AkitikA EE-101 User manual

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EE-101
ASSEMBLY MANUAL
© 2018 AkitikA LLC
All rights reserved
Revision 1p05 June 30, 2018

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Table of Contents
Table of Contents ................................................................................................................ 2
Table of Figures .................................................................................................................. 3
Section 1: About This Manual ............................................................................................ 4
Who Should Attempt this Project? ................................................................................. 4
Tools you’ll need ............................................................................................................ 4
Helpful Tools .................................................................................................................. 4
Project Overview ............................................................................................................ 4
Important Safety Notes ................................................................................................... 5
About Components ......................................................................................................... 5
Recommended Solder ..................................................................................................... 5
Warranty ......................................................................................................................... 5
Section 2: About Building the Kit ...................................................................................... 6
Section 3: Building the Power Supply PCB ....................................................................... 7
Component Order............................................................................................................ 7
Install the Diodes ............................................................................................................ 8
Install the Resistors ......................................................................................................... 8
Install the non-polarized Capacitors ............................................................................... 8
Install the Not so Tall Polarized Capacitors ................................................................... 9
Install the Tall Polarized capacitors ................................................................................ 9
Install the Regulators and Heat Sinks ............................................................................. 9
Install the voltage select jumpers .................................................................................. 11
Power Supply Inspection .............................................................................................. 12
Section 4: Chassis Assembly and Power Wiring .............................................................. 12
Protect your EE-101 ...................................................................................................... 12
Install the feet ................................................................................................................ 12
Install the Power Switch and Power Entrance Connector ............................................ 13
Wire up the power ......................................................................................................... 13
Install the Great Ground Kit ......................................................................................... 14
Install the Pilot Light .................................................................................................... 15
Install the Power Supply and Toroidal Transformer ..................................................... 15
Fasten the transformer in place ..................................................................................... 17
Testing the Power Supply ............................................................................................. 18
Build the Phono Preamp ............................................................................................... 19
Connect the Plus/Minus 12-volt wiring ........................................................................ 20
Wire up the Volume Control and Output Connectors .................................................. 20
Install the Wall .............................................................................................................. 21
Install the Volume Control............................................................................................ 22
Install the PHONOZ PCB ............................................................................................. 22
Install the Output RCA Jacks ........................................................................................ 23
Install the knob .............................................................................................................. 23
Final Test and Configuration ........................................................................................ 23
Using the EE101 Phono Preamp ................................................................................... 24

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Table of Figures
Figure 1-Empty the power supply components into a soup bowl ....................................... 7
Figure 2-Component side of power supply PCB before loading ........................................ 7
Figure 3-Assembling Heatsink to a Regulator .................................................................... 9
Figure 4-Solder heat sink mounting rods to retain the heat sink ...................................... 10
Figure 5-Completed power supply with 120-volt jumpers installed ................................ 10
Figure 6-Jumper installation for 120 Volt Operation ....................................................... 11
Figure 7-240 Volt jumper locations .................................................................................. 11
Figure 8-Install 4 feet with 4-40x5/16" silver colored screws .......................................... 12
Figure 9-Install power entrance connector and power switch .......................................... 13
Figure 10-Install #6 toothed lug on 18 AWG green wire ................................................. 13
Figure 11-Attach ground wire to chassis with 6-32x3/8” black oxide screw and 6-32 nut
........................................................................................................................................... 13
Figure 12-Install the black wire and bend the lug for the ground wire so it clears the black
wire ................................................................................................................................... 14
Figure 13-Add the Great Ground kit to the back panel .................................................... 14
Figure 14-Install the pilot light ......................................................................................... 15
Figure 15-loop and tape the unused red and black wires .................................................. 16
Figure 16-Dress the transformer wires along the side ...................................................... 17
Figure 17-Connecting power supply FASTONs............................................................... 17
Figure 18-Transformer mounting arrangement ................................................................ 18
Figure 19-Pre-wire the input RCA jacks .......................................................................... 19
Figure 20-Installing RCA input jacks ............................................................................... 20
Figure 21-install the RCA input jacks with the wires you installed in the previous step . 20
Figure 22-Wiring the volume control ............................................................................... 21
Figure 23-connecting PHONOZ to shorter volume control shielded cables .................... 21
Figure 24-Installing the wall ............................................................................................. 22
Figure 25-volume control mounting hardware ................................................................. 22
Figure 26-Detail showing RCA jack installation .............................................................. 23
Figure 27-Assembled EE101 with the lid removed .......................................................... 24

