88PB Tube Phono Preamplifier By EAR
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Product Summary:
The 88PB is EAR’s mid-range tube phono preamp model.
Click To Read MoreTrial Period
NA
Countries Shipped
USA
Burn-In Time
20 Hours
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Price:
Analog, EAR, Phono Preamp
88PB Tube Phono Preamplifier By EAR
$6,295
The 88PB is EAR’s mid-range tube phono preamp model.
Click To Read MoreProduct Description
At EAR, we are proud to offer EAR electronics, widely regarded for producing some of the most musical and captivating tube gear available. In a crowded market of high-end tube amplifiers, many with steeper price tags, EAR stands apart for its exceptional quality and design. Alongside brands like Lamm, EAR amplifiers are the result of visionary craftsmanship, offering unique performance that elevates your audio experience.
The EAR 88PB is a versatile moving magnet/moving coil phono preamplifier with a switchable input, designed to deliver top-tier performance across a wide range of cartridges. It features a volume control that allows for direct connection to a power amplifier, eliminating the need for a separate preamp in certain setups. After the volume control, a buffer stage with an output transformer ensures low-impedance output, providing balanced or single-ended outputs to easily drive long cables without signal degradation.
With two inputs (one with adjustable gain and input impedance), a mono/stereo switch, and user-friendly internal adjustments, the EAR 88PB offers both flexibility and exceptional sound quality for discerning audiophiles.
· Four PCC88 Valves,
· Moving Magnet/Moving Coil,
· Volume/Gain control,
· Chrome Facia with gold or chrome knobs.
Reviews
“The EAR was obviously voiced to appeal to music lovers, not objectivist audio engineers or flat-earth techno geeks.”
“After a few weeks, going back to a more “proper” presentation is like being served mild salsa with your burrito where you have developed a taste for hot.”
“The EAR 88PB is a very musically involving phono preamplifier, one with a character that honors the art and joy of music.”
About EAR
EAR (formerly Esoteric Audio Research) is the visionary creation of Tim de Paravicini, a name long synonymous with the highest level of audio fidelity. Since the 1970s, de Paravicini has been at the forefront of groundbreaking audio design, not only in EAR products but also in shaping high-end equipment for some of the world’s most respected audio brands. His work continues to be highly sought after by audiophiles, with many of his designs remaining prized for decades due to their unparalleled sound quality.
Beyond consumer audio, Tim de Paravicini has made significant contributions to the world of professional recording and mastering. His cutting-edge tape systems, microphones, and other recording technologies have been used by iconic artists such as Pink Floyd and Lenny Kravitz, as well as notable labels like Altarus and Water Lily Acoustics. His equipment has also been trusted by world-renowned engineers like Robert Ludwig, Joe Gastwirt, and James Guthrie. One of the most prestigious mastering facilities, The Exchange in London, uses EAR-designed systems from tape machines to monitoring equipment. Even Mobile Fidelity Sound Labs relies on his LP cutting and tape playback systems.
EAR amplifiers are renowned for their unmatched ability to deliver a pure, distortion-free signal, maintaining the integrity of the original recording. Tim de Paravicini’s research into ultrasonic resonances and the effects of distortion has revolutionized amplifier design, enabling a deeper understanding of how measurements correlate to sound quality. The result is a collection of amplifiers that are not only among the most accurate ever created but also among the most faithful to the original musical performance.
Know more details about products
Product Description
Lehmann Black Cube SE II – Precision Phono Stage for True Audiophiles
The Black Cube SE II builds on the acclaimed SE circuit, upgraded with superior sockets and an adjustable bass filter, allowing you to fine-tune your system to your personal listening preferences. Designed for maximum musical engagement, it delivers the sensation that your favorite recordings were crafted just for you, bringing instruments and vocals closer than ever.
Tailored for Every System
Compatible with nearly all MM and MC cartridges, the Black Cube SE II includes solder-free slots for custom impedance adjustments, plus an extra hardwired plug-in location for immediate flexibility. Optional matching resistors can be provided with your order at no extra cost, making it easy to optimize the phono stage for your system.
Audiophile-Grade Audio Circuitry
At its core, a high-precision passive RIAA filter network sits between two linear gain stages, built with surge-proof, narrow-tolerance polypropylene capacitors. This design preserves transients, dynamics, and timbres with exceptional clarity. Professional-grade input stages reduce noise while enhancing precision and power. Additional modules handle hum, high-frequency interference, and random voltage suppression, and the double-sided audio board ensures a low-interference signal path.
Dependable PWX Power Supply
The external PWX power supply features a custom toroidal transformer with static shielding, providing stable, safe, and powerful operation. Gold-plated Neutrik XLR connectors maintain secure connections, while shielded cables and mechanically damped aluminum housings minimize vibrations and interference.
Elegant Design
With a choice of silver, black, or chrome-plated front panels, the Black Cube SE II combines audiophile-grade performance with a refined aesthetic that looks as good in your HiFi rack as it sounds in your system.
Professional Endorsement
Known for its neutral, natural sound, Lehmann equipment is trusted by professional recording studios and music experts worldwide. The Black Cube SE II offers a high-fidelity listening experience that reveals every nuance in your favorite recordings.
Note: The sonic profile of Lehmann gear is perhaps the most neutral we can find. This brand is quite popular with our professional music/recording studio clients.
Reviews
AUDIO
“Upgraded to the SE version by the PWX, it was definitely poking the fire again like almost no other phono pre in its price range. Merciless heavy rock by Vanilla Fudge or massive bigband attacks by Count Basie were just about to blaze through the listening room. Pimped in such a hot manner, the Lehmann Black Cube SE II is state-of-the-art.”
https://jaguaraudio.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/EN-2020_01-AUDIO-Black_Cube_II.pdf
Hifi News
“This is a true audiophile phono stage and, partnered with equipment of equal quality, the results are remarkable. Indeed, the SE II is difficult to fault even compared to the competition in a much higher price bracket. The exceptionally low background noise allied to a fabulous rhythmic and tonal rendition makes it worthy of consideration for those seeking the most detail from their vinyl without having to make a hyperspace price jump.”
https://jaguaraudio.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/EN_review_Hifi_News_02_2010_SEII_screen.pdf
Hifi News
“To ?nd more depth and detail in music I know so well was a remarkable experience and I warmed to this little gem of a phono stage all over again.”
Specifications
The impressing technical details of the Black Cube SE II.
Sensitivity for output level 775 mV/ 0 dB (with activated high gain switch): MM: 3.8 mV/1 kHz; MC: 0.38 mV/1 kHz
Gain 1 kHz: MM: 46 dB; MC: 66 dB
Maximum input level 1 kHz: MM: 45 mV; MC: 4,5 mV
Signal to noise ratio (RMS unweighted): MM: 71 dB; MC: 63 dB
Gain: 36 dB, 46 dB, 56 dB, 66 dB
Channel separation: > 80 dB at 10 kHz
Input impedance: 47 kohms, 1 kohm, 100 ohms, 1 x custom load, 1 x hardwire slot
Output impedance: 47 ohms
Input capacitance: 100 pF
Channel mismatch: typ. 0.5 dB
Bass filter: 16 settings between 7 Hz and app. 90 Hz
Power consumption: < 3 W
Outer dimensions W x D x H:
Audio section: 114 mm x 124 mm 50 mm
PWX power supply: 93 mm x 233 mm x 45 mm
Weight:
Audio section: 0.6 kg netto
PWX power supply: 1.0 kg netto
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