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Grimm Audio PW1 Phono Preamplifier

Grimm Audio PW1 Phono Preamplifier

by Grimm Audio
₹ 700,000 - ₹ 700,000
₹ 700,000
₹ 700,000
₹ 700,000 - ₹ 700,000
₹ 700,000

Taxes & Shipping Included

The Grimm Audio PW1 represents an uncompromising pursuit of sonic purity, bridging the analytical precision of high-end solid-state architecture with the organic warmth typically reserved for reference-tier vacuum tube designs. Conceived by renowned engineer Peter van Willenswaard, this meticulously crafted phono preamplifier employs a minimalist, zero-feedback signal path and discrete low-noise FET stages to extract the finest micro-dynamics from both Moving Magnet and Moving Coil cartridges. By housing a heavily shielded, custom-engineered linear power supply within its singular, low-profile chassis, the PW1 delivers a breathtakingly quiet noise floor and an expansive, effortless soundstage that honors the true artistry of vinyl playback.

For many generations, true lovers of sound and music are inspired by vinyl playback. Even in these days of high performance digital audio playback systems it is hard to imagine a future without LP’s. There’s just something magical to it. 

Grimm Audio’s co-founder Peter van Willenswaard spent a life time designing and improving phono preamps, both in solid state and with tubes. Of all stages of audio amplification, phono preamplifiers pose the biggest challenges to a designer. With moving coil cartridges, deep bass signals of a mere 50 nV require no less than 90 dB amplification! 

For the PW1, Peter managed to develop a solid state phono preamplifier that matches his best tube based designs. Peter believes that designing a good phono preamp is not about achieving the lowest possible harmonic distortion as an isolated parameter. He searches for an elegantly minimalistic circuit design in which he optimizes the ‘electric environment’ of all the active components, in conjunction with a meticulously tuned power supply. Needless to say that passive components like capacitors and resistors are carefully picked.

The result is a well balanced design with Peter’s signature sound, which is very spacious, detailed and open, but at the same time rhythmically addictive and emotionally involving.

Features
  • Unique minimalistic electronic design
  • MC and MM cartridge inputs
  • RCA and XLR outputs
  • Gain and load settings under bottom plate
  • Internal silent linear power supply
  • Copper shielded interior
  • 100 x 100 x 250mm (WxHxD)
  • 5 year limited warranty
  • Made in Netherlands 
Specifications

General:
  • Max. ambient temperature for operation: 45 °C.
  • Internally set line voltage 100/115 V or 230 V.
  • IEC C18 type line voltage connector (without safety earth pin). Class 2 isolation. • Fuse 115 V: 315 mA TT, Littelfuse 0215.315MXP. •
  • Fuse 230 V: 200 mA TT, Littelfuse 0215.200MXP.
  • Weight: 3.3 kg.
  • Dimensions: w x d x h: 100 x 250 x 100 mm.
  • Package dimensions: 265 x 350 x 220 mm.

Connections:

  • MM/RIAA gain: 37 dB ±1 dB. Sensitivity: typical 5 mV.
  • MC gain: MM/RIAA gain plus 20 or 30 dB. Sensitivity: typical 500 µV (20 dB gain) or 160 µV (30 dB gain).
  • Optional output boost: +10 dB.
  • Output impedance: 100 Ω (RCA and XLR).
  • Recommended output load impedance: > 10 kΩ.

Input impedance: 

  • MM resistive: 47 kΩ
  • MM capacitive: 47 pF, plus optional 47 pF, 100 pF, and/or 220 pF in parallel.
  • MC resistive: 47 kΩ, plus optional 33 Ω, 100 Ω, 330 Ω and/or 1 kΩ in parallel.
  • MC capacitive: 330 pF, plus optional 330 pF and/or 680 pF in parallel.

