Best Phono Preamps of All Time
Yasir Memon
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A?phono preamplifier, also known as a?phono stage, adds standardized equalization and improves the music signal produced by your record player so that you can hear it.?Without a phono preamplifier, you won’t get proper vinyl playback. The music will be very quiet and lacking bass.
While many?modern record players can produce enough volume to power your speakers or amplifier, some models need help to amplify the sound.
This is done by?the phono preamplifier, and this buying guide explains what role it plays in the sound of vinyl records. We also explain the phono preamp’s nemesis, the attenuator. If you have any further questions after reading this simple and useful guide, feel free to contact us!
Why do I need a phono preamplifier?
If your?home audio system includes a turntable, you will?always need a phono preamplifier?in the chain. Also known as a phono stage, this component is essential for playing vinyl records.
It increases the audio output of your turntable, making it compatible with?line-level amplifiers and providing the sound you can hear in your hi-fi system. At the same time, it adds standardized equalization to transform the original signal recorded in the vinyl groove, so that the tone is presented evenly.
Many?stereo amplifiers, turntables, and active speakers?now come with a?built-in phono stage, but if not, you will need to purchase a?separate phono stage to complete your vinyl system and listen to your records.
Upgrading your existing phono stage or opting for an external phono stage is also a great way to upgrade the sound of your turntable system beyond what’s possible with a built-in version, giving you the extra performance you need to add another layer of sonic depth to your vinyl.
Best Phono Preamps of All Time
1. Pro-Ject Tube Box S2 MM/MC
Most preamps?are solid state. That said, it relies on individual electronic circuits to get the job done, but that’s not the case with the?Pro-Ject Tube Box S2 MM/MC.
It uses?vacuum tubes to amplify the signal, and?tubes offer a much warmer, more earthy feel in contrast to the clean, sometimes sterile sound of electronics. It’s rare to find a tube preamp for under $500, and I was delighted when Pro-Ject released this model.
It doesn’t have the feature set or design to compete with other similarly priced preamps, such as the stylish?Cambridge Audio Alva Duo, but it does offer a different and welcome audio experience. If you want a warm, full vinyl sound and aren’t concerned with pinpoint accuracy, this is a great preamp.
One thing you won’t be able to do with the?Tube Box S2 MM/MC?is replace the tubes (at least not without some difficulty). The design of the tubes, which have cages around them, makes them difficult to replace, so?the Tube Box S2 MM/MC?isn’t the best choice for anyone who wants to tweak their sound.
If you want to stick with Pro-Ject but don’t want to mess with tubes, the company offers a great solid-state alternative called the Phono Box S2 Ultra?for about $100 less.
2. Cambridge Audio Alva Duo
For under $500, it’s hard to think of a preamp that offers this much. Not only does?the Cambridge Audio Alva Duo?sound great with great dynamic range, it also has some clever features you won’t find in other phono preamps.
This includes a headphone amplifier, which is something I’ve rarely heard in a phono stage (and certainly not something that other models can offer). The?Alva Duo supports both MM and MC cartridges, making integration a breeze.
And I appreciate little touches like the fact that the connection labels on the back are written upside down so you can read them even when you’re leaning back (really smart). What’s impressive is that the?Alva Duo packs all this into a sleek, modern design.
While the?Cambridge Audio Alva Duo offers great dynamics and stereo spread, I found the sound quality to be a little lacking. It doesn’t offer the built-in connectivity that other preamps in its price range offer.
For example, the $399?Pro-Ject Tube Box S2 MM/MC sounds much more lively, and even the?Schiit Mani 2?has a bit more drive and energy. However, in terms of combining (mostly) good sound with great features and a competitive price, I think?the Alva Duo is the winner.
3. Pro-Ject Tube Box DS2
The?Tube Box?is one of the?best phono preamps for turntables, if you want a little more tube character and plenty of room for control and future upgrades.
Quick and easy adjustments for gain and impedance/capacitance are made via the front panel. No annoying dip switches!
