Ceramic Cartridge Preamp Case

The Ceramic Cartridge Equalizer Circuit was installed in a small metal box, which was recycled for this purpose. The two preamplifier circuits together with the power supply board and standby transformer fitted nicely in this build. I wanted a metal case that would shield the circuits from any RF noise, and I wanted one with a slim profile so it could be kept above the amp or tucked away at the side behind the turntable. Being a typical Brit, I was tempted to install it into a full hi-fi sized box with LED lights and a dozen switches, all because it makes life so much easier, but it is all unnecessary.

For mounting the boards, I am using plastic risers and nuts, which came from a small kit of nuts and bolts from a thrift store. It is best to use these, because that way, you can be sure that there will not be any shorts to the copper strips. As you can see, it is just the riser and a nut, and there is no need for a washer either.

Project boxes are very expensive these days, and they often cost more than the project itself! A metal one with a slim profile was almost impossible to find, so I checked on eBay for broken set-top boxes or CD players going for a couple of pounds and found an old-school set top box which cost around five pounds, hence I decided to use that instead.

When you install your boards, you need to make sure they are far away from the mains transformer and power supply board. You should also make sure that the audio wires do not come near the mains wire in case it picks-up hum.

I hope that some of my articles were helpful. Hopefully, with a large stockpile of ceramic cartridges and a nice preamplifier box, you will enjoy listening to your records for a long time, and hopefully without breaking the bank.