MiniMax Linestage

About the MiniMax Linestage

The Eastern Electric MiniMax Linestage is a tube preamplifier designed for audiophiles who appreciate the sonic qualities of tube amplification. It uses two ECC82/12AU7 tubes for amplification and one 6AX4/EZ90 tube for high voltage rectification, avoiding silicon rectifiers to preserve tube warmth. The circuit is a straightforward two-stage design with a voltage amplifier directly coupled to a cathode follower output stage, employing point-to-point wiring and high-quality components such as Rifa capacitors and metal-oxide film resistors. The input tube works without global or local feedback, providing full output swing and a sound character dominated by the input stage tube. The preamplifier has RCA phono inputs and outputs, supports bi-amping with two pairs of outputs, and features a 100k Alps volume potentiometer. Its compact dimensions are approximately 316mm (W) x 145mm (D) x 115mm (H), and it weighs about 4 kg. The MiniMax Linestage is known for its dynamic, clear, and sweet sound with a focus on musicality and detail, making it suitable for tube enthusiasts seeking a high-value, hand-assembled preamplifier.