Early 2023 our friends at Lunae Mons Research started experimenting with very high transconductance tubes, as a foundation for high-gain, low distortion, low noise and powerful output or driver stages. The Galle Phono Stage is a product of those early efforts. It employs a novel, truly minimalist topology, possible by using two notable tubes, the 6C6 of American provenance and the 6J51P of Soviet design.

The 6C6 pentode, a tube first introduced in the 1930s by RCA and adopted by Western Electric in amplifiers like the legendary WE91-A is known for its sharp, energetic, natural and detailed rendering. The input stage of the Galle is comprised exclusively of the tube.

The signal then passes through a copper in oil coupling capacitor into the RC passive RIAA network. Every component, from capacitors to resistors, is hand-matched from NOS (New Old Stock) selections.

The output stage introduces two triode-strapped 6J51P tubes, achieving a 600-ohm output impedance without the use of output transformers. The 6J51P is a high-frequency pentode, often compared to the D3a tube for its excellent linearity and low distortion when triode-strapped. While the D3a has become a gold standard in German post-war tube design for audio circuits, the 6J51P offers a similarly refined performance, with the added benefit of being more readily available and robust. Like the D3a, it ensures a smooth, natural sound, with no micro detail left behind, and an uncanny capacity to reproduce the unrelentless tactile energy of a recording.

With this, the Galle Phono Stage achieves a total harmonic distortion (THD) of 0.009%, predominantly second-order harmonics, without employing any global negative feedback.

The power supply of the Galle Phono Stage can make use of the entire 5U4 tube family for rectification and the 0B3 family for voltage regulation. A custom 120H choke after the rectification stage ensures with ultra-stable, clean power, contributing to the exceptional signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) of over 100 dB.

Besides the many options of 6C6 NOS and vintage tubes available, the power supply is designed with flexibility and sonic fine-tuning in mind, thanks to its tube-rolling capabilities. With compatibility with both the 5U4 and the 0B3 tube families, dramatic options in the sound presentation are present. Direct access to the operating points of the phono circuit tubes is available, allowing you to carve their harmonic characteristics to your liking.

The input stage presents capacitance and impedance selectors, enabling the usage of virtually any cartridge and SUT available.

At the heart of our ethos is a reverence for the act of listening to music. With industrial design by architect Inês Moreira and designer Miguel Moreira of IM Collective, the Galle line’s minimalist and timeless chassis represents a departure from the mundane, mass-produced, and impersonal designs prevalent in the industry.

Crafted from robust sand-cast aluminum and bronze, the Galle chassis exudes a distinctive texture and finish, achieved with minimal intervention and machining. Each piece is unique as the small differences in the millenary casting process are not removed or hidden.

The circuit design is by Lunae Mons Research, that partners with Cinnamon to bring the Galle Phono Stage to life.

Internally, the Galle Phono boasts two regulated linear power supplies, fed by a custom transformer, ensuring superior power delivery. Several layers of damping are provided:

• the chassis is mass tuned for critical damping, by using the massive bronze top to act as a damped inverted pendulum

• every tube socket is decoupled and floating on a rubber mat

• the circuit supports sit against an engineered cork and rubber composite with exceptional mechanical damping properties.

The internal wiring comprises a mic of solid core and multi stranded premium tinned copper, and custom silver and copper cables for the input and output connections.

On the rear panel, a fused IEC power connector, a set of Neutrik connectors and several grounding posts provide top-tier performance. The panel is customizable with a selection of over 50 sustainably sourced wood veneers, meticulously sealed with beeswax and oil for a classic finish.

Every surface is hand waxed with a polycrystalline compound, safeguarding against staining and corrosion.

The massive metal body acts as a shield, safeguarding the internal components from external interference, ensuring operation free from environmental noise.

49 dB all tube gain

0.009% THD

~100 dB SNR

600 Ohm output impedance

Impedance loading: 15, 33, 47, 60, 100 kOhm

Capacitance loading: bypass, 33, 68, 100, 220 pF

1 x pair single ended RCA outputs

1 x pair single ended RCA inputs

1 x signal grounding post

2 x chassis grounding posts

2 x XLR terminated shielded power umbilicals

2 x 35cm x 35cm x 12cm / 13.7″ x 13.7″ x 4.7″ (w x d x h)

2 × 55 lbs. / 25 kg