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Moving Coil Phono Step-Up Kit

The problem of getting enough gain to use a moving coil phono cartridge with a preamplifier designed for moving magnet cartridge use without lots of noise is easily solved using a Lundahl MC step-up transformer. These transformers are used by several high-end audio manufacturers for this same purpose. The Basic Kit was profiled and praised by Art Dudley in Stereophile magazine in 2007.

There are two levels of the Moving Coil Phono Step-Up Kit available, the Basic and Premium kits. These kits both provide two channels of transformer-based MC Step-Up for stereo reproduction.


Phono Step Up kit Phono Step Up kit
Basic MC Phono Step-Up KitPremium MC Phono Step-Up Kit

Basic MC Phono Step-Up Kit

The Basic Kit now employs the new Lundahl LL9226 for improved sound. This transformer is a rethinking of the already very good LL9206, incorporating what was learned in the development of the LL1931. It offers across-the-board better perfomance than its predecessor. The Basic unit can be set up for 14, 20 or 26 dB of gain when equipped with LL9226 transformers. Alternatively, the Basic kit can also be supplied with LL1678 transformers for 18, 24, or 30dB of gain, if you have a particularly low output MC cartridge or low gain phono preamplifier. The gain configuration is achieved by soldering jumpers on the PC board supplied with the kit. Sockets for resistors on the secondary side of each transformer are provided on the PC board so that the user can optimize resistive loading for the best sound.


Premium MC Phono Step-Up Kit

The Premium Kit is supplied with the new LL1931 MC step-up transformers. These were developed by Lundahl in conjunction with K&K Audio as a higher performance alternative to the LL9206 and LL1678. They use the same amorphous cobalt core material, but are substantially larger. The coils are wound with Cardas "6 nines" high purity copper wire. The design was optimized for low to medium output MC cartridges and the sonic performance with these cartridges is exceptional. The LL1931 provides 18dB and 24 dB step-up capability that is switch selectable, A higher step-up ratio version of the LL1931, the LL1941, is also available for very low output cartridges or for use with low gain phono preamps, yielding 24dB and 30dB step-up. There is also grounding flexibility designed into the kit to allow the best performance with different types of tonearm cabling. Sockets for resistors on the secondary side of each transformer are provided on the PC board so that the user can optimize resistive loading for the best sound.

The kit includes connectors, transformers, PC board, wire, hardware, and enclosure. The enclosure is a black powder coated diecast aluminum case that provides exceptional RF shielding. The wire used in the kit is the excellent AG23 silver wire made by DH Labs. The RCA connectors are rhodium plated Cardas units. The enclosure is physically small (5.5" x 2.75" x 1.75", 14cm x 7cm x 4.5cm), so it can be located conveniently.

The K&K Audio MC Phono Step-Up Kits are not really "newbie" kits, but can be constructed successfully by anyone with good mechanical skills and some soldering experience. Included with the kit is a step-by-step instruction manual. K&K Audio stands behind you as you build with telephone/e-mail support. However, if you feel that this kit is beyond your skills/inclination, we offer it assembled to your specifications, as well.

Basic Moving Coil Step-Up Kit: $325
Basic Moving Coil Step-Up Kit, Assembled: $385
Premium Moving Coil Step-Up Kit: $600
Premium Moving Coil Step-Up Kit, Assembled: $650



Upgrade Kits for Older K&K Phono Preamp Kits

Because the topology of the K&K Audio Phono Kits has not changed over the years that they have been in production, as we have learned more about the circuit and tested improvements successfully, we have been able to offer them as upgrade kits to bring your K&K Audio phono preamp up to (or nearly, as physical constraints dictate) the level of the current product. Your original SE kit or early Maxxed-Out Kit can be improved to the basic level of the kit described below by applying the upgrade kit below. If you assembled your phono preamp, this is a straightforward project to complete with detailed instructions with pictures for all previous kits. If you bought your phono preamp assembled, then we will complete the modifications for you, test it to verify performance, and audition it to ensure sonic success.

If you have a SE Phono Preamp Kit that already has the Cardas capacitor upgrade and the input stage upgrade or a Maxxed-Out Kit with PC board Revision levels 1,2, or 3, you can select from the options below. If you are unsure or need the earlier upgrades, please call to discuss.

K&K Audio Phono Preamp Upgrade Kit: $65
K&K Audio Phono Preamp Upgrade Kit, Installed: $125

Maxxed-Out Phono Preamplifier Kit

The basic design of the Maxxed-Out Phono Preamplifier has been the mainstay of K&K Audio phono preamp kits since 2003. Over this time we have relentlessly worked to substantially improve the sonic performance of this topology through the use of improved component parts and additions to the basic topology that have removed performance limitations. All of these improvements have been embodied in the latest version of the Maxxed-Out Phono Preamplifier Kits presented below. If you check the forums for comments on the previous designs you will find posts comparing these units in a favorable light to much more expensive commercial products. While we won't make a claim that you can't get a better phono preamplifier for $20K or $30K, we do believe that you will have a great deal of difficulty finding either a better kit product, period, or finding a better "big name" commercial product for less than a few times the price of the Maxxed-Out Kits.

