Description: SUPERTUBE RETRO STEREO PREAMP w/ MAG PHONOAN ''ALL AMERICAN BLACK PLATE BEAUTY" I had been asked if I would ever do a preamp with tone controls again. The purist inside me said, "tone controls, we don't need no more stinking tone controls!" But in reality some form of audio tweaking needs to take place in a non-perfect stereo world. Some of us that enjoy LPs wish certain aspects of the playback chain could be adjusted due to aural shortcomings inherent with this media. Perhaps even some correction from a home speaker system that has a tweeter that reproduces a tad on the "hot" side in the upper frequency spectrum. The list goes on and on. The "purist" says you must live with minimal audio stages and ban any form of tonal sorcery that veils the sonic truth! In a perfect stereo world as church lady put it, "wouldn't that be special!" This STEREO PREAMP / LINE STAGE is a result of my RETROZ PHONOZ MONO creation from last year. The exception is this preamp is the stereo version. There are times when there is a need for more flexibility then just having volume controls on a preamp. There are times I wish the "AUDIO OUT" had flexibility in the area of tone control or perhaps some frequency hi-cut. I understand the need of the purist who desires minimalism in the preamp design. The hi-fi enthusiast likes to tailor the audio to compensate for deficiencies in either the signal chain or the media itself. Can the likes of the purist and hi-fi enthusiast be satisfied with one piece of audio gear? This preamp/line stage is an attempt to appease both camps in the preamp arena. WHAT IF A PREAMP/LINE STAGE HAD THE FOLLOWING THREE STEREO OUTPUT OPTIONS:PREAMP OUT RCAs - no tone controls in the signal chain (1st, 2nd stages)MAIN OUT RCAs - with bass & treble controls in the signal chain (3rd, 4th stages)SWITCHED AUDIO OUTPUT RCAs - flexibility in switching between preamp out (flat) and main out (tone)(the switched audio out RCAs would allow connection to one power amp yet retain the ability to switch in "flat" or "tone-network" frequency response)BONUS: All three outputs are continuously active to accommodate other amplifiers in your arsenal. FRONT PANEL controls and features:FIVE line level stereo inputs switch selectableLEFT/RIGHT preamp volume controlsHI-CUT freq. roll off for scratch filtering etc.BLEND control 4 positions (STEREO, 2/3 separation, 1/3 separation, MONO)STEREO BASS & TREBLE tone controlsMAIN LEVEL OUT independent of preamp volume controls TUBES: 1st, 2nd stages - Sylvania 6350, (2)12B4A (preamp out)3rd, 4th stages - (2)10EG7 (main level out)(With the lower Z of the preamp out you could run this output to your own tone control/equalizer etc. or to computer software for archiving your LPs if so desired) After the 12B4 tubes the audio signal is then connected to the PREAMP OUT RCAs and simultaneously paralleled off to the tone network. The PREAMP OUT RCAs do not see the effects of the tone network. The TONE NETWORK is a BAXANDALL (bass/treble) circuit. The main difference with this network is that unlike the tone nets used in vintage Scott, Fishers, Marantz and Macs is that the values of the pots and associated passives have been greatly reduced! If you look at values of these vintage tone nets some are in the megohms! Can you imagine what kind of degradation takes place when the audio signal gets run through a megohm resistor? Not to mention two of them if they are in a stereo vintage tone network! Point is that this tone-net has utilized pots and associated passives at a resistive fraction of those vintage values! Bass control has a continuous adjustment of 24dB/30Hz. The treble control has a continuous adjustment of 22dB/15kHz. Tone net turnover is 1kHz. From the tone net the audio signal is amplified again (to recover loss from the tone net) by the first stage of the 10EG7 tube. The audio is then fed to the MAIN LEVEL control which in turn feeds the 2nd Lo-mu stage of the 10EG7 tube. Thus, the MAIN LEVEL OUT signal reflects the TONE NETWORK settings. Just like the hi-fi tube amps of the 50/60s, you have contour control of the frequency extremes. Adjustment of bass & treble without the degradation of those ancient hi-Z megohm tone nets of yesteryear. The RIAA MAG-PHONO preamp with separate power supply is also included in this bundle. Based on the GE SPX-001 conversion to RIAA vinyl playback this preamp provides appropriate voltage amplification of your favorite magnetic cartridge. Input Z is the standard 47K ohms. Two premium selected 12SC7 tubes whose filaments are fed 12.6 VDC for hum and noise free playback. All passives are updated from those outdated components used in the original 60 yr. old design. All passives are of exclusive quality to insure the finest extraction of those fine sonic details often eluded by the use of inferior components. Holcos, WIMA, REL-CAP, Phillips/Mullard/Mustard(60s), LCR, LORLIN, Ohmite(North America)pots, Beyschlag, AB, Nichicon, RCA, Resista, Toyo films, GE, Sylvania, Rean/Nuetrik, Silver Solid Core wiring interconnects. No reissue "vintage tone" capacitors were utilized in this preamp's circuit. Clarity and transparency are the goals here in revealing all the sonic details involved in this listening experience! This preamp ensemble has been in use since early this year with no issues. With that said there are no extended warranties expressed or implied concerning the above mentioned units. So, if you have questions, ASK them. Tubes will be pulled and packed separate for safe transit. Will include circuit diagram and interconnects for MAG-PHONO out to LINE AMP input. Shipping note: if you live west of the Rockies there will be a $15 upcharge. Sorry, shipping cost is more to go out west. Payment in 3 days. Paypal or Ebay pay only. Ships to United States only. No refunds/returns.
Price: 1599 USD
Location: Pekin, Illinois
End Time: 2024-12-02T02:00:01.000Z
Shipping Cost: 51.75 USD
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Item Specifics
All returns accepted: ReturnsNotAccepted
Brand: HANDCRAFTED
Type: Tube Amplifier
Model: PREAMP TUBE AMPLIFIER
Country/Region of Manufacture: United States