12AX7 Phono

Tube Pre-Amplifier

User Manual
Analog Metric

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sales@analogmetric.com

Copyright© 2009 All Rights Reserved

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 [12AX7 Phono Tube Pre-Amplifier ] Analog Metric

INTRODUCTION

The circuit design is referenced to VTL phono tube preamplifier. It support both MM or
MC phono input with RIAA compensation. It uses four 12AX7 vacuum tube in serial
common-cathode configurations and buffer stage to provide sufficient voltage gain for
weak phono input signal. The input impedance can be changed by the DIP switch. The
signal paths of this PCB layout is designed in symmetry for both channels. Dedicated
power rails, ground, and signal paths, althogether are taken into considerations so that
all are to minimize the parasitics, cross interference, and influence of RFI.

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 [12AX7 Phono Tube Pre-Amplifier ] Analog Metric

FEATURES

• Four 12AX7 vacuum tubes.

• Support both MM and MC.

• RIAA compensation.

• Input impedance can be varied by DIP switch or modified resistances by advanced

users.

• Two single-ended inputs and two single-ended outputs.

• Symmetric layout design and signal paths with minimum parasitic.

• Dedicated ground and power rails layout design.

• Four large reservoir decoupling capacitors for power rails.

• Power requirements: one 260V(100mA) DC and one 12.6V(2A) DC.

• PCB dimension: 20.2mm (W) x 13.6mm (L)

• PCB thickness: 2.4mm, double layer, 2oz copper.

PRECAUTIONS

• Do not use any body parts to touch the metal parts of the kit after power up or power
off, since the high voltage capacitors may not fully discharge. It may cause serious
electric shock.

• Use a power transformer with fuse (1-3A) socket to limit the supply current in case of
short circuit or incorrect assembly.

• Double check the assembled components with the schematics.

• Do not attempt the measure the voltage by multimeter with hand after power up. The
probes of the multimeter should be mounted by some stands to the points of the
measurement before switching on the power supply.

• Turn off the power supply if you observe any smokes or hear strange sound coming
out from the transformer or board. If there is short circuit, the transformer will be
getting very hot shortly.

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 [12AX7 Phono Tube Pre-Amplifier ] Analog Metric

PROCEDURES

1. Hook up all the components according to the schematic, part list, and photos.
Notice to the polarity of the high voltage electrolytic capacitors (C2, C2B, C3,
C3B, C10, C10B, C13, C13B, C14, C14B). There are no polarities of the thin film
capacitors.
2. MM mode: Pin 5 set off of SW1 and SW2.
3. MC mode: Pin 5 set on of SW1 and SW2.
4. Change input impedance: Pin 1, 2, 3, 4 and 6 of SW1 and SW2.
5. Apply either one or two 260V DC to J3 and 12.6V DC to J4. Connect the GND of
these two connector. If you only have one 260V DC, connect the two '260V DC'
pins together.
6. If everything work fine, the tubes will be led up gradually. Then, apply signals to
connectors J1 and obtain corresponding output signal at J2.
7. Enjoy it.

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 [12AX7 Phono Tube Pre-Amplifier ] Analog Metric