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Section 1: About This Manual
This manual gives the information needed to build all the variations of Akitika LLC’s
EE-101 Stereo Preamplifier. It covers:
 EE-101, a complete stand-alone moving-magnet phono preamp based on the
acclaimed PHONOZ phono-section, with an internal power supply, selectable
cartridge loading, selectable gain, selectable high pass filter, and a volume
control.
 EE-101NP, which contains just the enclosure and power supply (NP stands for No
Phono Preamp).
 EE101MECH, just the enclosure and enclosure hardware, power entrance
connector, and power switch. It does not include the power supply.
Who Should Attempt this Project?
You can build this kit if you can:
1. Solder (using normal rosin core solder and a soldering iron).
2. Use simple hand tools like screwdrivers, wire cutters, and pliers.
3. Read and follow directions.
It helps if you:
1. know a bit about electronics, or
2. have a friend who knows a bit about electronics
3. can get to YouTube to watch a few helpful videos about the assembly process
(none are posted as of this version of the manual).
Tools you’ll need
You’ll need the following tools:
1. Phillips screwdriver (#1 and #2)
2. Pliers or nut drivers suitable for #4 and #6 hardware
3. needle nose pliers (helpful, but not strictly necessary)
4. pencil type soldering iron of 25 to 50 Watts (no huge honking soldering guns or
blowtorches)
5. wire cutters and strippers
6. multi-meter to measure power supply voltages and confirm resistor values
(strongly recommended)!
Helpful Tools
These tools aren’t strictly necessary, but they make building the kit easier.
1. magnifying glass, if you’re over 42!
2. lead bending jig to form axial component leads to the correct span for insertion in
the PCB.
Project Overview
The project consists of the following steps:
1. Building these circuit boards:
a. Power Supply

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b. Phono Preamp
2. Install and wire the circuit boards, switches, connectors, and power transformer
into the chassis.
3. Wire up the volume control.
4. Finish mechanical assembly.
Important Safety Notes
By purchasing, using, or assembling this kit, you have agreed to hold Akitika LLC
harmless for any injuries you may receive in its assembly and/or use. To prevent injuries:
 Wear safety glasses when soldering or clipping wires to prevent eye injuries.
 Always unplug the power before working on the amplifier.
 Large capacitors hold lots of energy for a long time. Before you put your hands
into the amplifier:
o Pull the AC plug!
o Wait 2 full minutes for the capacitors to discharge!
 Remove jewelry and rings from your hands and wrists, or anything that might
dangle into the amplifier.
 If working one the equipment with the power on, keep one hand in your pocket,
especially if you’re near the power supply or power supply wires. This can
prevent serious shocks.
 Build with a buddy nearby. If you’ve ignored all the previous advice, they can
dial 911 or get you to the hospital.
 Read and understand the safety manuals of all the tools you use.
About Components
We reserve the right to make design/or component changes at any time without prior
notification.
Recommended Solder
The kit must be assembled with 60/40 Rosin Core solder. The recommended diameter is
0.031-0.032 inches. Among many such sources of solder, I have used KESTER part
number 32117. It is a 1-pound spool of solder, which is much more than you’ll need to
assemble the PR-101 kit. This is standard 60% Tin 40% lead solder with a rosin core.
Warranty
With the exception of fuses, Akitika will replace for free any parts of a correctly
assembled kit that fail within one year of the date of purchase when the kit has been used
in home stereo applications. It is the responsibility of the kit builder to install the
replacement part(s). This warranty applies to the original purchaser only. It does not
apply to units that have been physically or electrically abused, modified without prior
factory authorization, or assembled with other than 60/40 Rosin Core solder. Akitika
LLC’s liability shall in no event exceed the cost paid to Akitika LLC for the kit.

