Ear 834p Manual
EAR 834P phono preamplifier. Michael Fremer, Robert J. Reina Jul 10. Was that between the Insider and the ARC Reference One preamplifier was EAR's 834P phono stage. A few months ago, I got myself an EAR 834P w/ the volume pot. The (3) tubes are stock & bear the logo of EAR. The spartan manual states that the (3) tubes are 12AX7s. EAR Tube Electronics. EAR Products by Tim de Paravicini. Source Components. Switchable moving magnet/moving coil phono preamplifier. Classifieds: DEALER AD - EAR, 834P asking for $1300.00.
Ear 834p Specifications
This unit will fit the most demanding of audiophile systems.
They have slightly different gain characteristics than the ecc83 or 12ax7 tube and will respond by creating more noise in some phono preamps. They generally seem to do better in line stages. I would suspect that you may have the best results with ecc83 or 12ax7 tubes, regardless of the brand, than you would with, say, 12ax7WA, 12ax7A, or other variants that have different gain and voltage characteristics. I don't believe that the manual for the 834P is available in electronic form. The manual is a single cardstock sheet of A9 size that is printed on both sides. There isn't a lot of information on it, but if you would like I could make a photocopy of the one that I have here and mail it to you.
The tubes at V1 & V2 have the same construction and are identical. I replaced these. The problem is the tube at V3.
Stereophile wrote:Hi guys. A few months ago, I got myself an EAR 834P w/ the volume pot. The (3) tubes are stock & bear the logo of EAR. The spartan manual states that the (3) tubes are 12AX7s. I want to tube roll, so I have some NOS Matsushita 12AX7s.
Sidebar 1: Specifications Description: Moving-coil/moving-magnet phono preamplifier, available with or without front-panel level control. Input sensitivity for 1V output at 1kHz: 2.2mV (MM), 220µV (MC). Maximum output level: 30V. S/N Ratio: 80dB (IHF, unweighted). Dimensions: 5' W by 4' H by 11' D. Serial number of units reviewed: 0911596 (auditioning), 97081016 (measuring). Price: $895–$1295 (1997–2003).
Can I drop-in another 12AX7 TIA. Lito senior member Posts: 586 Images: Joined: 05 Jan 2005 18:40 Location: Makati, Phil.
It has a different construction vs the other two. Is this a 12AX7?
Ear 834p Manual
You can contact me privately (info@audiointelligent.com) with your mailing address if you would like me to do this. I'm happy to help. Dealer disclaimer. Jim Pendleton Osage Audio Products, LLC.
I had to jump on the price without asking too many questions up front and rely on the guy's positive feedback. Oh btw vinylreview, I love your vinyl reviews! I took the lid off and noticed there are 3 Sovtek 12AX7LP tubes. I assume these were probably the original tubes in the unit.
Can I drop-in another 12AX7 TIA. Lito junior member Posts: 5 Images: Joined: 31 Jan 2008 09:00 Location: Netherlands.
Not only would the 56 dB gain setting using the balanced inputs be ideal (using the balanced in with your MM would be less than ideal IMO but you did not seem to have an issue with even more gain than they would provide when you were using the 50 dB gain setting), chances are the phono stage would provide even better performance than you're experiencing now. The only thing that is not clear to me from the Project literature is whether the balanced inputs can be used with the single ended outputs on the RS or whether they can only be used with the balanced outputs.
This is my first experience with tubes. I'm finding the gain on the 834P to be just way too much. (I'm using a Sumiko Blue Point w/ 2.5 mv output on a VPI Scout with a Rotel 1062 Integrated Amp and vintage 1981 Infinity 3500 speakers.) I'm using the MM setting on the Ear (i tried both to determine which is which) Right now I've got the stock tubes in, but I just ordered the Jan-Philips 5751 tubes to hopefully tame some of this gain. I'm also experiencing a loss of bass and a lot of brightness in comparison to my stock Rotel phono stage on the integrated. Will the 5751's also Help with that? Has anyone experienced brightness with the Ear 834P? Posts: 3 Joined: 09 Apr 2008 16:53 Location: Jersey City, NJ.
S/N Ratio: 80dB (IHF, unweighted). Dimensions: 5' W by 4' H by 11' D. 
The only thing that is not clear to me from the Project literature is whether the balanced inputs can be used with the single ended outputs on the RS or whether they can only be used with the balanced outputs. If the latter is the case, that could be problematic if the preamp or integrated you're using does not have balanced inputs. I think there's a very strong possibility that the balanced inputs on the Project will sound significantly better than the single ended inputs, particularly with a lower output cartridge.
EAR 834P First impressions. I had thought that I was getting a second hand unit but in fact got a new unit that had been on display. As seen in the picture it is the Deluxe model with Chrome Face Plate and Gold Plated on/off Switch. This Phono stage is certainly impressive to look. It is solid heavy and has Bling. It is a Ferrari to Projects Renault (Looks wise).
Serial number of units reviewed: 0911596 (auditioning), 97081016 (measuring). Price: $895–$1295 (1997–2003). Approximate number of dealers: 9. Manufacturer: Esoteric Audio Research, Huntingdon, UK. US Distributor: EAR USA, 1624 Sunset Avenue, Santa Monica, CA 90405.
Using three ECC88s to create smooth sound. Luxurious design with chrome facia and gold or chrome knobs. Connect up to five analogue line inputs with a tape output. Three ECC83 Valves Five Analogue inputs (RCA) One Analogue Output (RCA) One Tape Out (RCA) Volume control Chrome Facia with gold or chrome knobs • • • Integrated Amps • EAR 834 Push-pull stereo integrated amplifier. 50 Watts per channel into 4, 8, or 16 Ohms. Uses 6L6, EL34, or KT66 output tubes. Six line inputs and one tape output.
Ear 834p Schematic
MC Loading is 450 ohms and gain fixed at 72 dB. I had spent a few hours listening (not critically) on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday to allow the unit a little burn in time.
Lets say down the road I do the same tubes as you with the 12AX7LP type in the front and the 5751 in the back, which brand would you recommend? I've found that many people enjoy the mods they have had done, but I'm not really up for dropping a whole bunch of money for something I might not even be able to notice. This is such a nice unit to begin with! I plan on doing a lot of research on line so I can understand how tubes work etc. 834P Questions Hi Ray, The 834P comes from the factory with JJ ecc83 or 12ax7 tubes. They are individually triode-matched in the UK before they go into a given unit. Most people like the JJ tubes but some use whatever flavor suits them best.
I replaced these. The problem is the tube at V3.
Approximate number of dealers: 9. Manufacturer: Esoteric Audio Research, Huntingdon, UK. US Distributor: EAR USA, 1624 Sunset Avenue, Santa Monica, CA 90405. Tel./Fax: (310) 396-1919.
I also Covered the 2 units so that he could not see which was which. After I changed from the RS to the EAR he only had one thing to say 'Are you sure you switched them' He couldn't tell them apart either. I have already said what I liked and disliked about the Phono Box RS. What I liked about the EAR. Well built Looks amazing Sounds Wonderful What I disliked about the EAR No options for changing loadings/gain Etc Expensive Comparing the two units. If anything the Phono Box RS is a little cleaner in the Tops than the EAR, not in an analytical kind of way just seems to be a bit more upper frequency detail, but other than that there was no way for me to tell them apart. MY CHOICE Project Phono Box RS.