I am very pleased with my build and I still have a bit of tube rolling ahead...
Jim Hagerman's design is superb. His circuit board is first rate. Very well laid out and so sturdy that I have been able to swap some postions 5 or more times without lifting or damaging a single trace.
I like the SET design for a phono section. For some reason or another, SET designs seem to give more spacial information and more clarity of harmonics than other circuit designs. I consider an SET a perfect circuit for a phono section.
I also appreciate Jim's strict adherance to zero negative feedback. Adding feedback is adding noise. I find that his equipment much quieter than other tube gear I have owned.
I like how easy it is to build his kit. The kit is super affordable and even mine coming in at about 1000 dollars of parts and pieces is a bargain when you realize I compare the sound of mine to a BAT super pack.
The big difference? The Coronet2 is common grounded, the BAT is fully differential or "balanced."
I am using Panasonic TSHA caps of 10kuf 16V for the H+ and Panasonic ED 47uf caps for the B+. I am using a Mills Wire Wound for the H+ step down resistor (the 5 watt puppy) and Vishay S102 Nudes in the direct signal pathway. I am using Kiwami 2 watt resistors everywhere else.
The incoming 0.10 UF signal cap is a Russian Teflon FT-3 The RIAA caps are REL. The B+ bypass caps are 1.0 uf Dynamicaps bypassed with a FT-3. The final signal cap is a Mundorf Silver Supreme with an FT-3 bypass.
The dynamics, space, and speed of my Coronet2 are in sharp contrast to my previous laid back Precision Fidelity C7 which was highly hot rodded to gain better performance. I felt the C7 was a very natural and neutral sounding phono section. Its power supply bit the dust and this gave me an incentive to consider a newer design.
I have also owned the Jolida JD9A and the Audio Research PH-3. While capable, the Hagerman is several steps more clear and precise. It has better bass, better slam, and better overall midrange and highs.
It gives absolutely NOTHING up to these other preamps, nor to other expensive boutique gear I used to sell.
I plan to move these caps to both sides of the Coronet2 board so there are smaller wire lengths. I also plan to have a three way input switch and L/R, R/L AND R/L phase reverse switches. That way when listening to some of the DG albums recorded with Violins on the right I can flip these with a front mounted switch.
You can email me privately if you want a more specific part by part break down. I can tell you right now that you can easily build the Coronet2 based on your current desires and budget and improve it as you go.
This is one serious slice of fun for a DIY nut like myself. I made a few little mistakes while piecing mine together :duh and Jim Hagerman and other contributors here helped me figure stuff out quickly and easily.
My unit sound much better than I ever thought possible given my investment.
Kudos to Jim for bringing out such a wonderful sounding kit. Also a heartfelt thanks to all the other contributors that make building a Hagerman a team spirit event. I hope your experience will be as much fun as my own.
