I just wanted to share my build and experience with these EAR 834P Clone builds. I put it here since it's not a true DIY build but more of a highly upgraded/Mods build that you can use straight into a amp due to the Pot is has in it.
But I wanted share a nice little device that has made my Phono preamp journey a lot shorter in times of break in, I didn't want to spin a lot LP's to burn in this really preamp. More on that in a few.
Just background, I have purchase the pre-built EAR 834P clone to see how it really sound, I had the chance to hear the REAL EAR 834P years ago and it was really nice but never really had the chance to have one in my system. So I have one completely built Clone 834P with separate Phono preamp and Power Supply chassis. Its sound good but there was some sort of messiness to the sound so I knew that was due to the components that came in place on the PCB's, chinese brand caps and components that may not have been up to snuff and had to go. Then I had purchased two additional Zhili bare PCB's. I originally purchased one PCG back when Covid just started and I had the time to start populating the PCG's but went back to work so never got the chance t finish so I just bought a completed one off Ebay.
So I upgrade and tweaked the Completed Clone unit but I built a 3rd Zhili pcb with all out parts from Mouser and Digikey (So hard to find components now). I Also put some Jensen Copper foil PIO caps and way better resistors. I also installed some really nice EPCOS Caps in the power supply and phono pcb.
Last Friday I put the Power Supply in the Clone Chassis to make sure it worked properly before I installed the latest Phono Preamp with Jensen caps, Passed the smoke test and measurements. Installed the Phono pcb and that too passed all the measurements and tests.
So now to why I'm writing this post. I bought awhile back a Jim Hagerman iRIAA2 - Inverse RIAA Filter to speed up the break in process on my Phono preamps. This device is awesome and I have been running my streaming through it to the EAR 834P, it been crazy listen to it in real time through my system and hearing how it's started out to where it is today sound wise. At first the 834p Clone sound ok, but after a few hours I could hear the changes starting. But the next morning it was way better. So as of today this EAR 834P clone is really really sounding nice and finally have the phono preamp I always wanted but at a smaller price tag then what I really wanted was BAT VK-P10.
It really match up well with my other gear in my system. So I hope this may help out others that want a nice Phono preamp on the cheap and with some upgrades and mods can have a really nice sounding Phono preamp that can connect directly to a power amp.
here is a pic of the final PCB build that's about 80% complete to give an example of the build. When the break in process is complete I will take some more of the final build to share.
