MiniMax Pre

About the MiniMax Pre

The Eastern Electric MiniMax Pre is a tube stereo preamplifier designed with a simple yet effective circuit consisting of a basic voltage amplifier directly coupled to a cathode follower. It uses two 12AU7 tubes for amplification and a 6X4 tube for voltage rectification. The chassis is finished with a high-quality automotive-style gray metalflake paint and features a thick aluminum front panel with smooth, positive volume and selector knobs. It offers three RCA inputs and two pairs of outputs, with no tape loop or headphone jack, focusing on sound quality over extra features. The preamp measures approximately 316 x 145 x 115 mm and weighs about 4 kg. It provides a frequency response of 10Hz to 150kHz, total harmonic distortion of 0.015%, a gain of 20dB, and a signal-to-noise ratio of 93dB. The output voltage is about 2 volts, with an output impedance of 1.5 kOhm and input impedance of 100 kOhm. The power consumption is around 13 watts. The design allows for tube rolling, enabling users to customize the sound by changing tubes. The MiniMax is praised for its clarity, strong midrange, and lively sound character, making it a rare entry-level tube preamplifier that sounds more expensive than its price suggests. It