The family of K&K Audio Phono Preamp Kits accommodates most users' LP playing needs. The kits are equipped to handle moving magnet or moving iron cartridges and, for moving coil cartridges, an input transformer can be added to step-up the lower cartridge output voltage. The circuit was developed to combine the best qualities of tubes and semiconductors and achieve a better result than could be had with either technology alone. The first stage for a moving magnet cartridge consists of a medium transconductance JFET / triode (6N23P/6DJ8/6922/7308) cascode amplifier loaded by a cascode constant current source. This stage is capable of very high gain (about 50dB) with very low noise. An all tube cascode could have been used, but without the simplicity and noise performance of the hybrid approach. The hybrid cascode drives a precision passive RIAA network. This feeds a cascode constant current source loaded triode that is transformer coupled to the outside world using the parallel feed configuration. The lack of DC in the output transformer primary allows the use of a very high quality cobalt amorphous core Lundahl transformer in the Premium Kit, or, for economy's sake in the Standard Kit, an excellent high nickel core Lundahl transformer. Because the output is transformer coupled, both balanced (XLR) and unbalanced (RCA) connections are supported, achieving the same excellent sound. The power supply is a robust choke-loaded design.

There are several options for customization of the Maxxed-Out Phono Preamp Kit. These options fall into two classes, parts quality options, and functional options, like an optional volume control. The entry-level Standard Maxxed-Out Kit uses high quality parts such as ElectroCube, RTI, Panasonic, and Elna SilMic II capacitors, Takman resistors, and Cardas connectors to achieve the best sound in its price class. The Premium Maxxed-Out Kit uses ClarityCaps, Cardas, Silmic II, and Jensen caps, Teflon/collet style tube sockets, Audio Note and Shinko tantalum resistors, and Cardas connectors for the best sound, period! The circuit topologies (and the PC boards) are the same, so it is possible to upgrade the Standard kit to the fully optioned Premium kit, as your resources allow.

The K&K Audio Maxxed-Out Phono Preamp Kits are not "newbie" kits, but can be constructed successfully by anyone with good mechanical skills and some soldering experience. You must have a soldering set-up, reliable voltmeter, and appropriate hand tools, and be able to tell the difference between a resistor, a diode, and a capacitor, as well as follow detailed instructions. Included with the kit are a 20+ page instruction manual and a CD-ROM with pictures of various assembled components and techniques. K&K Audio stands behind you as you build with telephone/e-mail support, and, if necessary, will finish/troubleshoot a complete kit for a modest time-based fee.

To give you further choices, you have the option of purchasing either Main Board Kits to which you must add power supply magnetics, switches, connectors, and an enclosure, etc.; or Complete Kits, which include all of the parts necessary for a complete phono preamplifier, except the solder, tools, and the time to assemble it. Furthermore, you can add function options to your kit to enhance its usefulness in your music system. Mono/stereo switching and stereo volume controls are available as options (see below).

The kits are available with a matte black powder coated front panel or a metallic silver powder coated front panel and knob(s) to match. The finished dimensions of either kit are 18" (46cm) wide, 13" (33cm) deep, and 4" (10cm) high. The Standard Kit weighs about 21 lbs. (9.5kg) and the Premium Kit weighs about 23 lbs. (10.5kg).

The measureable performance specifications for the two levels are:

Standard Kit
MM gain:38 or 44dB, switch configurable
MC (option) gain:52, 58, 64, or 70dB with the LL9226, jumper configurable
56, 62, 68, or 74dB with the LL1678, jumper configurable
Output impedance:<200 ohms
RIAA accuracy:+/- 0.5 dB 20Hz-10KHz, -1dB 20KHz
Premium Kit
MM gain:41 or 47dB, switch configurable
MC gain:59, 65, or 71dB with the LL1931/LL1933, switch configurable
65, 71, or 77dB with the LL1941/LL1943, switch configurable
Output impedance:<250 ohms
RIAA accuracy:+/- 0.5 dB 20Hz-10KHz, -1dB 20KHz



See the K&K Audio Maxxed-Out Phono Preamp Kit schematic here.



Standard Kits

The Standard Kits are intended as "entry-level" products that compete favorably with well-respected products selling in the retail high-end audio market for $2000-$4000. Furthermore, a Standard Kit is upgradeable to the sonic equivalent of the Premium Maxxed-Out Kit if you should choose to do so later, so your purchase is not a "dead-ended" investment.

There are two standard phono preamp kit offerings: Standard Maxxed-Out Main Board Kit and Standard Maxxed-Out Complete Kit.


Standard Main Board Kits

The Main Board Kit includes the PC board and parts with which to populate it. If you combine a completed Main Board Kit with your chassis, power transformer, power supply choke, input and output jacks, AC input/fuse and a power switch, you will have an excellent MM phono preamplifier. All instructions necessary to assemble the main board are provided including a CD-R with pictures to illustrate parts orientation, etc.