If you’re lucky enough to own two turntables (perhaps one as your main deck and the second as a dedicated mono turntable), you’re in luck. The?Tube Box DS2?has?two separate inputs and outputs, allowing you to seamlessly switch between the two channels and remember the settings for each channel.
It handles MM and MC cartridges comfortably and allows you to adjust settings for optimal performance according to the manufacturer's optimal load settings. Or, for a bit of artistic freedom, adjust to your taste.
4. Rega Fono MM Mk5
We’ve been consistently impressed by?Rega’s excellent (and somewhat affordable) Fono MM range, so it’s a relief to see that the latest model, with its all-new look, doesn’t sacrifice style for sound. The same Rega DNA is still present throughout the?latest Fono MM Mk5?phono stage.
No, it hasn’t changed much from its predecessor, but the Fono MM’s ability to weave music together in a secretive and cohesive way remains. When we tested the phono preamp with our?Rega Planar 3/Elys record player?(which has only a moving magnet), we were once again impressed by the unit’s fast, powerful sound, which gives real weight and passion to our favorite tracks.
Detail is also excellent, especially when it comes to vocals, allowing you to discover new layers of musicality and texture. From Beethoven to Bruce Springsteen, the?Rega Fono MM?is perfectly at home.
Rega hasn’t exactly reinvented the wheel with the Mk5 model, but that’s not necessarily a bad thing. The new case is certainly attractive enough, and its nimble, powerful performance delivers the sound you’re looking for if you want a little bite in your music.
5. ProJect Phono Box RS
This is one of the many symptoms of audiophile neurosis, the work of an obsessive madness that drives you to pursue better gear and more precise setups. Luckily,?Pro-ject Audio, in addition to making great turntables, also makes a simple solution in the form of the?Phono Box RS.
Simply put, this preamp is a tweaker’s delight. You can set the impedance and capacitance precisely to suit your cartridge’s needs, and you can do so in real time. Not satisfied? Great, what if you could use it fully balanced, with XLR input and output connections? (And vinyl is probably the best source of home audio that actually uses balanced connections.)
Still not satisfied? Great, what if you could change the entire EQ curve? In addition to the?universal RIAA settings, the?Phono Box RS can also switch to the old Decca curve, which can be really useful if you have some old material in your collection.
All of this is wrapped in a case that’s rifle-proof, and Pro-Ject even offers the option of an external power supply if you so choose. More importantly than all of this,?the Phono Box RS is a truly exceptional phono preamp.
It’s quiet even at high gain settings, and it manages to find detail in recordings that simply disappears in the mixes of some of its rivals. Pro-Ject set out to create a device that would redefine what a $1,000 preamp could do, and they pretty much succeeded.
6. Rega Fono MM MK III
Rega has been in business since 1973, and produces world-renowned audio equipment including turntables, amplifiers, phono stages, and cartridges. Thousands of audiophiles trust this name!
The?Rega Fono MM MK III?is the successor to the award-winning preamplifier of the record player?MM MK II, which boasts outstanding sound reproduction. However, there is always room for improvement, and?the MM MK III has outdone its big brother. Now it boasts even greater dynamic range and clarity.
The MM MK III?stands out from its competitors in its price range by featuring moving?magnet phono circuit technology. This technology delivers incredibly realistic reproduction of music.
The five lines of the moving magnet circuit can be adjusted in a number of ways, including treble and bass extension. That means you can hear the same sound in both the lower and higher octaves.
Think of your favorite live concert experience: the atmosphere, the vibrant energy, the unique sound of the instruments. This technology brings that experience right to your living room. Plus, the separation of instruments is perfect. It sounds rich and precise, while the bass and treble are solid without being overemphasized or missing. To be honest, I didn’t expect this kind of sound quality from this humble package!
While devices like the?Parks Audio Puffin?can offer more in terms of adjustability, the?MM MK III doesn’t overwhelm you with its setup. It delivers flawless sound straight out of the box. I remember setting it up in my home studio, dropping the needle, and it just flew. No pun intended, it’s music to your ears!
The?Rega Fono MM MK III is the best overall phono preamp?if you want beautiful, confident, and composed sound but don’t want to waste time on adjustments. Take your vinyl listening experience to the next level with this little powerhouse!