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Section 2: About Building the Kit
Yes, I know you want to ignore this section, and jump right into building the kit.
However, please take a minute and read the advice of this section. I’ve condensed it into
bullets so that even you guys who are in a hurry can benefit.
 There are at most (depending upon your kit) 2 PCB’s to build:
o Power supply
o PHONOZ Preamp board
 Stop any time you’re feeling confused, tired, or anxious. Taking breaks at those
strategic times will keep the build enjoyable and greatly enhance your chances of
first-time success.
 Finish one PCB before you build the next.
 A soup bowl is your friend. Before you build a board, carefully empty the parts
for only that board into a broad, flat, light colored soup bowl. That makes it easy
to find the parts and keeps them from getting lost.
 A digital ohm-meter is the easy way to make sure that you’ve picked the right
resistor. It’s a great cross-check on the resistor color code. Measure twice and
solder once!
 A lead-bending jig can make for quicker, neater assembly. It’s certainly not
necessary.
 Is something in this manual confusing? Does something look wrong? Send your
questions by email to [e-mail]. You’ll help yourself and everyone who
builds the kit.

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Section 3: Building the Power Supply PCB
This section details the process of building the power supply circuit board. Begin by
carefully emptying the contents of the envelope marked “EE-101 Power Supply” into a
broad soup bowl, as shown below. In general, you’ll start with the components that lay
closest to the board, working your way towards the taller components.
Figure 1-Empty the power supply components into a soup bowl
Component Order
Figure 2-Component side of power supply PCB before loading
You’ll notice that the component designations in the directions don’t go exactly in order.
We have grouped them so that all components with the same value appear together. This
makes assembly easier. You’ll find in the parts kit that similar parts, e.g. 3 1K resistors,
are typically (though not always) taped together.

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Install the Diodes
In general, you install axial leaded components (like the 1N4004 diodes) by placing the
body on the silk screen side of the board, and the leads through the indicated holes. Bend
the leads over on the back of the board to keep the component from falling out until you
solder them in place. Try to bend the leads in a direction that won’t lead to solder bridges
between traces that should remain disconnected.
We recommend the following procedure:
1. Insert all components of the same value or type
2. Bend the leads as described above.
3. Solder the leads on the back of the board.
4. Clip the leads.
Track your progress by placing a check-mark in the done column as you install each
component.
Diodes – Polarity is important!
Make sure that the banded ended of the diode matches the banded end of the silk screen
Use 0.4” spacing for lead
-
bending jig (optional)
Designation
Type
Rating, Marking
Done? (

)
D1
1N
4004
400 PIV 1 Amp, 4004
D2
1N4004
400 PIV 1 Amp, 4004
D3
1N4004
400 PIV 1 Amp, 4004
D4
1N4004
400 PIV 1 Amp, 4004
D5
1N4004
400 PIV 1 Amp, 4004
D6
1N4004
400 PIV 1 Amp, 4004
D7
1N4004
400 PIV 1 Amp, 4004
D8
1N4004
400 PIV 1 Amp, 4004
Install the Resistors
Resistors
Use 0.4” spacing for lead
-
bending jig (optional)
Designation
Value
Color Code
Done? (

)
R1
2K00
Red, Black, Black, Brown, Brown
R2
10
Brown, Black, Black, Gold, Brown
Install the non-polarized Capacitors
The capacitors we install in this section can be installed in either orientation.
Non Polarized Capacitors
Designation
Value
Rating, Marking
Done? (

)
C9
0.1 µF
100 V Film, µ1J100
C10
0.1 µF
100 V Film, µ1J100
C11
0.1 µF
100 V Film, µ1J100
C12
0.1 µF
100 V Film, µ1J
100
C7
0.01 µF
400 V Mylar, 10n (stands for 10 nano
-
Farads)
C8 0.033
µF
300 V AC, box shaped cap

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Install the Not so Tall Polarized Capacitors
It’s important to install these caps with the proper polarity. The negative end of the cap is
marked with a minus sign. The silk screen on the board marks where the positive end of
the cap goes. Make sure that the negative end of the cap is away from the plus sign on the
circuit board.
Polarized Capacitors
–
polarity matters!
Designation
Value
Rating
Done? (

