Black Cube - Phono Amplifier - Lehmannaudio

Phono - Preamplifier MM & MC

There are products that do not occupy their market, but reorganize it. The Lehmannaudio Black Cube is one of them. When sound engineer Norbert Lehmann introduced it in 1995 - at a time when the CD had just declared the record dead - the inconspicuous little black box filled a gap left by the disappearance of the phono input from modern amplifiers. What followed was a success story that continues to this day: cult status in thirty countries on all five continents, countless test awards and a level of customer satisfaction that is unparalleled in this class of device. In 2007, over 25% of the almost 13,000 readers of stereoplay magazine voted the Black Cube the phono preamplifier of the year - a result that speaks for itself.

Since 2006, the Black Cube has been equipped with a completely newly developed audio circuit board - and, according to developer Norbert Lehmann, sounds even better than the already highly acclaimed original. It is still manufactured in small quantities in Germany: Lehmannaudio is firmly convinced that manual work and careful component selection remain superior to industrial mass production in all aspects that determine the sound. A particularly impressive testimonial from the industry proves that this conviction is true in practice: Ortofon, the world's largest cartridge manufacturer, uses the Black Cube Statement as a reference monitoring tool in its own final production control.

The heart of the Black Cube is its passive RIAA equalization network, which is located between two fully linear amplifier stages. This concept - known in the industry as a "sandwich design" - is more demanding in terms of circuitry than active equalization, but delivers measurably better results in terms of impulse fidelity, channel balance and harmonic response. Impulses are not distorted or ground down before they reach the output - the sound remains lively, precise and natural.

For the RIAA network, Lehmannaudio uses only high-quality MKP polypropylene film capacitors with a narrow tolerance - a material characterized by minimal distortion, high long-term stability and excellent impulse stability. All resistors are low-noise metal film types and all switches have gold-plated contacts. The input stages used originate from professional studio electronics - identical circuit concepts can be found in high-quality mixing consoles and microphone preamps. The housing of the audio section is made of non-magnetic aluminum and is mechanically damped in the cover - a detail that prevents electromagnetic interference, which other phono amplifiers often introduce into the signal through their sheet steel body.

The double-sided audio board minimizes internal conductor lengths to what is absolutely necessary and creates additional ground planes for interference-free operation. The external power supply - connected via a specially shielded cable with Neutrik XLR connectors - keeps all power supply-related interference fields away from the sensitive audio stage. It is this consistent separation that makes the low-noise, interference-free amplification possible, which distinguishes the Black Cube so clearly from integrated phono solutions in terms of sound.

The Black Cube is compatible with almost all cartridges available on the market - from high-output MM systems to quiet, demanding MC cartridges. The amplification can be set in four stages between 46 dB and 66 dB via DIP switches, and the input impedance can be selected between 47 kOhm (MM), 470 Ohm and 100 Ohm (MC). A solderless slot allows individual impedance adjustment for special systems, while an additional hard-wire slot offers even more scope for audiophile fine-tuning. Lehmannaudio can supply suitable resistors for system adaptation free of charge on request. The input capacitance of 100 pF is optimally matched to MM systems.

A practical advantage of the compact design: At just 103 × 108 × 45 mm, the Black Cube can be placed directly next to or behind the turntable - short cable runs mean less capacitance, less interference and therefore a cleaner signal even before amplification begins.

What makes the Black Cube so indispensable for serious analog listeners? Its sound follows the studio virtue of its developer: transparent, precise and neutral - without drifting into the analytical or ascetic. It delivers musical flow instead of isolated detail acrobatics, a wide, open stage image and the ability to never lose the thread even in complex productions. Enjoythemusic.com describes it as a candidate for the title of best phono amplifier under 2,000 US dollars worldwide - a statement that shows how far the reputation of the Black Cube extends beyond Europe. Hifi News calls it a true audiophile phono stage that delivers remarkable results in combination with equivalent equipment.

The Black Cube is also one of the few devices that is not only used in private systems, but also in a professional environment: at broadcasting stations, in mastering studios and in Ortofon's production facilities. So if you are looking for a phono amplifier that brings out the full sound content of your records without imposing its own character - and which reflects a sound culture that is still unparalleled after thirty years of further development - the Lehmannaudio Black Cube may be the last model you ever have to buy.