Avari Audio Custom 1 Phono Preamp (Ikeda, Lyra, Kondo)

Great condition Avari Audio Custom 1 Moving Coil Phono Preamplifier that I bought from Audio by Mark Jones on September 2017. Its been heavily modified by Avari for Mark Jones (see internal pics). Some very tiny nicks on the brushed aluminum case (presumably from opening the top cover and displaying the internals) have been touched up but this is how i received it and its barely noticeable. List price on this base unit as per Avari Audio is $8550 USD and according to Mark Jones, but this unit was HEAVILY modified and so the value is much more as per Mark.

This is a Current Injection JFET preamp, so no fiddling with loading settings as it uses current instead of voltage and it works ideally with Ikeda, Kondo or Lyra carts that have low impedance and voltage. Its just so worry free and so enjoyable. Its a match made in heaven for Ikeda carts as this unit was calibrated with enough gain for the Ikeda 9TT but will be compatible with any Lyra or Kondo cart with similar specs but most specifically with low impedance and voltage. It can be sent back to the Avari factory in California to be re calibrated internally for other carts. Its comparable in technology to CH Precision phono stages with Current Injection technology.

From Avari Audio:
"Most phono preamps are based on amplifying the very low level voltage output from the cartridge. This low voltage is no problem as it is relatively easy to design preamps with very low input noise making sure that the signal-to-noise ratio is acceptably high. However, the pickup has to be terminated with a load to operate optimally. The audio community has never defined a unified approach to the loading. Opinion varies on how best to load the cartridge ranging from 47K ohm to matching the internal resistance of the cartridge. Disagreement varies, high loading is more open with better transients, high loading is too bright in the upper mid-range and higher frequencies, lower loading eliminates the bright high end, lower loading results in a more open, natural and realistic sound. The latest approach is to terminate the pickup with a dead short, using the current output to drive the phono preamp."

http://www.avariaudio.com/home
http://www.archivingvinyl.com/ams-analogue-music-server

Thanks for looking !!

Please note: if shipped to USA/Worldwide, buyer is responsible for any possible local duties/taxes (if there are any).

Relatively new to Audiogon, but long time user on Canuck Audio Mart (please check my feedback under "Mark05")
Thanks for looking !!