)
C3
22 µF
35 V electrolytic
C4
22 µF
35 V electrolytic
C5
22 µF
35 V electrolytic
C6
22 µF
35 V electrolytic
Install the Tall Polarized capacitors
Polarized Capacitors
–
polarity matters!
D
ouble check the rated voltage
!
C1
33
00 µF
35 V electroly
tic
C2
33
00 µF
35 V electrolytic
Figure 3-Assembling Heatsink to a Regulator
Install the Regulators and Heat Sinks
For each of the two regulators (U$1 and U$2), the installation process is the same, with
the result as shown in Figure 3Error! Reference source not found..
 Smear a thin film of thermal compound on back of the regulator. Be careful not to
get thermal compound on the leads of the regulator.
 Fasten the regulator to a heat-sink using a 6-32x3/8” Phillips pan-head screw and
a 6-32 keps nut.
 Tighten the hardware finger tight while keeping everything at right angles. This
will let you tweak the position of the regulator so that everything will fit.

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 Follow the silk screen outlines and install each heatsink/regulator assembly into
its correct place on the board, as indicated in the table below. Double check that
you have the correct regulator in the correct spot.
 The silver colored mounting rods on the bottom of the heat sink fit into pads on
the PCB.
 Hold the heat sink flush against the PCB and solder the mounting rods to the
mounting tabs. Note that it takes a lot of heat and time, as you have to warm up
the heat sinks pretty well to get the solder to flow.
 Solder the regulator leads into the PCB.
 Tighten the screw and nut that hold each regulator in place.
Regulators – orientation matters! Double check the part numbers. They are not
interchangeable!
Designation
Value
Rating
Done? (

)
U$1
7812
12 V positive regulator
U$2
7912
12 V negative regulator
Figure 4-Solder heat sink mounting rods to retain the heat sink
Figure 5-Completed power supply with 120-volt jumpers installed

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Install the voltage select jumpers
The EE-101 may be wired for either 120 Volt or 240-volt operation. This is done by
adding jumpers to the power supply board in the marked places. Use the supplied red 22
AWG wire.
The jumper locations for 120 and 240 Volt operation are shown in the following figures.
 For 120 Volts, use Figure 6.
 For 240 Volts, use Figure 7.
Figure 6-Jumper installation for 120 Volt Operation
Figure 7-240 Volt jumper locations

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Power Supply Inspection
Recheck your work to verify:
1. Correct diode polarity.
2. Correct polarity of polarized capacitors
3. Correct location of power supply voltage selection jumpers for the intended
power source (either 120V or 240 V)
4. Verify that all installed components have been soldered.
Section 4: Chassis Assembly and Power Wiring
We’ll take a detour from PCB assembly to do some of the chassis assembly. This will
give you a safe way to power up and test the power supply.
Protect your EE-101
Spread a towel over your work surface before you begin the steps outlined in this section.
That towel will prevent you from scratching the finish of your EE -101 during these
assembly steps.
Install the feet
Install the four feet into the corners of the bottom of the chassis using 4-40 x 5/16”
Phillips head screws (these are zinc-plated, so will look silver). Snug the screws, but
don’t over-tighten. Installing the feet will protect the bottom of the chassis from damage.
Figure 8-Install 4 feet with 4-40x5/16" silver colored screws

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Install the Power Switch and Power Entrance Connector
Figure 9-Install power entrance connector and power switch
Install the power entrance connector. Watch the orientation. The fuse drawer must be at
the bottom of the chassis.
Install the power switch. Make sure that the 0 on the switch is down, and the | on the
switch is up.
The holes for both components are snug, and there will be a bit of paint on the edges of
the holes that may make it a bit difficult to insert them. With a bit of persistence, both
will install, perhaps after a few colorful words.
Wire up the power
Locate the green 18 AWG wire with a FASTON on one side. Strip ¼” of insulation from
the plain end. Form a loop and crimp that end around a #6 toothed lug. Solder the lug to
the wire.
Figure 10-Install #6 toothed lug on 18 AWG green wire
Fasten the lug to the chassis using a 6-32x3/8” black oxide screw and a plain 6-32 nut.
Orient the lug as shown and tighten the nut well.
Figure 11-Attach ground wire to chassis with 6-32x3/8” black oxide screw and 6-32 nut

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Add the black wire with FAST-ONS on both ends between the power entrance connector
and switch as shown in Figure 12.
Figure 12-Install the black wire and bend the lug for the ground wire so it clears the black wire
Install the Great Ground Kit
Figure 13-Add the Great Ground kit to the back panel
Locate the Great Ground Kit shipped as part of the EE101. Then:
1. Install the screw from the inside of the chassis.
2. Install the 6-32 keps nut from the outside of the chassis.
3. Tighten the screw and nut (5/16” nut-driver) pretty well to assure good contact
with the chassis.

