like an Sbooster (15v 2.5 amp) be a reasonable upgrade to the Hagerman Trumpet MC. I know it brings the price to ~ $1400 it looks like a worthwhile addition.

 

RE: Hagerman Trumpet MC - Vacuum Tube Phonostage -New!, posted on November 6, 2022 at 16:27:30
mark maloof
Audiophile

Posts: 166
Location: NY
Joined: June 24, 2001
 I know this is an older post, but wondering if you ever did the S-Booster. I did, and I feel it offers an improvement over the power supply Jim provides with the Trumpet MC. (also tube rolling, the current stock Mullard reissues that came with work ok, but don't "sing" like the matched Tungsram, Yugo EI and Brimar NOS tubes I've been using (also have a nice pair of "super premium tested/matched" Russian Gold Lion 12AX7s from Upscale audio that are not bad in position 2, and also some current productions JJs that I also like better than the current Russian Mullard reissues. This unit definitely shows off tube rolling!)

 

RE: Hagerman Trumpet MC - Vacuum Tube Phonostage -New!, posted on November 6, 2022 at 16:45:59
mark maloof
Audiophile

Posts: 166
Location: NY
Joined: June 24, 2001
 I bought an S Booster for mine, and felt it was worth it (more bass impact, a slight sense of more volume and/or dynamics)

 

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