Aikido

About the Aikido

The identified product is the Aikido Phono 1+ (often listed simply as “Aikido”), a handmade German MM phono preamplifier by Dipl.-Ing. H.-U. Otto. It is a solid-state, Class-A phono stage using low-noise FET amplification and passive RIAA equalization. It is intended for moving-magnet cartridges and can also be used with high-output moving-coil cartridges; it is not a conventional low-output MC stage. Adjustable input resistance and capacitance allow cartridge loading to be tailored. A 48 V DC external supply is used, and an optional Aikido Phono Akku battery supply was offered. Note: “Aikido” is also the name of a circuit topology and various DIY products; the specifications below apply specifically to the Aikido Phono 1+/closely related Phono 2 information found, not to unrelated Aikido-branded line stages or tube projects.