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4. Spin the brass thumb-nut onto the great ground assembly, but only make it finger
tight.
Install the Pilot Light
Insert the leads of the pilot light through the front panel. Thread the red and black wire
through the supplied mounting nut. Tighten the nut finger-tight, then do your best to
reach in there with needle-nose pliers to snug up the mounting nut. It just has to be tight
enough so that the pilot light doesn’t rattle in the hole.
Figure 14-Install the pilot light
Install the Power Supply and Toroidal Transformer
Locate the following items:
1. The power supply PCB you assembled earlier.
2. The short 18 AWG white wire with a FASTON on the end.
3. The short 18 AWG black wire with a FASTON on the end.
4. The toroidal power transformer.
Install the power supply and toroidal transformer by performing the following steps:
1. Strip ¼” from the white FASTON wire.
2. Insert the stripped end of the white wire into the component side of the AC1 hole
of the PCB. Solder it on the solder side.
3. Strip ¼” from the black FASTON wire.
4. Insert the stripped end of the black wire into the component side of the AC2 hole
of the PCB. Solder it on the solder side.
5. Connect the transformer for the power supply:
a. Cut the purple, green, and orange wires to 8.5” length.
b. Strip 1/4” of insulation from the end of each wire.
c. Twist and tin each wire.
d. Braid the three wires together.
e. Insert the purple wire from the component side of the board into the hole
marked PRPL. Solder it on the solder side.
f. Insert the green wire from the component side of the board into the hole
marked GRN. Solder it on the solder side.
g. Insert the orange wire from the component side of the board into the hole
marked ORNG. Solder it on the solder side.
h. Cut ½” from the end of both the red and black wires. They will not be
used. Cover the end of the red wire with a piece of masking tape. Cover
the end of the black wire with a piece of masking tape.

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i. Leave the brown and blue wires full length. If one wire is a bit longer than
the other, shorten the longer wire. There should be about ¼” of
uninsulated wire at the ends. Twist and tin each end separately. Twist the
brown and blue wires together (but keep the bare ends separate).
j. Insert the brown wire from the component side of the board into the hole
marked BROWN. Solder it on the solder side.
k. Insert the blue wire from the component side of the board into the hole
marked BLUE. Solder it on the solder side.
l. Leave the gray and white wires full length. If one wire is a bit longer than
the other, shorten the longer wire. There should be about ¼” of
uninsulated wire at the ends. Twist and tin each end separately. Twist the
gray and white wires together (but keep the bare ends separate).
m.
Figure 15-loop and tape the unused red and black wires
n. Insert the gray wire from the component side of the board into the hole
marked GRAY. Solder it on the solder side.
o. Insert the white wire from the component side of the board into the hole
marked WHITE. Solder it on the solder side.
6. Connect the pilot light LED to the power supply:
a. Solder the red wire from the black/red pair to the X1 lead marked with the
plus sign. Insert it from the component side and solder it on the solder
side.
b. Solder the red wire from the black/red pair to the X1 lead marked with the
minus sign. Insert it from the component side and solder it on the solder
side.
7. Set the power supply and transformer into the enclosure.
a. Guide the transformer wires along the side of the enclosure.

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b. Insert four 4-40x1/4” sems screws through holes at the ends of the PCB,
through the standoffs in the box. This will keep the PCB safely located for
the next test.
Figure 16-Dress the transformer wires along the side
8. Connect the black FASTON to the top switch terminal.
9. Connect the white FASTON to the center terminal on the power entry connector.
10. Connect the green FASTON to the top terminal on the power entry connector.
Figure 17-Connecting power supply FASTONs
Fasten the transformer in place
Locate the following items that are used to mount the transformer to the chassis.
1. Rubber spacer, about 2” in diameter, qty 2
2. 8-32x1.5” screw
3. 8-32 nut
4. Dished metal washer, about 2” in diameter
Use them as shown in Figure 18 to hold the transformer in place. The dished washer
depression points toward the chassis floor.

