Lounge Audio - Copla - Variable Impedance  MC Step-Up Amp

Pure Analog Step-up Phono Preamp for Moving Coil cartridges
Active electronic equivalent of a step-up transformer (SUT)
Made in the USA - Handcrafted high-end, high value audio equipment

".. unlike a step-up transformer, even one with multiple taps, this [transimpedance knob] is continuously variable, so you can easily fine tune the cartridge loading to your taste. Many five-figure phonostages don’t give you this flexibility!“
"And for the third year in a row, we’re happy to give it one of our Exceptional Value Awards; we think there’s no better value in analog, period." -Tone Audio

We’re dedicated to heightening your listening experience.

We love our product and we know you will too. Professionals reviews were done by  6moons, ToneAudio,  Newrecorday, Wall of Sound and TNT Audio.  Independent sources can be found on forums such as Steve Hoffman and others.

Copla is listed by Herb Reichert in his Stereophile Associated Equipment for reviews

Description:

Metal chassis with black textured semi-gloss powder coating

Copla has an optically isolated power supply for low noise, allowing liquid, cohesive midrange and deep soundstaging. Solid-state circuitry operates at low impedance for superior hum and noise rejection.

The PCB is 2oz copper thickness to give lower trace impedance

This unit has extra ferrite beads on the power line to reduce hash noise from the wall voltage

We include a set of 9 inch interconnects if you own our LCR MKIII so you can easily stack the units. Otherwise, we include a set of 15 inch interconnects.  Contact us if you have questions.  We build our own cables (30 pico farads capacitance per foot) so we can make them any length you want. Length should not exceed 15 inches to preserve fidelity.

Copla is a moving coil step-up amplifier designed to drive a moving magnet phono pre amp like our very own LCR MKIII.  It is the active electronic equivalent of a step-up transformer  (SUT), allowing control of active moving coil impedance.  One dial provides variable added richness and dimension to the response of your moving coil cartridge. You use it like a Tone knob and it is labeled the Transimpedance knob.

TRANSIMPEDANCE KNOB

One dial provides variable added richness and dimension to the response of your moving coil cartridge. The Transimpedance knob provides sweepable loading from 300 Ohms down to 40 Ohms tied to a gain boost of 9db to 27db. The loading is not resistive; it is the native input impedance of the transistors themselves. This knob has simultaneous control of cartridge impedance loading and gain. As you turn the knob clockwise the loading value goes down and the gain goes up. The knob’s neutral position is straight up, providing a 100 Ohms load for your cartridge. This is the most common manufacturer-recommended load value for average moving coil cartridges, and a good center point to start with. Use your ears to adjust the sound to your liking. In case you wondered, the top blue edge of the Copla does get brighter and whiter as the knob is turned clockwise. This is not just a visual effect. That white light is the power being transferred to the amplifier circuitry through photo diodes. This is a powerful tool that can adjust the response of your cartridge to different types of music, recordings, masterings and pressings. We have found that well-mastered recordings sound best with a gentle application of load/gain by setting the knob to about 200 ohms (9 o’clock dial position). With pressings sourced from normal digital sources, (e.g. CD files or Pro Tools) a setting of 100-80 Ohms (12 - 2 o’clock on the dial) brings out more richness and body, to offset the compressed dynamics often found in these pressings. And finally, with pre-hifi era recordings or lo-fi garage recordings, an 80-40 Ohm load (2 – 5 o’clock dial setting) will bring out even more body and midrange resolution where the material is all about the musical performance and the technical aspects of the recording leaves something to be desired. Of course, these are our observations. Use the knob to find the sweet spots with your gear.

WHAT CARTRIDGES WORK WITH COPLA?

Lounge Audio cannot test every cartridge known today but based on our internal testing and our customers' input, we compiled a short list below.

Denon 103r

Denon 301

Soundsmith Zephyr MIMC Moving Iron Low Output Cartridge

Hana SL

Dynavector 20x2

Denon DL-S1

SPECIFICATIONS

Click here to listen to Robert Morin explain his circuit design for Copla

Continuous Adjustable Gain: 9 to 27dB

Continuous Adjustable Input impedance: 300 to 40 ohms

Output impedance: 1.5K ohms

Signal-to-noise ratio: 85db (ref to 0.775VRMS output)

Distortion: 0.03 %  @-40db output 3rd Harmonic Dominating

AC Adaptor: 120VAC 60hz, 18VAC, 500ma Wall Cube type.

Amplification Type: complementary bipolar transistors

I/O’s: gold RCA jack

Dimensions: Height 3”, Width 6.5”, Length 5.8”

Weight: 2 lb 15 ounces

FEATURES

Variable cartridge loading/gain continuously sweepable from 300ohm/9db to 40ohm/27db.

Cartridge loading is accomplished by manipulation of internal, native resistance of transistor semiconductors. No passive resistors are used to achieve cartridge loading.

Cartridge loading/gain control is user accessible on the front panel for easy, on the fly, at will adjustment.

Cartridge loading/gain control is fully isolated from the audio path.

Optical power coupling to allow total electronic isolation of audio circuit from power supply.     

Minimalist discrete gain stage using only 2 transistors for low noise

High quality low noise Dale resistors used in critical audio path positions.

Blue LED edge lighting.

Hand crafted in the USA.

WARRANTY

1 year full parts and Labor

We offer returns on units within 14 days of delivery. If in original condition, with all accessories intact and original receipt we will refund full purchase price minus 10% re-stocking fee. We do not refund shipping costs. Units damaged from use or mishandling will be pro-rated.

Unit must be returned via insured mail paid by the buyer.

Warranty and return term begin on the day of product delivery verification.

Shipping for this unit must be to USA and Canada only. While we love our customers, we only ship products and don’t provide local pick ups. California residents pay 9.25% sales tax.