CHECKLIST

1. The polarity of the high voltage capacitorsC2, C2B, C3, C3B, C10, C10B, C13, C13B,
C14, C14B.

2. The supply voltages at connectors (J3 and J4). Check the two DC pins of J3 whether
connected to power supply.

3. Short the GND of J1, J2, J3 and J4 together.

If you have any problem in assembly, please contact us by email to

tech@analogmetric.com

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 1 2 3 4 5 6

12AX7 Phono Pre-Amplifier ref VTL

A Analog Metric A

J3
B1+
N0B1+
B1+
3 P0J303
R22 R23
B2+
N0B2+
2 P0J302 P0R2202 P0R2201 P0R2302 P0R2301

1 1W 1W

P0C1402 P0C1401

P0R1302
P0J301

P0R602

P0R1002
P0C1302 P0C1301
47K C14 1K
B+ C13
R6 R10 R13
GND
1W 1W

P0R1301
1W 47uF/400V

P0R601
C6

6P0V1B06 P0R1001
100K 120uF/400V 274K
274K

6P0V2B06
P0C601 P0C602
R_MM

1P0V1A01

1P0V2A01
N0R0MM

0.01uF GND
GND
V1A V2A C8 V2B
V1B 7
2
P0V1A02
12AX7 7 2
P0V2A02
12AX7 P0C801 P0C802
P0V2B07 12AX7
P0V1B07
12AX7
0.22uF

P0V2B08
GND

P0V1B08

8
C1

P0V1A03

P0V1A04

P0V1A05

P0V2A03

P0V2A04

P0V2A05
P0C301 P0C302

8
3
4
5

3
4
5
N0H1

N0H2

N0H1

N0H2
P0C101 P0C102

H1
H2

H1
H2
C3 C9
R_MC
N0R0MC 0.1uF 1uF C7 ROUT
N0ROUT
P0C901 P0C902
C2 C5 P0C702 P0C701

P0C201 P0C202 P0C502 P0C501

2uF
33pF

P0R202

P0R302

P0R402

P0R502

P0R702

P0R802
J4

2.7K R2
1.35KR3
510 R4
250 R5

47K R7

P0R1102

P0R1202

P0R1402

P0R1502

P0R1702
P0R902
47uF/50V 100pF

P0C401 P0C402
H1
N0H1
2 P0J402 R8
H2
N0H2
C4 R9 R11 R12 R14 R15 R17
1 P0J401 1M

P0R102

P0R201

P0R301

P0R401

P0R501

P0R701

P0R801
1W 240K 1W 2.7K 1W 1M

P0R1101

P0R1201

P0R1401

P0R1501

P0R1701
P0R901
150pF
HT 4.7K 2.7K 980
R1

P0SW1012

P0SW1011

P0SW1010

P0SW109

P0SW108

P0SW107
2.7K

12
11
10
P0R101

9
8
7
J1
R_MC
N0R0MC SW1
3 ON DIP

P0R1602
P0J103

2 P0J102
R_MM
N0R0MM
1 P0J101 R16
1W

P0R1601
B MC IN GND B
1 2 3 4 5 6 980

P0SW101

P0SW102

P0SW103

P0SW104

P0SW105

P0SW106
1
2
3
4
5
6
J2
L_MC
N0L0MC
3 P0J203

2 P0J202
C11
L_MM
N0L0MM GND R21 C12
1 P0J201
C10 P0C1102 P0C1101 P0R2102 P0R2101
P0C1202 P0C1201

MM IN GND 1K
P0C1001 P0C1002 5600pF 1600pF
J5
220uF/50V R19 R20 ROUT
N0ROUT
P0R1902 P0R1901 P0R2002 P0R2001 P0J501 1

P0R1801
680K 47K P0J502 2
LOUT
N0LOUT
P0J503 3
R18
510 GND Out

P0R1802
GND

B2+
R22B R23B
P0R22B02 P0R22B01 P0R23B02 P0R23B01

1W 1W

P0C14B02P0C14B01

P0R13B02
P0R6B02

P0R10B02
P0C13B02P0C13B01

47K C14B 1K
R6B C13B R13B
R10B
1W 1W

P0R13B01
47uF/400V
P0R6B01

1W

P0R10B01
120uF/400V C6B
100K 274K 274K

P0V4B06
P0C6B01 P0C6B02
L_MM
P0V3A01

P0V4A01
N0L0MM
P0V3B06

0.01uF GND

6
GND
1

1
6

