PassDIY Pearl 2

About the PassDIY Pearl 2

The Pass DIY Pearl 2 is a highly regarded DIY phono preamplifier project designed by Wayne Colburn of Pass Labs, intended primarily for moving coil cartridges. It features approximately 55 dB gain at 1 kHz, with an additional 20 dB gain at 20 Hz, and can be adjusted to provide up to 65 dB gain by modifying resistor values for lower output cartridges. The design uses four parallel low-noise JFETs in the input stage with a cascode circuit and voltage stabilizer, and includes split-RIAA equalization with subsonic rolloff. The circuit topology emphasizes low noise and high transparency, with careful component selection and layout to minimize resistor, semiconductor, capacitor, contact noise, and interference. The Pearl 2 includes on-board +/- 24 V regulators, with options for shunt regulators and DC servo circuits to improve transparency and bass response. The output phase is inverted relative to the input, which may require speaker or cartridge lead reversal for correct absolute phase. The project is well documented with schematics, bill of materials, and PCB availability from PassDIY.com, and is popular among DIY audiophiles for its sound quality and build flexibility. Typical build cost is around depending on parts and modifications.