Description
The E80cc Preamp is a Dual Mono Design that has a direct coupled intersage (no coupling capacitor) and as a result has amazing detail and clarity, very low noise and high gain. With the high gain it is capable of driving most any power amp.
We’ve carefully selected every part and component. From the Solen coupling capacitors to the solid Cherry Wood Plinth and Hand Brushed Aluminum Top Plate, to the Universal Dual Secondary Power Transformer.
The E80cc comes as a Full Kit that includes all parts and an unfinished Solid Cherry Wood Plinth, Finished 3/16″/ 5mm Aluminum Top Plate and 2mm Aluminum Bottom Plate. Or as a Light Kit, without aluminum plates or wood plinth, for those of you who’d rather build your own enclosure.
Build Information will include a Color Schematic of the Power Supply and Preamp, also a Build Series of Videos is available on YouTube under Mellow Tone Kits (see link below).
The videos are the Build Manual.
Sound Signature: Great Detail and Clarity, Very Low Noise and Distortion. Excellent Stereo Image & Soundstage.
System Compatibility: Main System Preamp, capable of driving most any power amp, a perfect design match for the GU-50 Monoblock.
Build Complexity: Medium – if you already make stuff, and are a thoughtful careful person, who can focus for an hour – You Can Build this Kit Amp.
Shipping Extra (to check on rate, make an account, place item in cart and go to check out page).
Discount Codes – don’t work on Kit Amps – the margin is too tight to offer discounts.
Not included: Tubes, SMPS, IEC power cord, solder.
Features:
Dual Mono Design
Direct Coupled Interstage (no coupling capacitor)
Universal R-Core Power Transformer
Dual matched secondary windings
Household Voltage (100 – 240vac)
Input Sensitivity: 3.6 Vrms
Gain 13.74
Signal To Noise Ratio: 76.9 dB @ 1KHz
Input Impedance (nominal): 83 Kohm (depends on Alps Pot)
Output Impedance: 364 ohm
Power Consumption (preamp): 3.5W
Power Consumption (SMPS): 7.6W
Tubes: 2 x E80CC
Size: 10″w x 13″d x 4.75″h (25.5cm x 33cm x 12cm), 8lbs/3.6kg
Accessories:
Resources:
Top Plate CAD Drawing
Build Videos – follow along with Jim on YouTube as he guides you through the build process step by step.
Recommended Tools: Link to Tools in the Store*
Temperature controlled solder station
(Lonove 926LED III available at Amazon)
Electrical Solder 63/37 tin/lead rosin core 0.8mm/.031” (Kester “44” 24-6337-0027)
Rosin Soldering Flux (I use: Caig “no clean” paste RSF-R39-2)
Volt/Ohm Meter (CAT III 600v – minimum) c/w probe & clip-on leads
Variac 0-130vac/20A or 0-260vac/10A (helpful but not required)
Hot Glue Gun – a mini craft type will work just fine
1/4″ Socket Wrench & Deep Sockets 3/16″ & 7/32″ c/w 3″ (75mm) extension
Steady or 3rd hand stand, very helpful when you need 3 hands!
*Wire Stripper
*Solder Sucker
*Needle Nose Pliers
*Side Cutters
*Ratcheting Crimper (Note: this is NOT your standard red/blue/yellow crimper)
*Mini Hot Air Gun (very very useful)
*Mini Utility Knife
*Mini 1/8″ Slot Screwdriver
*Torx Driver T10
*Hex Key 2mm
Fun Fact: The prototype E80cc preamp was initially built to find out what all the fuss with this higher spec’d and taller 12AU7 was all about, as well to try out a direct coupled interstage (no coupling capacitor). And wow I couldn’t believe the amount of clarity and drive of this preamp. Now not all prototypes work out this well, but when they do it makes all the experimenting worthwhile!
fdranger610 (verified owner) –
The E80CC Dual Mono Class A Preamp design simply helps to create an exciting and balanced life like sound at all volume levels in my listening room. I am now discovering/experiencing much more dynamics and harmonic resolution in my favorite music collection. In the Fall season of 2021 I was riding my electric bike from a distance toward a local high school marching band playing on a practice field. As I got much closer I could feel all the lifelike dynamics of their music. My system now has the same exciting musical dynamics using the E80CC Preamp. Thank you Jim and Charles for this wonderful preamp design and your careful and thoughtful kit building episodes with excellent customer support! I bought the soldering station, solder type, and flux that you recommended in the build list. When you gave soldering iron temperatures in the build episodes to solder the various parts…. they went together well because of your directions. The kit was fun to build! Thanks again!
Jesse Curran (verified owner) –
This E80cc Pre-amp kit build was an absolute joy to put together. I am a complete novice, no prior experience at all… Just an enthusiastic audiophile! The videos and the customer service is great! I felt like I had a friend walking me through each step of the way….. now that I’ve finished and started listening…… I was just stunned and needed to take time to articulate how amazing the changes are. I’m an owner of the Willsenton R8 integrated amp, The synergy between these two components is unbelievable. Sound stage is deeper, taller, wider and more holographic. Instruments have more weight and density to them and are floating effortlessly. The music is so much more dynamic and exciting… Explosive! So much less compression between the soft and the loud… Clarity, the music is just bigger and fatter and has more weight to it. I’ve never heard such detail in the bass and clarity with acoustic music. It’s live, evolving and emotionally engaging ….. spooky good! Top-tier for sure…… It gets my highest recommendation!
marchunter (verified owner) –
I built both the Universal and E80cc Kit Preamps. Both preamps are wonderful and a joy to build. I just finished doing a plug and play shootout between the two preamps. Of course we know the layouts are similar so the difference may be the tubes used and the corresponding circuit for each. Having said that I am surprised that I actually prefer the E80CC pre. Why? It has the same detail as the universal pre but the warmth (I know) is so much nicer to my ears. I could listen to this preamp all day on my Klipsch Fortes and be fine. Just for your information I’m running either a digital receiver or a turntable through the pre, then I’m running out of the pre into an ST70 (EL34) clone then into the Forte’s. I’m running the Tungsram E80cc’s in the pre. In the universal pre I’m running Sylvania JAN 12SN7’s out of Jim’s good bin. The difference is apparent from the first few notes. I understand why the universal pre sells better than the E80cc pre (6SN7’s are great) but truly there is no reason for that when you listen to them both. This pre is wonderful. You will not be sorry you bought this pre ever. It has become my daily driver. Great job guys, this thing rocks.
Marc
crakers7 (verified owner) –
I have just finished the E80cc build and after a couple of dramas which were totally my fault I have now started listening to it in my system and all I can say is WOW ,I honestly did not expect the much of a difference, it truly sounds incredible!! Im using it plugged into my Willsenton R8 with 96db efficienct speakers , I was previously using a Denafrips Athena preamp which is their top of the line pre and costs 4 or 5 times more than the E80cc and sounds wonderful but this E80cc blows it out of the water, the increase in soundstage, detail, dynamics is incredible . I Can highly recommend this kit preamp and the tubes it uses are so well priced . Jim was a pleasure to do business with and a big help in the build process. Cheers!