Iron Pre SMD Single-Ended Bundle
With the bundle, you'll receive almost all the electronic components needed to complete your Iron Pre. You'll still need a power transformer, a chassis, and a few other parts. The excellent build guide provides a lot of recommendations.
- 1 x Iron Pre SMD Single-Ended Essentials Kit
- 1 x Iron Pre SMD Single-Ended Supplemental Kit
The Iron Pre is an exceptional pre-amplifier created by one of the legends in the diyAudio.com community, Zen Mod. His basis for the design is Keep It Simple, Stupid (KISS). It's a wonderful pre-amplifier that has been enjoyed by 100s of happy builders and listeners from around the world.
There are two versions of the Iron Pre: Balanced / Differential and Single-Ended. Builders of the balanced version can select balanced or single-ended for each input. The boards include not only the “iron-based” gain stage, but also a shunt-regulated PSU section, and a relay-based input switching section. A total of 5 inputs are supported. Each kit also includes a “Twister” board for input selection. The balanced version is intended to be built as a dual-mono project.
You can read more about it here:
- What's Wrong With The Kiss Boy?
- Iron Pre Essential Kits for the diyAudio Store register your interest
What Will You Need To Complete The Project?
We have both an essentials kit and a supplemental parts kit. The kits includes parts that are generally more difficult to source and/or may have longer lead times.
Some key components you’ll need:
- Power transformer(s) – 20VA minimum, 36VAC CT or 2x18VAC
- Input attenuation a.k.a. Volume Control
Note – If an AVC is chosen, it is used in place of the signal transformer. - Chassis - Modushop / HiFi2000 has two custom chassis specifically for the Iron Pre: Single Ended Chassis and Balanced Chassis
- A few passive components - LEDs, wiring, etc. depending on your personal preferences.
With the new V.4 SMD update the supplemental kits have changed. If you have a V.3 or earlier supplemental kit and you'd like to use it with your SMD essentials kit, please see post #1 of the Iron Pre discussion thread.
What If You Have Questions?
This project is intended for intermediate to advanced DIYers. However, many novice builders have achieved success. This kit, along with yet another sensational pictorial build guide from 6L6, makes this project more accessible to a variety of builders. If you need additional support, members have posted a number of BoMs, shopping carts, and parts lists in the forum thread. The Mighty Zen Mod is ever-present and kindly offers support and a quick wit. Other forum members are available to lend a hand and provide ideas for the never-ending list of options to customize your project to fit personal tastes and needs. And yes, it will drive an F4.
Key Information
- Preamplifier Project
- Designed by Zen Mod
- Intermediate to Advanced Difficulty
- Only Essentials Kit Available
- Comprehensive Build Guide
Highlights
- SE has user adjustable gain: 6dB and 12dB
- Balanced will allow SE input and provide true differential output
- 5 (configurable for balanced) selectable inputs
- Power supply circuit included on the main PCBs
Links, Discussion & Files
This kit contains everything you didn't get in the Balanced Essentials kit to complete stuffing the PCBs (you still need a power transformer and volume pot). It's worth it. I had a few of the parts laying around but trying to source the rest from Mouser and Digikey was tedious. I gave up and ordered this kit because I wasn't going to save any money anyway. All the parts are high quality.
This is not a beginner project. You need to be able to read a schematic. Follow the excellent 6L6 build guide for the SE version and you are 99% there. Pay particular attention to the test point values on initial setup.
Don't skimp on the volume pot. It is critical. I used a Goldpoint V24-4 ($300). I understand that you are already into this for $400 plus power transformers, connectors and a case, but the reward is a stunning soundstage - wide, detailed and lively. Skimp on these and you will negate your investment.
This was a fun build with some minor challenges for this newer DIYer with very limited EE knowledge. But with help from the community it all worked out.
The SE IronPre sounds lovely, even after just a few days of use. It replaced an Elekit TU-8500 (tubes) in my rig (with Elekit TU-8900 [2A3 tubes] and Zu DW6 spkrs). The IronPre presented clean open and perhaps more delicate (in a good way) sound, with stronger imaging. Still breaking in, but very satisfying so far.
I was still plugging along with the single ended iron pre when this gem came along. I have balanced equipment too, how can my long suffering wife deny me? Finished the honeydew list first. Well I already ordered the chassis also. Now to finish the SE version first.
I recently completed Iron Pre-SE. Build process was straight forward (excellent build guide). Parts, boards, and components are top notch. Frist, I have completed power supply, then in-put section and finally buffer and transformer section. All went smooth without any single problem, works for the very first moment.
Connected to my beloved mono’s Aleph 2 (jumper at 12db), followed by Monitor Audio Platinum 100 II bookshelf, this “little” gem shows it’s full protentional. The sound is just phenomenal…
Thank’s to Zen Mod and ItsAllInMyHead for sharing yours’s knowledge and passion to this community.
All the best,
Tony,