Eastern Electric Minimax Preamplifier with Tom Tutay Upgrades

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dhart86
dhart86 Posts: 1,594
in For Sale (FS) Classifieds
It's time to move on from this spectacular preamplifier. It is very rare that this amp comes up on the used market because it is a tube roller fantasy. You can put in any combination of tubes to customize the sound to your exact liking. I haven’t had the time to use it much as it was in my second system (bedroom) and I am down-sizing.

This is not the stock unit. It's one that has been upgraded by the well-regarded Tom Tutay.

Here are the benefits from the upgrade:

The gain was reduced allowing you to use a bit more on the volume control. Also power supply was beefed up and the middle tube options were greatly expanded. The middle tube is mainly responsible for the sound produced

Additionally:
Electrolytic output coupling caps were replaced with polypropylene caps
Gain reduced to +9db
Distortion, Noise, output impedance reduced by a factor of 4
330u added to high voltage supply
Tube operating points modified for more headroom and dynamics

Below is a list of all the tube you can use with this amp after the upgrade:
Rectifier................. middle position (cathode follower output buffer)............. outside gain
***MOST IMPACT ON SOUND***

6x4 ............................................12au7.................................................................. 12au7
6202......................................... E80cc/6085 ..........................................................Ecc82
EZ90........................................ E180cc/7062........................................................ Ecc802
CV493 ......................................5814..................................................................... 5814
CV4005.................................... 6680...................................................................... 6680
U707 ........................................5963.......................................................................5963
.................................................CV4003................................................................ CV4003
.................................................Ecc82 ...................................................................CV491
.................................................Ecc802
.................................................5965
................................................12av7
..................................................6211
.................................................6829
.................................................6414

Asking $795 plus shipping
Main Rig:
Antipodes DX > Roon > PS Audio Directstream Jr.>deHavilland Ultraverve 3 >Belles Reference 150a >Harbeth C7 ES3


Second Rig:
Roon> PS Audio Directstream Jr Bridge II > EE Minimax pre (Tutay mods) >Belles 150A Ref >Monitor 5 (Westmassguy-modded)


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Comments

  • Faustin
    Faustin Posts: 1,149
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    The Minimax pre is a fine preamp that punches way above it's weight class. With the upgrades it is a great way to enter into the tube pre and solid state amp party. Had one and reluctantly parted with it. GLWTS dhart.
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  • MrBuhl
    MrBuhl Posts: 2,419
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    Rare indeed with the upgrades, it's what I'm running now and downsizing around, fantastic pre. GLWTS, someone will be very happy.
    VA HT HK AVR20II, Sony S9000ES CD/DVD/SACD, Polk Audio RC80i / Polk Audio CSi3, 60" Panasonic Plasma, Nordost / Signal Cable A2 / Wireworld / Pangea / Magic Power
    VA 2 Channel Focal Electra 926 speakers, Pass Labs X150.5 Amp, Eastern Electric MiniMax Preamp (Tutay mods), Eastern Electric Minimax CDP (Scott Nixon mods), Music Hall mmf 5.1 Turntable, Parks Audio Budgie Phono Pre , Audioengine B1 streamer, MIT S3 IC's / MIT Shotgun S3 Speaker Cables / PS Audio power cables
    Noggin Schiit Valhalla, Pangea, Phillips Fidelio X1, Polk UF8000

    Polk SDA1c modded
    Polk CRS+ 4.1TL modded (need veneer)
    Polk SDA2BTL (fully modded)
    A/L 1000VA Dreadnought Canare 4s11 SDA cable
    SACD Marantz DV8300
    Sony S9000ES CD/DVD/SACD
    Yamaha YP-D6
    Soundcraftsmen PCR800
    Audible Illusions L1 Preamp
    Vincent MFA based Cocci Tube Preamp
    Pho-700 Phono Pre
    Signal Cable Silver Resolution IC's






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  • dragon1952
    dragon1952 Posts: 4,894
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    I agree. At this price point, which is around $1300-$1400 modded, you'd have to spend $3000+ to potentially equal it.
    2 channel - Willsenton R8 tube integrated, Holo Audio Spring 3 KTE DAC, audio optimized NUC7i5, Windows 10 Pro/JRiver MC29/Fidelizer Plus 8.7 w/LPS and external SSD drive, PS Audio PerfectWave P3 regenerator, KEF R3 speakers, Rythmik F12SE subwoofer, Inakustik Reference USB cable, Gabriel Gold IC's, Morrow Audio SP5 speaker cables. Computer - Windows 10/JRiver, Schiit Magni 3+/Modi 3+, Fostex PMO.4n monitors, Sennheiser HD600 headphones
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  • voltz
    voltz Posts: 5,384
    edited June 2019
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    Man Don't sell it :( but I understand why. Brock is Drooling on himself right now!

