Apprentice MM mk3
The Edwards Audio MM1 Mk2 Phono Stage is a high quality dedicated moving magnet (MM) or high output moving coil (HOMC) RIAA phono stage.
Based around the original MM1.PSU1 it has been enhanced in performance with an improved internal power supplies (PSU) and higher fidelity op-amps.
It is unique at the price, with its fully RoHs compliant gold plated custom made double sided PCB’s, folded steel casework with back lit dispaly and 9mm machined frame. It also benefits from it’s use of 1% thin metal film melf resistors from Vishey plus Panasonic FM series PSU caps and Vishay polyester/polypropylene film capacitors throughout. These are audiophile quality components and not normally used in such a low cost phono stage.
The RIAA. Equalisation is a rare combination of active bass and passive treble sections with an accuracy that is within 0.25dB across the audio band and signal to noise is very low at -87dB A-weighted. The circuit topology has a totally buffered output section with a very low output impedance to reduce cable effects and improve output drive.
Attention to detail also extends to the custom made plug top power supply. This is unique at this price level for its use of a split rail design using + and – DC power outputs for maximum rejection of RF noise coupled with maximum dynamic range and overload margin. It also uses a gold plated custom made PCB with high quality diodes and snubber caps. This is no normal ‘off the shelf’ PSU as used by the competition.
The all metal rear panel has RCA connections and an Earth terminal. This is probably the best built and most aesthetic phono stage in it’s class but it doesn’t stop there, it also delivers in the sound department, with expansive and detailed sound staging, with real grip over dynamics and bass weight normally associated with more expensive phono stages.
