Electron Engine ™
Printed Circuit Boards by Emissionlabs ®
EE23 Printed Circuit Board
for High Impedance Audio Input (LL1531)
for Medium Impedance Audio Input (LL1532 and LL1593)
RELEASED PRODUCT
This is the smallest PCB I ever made :) This takes very little space and quickly changes an unbalanced input to a hum-free balanced input. For a balanced input, an isolated ground RCA connector, or XLR connector must be used. Moreover, because it is a transformer input, the RCA and XLR can be simply connected in parallel, without loosing the balanced function. Despite low cost and small size, this little transformer works excellent.
Bare PCB. Order nr: 310-30-48
The EE23 Board has two applications:
- High Impedance Audio Input (47k) using LL1531
- Medium Impedance Audio. (600Ohms) using LL1532 or LL1593
Jumpers:
The board in this picture has Jumpers J1 and J3 closed, for 1:1 configuration
- J1 + J3: for 1:2 Step up configuration
- J2 for 1:1 configuration
- J4 connects the screw terminal (See Picture) to Ground of the output. (So not the ground of the input which stays floating). This is probably the most common way to use it. It means the ground level is now at the place where the chassis screw is, and there is only one signal wire, which is "Out+"
- If a ground connection is needed at another place like the mounting screw, leave J4 open and ground "Out-" at the preferred place.
- If a symmetric (floating) output is needed, leave J4 open, and use "Out+ and "Out-"
With both transformers, it can also be choose between 1: 1 transfer, or 1:2 Step up. This can be quickly re configured with solder Jumpers.
About LL1531, LL1532, LL1593.
Despite their small size, LL1531 and LL1532 are offering very high noise suppression, due to the electrostatic shield between primary and secondary, and the use of a Mu-Metal housing. (Mu metal is the best shielding material, but it is expensive).
LL1531 is the normal High Impedance Input type for HiFi Audio. Suited ideally for 47k Ohms input, doing simply 1:1 conversion for the signal, and no impedance change. It can do signal levels up to 10....20dbU, which is more then enough for any HiFi amplifier.
The official Lundahl data sheet writes, LL1531 is recommended only as a 1:1 device. So officially we say the same. But...when driving Ll1531 with a low impedance source, it worked very nice in 1:2 mode just as well, and no reduction of the frequency range at all. At least you could try it with this EE23 board, just set the Jumpers for 1:2. Generally though, the sensitivity of any pre-amp should be set as los as possible. When 1:1 works good, this is the best choice.
LL1532 is more a medium impedance type, intended for 600 Ohms source. This one can do officially 1:1 or 1:2
LL1593 is a low-cost version of the LL1532, with the same winding structure but without internal Faraday shield, and it has a lower grade metal housing. (no mu metal). This is for applications needing less noise suppression.
Resonance tuning
In order to remove self resonance ringing, a small RC network may be used. Though it works also good without, it is mainly needed when there is no, or a high impedance load.
LL1531 use 8k and 1.2nF
LL1532, LL1593 use 2k and 1.5nF
