Goldmund Memesis 7 Preamp (SkyFi Restored) w/MC Phono + Penny & Giles Volume Control

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We took no shortcuts in restoring this beautiful piece from Swiss maker Goldmund.

The Mimesis 7 includes a very capable MC (Moving-Coil) phono section worthy of this investment in time and materials. The build quality is exemplary and only matched by a few other brands like Nagra, Soulution, and T+A HiFi.

This Mimesis is the rare version featuring a Penny & Giles volume potentiometer and the upgraded A2 modules in the gain stage.

As you can see from the pictures we replaced over 40 components including caps and transistors that were either failing or had potential to fail.

Don't take a chance on a Goldmund that has not undergone this level of work as it will likely turn to tears.

In my opinion you would have to spend upwards of $10k today to purchase a preamp of this quality and construction.

"One of the most transparent pre-amps that you can own. Pin point imaging, extremely clear accurate mid and high end. Natural bass with no bloating or bloom. Soundstage that goes to the back wall. On par with the Spectral DMC30. More definition, detail and clarity than most contemporary Mark Levinson and Krell pre-amps. Truly a bargain if you can locate one." - User Review

SkyFi Restoration Notes:

• The Memesis 7 does not have a power switch. It is always on as long as it is plugged in. This preamp runs hot by design and after being left on for many years the components begin to degrade. This unit underwent a full electronic restoration which has given it a new lease on life. We still recommend unplugging the preamp when not in use or putting it on a power controller with a switched outlet to extend its life as much as possible.
• The electronic restoration included replacement of every electrolytic capacitor in the unit. We also rebuilt the power supply with new silicon devices and added heat sinks to some of the transistors, a feature which appears in later Goldmund designs. The small signal transistors in the phono preamp have also been replaced.
• Post restoration testing revealed that this preamp has a very capable and extremely quiet MC phono stage.
• The Penny & Giles attenuator control is also very luxurious to use.

Features:

• Phono stage has MC modules loaded and has a high/low gain switch.

SkyFi Cosmetic Notes:

• Some bottom screws missing.
• Marks on bottom cover from previous adhesive feet.

Recommended Cables:

Kimber Kable - RCA Interconnects - Better

Kimber Kable - RCA Interconnects - Best

Kimber Kable - Phono Interconnects - Better

Kimber Kable - Flagship Tonearm Interconnects - Best

Kimber Kable - Power Cords - Better

Kimber Kable - Power Cords - Best

The SkyFi Testing Process for Preamplifiers:

We start with a visual inspection of all internal components to make sure that there are no signs of heat stress or damage. Capacitors are checked for telltale signs of predictive failure including bulging, shrunken wrappers, or physical leakage. We also inspect the PCBs for discoloration from resistors or transistors that may have been running hot. On vintage units we often spot check select capacitors for value and ESR.

When we first power on a preamplifier we connect its RCA output to a Sencore PA81 Power Analyzer which simulates real world loading conditions and gives us an oscilloscope interface. The first order of business is checking that the volume control works smoothly throughout its entire range with acceptable channel balance. This is accomplished by feeding a 1KHz sine wave into one of the preamp’s line level inputs while monitoring the preamp’s output on an oscilloscope. We then switch to a 1KHz square wave to test the tone controls, loudness function, and filters where applicable. During this step we are watching for equal alteration of the test signal by both channels. This also helps us identify dirty controls that will need treatment. Once the basic line stage functions are verified, we test each input individually. This is especially important for devices that use relays to select their sources. If the preamp is equipped with a phono stage we test that as well. We use an inverse RIAA filter which allows us to feed a reference test signal into the phono input with the proper RIAA equalization and level. A square wave or sine sweep is used to verify that the device’s phono stage is faithfully reproducing the RIAA curve. If the preamp under test has balanced inputs and/or outputs these are tested as well.

We finish up our bench testing with a listening test with our bench amplifier and reference speakers. During this test we check for hum or hiss that may not have shown up in earlier testing. We also check that all of the tone controls and filters perform as expected. If the preamplifier has remote control functions these are also tested. Preamps with tube circuits or complicated power supply topologies are connected at our long term test rig for extended stress testing under real world conditions.