Фонокорректоры — Soulnote E-1

The E-1 is a phono equalizer from Soulnote, the Japanese maker that avoids overall negative feedback in its circuits. It develops the layout and parts of the earlier ph1.0 and keeps a balanced signal path throughout, with a discrete non-NFB topology. It is offered in platinum silver or black.

Key specs that matter

A balanced XLR input takes cartridges wired in balanced form, and an RCA input covers conventional connection. Moving coil load resistance is selectable at 3, 10, 30, 100, 300 or 1,000 ohms, while the MM setting presents 47 kohm. Gain is 70 dB for MC and 50 dB for MM, with input sensitivity of 0.5 mV and 5 mV respectively. Rated output is 2.8 V balanced and 1.4 V unbalanced. RIAA deviation is within 0.3 dB either way. The maker lists the main unit at 430 x 109 x 409 mm and 9.5 kg, and power consumption at 48 W.

Engineering and use context

Soulnote uses its own circuit in which gain itself forms the RIAA characteristic, and it states uniform behaviour up to beyond 100 kHz. The equalization network uses MELF resistors at 1 percent tolerance and polypropylene film capacitors at 2 percent tolerance to hold the curve accurately. Its supply section uses a 260 VA toroidal transformer of the same specification as in the A-1 integrated amplifier, followed by Darlington ripple filters, fast recovery diodes and ten parallel 1,000 uF filter capacitors, again without negative feedback. Pressing the MM button also allows the use of an external MC step-up transformer. The RIAA elements sit in the loads of the voltage amplification stage, an approach Soulnote describes as overcoming the limits of both passive CR and feedback-based equalizers. Output is taken from a fully balanced non-NFB buffer with enough drive capability to handle loudspeaker loads, so long interconnects pose no difficulty. A LOW CUT switch engages a subsonic filter for warped records. The spikes are positioned beneath the transformer's balance point so vibration is led straight out of the chassis, and metal insulators are supplied instead of the usual plastic ones.

Pairing

Balanced output makes the E-1 well matched to an amplifier offering XLR connection, the Soulnote A-1 among them. The high MC gain suits cartridges of low output, while a deck wired with balanced XLR tonearm leads keeps the signal balanced from stylus to amplifier.

Alternatives

The Soulnote E-2 is a larger phono equalizer with a 400 VA transformer, an optical cartridge input and 144 selectable equalization curves.