Description
The Edwards Audio MC6 phono preamp is an integrated phono stage i.e. the power supply and phono stage are all housed in one case. The MC6 pushes at the boundary of what is possible from a one box solution at any price. It has dedicated sections for MC and MM pickup cartridges, switchable on the rear of the device. It has the ability to adjust the loading and gain settings via an array of internal DIP switches, THESE SHOULD ONLY BE MOVED FROM THE DEFAULT IF YOU ARE CONFIDENT IN WHAT YOU ARE DOING. In terms of performance, it is absolutely not what you would expect for the price, it paints a big open and detailed sound stage with very ‘black’ silences with amazing dynamics, a performance that would embarrass many, much more expensive competitors offerings. A recent review in the German MINT magazine said “If superlatives did not run into the understated character of the Edwards preamp, it would have to be described as sensational” and “ In a direct comparison of its price range, however, the Edwards, with its warm, fine and dynamic sound, is unparalleled “
We could not write a better review if we did it ourselves!!
UK designed and manufactured, like all Edwards Audio products, it is housed in an all aluminium case with back lit acrylic front panel logo which changes colour depending upon which mode is selected, Red for MM and Blue for MC.
It uses full RoHS compliance, HASL plated double-sided PCB along with high-quality components such as Vishay’s tight tolerance 1% MELF resistors and Panasonic’s ultra low-impedance power supply capacitors. These feed into a bespoke double regulated circuit.
The RIAA equalization operates with an accuracy of < 0.25 dB over the entire frequency range via a rare bespoke circuit topology consisting of an active bass and passive treble section, the signal-to-noise voltage ratio is low -68dB (at 500uV input voltage) with an impressive dynamic range of 110dB. The pseudo-symmetrical, input technology offers optimized grounding and thus it significantly reduces the possibility of hum and noise from entering the stage. Its output topology has a fully discrete class A output stage, fed via a high end op-amp, resulting in a very low output impedance. This helps to significantly reduce cable effects and further improve output current and signal quality.
Configured as standard at the factory with a gain of 42 dB for MM and additional 20db available for MC. The standard loading for MM is 47K and 100R for MC.
The MC6 is available in the following colours: Black, Grey, Red, White, Green and Blue.
For more information on how we have achieved this please go to www.edwardsaudio.co.uk/howwedoit
