The EA-1500 phono equalizer amplifier combines high performance with cost-effectiveness, featuring balanced inputs and outputs, and boasts impressive compatibility thanks to its tube power supply and dual amplifier housing. It brings out the full potential of everything from Phasemation cartridges to world-renowned cartridges and even popular optical cartridges.
Key Features
Best-in-class sound quality, incorporating numerous technologies inherited from the EA-2000
High-speed, wide-dynamic-range vacuum tube phono amplifier section without NFB
Built-in step-up transformer for MC cartridges using newly redesigned PC-TripleC windings
Phasemation’s first optical cartridge compatible
Clean power section with a separate triple-power transformer configuration using a vacuum tube rectifier circuit for high-quality sound
Supports balanced and unbalanced inputs and outputs
Top cover structure and mechanical components, such as feet, carefully selected for sound tuning
Gold-plated connectors and relay contacts for crisp, clear sound
Built-in MC transformer for balanced phono transmission and a wide range of input terminals
A built-in MC step-up transformer incorporating know-how from the award-winning T-2000 MC step-up transformer supports balanced phono transmission.
Equipped with three input terminals, each switchable between MM and MC.
In addition, inputs 1 and 2 support balanced phono transmission.
Best-in-class sound quality, incorporating numerous technologies inherited from the EA-2000
The EA-1500 incorporates much of Phasemation’s expertise. In particular, many technologies cultivated in the EA-2000, such as LCR circuitry, transformer shielding, and floating structures, are inherited, and the results are reflected in the final sound.
High-speed, wide-dynamic-range vacuum tube phono amplifier section without NFB
Vacuum tube amplifiers operate at high voltages, resulting in a wide dynamic range. Furthermore, the lack of NFB circuitry allows for a more high-speed sound.
Cartridge transformer with newly redesigned PC-Triple C windings
Based on the EA-1200 transformer, the EA-1500 employs a new transformer with redesigned windings and other features, ensuring compatibility with any cartridge. The windings feature the acclaimed PC-Triple C.
Optical cartridge compatibility
Not only is it well-suited for Phasemation cartridges, but it’s also the first to support optical cartridges, a trend that’s becoming more and more popular. A dedicated power transformer for optical cartridges provides stable power without interfering with the phono amplifier. While the optical cartridge input is equipped with an XLR terminal, this is not a separate power supply; it allows the unbalanced output of the optical cartridge to be connected using a conventional balanced analog cable for MC.
A separate clean power supply unit with a vacuum tube rectification circuit ensures high sound quality.
The EA-1500’s power supply is housed in the same full-size single box as the phono amplifier, but the power supply has two independent power transformers for left and right channels, providing dedicated power for each channel. The rectification circuit uses 5U4GB vacuum tubes, providing a clean power supply that eliminates switching noise like semiconductors, contributing to high sound quality.
Balanced and unbalanced input/output support
Two inputs and one output are supported, supporting both balanced (XLR) and unbalanced (RCA pin) connections. The XLR terminals are made by Neutrik, and the RCA pin terminals are gold-plated, ensuring high-quality sound. Simultaneous balanced and unbalanced output is also possible.
Top cover structure and mechanical components such as feet carefully selected for sound tuning.
The 1.6mm thick top cover and hybrid insulators made from a combination of dissimilar metals suppress vibration and reproduce pure sound. The top cover is coated with a low-dielectric coating to reduce the effects of magnetic distortion.
Gold-plated connectors and relay contacts ensure crisp, clear sound reproduction.
Gold-plated high-quality components are used for connectors and relays to improve sound performance.
Product Specifications
Input Sensitivity: 2mV (MM), 0.1mV (MC) Compatible Cartridge Output Impedance: 47kΩ or less (MM), 1.5-40Ω (MC) Gain: 40dB (MM), 66dB (MC) Equivalent Input Noise: -120dBV (MM), -146dBV (MC) RIAA Curve Deviation: ±0.5dB (20-20kHz) Rated Output Voltage: 200mV (1kHz) Power Consumption: 70W (100VAC 50/60Hz) Input Connectors: MC/MM (2 x RCA, 2 x XLR, Optical (1 x RCA, 1 x XLR (unbalanced)) Output Connectors: 1 x RCA, 1 x XLR Maximum Dimensions and Weight: Main Unit: 430 (W) x 93 (H) x 359 (D) mm, 9kg Power Supply Unit: 430 (W) x 93 (H) x 346 (D) mm 12kg
