Moderator: redline_xp
EAR 868 Preamplifier with Phono (direct descendant of the EAR 912!)
How do you get $12,500 of performance for only $7,395?
Enter the EAR 868 full function preamp ($5595 - line stage only) that is a direct descendent of the EAR 912! You'll get the same circuits, virtually identical sound minus a few features, meters and elaborate casework. Keep in mind the 912 has been reviewed well ahead - See Below.
TESTIMONIALS
hfw5worlds120_120_01
Awarded 5/5 Globes - Hi-Fi World, 2009
"The new 868 is a great preamp package. With a lively sense of clarity and the usual extra sense of spaciousness to the sound valves bring, it injects life into any system... Dazzling transients, delicious intricacy and a superb phono stage... Super fast and vividly clean sounding valve preamplifier with fine phono stage. Superb! - Noel Keywood, Hi-Fi World, March 2009 (http://www.ear-yoshino.com/hifimag.pdf)
"I compared this British wonder (the 912) to its top American counterpart,. They share only one attribute ...quiet black backgrounds. Otherwise, the E.A.R. was consistently more detailed, bold, and lifelike. The E.A.R. soundstaging was bigger and deeper (lots deeper), while imaging was decidedly more solid and richly focused... The E.A.R. 912 Professional Tube Control Centre will take its place as my reference preamp against which all others will be judged. With a flexibility second to none and musical performance unmatched in my experience as a reviewer, you must consider the 912 as a contender for that first position on your audiophile shopping list. With a superb sounding, fully featured phono stage, you will need one less box on the rack. As the top preamp for quiet, black backgrounds coupled with spot on musicality and realism, you get the complete and fully evolved package. I would buy this before the British pound gets more expensive! The E.A.R. 912 Professional Tube Control Centre is the state of the art in preamp design and performance. What more can one ask for? Tim de Paravicini hits a home run, yet again. Tim, please don't ever stop!"
- Robert H. Levi, Positive Feedback Online, Issue 31 (read the review: http://www.positive-feedback.com/Issue31/ear912.htm)
"The EAR 912 tended toward a big sound: a wide, deep soundfield that always seemed capable of sounding even bigger when the need arose, with stereo imaging that sounded more real to me than the overly precise sound I associate with the high-end audio salon experience......This product taught me something about my records and the other components in my system, and I enjoyed every minute I spent with it. The EAR 912 isn't cheap, but it's a Class A preamplifier in every sense, and an heirloom-quality instrument that represents the apex of both build quality and design ingenuity."
- Art Dudley, Stereophile (read the review: http://www.stereophile.com/tubepreamps/ ... index.html)
Soundstage May 2010 Review : http://www.soundstage.com/equipment/ear_868.htm
TECHNICAL
The EAR 868 is very similar to the 864 on the outside. However important changes have been made to improve the performance. The tubes are now PCC88 for the linestage and the phono section, which are reliable, robust and have a long life. The on/off switch is now encircled with an orange light and a remote control is standard. The 868 is a fully balanced, transformer-coupled design with balanced and single-ended connections at input and output. It also offers a tape loop, remote control of volume, and several load/gain selections for the optional phono stage.
SPECIFICATIONS
* Tube complement - with optional phono stage: 4 x PCC88
* Phono inputs: 1 MM, 1MC (optional)
* Line inputs: 2 balanced, 3 unbalanced
* Tape loops: 1
* Outputs: 1 balanced, 1 unbalanced
* Phono input impedances: 47k ohms, moving-magnet; 3, 6, 12, or 40 ohms, moving-coil
* Output impedance: 600 ohms
* Line-stage gain: 17dB
* Phono-stage gain: 50-80dB
* Signal/noise ratio: 68dB phono (ref. 2.4mV), 90dB line (ref. 1V)
* Frequency response: 20Hz-20kHz, -0.3dB
* Distortion: <0.1% at 1kHz, 3V output
* Size W 15" D 12" H 5"
redline_xp wrote:Another Amber ligh is ON. Congrats to the new owner of this great preamp.
endrik35 wrote:Ryan, who's the new 912 owner? Let me guess, docb? Bigtime talaga! Whoever it is, congrats to the new owner. Game ending preamp you've got there!
Wow !!! The best set up, ever !
Lupit nyan boss!! Pag tulog ako tsaka ko lang napapakinggan ang ear 912.
Nice !! But sa black beauty pa rin ako. Love thy own
Tisoy!
Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 2 guests