    Good luck with the sell.
    2 ch- Polk CRS+ * Vincent SA-31MK Preamp * Vincent Sp-331 Amp * Marantz SA8005 SACD * Project Xperience Classic TT * Sumiko Blue Point #2 MC cartridge

    HT - Polk 703's * NAD T-758 * Adcom 5503 * Oppo 103 * Samsung 60" series 8 LCD
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  • codycatalist
    codycatalist Posts: 2,662
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    I was looking for one of these earlier this year. Where were you?!
    Just a dude doing dude-ly things

    "Temptation is the manifestation of desire which equals necessity." - Mikey081057
    " I have always had a champange taste with a beer budget" - Rick88
    "Just because the thread is getting views don't mean much .. I like a good train wreck doesn't mean i want to be in one..." - pitdogg2
    "Those that don't know, don't know that they don't know." - heiney9
    "Audiophiles are the male equivalent of cat ladies." - Audiokarma Member
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  • honestaquarian
    honestaquarian Posts: 3,186
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    Doesn't @verb need one of these?!?!?!?! :D;)
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  • verb
    verb Posts: 10,176
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    honestaquarian wrote: »
    Doesn't @verb need one of these?!?!?!?! :D;)

    I do! Who doesn’t need five tube preamps?!? :smile:
    Basement: Polk SDA SRS 1.2tl's, Cary SLP-05 Pre with ultimate upgrade,McIntosh MCD301 CD/SACD player, Northstar Designs Excelsio DAC, Cambridge 851N streamer, McIntosh MC300 Amp, Silnote Morpheus Ref2, Series2 Digital Cables, Silnote Morpheus Ref2 Series2 XLR's, Furman 15PFi Power Conditioner, Pangea Power Cables, MIT Shotgun S3 IC's, MIT Shotgun S1 Bi-Wire speaker cables
    Office: PC, EAR Acute CD Player, EAR 834L Pre, Northstar Designs Intenso DAC, Antique Sound Labs AV8 Monoblocks, Denon UDR-F10 Cassette, Acoustic Technologies Classic FR Speakers, SVS SB12 Plus sub, MIT AVt2 speaker cables, IFI Purifier2, AQ Cinnamon USB cable, Groneberg Quatro Reference IC's
    Spare Room: Dayens Ampino Integrated Amp, Tjoeb 99 tube CD player (modified Marantz CD-38), Analysis Plus Oval 9's, Zu Jumpers, AudioEngine B1 Streamer, Klipsch RB-61 v2, SVS PB1000 sub, Blue Jeans RCA IC's, Shunyata Hydra 8 Power Conditioner
    Living Room: Peachtree Nova Integrated, Cambridge CXN v2 Streamer, Rotel RCD-1072 CD player, Furman 15PFi Power Conditioner, Polk RT265 In Wall Speakers, Polk DSW Pro 660wi sub
    Garage #1: Cambridge Audio 640A Integrated Amp, Project Box-E BT Streamer, Polk Tsi200 Bookies, Douglas Speaker Cables, Shunyata Power Conditioner
    Garage #2: Cambridge Audio EVO150 Integrated Amplifier, Polk L200's, Analysis Plus Silver Oval 2 Speaker Cables, IC's TBD.
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  • GlennDog
    GlennDog Posts: 3,085
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    honestaquarian wrote: »
    Doesn't @verb need one of these?!?!?!?! :D;)

    Two bits says he’ll buy it before the weekend is over . . . Nice choice Dave!
    AC Regenerator PS Audio PerfectWave Power Plant 10
    Source Lumin U1 Mini into Lampi Baltic 4
    Pre Cary SLP-05
    Power Rogue M180 Dark monos
    Mains Salk HT2-TL
    Rythmik F12
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  • pglbook
    pglbook Posts: 2,174
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    I bought an EE MiniMax (stock, unmodded, version) for $700 from a fellow Polkie back in February so $795 for a modded one is an excellent deal. I love the MiniMax. It is an amazing preamp and the tube rolling possibilities are endless. The only (minor) complaint I have is that, in its stock form, it has very high gain and I can never go past 9 on the volume dial. However, the one for sale has the mods which lowered the gain so that won't be an issue. Someone looking for a wonderful tube preamp should grab this. They do not come up for sale too often. GLWTS.
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  • dragon1952
    dragon1952 Posts: 4,894
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    Buy it and sell yours. You're basically pay $95 for the mods which solves your main issue...the gain.
    2 channel - Willsenton R8 tube integrated, Holo Audio Spring 3 KTE DAC, audio optimized NUC7i5, Windows 10 Pro/JRiver MC29/Fidelizer Plus 8.7 w/LPS and external SSD drive, PS Audio PerfectWave P3 regenerator, KEF R3 speakers, Rythmik F12SE subwoofer, Inakustik Reference USB cable, Gabriel Gold IC's, Morrow Audio SP5 speaker cables. Computer - Windows 10/JRiver, Schiit Magni 3+/Modi 3+, Fostex PMO.4n monitors, Sennheiser HD600 headphones
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  • heiney9
    heiney9 Posts: 25,081
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    voltz wrote: »
    Man Don't sell it :( but I understand why. Brock is Drooling on himself right now!

