"...sound less like reproduced and more like live music than anything I've heard in some time... One thing you'll immediately notice is that there's an unusually high level of air and ambience to the recorded space as well as around the various dimensions of Milstein's violin... holding on to tonal and dynamic subtleties in a way that makes the performance seem chillingly alive... the level of musical experience and involvement was, simply put, more magical than any I've known in ages."
Wayne Garcia, The Absolute Sound, Issue 155
The Artemis Labs PL-1 Phono Preamplifier is the result of several years of perfecting a simple yet extremely high quality tube-type preamp. High quality parts are used throughout and the design is rugged and reliable. The sonic qualities: tonality, detail, smoothness, and presence are outstanding. The PL-1 is optimized for low-output moving-coil cartridges. See information on the Artemis Labs PH-1 for a preamp optimized for medium- to high-output cartridges.
Key Features:
70dB of gain with low hum and noise High-quality step-up transformer gives good hum and noise rejection. TexTool™ ZIF socket connected to step-up transformer secondary Allows any shunt loading resistor or capacitor to be effectively attached to step-up secondary. Three stage design with passive RIAA equalization Equalization is flat within +/- 0.2dB from 20Hz to 20KHz and is flat to +/- 0.5dB to 40KHz. Last two stages have gentle feedback and can drive as low as 8K loads without the use of cathode followers. All key audio circuits wired point-to-point using military-style terminal boards Sonic degradation due to fiber-glass PC boards is minimized. One 6N1P tube, two 12AX7/ECC83 tubes and two 5687 tubes. All but 6N1P are run in Cool-Swap™ Configuration An idle spare in each tube, plus tubes run cooler. Choke loads for each triode Allows tubes to run in their most linear mode and permits lower plate supply voltage Low-Gain MOSFET high voltage regulation One regulator per channel minimizes cross-talk and gives a firm, stable sound without sounding “solid-state”. All Artemis PreAmps Designed and built in the United States using the best parts from around the world.
Specifications:
Mid-Band Gain(47K load, 1KHz): 52dB +/– 2dB Frequency Response & Distortion (measured with inverse RIAA curve applied to generator): Worst-case Loading (12K ohms, 1000pF): Frequency Response: 25Hz – 30KHz +/– 0.5dB THD+N at 1KHz, 2Vrms output: < 0.2% Average Loading (47K ohms, 250pF): Frequency Response: < 10Hz – 42KHz +/– 0.5dB THD+N at 1KHz, 2Vrms output: < 0.2% Maximum output voltage (47K load, 1KHz, 0.5% THD): 40Vrms Output Noise (grounded input, 47K load, rms detector): 22Hz - 30KHz: < –59dB below 2Vrms output “A-weighted”: < –69dB below 2Vrms output Crosstalk: 1KHz: < –TBD dB 20KHz: < –TBD dB Effective Output Impedance: approx. 1300 ohms (1KHz) Input Impedance: 47.5K ohms, lower with optional shunt resistors. Mains Voltage: Wired at factory for one of the following voltages: 100, 110, 120, 220, 230, 240V, 50 to 60Hz. Power Consumption (rms): 40 Watts nominal, 49 Watts maximum. Size: 6 ½" (165 mm) Height, 8 ½" (216 mm) Width, 14 5/8" (371 mm) Depth Mass: 24 lbs. (11Kg)