88PB Tube Phono Preamplifier By EAR

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.

“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.”

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.