Elekit TU-8500 Stereo Tube Preamplifier Kit
Please Note: This is the last of the TU-8500. The new TU-8550 is the replacement for the TU-8500.
For the past 8 years, hobbyists have been asking for certain features to modify the TU-875 phono amp kit. The highly regarded Elekit designer, Mr. Fujita, has taken all those specific features and specifications into consideration and we are happy to welcome the release of the newly designed TU-8500 tube preamplifier kit.
The new TU-8500 has a lot more improvements from its predecessor and has to stand its ground in a considerably more competitive marketplace.
Read the TU-8500 Reviews:
Wall Of Sound Reviews the TU-8500
Designed to fit perfectly with the Elekit TU-8200, this preamplifier kit makes an ideal accompaniment to the TU-8200.
Make sure to read some of the Kit Reviews from our customers.
This is a very nice quality kit. It went together easy and sounds very nice.
reviewed by: Harry
This kit went together so easily. It’s so well thought out and perfectly engineered. Japanese perfection. Takes about 4-5 hours. I upgraded the coupling caps to Mundorf supremes and the tubes to Mullard 12at7s that i picked up from this site. It sounds amazing, i’m absolutely in love with it.
reviewed by: Jason Wanda
Great kit. Very good instructions, clear and easy to build and the best part -- it's fun! This is a fun build! The end result is a nice looking pre with a great sound. It's not a gimmick or a toy, this really is an audiophile grade preamp. You get some major bang for your buck building this. Mine came with USA NOS tubes that sound fantastic. The only thing I didn't like were the stickers for the front and back, so I left them off and the unit plain as it is pictured here. You will most likely do the same. Again, great kit, very pleased with it.
reviewed by: Sean R
This kit is extremely well thought out - the instructions are very good, all the parts are extremely high quality, and mechanically it is extraordinarily well designed - really fun to put it all together. It sounds amazing, too. I swapped out the phono stage op-amps for Ti OPA2227s and changed the 4 coupling caps for 0.47uf Solen Fast Caps - both cheap upgrades. Mine came with JJ ECC82s and I haven't heard a need to replace those yet. Highly recommended!
reviewed by: Dan W
Excellent kit, well organized, good directions. I upgraded to original Mullard 12AT7 tubes, Mundorf Supreme caps, and TI 2227P op amps. This feeds an ST70 tube power amp, and the overall system is delicious.
reviewed by: Bill G
Very fun kit to build, took me 4.5-5 hours to put together and test. It sounds very good, and is very well designed. I upgraded the op amps in the phono stage to OPA2227P, and orange drop sprague coupling caps, as well as a pair of Genalex Gold Lion tubes, which really smoothed it out compared to the stock JJs
reviewed by: Ross
Very nice kit and was able to bring life into the iPod now! Replaced the JJ's with some Gold Lion's sound it fantastic! No regrets.
reviewed by: Jim B
SPECIFICATIONS
- VACUUM TUBES: Stock tube set 2 X 5965A or 12AU7
- OP-amp: NJM2068DD X 2 (option -OPA2227P)
- INPUT/OUTPUT Terminal : Phone IN x 1
- LINE IN: 3 (3.5mm stereo jack (LINE3 priority) x 1)
- PRE OUT: x1
- Power voltage: AC100, 115, 200, 230V
- IEC standard: 3P inlet
- Rated current: 8W
- Dimensions: W252 x H73 D270mm
- Weight: Approx. 3.1kg (when assembled, excluded power cord)
Line Amp - Max output voltage: 22Vrms (1kHz)
- Gain: x3.1(9.8dB), x1.15(1.2dB)
- Frequency response: (-3dB):2Hz - 70KHz /2Hz - 280kHz
- SN ratio (IHF-A): 122dB /129dB
Equalizer Amp - Cartridge: MM (Low) /MC (High) - select by switching
- Max output voltage: 7.4V rms (1kHz)
- Gain (1kHz): [MM]37dB / [MC]63db
- SN ratio (IHF-A): [MM]108dB / [MC]88dB
- Input resistance: [MM]50k ohm /[MC]100 ohm
- RIAA equalization: Within +/-0.5dB (20Hz-20kHz)