SUGDEN PREAMP WAL AC FARNELL

[Hifibythekg]

Are there any Sugden fans who might be able to shed some light on this unit?

Beautiful wiring, soldering and the feeling throughout of an utterly hand assembled unit but would appreciate some more insight and background.

I think WAL stands for Wellington Acoustic Laboratories, more than that I don’t know.

Would be grateful if anyone can comment on its likely sound quality.

To work as a phono preamp would it require an outboard RIAA?

What would be its best role in a system? Could it work as just a sitting box?

I haven’t yet fired connected it up, are there any readings I could check with a DMM?

 

[Hifibythekg]

 

[totem]

To work as a phono preamp would it require an outboard RIAA?

Yes including a voltage step up, commonly a single unit being a phono preamp.

 

[Hifibythekg]

Thanks.
What would be required to convert this unit into a phono preamp? Is such a conversion a possibility?

 

[totem]

I was to quick to say it has no ability to play a record perhaps a ceramic cartridge.
I'll stop now before I gum things up further.

 

[Hifibythekg]

Just adding some info and readings to this thread, my apologies for the long radio silence.
Looking at these readings below, can anyone advise as to whether they look fine or are there any issues about which I should be concerned? Naturally, I don't want to risk any damge to my amplifiers or speakers (vintage Celestion Ditton 66's with hard to source replacements..)

My intention is to try it out as a phono amp which will then be connected to a pre amp (NAD 3020A pre section) which will in turn be connected to a power amp.
I realise that an RIAA circuit of some sort may have to be added to make this work satisfactorily.

Does any one particular channel look to have better readings than the rest?
And any to be avoided?

The chart below displays the DMM DC readings in mV for each of the I/O sockets.
The I/O socket from which the reading was taken are written in capitals at the top of the columns.
The position setting on the rotary lever switch are written in lower case at the right hand end of the rows.
When the rotary switch was turned a higher reading (90mV, 70mV, even a 170mV) would briefly flicker in between the detents of the selector registering in the new setting. Is this a concern? Would these mV's likely produce a loud signal / sound further along the system?