SOLD: Eastern Electric Minimax Phono Stage; extra tubes
Posted: Sun Oct 18, 2015 3:54 pm
Hi, I'm selling my lovely Eastern Electric MiniMax Phono Stage. The reason I'm selling is because I decided to focus on having a fully-balanced headphone system from my TT to my HD800s, so have replaced the EE with a phono stage with balanced out.
Price: EURO 1150. Either option excluding shipping and insurance. My obvious preference is for pickup in Dublin.
I bought the MiniMax new in January 2013, while still in Australia, so it's about 2.5 years old. Here is the spec description from Eastern Electric:
Nominal input sensitivity 15 mV/MM and 4mV/MC. Maximum input 150 mV/MM and 40 mV/MC. Nominal output is 2000 mV and maximum 20V. Gain (1kHz) is 42dB/MM and 58dB/MC. Load resistance is 47k Ohms/MM, 100 ohms/MC High and 47 ohms/MC Low. Signal to noise is rated at 90dB and 87dB for MM and MC respectively. Distortion is 0.1%. Frequency response is given as +0/-.25 dB from 10Hz - 25kHz and power consumption is 15VA.
Comes with the factory tubes, but I have also upgraded all the tubes with the following which dramatically improved things:
1. 6x4 rectifier: I purchased two Mullard EX90/6x4 Blackburn / UK production with square getter, labeled as POPE/Holland, purchased NOS & Mint. I purchased two due to very limited stock and because they are / will be difficult to find again soon. I have not used one of them at all yet;
2. the 12AX7s: I purchased two sets of tubes to roll with:
(A): Three new Psvane 12AX7-T Reference Grade. These are EXCELLENT with the Mullard 6x4. They improved the accuracy and 'naturalness' of the sound from the stock tubes dramatically. I personally prefer these to the Tungsrams.
(B) Four Tungsram 12AX7, described as follows from the NOS vendor I purchased them from which is accurate: "These are my personal favorites for phono stages, especially military stock version. Soundwise, these are in between Mullard and Tung-Sol. The lowest noise we've ever tested. Meaty sound with great bass and balance. This one may lack only in terms of soundstage vs Mullard which is horizontally a bit larger. In all other departments they excell... Grade A is @ US$68,00/ea and US$136,00/matched pair". I purchased 4 matched (so that if one failed, the remaining three would still be matched). I didn't use these for a while because I was enjoying the Psvanes so much; when I came to use them one of the failed soon after starting to use but the remaining three are working fine and are lovely and as described here.
See photos for tube test results.
All these tubes are included in the price, worth about USD$450.
Not really interested in haggling given these are selling new for about GBP1500 and I'm adding these extra tubes as well.
I will be providing all the original double boxing and internal packing.
Price: EURO 1150. Either option excluding shipping and insurance. My obvious preference is for pickup in Dublin.
I bought the MiniMax new in January 2013, while still in Australia, so it's about 2.5 years old. Here is the spec description from Eastern Electric:
Nominal input sensitivity 15 mV/MM and 4mV/MC. Maximum input 150 mV/MM and 40 mV/MC. Nominal output is 2000 mV and maximum 20V. Gain (1kHz) is 42dB/MM and 58dB/MC. Load resistance is 47k Ohms/MM, 100 ohms/MC High and 47 ohms/MC Low. Signal to noise is rated at 90dB and 87dB for MM and MC respectively. Distortion is 0.1%. Frequency response is given as +0/-.25 dB from 10Hz - 25kHz and power consumption is 15VA.
Comes with the factory tubes, but I have also upgraded all the tubes with the following which dramatically improved things:
1. 6x4 rectifier: I purchased two Mullard EX90/6x4 Blackburn / UK production with square getter, labeled as POPE/Holland, purchased NOS & Mint. I purchased two due to very limited stock and because they are / will be difficult to find again soon. I have not used one of them at all yet;
2. the 12AX7s: I purchased two sets of tubes to roll with:
(A): Three new Psvane 12AX7-T Reference Grade. These are EXCELLENT with the Mullard 6x4. They improved the accuracy and 'naturalness' of the sound from the stock tubes dramatically. I personally prefer these to the Tungsrams.
(B) Four Tungsram 12AX7, described as follows from the NOS vendor I purchased them from which is accurate: "These are my personal favorites for phono stages, especially military stock version. Soundwise, these are in between Mullard and Tung-Sol. The lowest noise we've ever tested. Meaty sound with great bass and balance. This one may lack only in terms of soundstage vs Mullard which is horizontally a bit larger. In all other departments they excell... Grade A is @ US$68,00/ea and US$136,00/matched pair". I purchased 4 matched (so that if one failed, the remaining three would still be matched). I didn't use these for a while because I was enjoying the Psvanes so much; when I came to use them one of the failed soon after starting to use but the remaining three are working fine and are lovely and as described here.
See photos for tube test results.
All these tubes are included in the price, worth about USD$450.
Not really interested in haggling given these are selling new for about GBP1500 and I'm adding these extra tubes as well.
I will be providing all the original double boxing and internal packing.
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