Yamamoto Sound Craft CA-03 Vacuum Tube Phono Preamp with Built-in Preamp
Product code: ca-03-1Yamamoto Sound Craft CA-03 Vacuum Tube Phono Preamp with Built-in Preamp
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Adopts CR-type Equalizer Circuit
High-Gain Type Equalizer Amp
Incorporates Telefunken 6AK5W. The 58dB high-gain phono equalizer brings out the true value of analog
The CA-03 is a versatile vacuum tube preamp with a built-in line amp and phono equalizer. By implementing thorough noise countermeasures and original circuit design throughout both circuits, it achieves high information content and clear sound.
High-Gain Phono Equalizer Section (MC Direct Connection Supported)
- Ultra High Gain 58dB: The equalizer amp has a high-gain setting of **58dB** at 1kHz. Compared to the usual 34dB setting, it achieves 24dB higher gain.
- Ultra Low Noise 110dB: Noise is suppressed to 2.3mV, achieving an S/N ratio of 110dB. While using a CR-type circuit structure, it achieves both high gain and low noise.
- Improved Freshness with MC Direct Connection: With a maximum output of approximately 28V, MC cartridges such as the company's YC-03S (output 0.25mV) can be connected directly without using a step-up transformer. MC sound without a step-up transformer offers higher freshness and significantly increased information content.
- Simple Circuit: Gain is achieved with only two vacuum tubes, ensuring no loss of information.
Thorough Power Supply Isolation
- Independent Power Supply: Each stage has a separate rectifier circuit for the power ripple filter, providing independent power supply to each stage. The rectifier circuit uses full-wave rectification to improve regulation.
- Independent Heater Ignition: The heaters of the six Telefunken 6AK5W tubes are powered through completely separate rectifier circuits, eliminating interference between the tubes.
Line Amp Section Specs
The CA-03 line amp section brings out the charm of vacuum tubes and amplifies signals with high fidelity as the central part of your system.
(Line Amp Section)
| Vacuum Tubes Used: | Telefunken 6AK5W x6 |
|---|---|
| Maximum Output | 8V |
| Frequency Response | 10-150kHz/-0.5dB |
| Output Impedance | 1.6kΩ |
| Line Amp Gain | 14dB (approximately 5 times) |
| Residual Noise | 0.13mV |
| S/N Ratio | 92dB |
《Equalizer Amp Section》
| Maximum Output | 28V |
|---|---|
| Frequency Response | 30-15kHz/±0.5dB |
| Input Impedance | 47kΩ, 1kΩ, 100Ω |
| Output Impedance | 4.8kΩ |
| Gain | 58dB/1kHz |
| Residual Noise | 2.3mV |
| S/N Ratio | 110dB |
| Dimensions | 420(W) x 290(D) x 94(H) mm |
| Weight | 6.3kg |
Integrated Design Emphasizing the Quality of Phono Playback
The CA-03 is a model that incorporates a phono equalizer within a tube line amplifier, featuring a design centered on analog playback. The phono equalizer section is oriented toward carefully capturing sound information, offering a tone that prioritizes naturalness over flashiness.
Smooth and Pleasant Sound
The overall sound is gentle, with the smoothness characteristic of tubes. The midrange is rich, naturally shaping the texture of vocals and strings. Excessive warmth or sweetness is restrained, and the sound contours remain clear, resulting in an impressively calm expression.
Quiet Background and Stable S/N
Despite being a tube phono amp, the background is relatively quiet, with hum and graininess kept under control. Sounds emerge from silence, allowing reverberations to extend naturally, which helps focus on record playback. This design is noted for maintaining the structural integrity of music even on older records.
Soundstage Expression and Imaging
The soundstage is not artificially widened but has a sense of realistic width and depth. The placement of instruments and vocals is stable, and overlaps within ensembles or orchestras are organized and easy to hear. The CA-03 is noted for providing a clear and well-formed soundstage for a built-in phono equalizer.
Line Amp Section Neutrality
Even with line input playback, tonal consistency is maintained, providing a natural sound with minimal coloration similar to phono playback. It gently unifies the overall system without significantly altering the character of a connected power amplifier.
The CA-03 is a preamplifier with a built-in vacuum tube phono stage, offering a well-balanced combination of smoothness, quietness, and stability required for analog playback. It avoids flashy effects and naturally brings out the musicality of records, making it suitable for long listening sessions. It can be said to be an ideal unit for users who want to build a simple system focused on analog playback.
