[artist]

This is my first post
I am looking for a phono stage,i looking at the Eastern Electric minimax i was wondering if there is anything that i should consider,the minimax retails for £1099 in the uk.
My System is Sme 20/2a V arm with vdh silver wireing,Naim 52/supercap,Ecs Ea2 power amp,linn isobarik,Naim cdx+cdsps all on mana stands interconnects and speaker cables all by Hramonic technoligy

[TheChairGuy]

I've only heard very positve things said of it in the past...but have no first hand experience with it.

Welcome to AC

[woodsyi]

Welcome to AC.  Are you looking at new only or are you open to used market as well?  For $1800 I would think you can get a very nice phono stage in the used market.  What is the recommended lode for your pick up?

[artist]

forgot to mention the cartridge is a long body koetsu rosewood signature

[lcrim]

I just got an Eastern Electric Minimax phono section and put it in the system last night so I spent about 6 hours listening to it and I'm a bit bleary today.  That system already had an EE Minimax pre that has the "factory" upgrades and the matching power amp.  
Like all the Minimax products, the phono section is very receptive to tube rolling.  I had a NOS TungSol (6X4) rectifier that I had bought for use in the pre but I put it in the new phono along with very inexpensive new Sovtek 12AX7LPS for the gain tubes and tried a stock tube in the shielded socket which I think is the input tube.  Cymbals were missing in action so I swapped the stock in the shielded socket for an old RCA that I had lying around and since its old I couldn't read the stencil but whatever it is the treble came alive.  
My first impressions (you can check the rest of the system in my signature) was a very noticeable increase in detail resolution.  The Stones "Exile on Main Street" is one of the most densely mixed rock albums ever made, and I had to listen to all four sides to hear all the stuff that Keith spent about a year mixing down.  I've always loved this album and now that I can hear all of it, I find it even more stunning.  Fleetwood Mac's "Rumors" is another terrific LP that the Minimax phono revealed Mick Fleetwood's drum work in a way that I had never been aware of prior.  
I have an LP that features Stern on violin, Rostropovich on cello and Rampal on flute playing some Haydn trios and even if your not into classical per se, I think you would be blown away by the sheer vituosity of the players as revealed by this Minimax phono section.  
I previously had a Jolida JD-9 in this system which was very nice and I've read that Underwood(?) down in Georgia is modding to good effect but this Minimax is a different thing altogether.
The US importer is Bill O'Connell of Morningstar Audio in the Chicago area and you won't find a more helpful guy selling audio goods.  I don't really know about the UK importer but the piece of equipment is highly recommended.

[woodsyi]

I have a Rosewood Signature on a SME IV arm (silver wire as well) on an Oracle table.  I use Art Audio Vinyl One phonostage with it and like it very much.  The combination puts out a very natural sound with good thumping bass and excellent midrange.  The highs may be slightly rolled off compared to my Ruby 2 setup.  It comes with a 100 ohm fixed load which is what is recommended for Koetsus (at least on the rosewood line).  IMHO, SME/Koetsu combination is very well matched with Art Audio Vinyl One.  You should be able to get one on the used market between $1200 to $1500.  Having said that I am in line to get a phonostage that Dan Wright is designing as I believe he puts out gears that outperform their costs by several factors.

[fRsimms]

You can rest asured that you are getting one of the best phonostages available.  After listening to only one record side I sent an email to Bill O'Connell saying that my heirs would have to pry the MiniMax from my cold dead fingers.  Tube rolling makes it sound even better!

[artist]

Thanks for all the help,so it is worth upgradeing the valves?
Ihave a nice set of harmonic technoligy cables that i will use to connect it to my naim preamp
Just waiting for the Sme to arrive,orderd before 15%price rise in april

[lonewolfny42]

Here's a link to a review by Carlman of the EE Phono Stage....

[bacobits1]

I also have the EE Mini Max Phono Pre.
It is a great Phono section but not for low output MC's.  Although my not too lowish loading AT OC9 sounded good too. I use a HO Benz Glider.
I just installed  3 NOS Tungsgram 12AX7's (hard to find & $$) with  a TungSol 6X4 and it is sounding excellent!
I'm coming off a Black Cube PWX which i sold 5 Months ago.

Highly recommended.

All my equipment is EE Mini Max. Amp and also Pre.

D

[lcrim]

A short followup- I had a Teonex 6X4  that I rolled in along with the stock Eastern Electric 12AX7 in the gain tubes and kept the RCA 12AX7A in the shielded slot.  I Googled Teonex and found that they are (or were) a "reboxer" so its not known who the manufacturer was.  It sounds very nice, as good as the TungSol to my ears anyway.
I have only MM so I can't comment on weaknesses in LO MC.  This is all very early in the breakin and I only expect things to improve but I'm very pleased so far.  The mute switch is a nice feature but the thing that continually hits me is the increase in detail and the extension at both ends of the audio spectrum.

[fRsimms]

so it is worth upgradeing the valves?

Sorry, I thought the question was retoric.  When I put in smooth plate Telefunkens in the outside slots the music was clearer and the response seemed smoother and more refined.  Replacing the center 12AX7 with another smooth plate added even more clearness and refinement to the response.

Others have said that some 12AX7's add warmth, but the MiniMax already has enough warmth for me.

[artist]

Watford Valves(uk) have some cryo treared valves are these worth trying

[lcrim]

artist:
This board is working very slowly today.  
The cryoed tubes (valves) by Watford were mentuoned in a review of the Almarro A205 MKII amp over on the 6Moons website.  I think a UK enthusiast would be dieing to check out their offerings.  I have a few years old Decware Select amp which can use the EL84 as a driver and the price of good NOS EL84's like Mullards or Amperex has become prohibitive and the writers conclusion after comparing the cryoed against some terrific NOS EL84s were that they were a very nice alternative for the price conscious enthusiast.  For those of us in the States it might be a viable alternative if you are willing to buy more than 150 (pounds or euros-not clear-what currency are you using now?) as a single shipment (they are offering a special deal.)
At any rate, why don't you try some of their tubes and report back to us?
Perhaps others on this board have already tried some and would like to check in?
But , yes the Minimax gear is extraordinarily sensitive to tube rolling.

[artist]

I posted this before i think

I have been offerd Nos Tong-sol 6X4 and new stock Tung-sol 12AX7 valves at a good price will be worth swaping the stock valves with these

[bacobits1]

Jim McShane likes the Russian 12AX7LPS's too. I have not tried these in my MiniMax Phono. I have a set of EH 's that dound pretty good. Maybe I will try them on the next round  tube purchase since the real Tungsgrams I just got cost me $25 each. The New issue TungSol's are Russian too correct?

D

[artist]

The new Tungsol's are Russian but they are an exact replica of the oragional's
Finding oragionals is not easy in the uk and going they ebay route is very hit and miss