    Good luck with the sell.

    Nah, I had one and now I have the EE Avant, which is the TOTL pre from EE.

    This is a fantastic pre, and a great price. This may have been the one I had, I can't remember who I sold it to. :#

    Peter, think about what Dragon said, buy this one and sell yours.

    H9
    "Appreciation of audio is a completely subjective human experience. Measurements can provide a measure of insight, but are no substitute for human judgment. Why are we looking to reduce a subjective experience to objective criteria anyway? The subtleties of music and audio reproduction are for those who appreciate it. Differentiation by numbers is for those who do not".--Nelson Pass Pass Labs XA25 | EE Avant Pre | EE Mini Max Supreme DAC | MIT Shotgun S1 | Pangea AC14SE MKII | Legend L600 | BlueSound Node 3 - Tubes add soul!
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  • dhart86
    dhart86 Posts: 1,594
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    I can't believe this pre is still available. For this price, it's almost a gift. @pglbook
    please hurry before I change my mind ( which I am known to do) lol
    Main Rig:
    Antipodes DX > Roon > PS Audio Directstream Jr.>deHavilland Ultraverve 3 >Belles Reference 150a >Harbeth C7 ES3


    Second Rig:
    Roon> PS Audio Directstream Jr Bridge II > EE Minimax pre (Tutay mods) >Belles 150A Ref >Monitor 5 (Westmassguy-modded)


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  • dhart86
    dhart86 Posts: 1,594
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    Welp....just plugged it back into the rig and it sounds terrific. I WILL be holding on to it as a back-up pre. It is no longer available. Thanks all
    Main Rig:
    Antipodes DX > Roon > PS Audio Directstream Jr.>deHavilland Ultraverve 3 >Belles Reference 150a >Harbeth C7 ES3


    Second Rig:
    Roon> PS Audio Directstream Jr Bridge II > EE Minimax pre (Tutay mods) >Belles 150A Ref >Monitor 5 (Westmassguy-modded)


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  • MrBuhl
    MrBuhl Posts: 2,419
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    heiney9 wrote: »
    voltz wrote: »
    Man Don't sell it :( but I understand why. Brock is Drooling on himself right now!

    Good luck with the sell.

    Nah, I had one and now I have the EE Avant, which is the TOTL pre from EE.

    This is a fantastic pre, and a great price. This may have been the one I had, I can't remember who I sold it to.

    H9

    That's the one I just had modded by Tom Tutay, and I thank you very much sir!
    VA HT HK AVR20II, Sony S9000ES CD/DVD/SACD, Polk Audio RC80i / Polk Audio CSi3, 60" Panasonic Plasma, Nordost / Signal Cable A2 / Wireworld / Pangea / Magic Power
    VA 2 Channel Focal Electra 926 speakers, Pass Labs X150.5 Amp, Eastern Electric MiniMax Preamp (Tutay mods), Eastern Electric Minimax CDP (Scott Nixon mods), Music Hall mmf 5.1 Turntable, Parks Audio Budgie Phono Pre , Audioengine B1 streamer, MIT S3 IC's / MIT Shotgun S3 Speaker Cables / PS Audio power cables
    Noggin Schiit Valhalla, Pangea, Phillips Fidelio X1, Polk UF8000

    Polk SDA1c modded
    Polk CRS+ 4.1TL modded (need veneer)
    Polk SDA2BTL (fully modded)
    A/L 1000VA Dreadnought Canare 4s11 SDA cable
    SACD Marantz DV8300
    Sony S9000ES CD/DVD/SACD
    Yamaha YP-D6
    Soundcraftsmen PCR800
    Audible Illusions L1 Preamp
    Vincent MFA based Cocci Tube Preamp
    Pho-700 Phono Pre
    Signal Cable Silver Resolution IC's






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