Performance:

  • THD+N: MM ≤ -45 dB (1 kHz, 5 mV); MC ≤ -45 dB (1 kHz, 500 µV).
  • SNR CCIR-2k: MM ≥ 80 dB (+0 dB position, ref. 5 mV); MC ≥ 76 dB (+20 dB position, ref. 500 µV); ≥ 80 dB (+30 dB position, ref. 500 µV).
  • Overload margin: MM 24 dB (1 kHz, 5 mV); MC 24 dB (1 kHz, 500 µV).
  • RIAA precision: ±0.5 dB 20 Hz – 20 kHz. • Channel imbalance: ≤ 0.5 dB.
  • Crosstalk: MM ≥ 90 dB (1 kHz, 5 mV); MC ≥ 86 dB (1 kHz, 500 µV).
Support
Description

The Grimm Audio PW1 represents an uncompromising pursuit of sonic purity, bridging the analytical precision of high-end solid-state architecture with the organic warmth typically reserved for reference-tier vacuum tube designs. Conceived by renowned engineer Peter van Willenswaard, this meticulously crafted phono preamplifier employs a minimalist, zero-feedback signal path and discrete low-noise FET stages to extract the finest micro-dynamics from both Moving Magnet and Moving Coil cartridges. By housing a heavily shielded, custom-engineered linear power supply within its singular, low-profile chassis, the PW1 delivers a breathtakingly quiet noise floor and an expansive, effortless soundstage that honors the true artistry of vinyl playback.

For many generations, true lovers of sound and music are inspired by vinyl playback. Even in these days of high performance digital audio playback systems it is hard to imagine a future without LP’s. There’s just something magical to it. 

Grimm Audio’s co-founder Peter van Willenswaard spent a life time designing and improving phono preamps, both in solid state and with tubes. Of all stages of audio amplification, phono preamplifiers pose the biggest challenges to a designer. With moving coil cartridges, deep bass signals of a mere 50 nV require no less than 90 dB amplification! 

For the PW1, Peter managed to develop a solid state phono preamplifier that matches his best tube based designs. Peter believes that designing a good phono preamp is not about achieving the lowest possible harmonic distortion as an isolated parameter. He searches for an elegantly minimalistic circuit design in which he optimizes the ‘electric environment’ of all the active components, in conjunction with a meticulously tuned power supply. Needless to say that passive components like capacitors and resistors are carefully picked.

The result is a well balanced design with Peter’s signature sound, which is very spacious, detailed and open, but at the same time rhythmically addictive and emotionally involving.

Features
  • Unique minimalistic electronic design
  • MC and MM cartridge inputs
  • RCA and XLR outputs
  • Gain and load settings under bottom plate
  • Internal silent linear power supply
  • Copper shielded interior
  • 100 x 100 x 250mm (WxHxD)
  • 5 year limited warranty
  • Made in Netherlands 
Specifications

 General:
  • Max. ambient temperature for operation: 45 °C.
  • Internally set line voltage 100/115 V or 230 V.
  • IEC C18 type line voltage connector (without safety earth pin). Class 2 isolation. • Fuse 115 V: 315 mA TT, Littelfuse 0215.315MXP. •
  • Fuse 230 V: 200 mA TT, Littelfuse 0215.200MXP.
  • Weight: 3.3 kg.
  • Dimensions: w x d x h: 100 x 250 x 100 mm.
  • Package dimensions: 265 x 350 x 220 mm.

Connections:

  • MM/RIAA gain: 37 dB ±1 dB. Sensitivity: typical 5 mV.
  • MC gain: MM/RIAA gain plus 20 or 30 dB. Sensitivity: typical 500 µV (20 dB gain) or 160 µV (30 dB gain).
  • Optional output boost: +10 dB.
  • Output impedance: 100 Ω (RCA and XLR).
  • Recommended output load impedance: > 10 kΩ.

Input impedance: 

  • MM resistive: 47 kΩ
  • MM capacitive: 47 pF, plus optional 47 pF, 100 pF, and/or 220 pF in parallel.
  • MC resistive: 47 kΩ, plus optional 33 Ω, 100 Ω, 330 Ω and/or 1 kΩ in parallel.
  • MC capacitive: 330 pF, plus optional 330 pF and/or 680 pF in parallel.

Performance:

  • THD+N: MM ≤ -45 dB (1 kHz, 5 mV); MC ≤ -45 dB (1 kHz, 500 µV).
  • SNR CCIR-2k: MM ≥ 80 dB (+0 dB position, ref. 5 mV); MC ≥ 76 dB (+20 dB position, ref. 500 µV); ≥ 80 dB (+30 dB position, ref. 500 µV).
  • Overload margin: MM 24 dB (1 kHz, 5 mV); MC 24 dB (1 kHz, 500 µV).
  • RIAA precision: ±0.5 dB 20 Hz – 20 kHz. • Channel imbalance: ≤ 0.5 dB.
  • Crosstalk: MM ≥ 90 dB (1 kHz, 5 mV); MC ≥ 86 dB (1 kHz, 500 µV).
Support