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Figure 18-Transformer mounting arrangement
Testing the Power Supply
Locate the following items:
1. IEC power cord
2. Fuses
a. 5x20 mm 125 mA slow blow, qty 2 for 120 Volt operation, or
b. 5x20 mm 62 mA slow blow, qty 2 for 240 Volt operation
To test the power supply:
1. Open the fuse drawer in the power entry connector. Install both fuses, the active
fuse and the spare fuse.
2. Turn off the power switch.
3. Connect the power cord to the IEC connector and to the wall socket.
4. Turn on the power switch. The following things should happen:
a. The pilot light should illuminate
b. Measure between any POS12 and Ground. The DC voltage should be
between 11.4 and 12.6 Volts DC.
c. Measure between any NEG12 and Ground. The DC voltage shall be
between -11.4 Volts and -12.6 Volts.
If the power supply passes the tests, go on to the next section. If it didn’t pass the tests:
1. Make sure that the wall socket is live.
2. Remove the power cord and check to see if the fuse has blown.
3. If the voltages are present, but funny…double check the regulators to assure that
you haven’t swapped them.
4. If none of those items help, send an email to da[email protected], with the name of
this produce (EE101) and a description of the symptoms. Pictures of the front and
back of the power supply PCB would also be helpful.

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Build the Phono Preamp
If you are building theEE101 (enclosure, power supply and phono preamp) then you will
build the phono preamp using the directions for building the phono preamp which you
will find on the Akitika web site. Please note the following differences:
1. Don’t install the mounting brackets supplied with the PHONOZ kit. You will
instead use the 4-40x1/4” SEMS screws provided to mount the PHONOZ kit.
Note that although there are 5 stand-offs in the chassis where the PHONOZ will
be installed, they are only 4 mounting holes in the PHONOZ PCB. Do not install
the assembled PHONOZ kit at this time. It will be installed later.
2. Don’t install the shielded cable that connects to the output of the PHONOZ. You
will pre-wire those cables to the volume control in the next section.
3. Don’t install the black front panel of the PHONOZ1. Instead, you will mount the
RCA phono socket inputs into EE101 left and right input positions.
a. Pre-wire the jacks using 1” pieces of bare wire harvested from the ends of
resistors used to build the phono preamp. Please refer to Figure 1Figure
19.
b. Install the phono socket with the RED ring into the Right Channel input
(bottom) position.
c. Install the phono socket with the BLACK ring into the Left Channel input
(bottom) position.
d. Figure 20 shows the placement of the RCA jacks, shoulder washer, and
nut.
Figure 19-Pre-wire the input RCA jacks
1 If I’ve packed things correctly, it won’t be included with the version of the PHONOZ kit provided as part
of the EE101.

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Figure 20-Installing RCA input jacks
Figure 21-install the RCA input jacks with the wires you installed in the previous step
If the insulating washers and RCA jacks are installed correctly, there will be no
connection between the grounds of the RCA jacks and chassis at this step of the
assembly. Use an ohmmeter between the GREAT GND terminal and the ground lugs of
the RCA jacks. It should show infinite ohms, indicating an open circuit.
Connect the Plus/Minus 12-volt wiring
The normal build-procedure for the PHONOZ included installation of power wiring (+12,
-12, and ground. Connect those power wires to the POS12_1, NEG12_1, and GND_1
terminals of the power supply PCB. Insert the wires from the component side and solder
them on the solder side.
Wire up the Volume Control and Output Connectors
Locate the following items:
1. VC-102 Volume Control Kit. It contains a volume control, knob, and the shielded
cable used to hook everything up.
2. The GP101 kit, which contains two gold-plated RCA jacks (includes insulating
washers, mounting nuts, and ground lugs):
a. One with a RED ID ring for the right channel.
b. One with a Black ID ring for the left channel.
Pre-wire the volume control and output jacks according to the following diagram.
Prepare 4 pieces of shielded cable according to Appendix 1 and Figure 22.
 For right channel cables, use the red wire and the drain.
 For left channel cables, use the black wire and the drain.