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MM Phono Stage Kit
Single-Ended Triode Phono Stage
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The MM Phono Stage Kit alongside an Audio Note TT1 turntable
This page remains for historical reasons only.
Since I started working with AudioNote Kits one of my goals has been to offer a very high quality phono-only stage.
The MM Phono Stage Kit has arrived and is available for serious vinyl lovers! Thanks to Andy Grove and the AudioNote team - The MM Phono Stage Kit is here. It is housed in its own chassis and has a dedicated M2 power supply; taken from the Audio Note finished products line.
The Audio Note MM Phono Stage Kit starts off with a cascode ECC83/12ax7 dual triode per channel. This configuration gives excellent technical and sonic results and is virtually identical to the design used in the famous Audio Note M7.
The cascode stage drives a passive RIAA network which provides all the equalization necessary for correct vinyl playback. This passive configuration means that no feedback need be applied and brings about sonic advantages when compared to 'closed loop RIAA systems' used so commonly. A further anode follower using an ECC82/12AU7 provides additional gain - The overall gain of the entire phono stage is 32 db.
The kit comes with a high end power supply using the Audio Note Trans 0103 Mains transformer/Choke combination. The M2 power supply board uses both a 6X5 and ECL82 tube for rectification and current regulation respectively.
The MM Phono Stage Kit is be a perfect match for the line integrated amplifiers such as the Kit1 and line level pre-amplifier inputs.
The Phono stage uses the M7 phono board from the pre-amp kit that has been modified by Andy Grove to drive the Kit1 directly. We have separate filament heaters for the input and output stage on the phono board.
The silver hard-wired phono board can be seen above at the top
Since its first introduction, the MM Phono Stage Kit has moved into the bigger chassis as pictured above so that it can be more easily upgraded with the forthcoming moving coil step-up transformers.
The kit comes in two varieties:
The MM Phono Stage Kit Standard model which will include Beyschlag Resistors, standard electrolytic and film caps along with AN-A cable.
The MM Phono Stage Kit Signature model includes Tantulum resistors on phono stage, AN Copper Foil signal capacitors, AN-V silver signal wire, silver wire for hardwiring phono stage and some black gates on the phono stage.
From the first record I played it sounded better than the other phono stages I've had (Ear 834P, Quicksilver phono). Vocals are to die for with this preamp. Female vocals especially have weight like a live performance and are not shrill or piercing. And I only have the standard version! There is good separation in complex music - instruments and voices are easily distinguished. Solo piano is excellent - again the best way I can describe it is that it has weight or body. It's hard to think of anything better for the price - plus I got the enjoyment of putting it together myself!
The phono is very clean and resolves detail very well. I have two arms - Morch/Koetsu and an SME3009/Denon DL103. The phono definitely favors the Koetsu. On the "other" phono the Denon sounds almost as good as the Koetsu, on the AN phono the Koetsu is miles ahead (as it should be). The AN phono is on a different level and clearly 'too good' for the Denon - it exposes the carts shortcomings. It is really a good match with the Koetsu; in other words it, is a class product that deserves a class cartridge.
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