MAKUA Pre with Phono Stage

Mola Mola high end audiophile components are finally available in Queensland and Northern NSW to audition. Please contact Terry on 0419448452 at GC HiFi to arrange a private listening session or to discuss the various Mola Mola components we have here for demonstration. 

ANALOGUE DESIGN FOR A DIGITAL AGE

With the knowledge in hand to design minimally invasive electronics without needing to be minimalist, Mola Mola decided that their preamp should be complete. Very complete.

Finally Mola Mola Amplifiers, Dacs and Pre-amps are available for audition on the Gold Coast, please contact us at GC HiFi to arrange a private listening session.

The basic Makua is an extremely transparent gain stage and a programmable routing matrix. The chassis has ample room to fit optional extras, most notably a DAC and a phono stage. The 6 preset buttons are programmable via USB or Bluetooth to access any combination of channel, processing and routing. In a system with mainly digital sources, the preset buttons would be programmed to select between them. Vinyl lovers on the other hand might want to use several buttons to select the same turntable but with different EQ settings to suit their large collection of historic LP's. All five inputs are switchable between XLR and floating RCA connections, and all can be assigned as either phono or line.

All stages in the Makua use discrete amplifier modules in a little known topology called “single-ended driven differential”. Compared to doubly executed signal paths, this structure prevents noise from propagating all the way through. The Makua is amazingly immune to influences like mains quality and choice of interlinks. The relay-based volume control directly controls the gain of the output stage. Dynamic range and linearity of this arrangement is much greater than those of stepped attenuators. Operation is smooth and entirely glitch free.

I/O

• 5 balanced and 5 unbalanced inputs, all routable through optional processor boards like the phono stage.
• 2 parallel outputs for bi-amping.
• 4 programmable trigger outputs.

Processing

• Balance and input gain offset.
• Phase invert and mono sum.
• Optional tone control.
• Full software control of routing and processing

Performance

• Maximum input/output level: 20 dBu (7.75 Vrms)
• Unweighted noise voltage at unity gain: 1.9 uV
• Input impedance: 100 kohm
• Output impedance: 44 ohm
• Distortion at maximum signal level (THD, IMD): not measurable, estimated around -150dB.
• Bandwidth >200 kHz
• Gain range: -70 dB to +15 dB.
• Gain resolution: <1 dB, better than 0.2 dB over normal listening range.

Dimensions and Weight

• 420mm(W) x 110mm (H) x 345mm (D). Depth includes volume knob and connectors.
• 11kg

AN ARCHIVAL GRADE PHONO STAGE

What was originally intended to be a simple RIAA add-on for the Makua Preamp has quickly spiraled into the quietest and probably most versatile phono stage ever built.

MC/MM input stages are optimized for current noise and voltage noise respectively. Unlike the more common arrangement of an MC head amp feeding into the MM stage, the two stages are fully independent, realising an equally short signal path for both. Input gain is switchable in 5dB steps over a 40dB range. Input resistance and capacitance are individually switchable. Available EQ settings cover practically all known cutting curves ever used, including most 78RPM.

All settings are software controllable, either on the fly using a PC or tablet computer or directly stored under the preset buttons. And since the preamp can route any input through the phono stage, only one is needed even if you have multiple turntables and elements connected.

Performance

• Input noise (MC): 0.35 nV/rtHz
• Input noise (MM): 0.9 pA/rtHz
• Sensitivity: variable from 30 uV to 5 mV
• THD, IMD: not measurable
• RIAA conformance: +/-0.1 dB.

Available time constants

• t1: 200, 250, 318, 400, 450 us
• t2: 50, 64, 75, 100 us
• bass shelf: 14, 18, 20dB