V3A V4A C8B V4B

V3B 7
2
P0V3A02 12AX7 7 P0V4A02 2 12AX7 P0V4B07 12AX7
P0V3B07 12AX7 P0C8B01 P0C8B02

0.22uF

P0V4B08
GND

8
P0V3B08

C1B
P0V3A03

P0V3A04

H2P0V3A05

P0C3B01 P0C3B02

P0V4A03

P0V4A04

P0V4A05
8
3
4
5

3
4
5
C C
N0H1

N0H1

N0H2
H1

H1
H2
P0C1B01 P0C1B02
N0H2 C3B C9B
L_MC
N0L0MC 0.1uF 1uF C7B LOUT
N0LOUT
P0C9B01 P0C9B02
C2B C5B P0C7B02 P0C7B01

P0C2B01 P0C2B02 P0C5B02 P0C5B01

2uF
33pF
2.7K R2B
1.35KR3B
510 R4B
250 R5B

47K R7B
P0R2B02

P0R3B02

P0R4B02

P0R5B02

P0R7B02

P0R8B02

P0R11B02

P0R12B02

P0R14B02

P0R15B02

P0R17B02
P0R9B02

47uF/50V 100pF
P0C4B01 P0C4B02

R8B
C4B R9B R11B R12B R14B R15B R17B
1M
P0R1B02

P0R2B01

P0R3B01

P0R4B01

P0R5B01

P0R7B01

P0R8B01

1W 240K 1W 2.7K 1W 1M
P0R11B01

P0R12B01

P0R14B01

P0R15B01

P0R17B01
P0R9B01

150pF
4.7K 2.7K 980
R1B
P0SW2012

P0SW2011

P0SW2010

P0SW209

P0SW208

P0SW207

2.7K
12
11
10
P0R1B01

9
8
7

SW2
ON DIP

P0R16B02
R16B
1W

P0R16B01
1 2 3 4 5 6 980
P0SW201

P0SW202

P0SW203

P0SW204

P0SW205

P0SW206
1
2
3
4
5
6

GND C11B C12B

R21B
C10B P0C11B02P0C11B01 P0R21B02 P0R21B01
P0C12B02P0C12B01

1K
P0C10B01P0C10B02 5600pF 1600pF
220uF/50V R19B R20B
P0R19B02 P0R19B01 P0R20B02 P0R20B01
P0R18B01

680K 47K
R18B
510
P0R18B02

GND
D D

Title

Size Number Revision

C
Date: 6/4/2010 Sheet of
File: G:\AnalogMetric\..\phono vtl.SchDoc Drawn By:

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Analog Metric
12AX7 Phono PreAmplifier (Stereo) ref VTL
Components Values Quantity Remark
C1, C1B 0.1uF/100V 2 Metalized Film Cap
C2, C2B 47uF/50V 2 Electrolytic Cap
C3, C3B 1uF/400V 2 MKP Film Cap
C4, C4B 150pF/250V 2 Metalized Film Cap
C5, C5B 100pF/250V 2 Metalized Film Cap
C6, C6B 10nF/250V 2 Metalized Film Cap
C7, C7B 33pF/250V 2 Metalized Film Cap
C8, C8B 0.22uF/250V 2 MKP Film Cap
C9, C9B 2uF/250V 2 MKP Film Cap
C10, C10B 220uF/50V 2 Electrolytic Cap
C11, C11B 5.6nF/50V 2 Metalized Film Cap
C12, C12B 1.6nF/50V 2 Metalized Film Cap
C13, C13B 120uF/400V 2 Electrolytic Cap
C14, C14B 47uF/400V 2 Electrolytic Cap
R1, R1B, R2, R2B 2.7K 1/4W 4
R3, R3B 1.35K 1/4W 2
R4, R4B, R18, R18B 510R 1/4W 4
R5, R5B 250R 1/4W 2
R6, R6B 100K 1W 2
R7, R7B, R20, R20B 47K 1/4W 4
R8, R8B 1M 1/4W 2
R9, R9B 4.7K 1W 2
R10, R10B, R13, R13B 274K 1W 2
R11, R11B 240K 1/4W 2
R12, R12B 2.7K 1W 2
R15, R15B, R16, R16B, R23, R23B1K 1W 6
R14, R14B, R17, R17B 1M 1/4W 4
R19, R19B 680K 1/4W 2
R21, R21B 1K 1/4W 2
R22, R22B 47K 1W 2
V1,V2, V3, V4 12AX7 4
Mini 9 Pin PCB Mount Tube Socket 4
SW1, SW2 DIP12 2
2-Pin Connector 1
3-Pin Connector 4
3mm screw &copper rod 4
PCB 1