Nibiru

About the Nibiru

The ESE Lab Nibiru is a specialist solid-state moving-coil (MC) phono preamplifier/phono stage from Esoteric Sound Equipment Lab. It uses a discrete, current-domain (transimpedance) input architecture: the cartridge operates into a current-sink input rather than a conventional voltage-gain load. It is intended primarily for low-output MC cartridges, including very low-output types; contemporary descriptions cite compatibility with cartridge internal impedances from approximately 0 to 50 ohms or more and outputs from 0.05 mV upward. The later Nibiru MC specification lists a pure Class-A output stage, current-domain output capability, and two single-ended outputs. Historical Nibiru Mk III/3.0 reporting describes a mains-powered low-noise 'virtual battery' power supply, proprietary current-domain hybrid blocks, tightly matched components, and Teflon RIAA capacitors. Specifications below combine published data for the Nibiru MC/current version with documented historical Nibiru/Mk III design details; exact features may differ by production revision.