Фонокорректоры — Einstein Audio Components THE PERFECT MATCH

The Perfect Match is a two-box phono preamplifier for moving-coil pickups, made by Einstein Audio Components, the Bochum company founded in 1988, with design credited to Annette Heiss and engineering to Volker Bohlmeier. It appeared in late 2018 at EUR 2,800, which places it well below the larger Einstein phono units in price, and unlike the three- and four-part phono models of the brand it consists of only an amplifier block and a separate power supply.

Key specs that matter

Gain depends on the cartridge impedance - Einstein lists 74 dB in the low setting and 79 dB in the high setting, both measured with a 12 ohm source. The S/N figure is 75 dB or more at 400 uV, 1 kHz and 12 ohm, and distortion stays below 0.02%. The input is a current input with a virtual impedance of 0 ohm, output impedance is 100 ohm and the output reaches up to 8 V. The amplifier block measures about 6 x 21 x 6.5 cm and weighs 1.5 kg, while the supply is 6 x 14 x 21.5 cm and 2 kg.

Engineering and use context

Because the input works in current mode, the cartridge sees a near short circuit, so there are no loading resistors to pick and no matching adjustments at all. The circuit runs in three stages per channel. The first converts current to voltage and applies the high-frequency part of the RIAA curve through active feedback, the second adds the rest of the voltage gain and handles the 50 to 500 Hz part of the equalisation, and a buffer delivers a low-impedance output with adequate current. Four SMD amplifier chips from Linear Technology are used per channel in a dual mono layout. The amplifier housing is cut from one solid block of aluminium to counter interference and microphonic effects, and the compact size keeps signal paths very short. A black acrylic front carries a blue power LED and two holes giving access to the gain jumpers. The rear offers one pair of RCA inputs, one pair of RCA outputs, a brass knurled ground screw and a 5-pin socket for the umbilical to the supply, which contains a toroidal transformer and two voltage regulators. There are no XLR connections.

Pairing

The unit is intended for low-impedance moving-coil cartridges, and the quoted gain figures assume a low-impedance coil, so higher-impedance designs will see less amplification. Its output goes to any unbalanced high-level input on a control amplifier or integrated model, and the maker names its own pickup, tonearm and turntable as suitable partners.

Alternatives

The Einstein Phonostage is a larger 6 kg MC unit whose 68 dB or 74 dB gain is set by jumpers and whose loading uses resistor plugs.