Hagerman Cornet 2 Phonostage

It's alive - and it sounds amazing! I Absolutely love it!

Damn dude!! I bet it sounds great live..I'm surprised you still have the original headshell leads.

It sounds awesome live. 

I see you got a new Hagerman Cornet 2 tube phono preamp. Cool! It sounds great in your latest video.

• Did you build it as a kit or was it pre built?
• Does it have enough gain for the Denon DL-103R without using a step up transformer?
• Is there anything missing from the kit that you had to buy separately?

Yes, I Built it from Scratch. All I got was the PCB and all the parts were bought from various online retailers. I really loved that I got to choose resistors and capacitors. the Sky was the limit. I installed Auricap's all around and Naked Z201 Z-Foils 47K resistors for the input. It keeps getting better and better but I've been down for a week or two because I hated the metal Chassis in the video. I just finished making a wood Chassis for it. Let me know what you guys think. Next up is a 6sn7 Linestage with a tube shunt regulator.... and yes-no. I was able to get enough gain thru my preamp to listen to music without the step up trans but not recommended. Plus I love my Cinemag+Denon Combo..

It looks very sharp! 
I would just replace the 5Y3GT with a solid state rectification, I think it would be more accurate and fast responding.

It looks very sharp! 
I would just replace the 5Y3GT with a solid state rectification, I think it would be more accurate and fast responding.

I guess its a matter of taste  i've own Solid state rect my entire life including my last tube phono preamp and nothing compares to this tube rect. It sounds more organic and alive..

How does it compare to your Yaqin MS-12B?

How does it compare to your Yaqin MS-12B?

the Yaqin is an excellent Phono pre amp with a linestage and nothing in its price range can compete with it. The cornet at 4X the amount of money is at another Level. Wonderful and it make for Tube rolling fun.

I've recently seen a review on thetubestore.com about various 12ax7 tubes brands, and here's what they say about the new Tung Sols and Mullards: "Tung-Sol 12AX7 is my favorite preamp for guitars because it accentuates highs and lows. The Mullard adds virtually no tone coloring (...) compared to a Tung Sol it sounds a bit flat, but so does a NOS Mullard. These tubes (Tung Sol) are great for linestage preamps, but generally not phono stages where a very low noise floor is required."
How does the Tung Sols behave in your Cornet? Do they have floor noise?
thetubestore.com/12ax7review.html#eh12ax7
http://thetubestore.com/tungsol12ax7.html

I've recently seen a review on thetubestore.com about various 12ax7 tubes brands, and here's what they say about the new Tung Sols and Mullards: "Tung-Sol 12AX7 is my favorite preamp for guitars because it accentuates highs and lows. The Mullard adds virtually no tone coloring (...) compared to a Tung Sol it sounds a bit flat, but so does a NOS Mullard. These tubes (Tung Sol) are great for linestage preamps, but generally not phono stages where a very low noise floor is required."
How does the Tung Sols behave in your Cornet? Do they have floor noise?
thetubestore.com/12ax7review.html#eh12ax7
http://thetubestore.com/tungsol12ax7.html

The Tung Sol's are great and I like them better than the new mullards. They are quiet in my system. but In my everyday listening, I use both Smooth and Ribbed Plate Telefunken.  I just installed Russian FT3 teflon capacitors in the Input and as bypass capacitor for the output. My god are they smooth. It started out harsh but its getting there.

The Tung Sol's are great and I like them better than the new mullards. They are quiet in my system. but In my everyday listening, I use both Smooth and Ribbed Plate Telefunken.

Have you tried any other brand so far?

The Tung Sol's are great and I like them better than the new mullards. They are quiet in my system. but In my everyday listening, I use both Smooth and Ribbed Plate Telefunken.

Have you tried any other brand so far?

Tungsols, New Mullards, RCA, Telefunken, Matsu's, Baldwins, Chinese, Bugleboys, GE's,JJ's.. All  good depending on your taste. That's one of the reason why I like the Cornet 2. Don't like the sound? Change the tubes..Telefunken for me please

Tungsols, New Mullards, RCA, Telefunken, Matsu's, Baldwins, Chinese, Bugleboys, GE's,JJ's.. All  good depending on your taste. That's one of the reason why I like the Cornet 2. Don't like the sound? Change the tubes..Telefunken for me please

Your review / comparison between the brands you have tried would be very appreciated