JDS Labs Atom Phono Amplifier – First Look
All Image Credit: JDS Labs
JDS Labs of Illinois have just expanded their Atom range with the launch of a new low cost phono pre-amplifier, the Atom Phono. This low-cost affordable design even comes with its own tone controls and is ideal for those newcomers to the world of vinyl who are looking for an easy-to-use moving magnet RIAA phono amplifier. Its bypass switch even allows you to use it as an equalizer and/or a phono preamp.
The low-noise design provides user selectable gains of either 40dB or 50dB making a good match for many moving magnet (MM) cartridges. It comes with a non-defeatable built-in NJM5532 op-amp based subsonic filter that helps prevent low-frequency turntable noise from being sent to your headphones or speakers, helping to improve audio clarity and preventing unwanted, low-frequency speaker movement.
Its integrated 2-band EQ tone control (bass & treble) is a low-noise adaptation of the famous Baxandall circuit, and maybe bypassed as required, having no performance impact when using the tone controls with the phono stage.
The design is said to leverage paralleled passive components to minimize tolerance errors and relays for internal signal switching. Power is provided by an external 14VAC adapter.
Rear panel connectivity includes; stereo gold plated unbalanced RCA connectors for input and output, a grounding lug, the PSU connection for the external power supply and the units on/off switch.
Specifications:
- Moving Magnet Design
- Inputs/Outputs: RCA x1
- Phono Gain: 30 and 40 dB
- Phono Input Impedance: 220k, 100pF
- SINAD @ 1 kHz, 15mV: 90 dB
- Signal-to-Noise Ratio: 89 dB
- Noise (low gain, A-Weighted): 5 uV
- Crosstalk @ 10kHz: -82 dB
- SMPTE Ratio: -87 dB
- Dynamic Range: 96 dB
- Tone (EQ) Attributes:
- SINAD @ 1kHz, 2VRMS, Centered Knobs: 110 dB
- Noise, Centered knobs: 3.8 uV
- Freq Response, Centered knobs: 20-20kHz+/- 0.13 dB
- Bass – Adjustment Range: +14 to -23 dB
- Bass – Corner Frequency: ~150 Hz
- Treble – Adjustment Range: +13 to – 22 dB
- Treble – Corner Frequency: ~ 2 kHz
- Case Dimensions (w/Knobs): 145 x 132 x 35 mm, 5.7 x 5.2 x 1.4 in
- Weight: 1lb 1oz
MSRP:
- US: $149.00
For more information visit the JDS Labs web site.
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