RIAA Phono Preamplifier module from LC Audio

Most modern high quality amplifiers do not include a RIAA Phono stage, nessescary to use a record player for input. And in the few amps that does have a built-in RIAA, one would often see it is of a very poor quality. Probably constructed with a cheap operational amplifier, and some standard disc capacitors.

But why use a turntable with an expensive cartridge, just to leave the signal amplification to this low-quality RIAA circuitry? The answer to this question is, Don't ! 

We constructed this state-of-the-art RIAA module, with the purpose of building it into a separate case with RCA plugs, or into an existing preamplifier or even the turntable itself, if possible. 

This RIAA phono preamplifier is intended for use with cartridges of the Moving Magnet type. If You have a Moving Magnet type, we recommend using a suitable step-up transformer or amplifier, such as our own top-of-the-line MC96 stage.
The technical construction of this RIAA preamp is very advanced! It uses a passive correction with non feedback circuit to ensure perfect sound quality. The most noise-free operational amplifiers in the world (AD743 from Analog Devices) are utilized, to make sure You can not hear any noise at music intersections.
The whole amplifier is - except for the very front end - DC coupled, so no capacitor is in the signal path, apart from the one we placed in the input circuit for protecting Your cartidge if a power supply fault should occur.
And this one is a high grade polypropylene type from Siemens.

However using a special FET input amplifier, from Analog Devices can solve the problem.
This device, AD743, has a voltage noise of 2,9 nV/SHz, which is higher than the 0,9 nV, but the current noise is extremely low! Just 7 fA/SHz ( or 350 times lower than the bipolar device ) gives us a current inducted noise of 329 pV. This means that the 2,9 nV Voltage noise is dominant, and a total very low level of noise. 

The AD743 is coupled as a 10 times linear amplifier with no frequency correction. After this stage the AD844 Current feedback amplifier is used to make another 40 times amplification, a passive frequncy correction, with no feedback, and last a signal buffering.
The special thing about this IC is that it is very fast, and it has a compensation pin (pin 5) which can be used to reduce the open loop gain right down to zero. Coupling pin 5 to a RIAA compensation network, running the high frequncies to ground, results in a perfect RIAA frequency compensation, with a maximum of musical sound performance, since no feedback loops are used at all.

Using a Battery Power Supply
Many DIY people have asked us, if it was possible to use a battery power supply. Therefore we have specified the power source at + / - 13 Volts, to enable use of two simple lead accumulators. This does not mean that we endorce the use of battery power supply, because we have taken every measure to ensure that a normal power supply will result in very high grade sound quality. We just felt that since a number of people were interested in the battery issue, we should make it possible to use it. However there is a problem with this, if the positive battery ( having the heaviest load ) runs out of power before the negative, and no recharging is applied.
In this case the result could be several volts of negative DC voltage coming out of the RIAA stage, that could destroy the next amplifier stages or loudspeakers. To avoid this we have included a small safety circuit, that breaks the output signal with a relay, if the positive voltage is below 10 Volts.
Normally the relay circuit is not used, since using any mains-based power supply systems do not create DC problems, it is beneficial to short the relay with a couple of low-ohmic resistors, just to remove the relay contacts from the signal path.

Only top-grade Panasonic low-ESR High Frequency electrolytic capacitors are used for supply-rail bypassing.
The RIAA network consist of Roederstein 1% Polypropylene capacitors and ROHM low distorsion resistors.

IMPORTANT! When connecting a battery power supply, You should first apply a normal power supply, since the IC's could be damaged from having only positive or negative supply at the moment of connection. 
 

Technical Data
Signal / noise ratio 88 dB (A) 47k 
Distorsion THD <0,1% 20-20.000 Hz 
Frequency Response 16-100.000 Hz ( Inverse RIAA correction ) 
DC offset out (max) 1 mV 
Power Supply +/- 12 - 18 V 
Supply Current + 40 mA - 30 mA

Application Guide
1) RIAA Phono Amplifier Module - for MM cartriges
2) RIAA Amp. with spec. opamp for MC - for high output (0,3 to 0,7mVrms) MC cartriges

3) RIAA Phono Amplifier Module + MC Stepup Amp. w/ Optical Supply - for low output MC cartriges
MC Stepup Amp. w/ Optical Supply
We did not provide load shifting for this MC stepup Amp because our step up amplifier works in another way than a normal MC amplifier. The MC cartridge generates a current signal, as it reads the tracks from the LP. Normally this current signal is made into a stable voltage signal by loading with a resistor, of various size, and then amplifying the resulting voltage signal by maybe 25 times. This is the normal way of doing it. 
Our MC step up, works in another way, it directly reads the currents from the MC cartridge, and converts them into a voltage signal at the output. This shortens the signal path, and reduces thermal noise. The input impedance is near to 0, actually around 2,5 Ohms.

Assembly instruction
The RIAA module is a kit, and You should therefore assemble it using a soldering iron, and a few normal tools.
The procedure is the normal one: Start with the low components, and finish with the higher ones. The IC's should be fitted last, assuring they fit in the PC board in the right direction (with pin 1 in the marked position). The electrolytic capacitors should be turned with the minus pin in the marked hole in the PCB. The assembly is quite simple, and the module is easy to get to function. Remember to use a screened case, to avoid humming. Connect case to gnd on the RIAA amplifier.