Vinyl Asylum: REVIEW: Eastern Electric Minimax Phonostage Phono Preamp by Meby

Model:	Minimax Phonostage
Category:	Phono Preamp
Suggested Retail Price:	$1499
Description:	all tube phono stage equipped with the permalloy core MC step-up transformers, with 57dB of gain
Manufacturer URL:	Eastern Electric
Model Picture:	View

Review by Meby ( A ) on April 04, 2005 at 16:39:11
IP Address: 67.167.247.32

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for the Minimax Phonostage

I will bore you with flowery prose.
Let me get on to my impression of the Eastern Electric Phonostage. I was lucky enough to Beta Test this Phono Pre through Bill's kindness. The Phono pre is available for $1499 at Morningstar Audio.
I was not planning on upgrading my phono pre as I have the Ray Samuels Emmeline XR-2; which is considered by anyone who has heard it to be one of the best phono pre-amps available in its price range. After installing the Eastern Electric phonostage let's just say I will be upgrading this part of my system soon.
The differences between the EE and the Ray Samuels is that the Eastern Electric has more flesh and blood and more realistic soundstage and sounds very coherent with no part of the Frequency range getting in your face. I feel that the highs are artificially extended on the Emmeline and become a little strident on loud passages in music.
The Eastern Electric phonostage never becomes flustered even during complex passages in the music. It just sounds right! The soundstage is slightly deeper than the Emmeline and more proportionate. Sometimes the Emmeline can make the music sound slightly smeared or out of focus thus giving the impression that the performers heads are larger than they should be.
My wife even made the comment the other day that my system sounds clearer, sounds just like the audio store now . I guess that is a complement as my wife can usually never tell the difference when I make changes to my system.
Is this the best phonostage I have ever heard? No I would say that is the Manley steelhead, but this is definitely the best I have heard in my price range.
My hat is off to Alex Yeung for an incredible design at a real world price Bill you definitely have a winner on your hands, thank you for the privillege of testing it out.

Product Weakness: I do not like the blue light on the power switch. Might not have enough gain for very low output MC carts. I wish it had more settings like Steelhead.
Product Strengths: Very realistic soundstaging and smooth non-strident details. Price and build quality. Very responsive to tube rolling.

Associated Equipment for this Review:
Amplifier:	Cary 300 SE Signature Monos
Preamplifier (or None if Integrated):	Audio Mirror T-61
Sources (CDP/Turntable):	Kuzma Stabi S w/ Stogi S
Speakers:	Meadowlark Kestrel 2s
Cables/Interconnects:	Purist Audio Design Museaus
Music Used (Genre/Selections):	Blues, Flamenco, Rock, Classical
Room Size (LxWxH):	17 x 13 x 9
Room Comments/Treatments:	Michael Green Room tunes
Time Period/Length of Audition:	1 week
Other (Power Conditioner etc.):	Chang Lightspeed 3200
Type of Audition/Review:	Home Audition

Product Weakness:	I do not like the blue light on the power switch. Might not have enough gain for very low output MC carts. I wish it had more settings like Steelhead.
Product Strengths:	Very realistic soundstaging and smooth non-strident details. Price and build quality. Very responsive to tube rolling.