EAR 834P phono preamplifier


It got decent reviews in the mid 1990s when it first came out. And even now it seems to have following. But how competitive is the original design compared to other MODERN phono preamps  in the $1K range?

 

hollowman

@hollowman the good ear clone is the zhikli audio black board with gold traces. head over to lenco heaven for the entire practicum on optimizing this kit. 

you can check this out too
https://lookalivecontest.com/2022/02/04/power-supply-for-ear-834p-with-optional-tube-rectifier/

+1 for @cey comments. I have both the zhili audio clone as well as the real mccoy EAR unit. They sound identical. The only thing I would be suspect of on the Zhili clone is the step up transformer option. Not sure who supplies them. 

Either unit will also make an excellent tape head preamp unit. The EQ has to be changed and the feedback reduced a bit to get a bit more gain, but it works quite well. 

this NAD has rear MM; MC; Line; front USB in Options

https://www.ebay.com/itm/406620875942?mkrid=711-53200-19255-0&campid=5338381866&toolid=10001&customid=fc2c2d40-f6df-11f0-a295-643763646230

keep in mind, the EAR 834P has an MC option, but like many inexpensive MM/MC, it is either/or, you might have to move the cables and a switch in the back, and it was a single fixed impedance, like my Luxman MC is 100 ohms, which is how the NAD works, I don't know what impedance EAR or NAD chose.

.