[picture coming soon]

Standard Maxxed-Out Main Board Kit: $599



Standard Complete Kit

The Complete Kit contains every part for building a high-end MM phono preamplifier. The Standard Maxxed-Out Complete Kit includes:

  • Professional grade steel and aluminum chassis, hardware, power transformer, power supply choke, wire, AC input/fuse and power switch/knob/power indicator LED.
  • Standard Main Board Kit
  • Stereo moving magnet RCA inputs with resistive/capacitive cartridge loading component sockets on the main board
  • Stereo unbalanced (RCA) and balanced (XLR) outputs
  • Turntable ground post

[picture coming soon]

Standard Complete Kit: $1349

Assembled and Tested Standard Complete Kit: $1649

Options for Standard Complete Kits

  • MC only input - adds a dedicated stereo MC input (which replaces the standard MM input); includes either 2 x LL9226 or 2 x LL1678, wire, and a PC board on which to mount them - add $200
  • Switchable MM/MC input - adds essentially the same input functionality availability on the Premium Kit (see below), but with more cost-effective MC input transformers; includes either 2 x LL9226 or 2 x LL1678 jumper configurable input transformers, cartridge load switching (25R, 50R, 100R, 200R, 400R, 800R, 1.6K, and 47K) using Takman load resistors, MM/MC selection switch, hardware, and PC board - add $349
  • Output transformer upgrade (from 2 x LL1930 to 2 x LL1674, at time of kit purchase) - add $140



Premium Kits

Main Board Kit

All of the main board parts are included (you must supply power supply magnetics, switches, connectors, MC input components, and an enclosure to make a complete preamp), as well as detailed assembly instructions and a CD-R full of assembly pictures, to build a 41/47dB gain moving magnet phono preamplifier circuit. If you combine a completed Main Board Kit with your chassis, power transformer, power supply choke, input and output jacks, AC input/fuse and a power switch, you will have a first-rate MM phono preamplifier comparable to retail units selling for several thousand dollars.

Premium Maxxed-Out Main Board Kit: $949

Premium Complete Kit

The Complete Kit contains every part for building a high-end phono preamplifier comparable to the best on the market. In addition to the features mentioned above, the Premium Maxxed-Out Complete Kit includes:

  • Professional grade steel and aluminum chassis, hardware, Lundahl power transformer, Lundahl power supply choke, wire, AC input/fuse and power switch/knob/power indicator LED.
  • Premium Main Board Kit
  • Front panel signal polarity/mute switch
  • Separate moving magnet/iron (MM) and moving coil (MC) RCA inputs with back panel MM/MC switching using a custom Grayhill gold contact rotary switch
  • MC input with either 18 or 24dB (LL1931/LL1933), or 24 or 30dB (LL1941/LL1943) additional gain that is switch configurable
  • MC load switching (25, 50, 100, 200, 400, 800, 1.6K, and 47K ohms) using Audio Note tantalum oxide resistors and a custom Grayhill gold contact rotary switch
  • Unbalanced (RCA) and balanced (XLR) outputs
  • Turntable ground post

Premium Maxxed-Out Complete Kit: $2449

Assembled and Tested Premium Maxxed-Out Complete Kit: $2849



Options

There are several options for the Maxxed-Out Complete Kit that can be easily installed at the time of building the unit. For you mono Beatles LP fanatics, we offer a front panel Stereo/Mono switch. We use a very high quality Seiden switch (as we do for the Polarity/Mute switch) to combine the left and right channels to derive a mono signal from a stereo cartridge output. The output impedance of the K&K Audio Maxxed-Out Preamplifier is low enough to drive a volume control directly, thereby facilitating phono-only systems without the need for a line stage preamp. The Volume Control is a shunt device that puts two fixed, low value Audio Note resistors in the signal path, preserving the balanced/unbalanced output versatility. The variable shunt element is custom constructed from a 23 position Seiden switch and discrete surface mount audio-grade metal film resistors. Only one resistor is present as a shunt element at each volume control setting in each channel. My personal favorite among the parafeed coupling capacitors I've auditioned to date is the Cardas 4.7mF 600v capacitor. These are not used as a standard part in the kit due to the significant added cost and the close performance of the less expensive Clarity capacitor. But if you must... Lastly, if you are really in love with your MM cartridge and don't understand what all of the fuss about MC cartridges is, then, well, you don't need all of that MC cartridge specific stuff, do you?

Stereo/Mono Switch Option: add $100

Volume Control Option: add $250

Cardas Parafeed Capacitor Upgrade: add $250

Premium Maxxed-Out Complete Kit without the MC inputs, MM/MC switching, and switchable MC loading: subtract $600

[Pictures: front, back, inside coming soon!]



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K & K Audio 1004 Olive Chapel Rd. Apex, NC 27502 USA (919) 387-0911 Mon-Fri 8 a.m. - 5 p.m. EST E-mail