EAR Yoshino 912
EAR Yoshino’s 912 pairs uncompressed dynamics with an exceptionally low-noise valve presentation, preserving intensity, nuance and a broad, naturally scaled soundstage. Stereophile found its vocal presence, musical flow and retrieval of recording detail especially compelling, while its dual MM/MC phono stages, adjustable gain and balanced connectivity make it a formidable centrepiece for ambitious analogue systems.
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Deliciously Crispy
Sound Quality
95/100
Build Quality
96/100
Features Connectivity
91/100
Value for Money
88/100
Pros
Delivers unrestricted dynamics, preserving musical intensity and nuance without audible compression.
Exceptionally quiet phono performance, with very little tube rush and no hum reported.
Combines revealing detail with natural flow, strong vocal presence and a wide, deep, lifelike soundstage.
Highly flexible phono and system integration, including two phono inputs, selectable cartridge loading/gain and simultaneous RCA/XLR outputs.
Cons
Premium pricing makes it a significant investment.
With moving-magnet cartridges and the step-up transformers bypassed, the soundstage was reported as more distant.
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What Reviewers Are Saying
SOUND QUALITY PERFORMANCE 95/100
The 912 is described as exceptionally vivid, uncompressed and quiet, preserving musical intensity alongside fine recorded detail. Its presentation combines natural flow and vocal presence with a large, convincing stereo image rather than an etched or mechanical sound.
Transparency Resolution
95/100
Stereophile found tape splices, microphone punch-ins and changing room acoustics to be laid completely bare. It also reported unusually low noise, with very little tube rush and no audible hum even under a deliberately challenging grounding condition.
Tonal Balance Musicality
94/100
The review praises superb vocal presence, well-textured acoustic guitar and a notably natural sense of musical flow. Piano was said to sound “as nonmechanical as it gets,” suggesting a tube presentation that remains convincing and musically coherent rather than syrupy.
Dynamics
96/100
The 912 was never heard to compress the signal, irrespective of the record played. Music reportedly retained so much of its intensity and nuance that it was consistently compelling, with excellent momentum and freedom from strain.
Soundstage Imaging
95/100
Stereophile describes a wide, deep soundfield that could scale up further when recordings demanded it. Imaging was considered more real and lifelike than the excessively pinpoint presentation sometimes associated with high-end systems.
Assessments of Build Quality, Usability, and Overall Propositions.
Build Quality
96/100
Stereophile calls the 912 an heirloom-quality instrument and praises both its build quality and design ingenuity. Its assessment presents the EAR as a thoughtfully engineered, genuinely substantial long-term component rather than merely an expensive-looking preamplifier.
Features Connectivity
91/100
The 912 accommodates four RCA line sources, two switchable MM/MC phono inputs and two balanced XLR inputs. It also provides dual RCA and dual balanced outputs, a tape monitor, simultaneous output use for a subwoofer or other component, and selectable gain attenuation.
Value for Money
88/100
At roughly $12,000–$13,495, the 912 is plainly a premium purchase, and Stereophile explicitly notes that it is not cheap. However, the reviewer considers it a Class A preamplifier and an apex-level example of build quality and design ingenuity, supporting its standing within this rarefied segment.
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Professional reviews and sources for this product's Watt'n Potatoes analysis.
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Specifications
- Valves
- Five PCC88 (7DJ8)
- Performance
- Signal-to-nosie on Line amp: 90db (1v out ref) Distortion: >0.1% @ 1KHz 3V MC impedance: 40Ω, 12Ω, 6Ω, 3Ω MM impedance: 47Ω Phono S/Noise (unweighted): 68dB ref 2.4mV RIAA Accuracy: 0.2dB, 30hz - 20KHz
- Connectivity
- Four Line Inputs (RCA) Two Phono Inputs MM/MC (RCA) Two Balanced Inputs (XLR)
- Output
- Two Line Outputs (RCA) 5V into 600Ω Two Balanced Ouputs (XLR) 5V One Tape Monitor (RCA)
- Dimensions & Weight
- Weight: 13kg (29 lb) Length: 270 mm (10.5”) Width: 490 mm (19”) Height: 135mm (5.3”)
- Power
- Power Consumption: 30 watts 240 volt / 110 Volt / 100 Volt (depending on model)
Manufacturer's Description — EAR Yoshino
Our highest performing valve-preamp running five PCC88s. Beautiful retro VU meters gives a professional look. A pair of dedicated phonostage and balanced inputs (XLR) enable high level quality connections to give deep luscious sounds.
Inspired by Performance
The EAR 912 is a culmination of Tim de Paravicini’s work with professional studios. Specifically designed for playback in studios, inheriting the product a rich feature set in addition to its high grade sound.
Despite these advanced capabilities, it still has style and grace to make it feel at home anywhere. Subtle professional influences such as the UV meters and solid aluminium handles reinforce that this is not just another preamp.
Matching its state-of-the-art performance the 912 features a silver or black brushed anodised aluminium front facia and knobs that are beautiful yet durable.
Dial in the experience
The dual analogue VU meters on the 912 make for great viewing. Built to specified ballistic standards, the meters are fully music studio capable. With the ability to view the sound passing through, you can compensate for the variability of sources, enabling you to dial down the gain. Great for over compressed sounds without losing its dynamic range. The Phonostage’s gain can be calibrated to the tune of -6 and -12dB before being directly passed to our audio transformers.
The finest Quintet
Engineered to be EAR’s highest performing valve preamp, Tim de Paravicini’s masterpiece utilises five PCC88 valves, three for phono stage and two for line level. Leveraging the same high performing valves makes servicing and replacement easy and like with all EAR products, reliability and longevity are just as important to us as performance.
A half-dozen transformers. Not a half-hearted performance
We used six output transformers within the 912 for the creation of its excellent performance. The three pairs take care of line, balanced and phono inputs. Each a master of their task, built to fulfill a specific function. Giving each input source and its transformer the ability to sing to their precise requirement.
Better connected
With this preamp, be connected more than ever before. Capable of catering four line, two balanced and two phono stage inputs, you’ll have room to vastly expand your system.
Supplementing the large selection of inputs, you can take advantage of the two line and two balanced outputs. Allowing you to pass ultra high quality audio from the source direct to the rest of your Hi-Fi. Leaving you with the best possible experience.
Verified Dealers
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Authorized dealers for EAR Yoshino 912
- Acoustic Dimension — in-store — Steenderen, Gelderland, Netherlands (website)
- Alternative Audio — in-store — Taunton, England, United Kingdom (website)
- Altitudo Audio — online and in-store — Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada (website)
- Assai Audio — in-store — Centro, Comunidad de Madrid, Spain (website)
- Audio Aktoren — online and in-store — Horten, Vestfold, Norway (website)
- Audio Emotion — online and in-store — Glenrothes, Scotland, United Kingdom (website)
- Audio Gallery — online and in-store — Las Rozas de Madrid, Comunidad de Madrid, Spain (website)
- Audio Hum — in-store — Norte Sierra, Andalucía, Spain (website)
- Audiocompagniet — online and in-store — Odense C, Denmark (website)
- Audiophile Zone — online and in-store — Baywood-Los Osos, California, United States (website)
and 35 more verified dealers