"Metal Heart MC" RIAA phono preamplifier combined with famous
Hiraga system active low-noise solid-state direct-coupled MC Headamp.
This system consists of two separate pre-amps, both are possible to be used separately or combined way.
The system gives possibility to use RIAA-correction tube type
preamp, wich has very wide dynamics and spacious sound, combined with
possibility to use low-noise direct-coupled active headamp to match
Moving Coil cartridges signal level. The result is a combination of
both technologies best sides: tubes large dynamics and solid state
components low-noise pre-amplification needed for MC-cartridges.
As both pre-amps are actually fully separate and independent with
their own inputs and outputs, it is possible to use both
independantely: as for RIAA-correction pre-amp for MM or MI type of
cartridges and also to use the MC-Head-amp separately for stepping-up
the signal for other RIAA-correction pre-amps (instead of MC step-up
transformers). Best result for MC-cartridges pre-amplification will
appear when both pre-amps are combined, please see the images below.
Large clear window on top cover allows to see all these interesting guts of this apparatus.