7. Schiit Mani 2
The impressive soundstage is thanks to a?high-quality passive RIAA network?that includes precision film capacitors and thin-film resistors, DC-coupled topology, and low-noise operational amplifiers from TI.
The?Mani 2?also comes with an?advanced dual-filter power supply?and a?switchable 1-pole or 2-pole passive low-pass filter?to help?reduce noise and interference?when playing?distorted records or when experiencing subsonic issues.
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The?Mani 2 can handle MM, MC, or MI cartridges?thanks to its various gain and loading settings. Users can sculpt their perfect sound by adjusting the gain setting from 33dB to 60dB, the loading setting from 47kΩ to 38Ω, and the capacitance setting. All of these settings can be easily adjusted using the eight DIP switches on the bottom of the device.
In terms of performance, the Mani 2’s tone is authentic and balanced, preserving and enhancing the dynamic range and nuances of vinyl records. This preamplifier reveals sonic subtleties in a natural, immersive way without coloring the sound in any way.
Overall, the?Schiit Mani 2?is a high-quality, customizable, and user-friendly phono preamplifier. If you’re looking to upgrade your sound, this is a product that celebrates thoughtful engineering and design in audio gear.
8. Moon 110LP v2
Despite its fancy name, the?Moon 110LP v2?does a great job of improving vinyl performance. The sleek aluminium box is finished to?Moon’s high standards and is switchable, so it can handle both moving coil and moving magnet cartridges.
If you keep it away from other mains power supplies and power cables, this phono stage is reasonably quiet and free of hum. The features are basic, but it’s clear that Moon has focused on the important part: sound quality.
So?the Moon 110LP v2 is one of the best phono preamps in this price range. It is especially well-matched to moving magnet cartridges, and it delivers a smooth, fluid and refined sound with a satisfying punch. I like the way the stereo imaging remains stable even with demanding music. It is a great performance. It is rewarding to listen to music with a delicate touch.
Moving coil cartridges limit the large dynamics a bit and give a softer bass, but you’ll pay half the price to get a phono stage that does a much better job. If you’re looking for a quality,?affordable phono stage, this?award-winning little box is definitely worth a listen.
9. Parks Audio Puffin
Parks Audio?is a family-owned brand known for making high-quality audio gear, and the?Puffin phono preamp?is a great example of this.
First of all, this model works with?MM and MC cartridges, so you can change the cartridge in your TT without changing the preamp. Secondly, it provides accurate and consistent sound reproduction, so even if you leave the settings at 0, every note comes through vividly. But what I like most about the Puffin is how flexible it is. The amount of valuable features is almost endless.
With a gain setting range of -4dB (CD) to 72dB (MC), you can precisely tailor your listening experience to your liking. So no matter what kind of music you like, the Puffin has you covered! Next, the innovative Magic lessens feature lets you silence annoying ticks and pops without disturbing the sound at all.
Depending on your mood, you can use the Warm Tone control to make your music sound warmer or colder. You can also modify the?bass, treble, soundstage, air, 4th HPF, and LPF.
Passionate listeners will love?Puffin’s Azimuth setting, which helps you fine-tune the left and right channels independently. This gives you even more control over the sound of your music.
Finally,?Puffin’s Sweep and RPM tests?are a great way to experiment with?audio sound quality. Thanks to these features, you can sweep through the entire frequency range of your music and see how it sounds at different levels.
Whether you’re a beginner or a seasoned vinyl collector, the?Parks Audio Puffin?has a lot to offer. It’s powerful and versatile, boasts a ton of intelligent features, and it’s affordable. You won’t need to upgrade for years to come!
10. NAD PP 2e
In terms of sound quality, the?NAD PP 2e?is buttery smooth. You get a gorgeous, rich tone that’s not overcooked, and great transient speed. It’s clean and balanced, but never sterile.
In this department,?the NAD PP 2e is a step up from the likes of the ART DJPREII and the Schiit Mani 2, and while you can get better sounding preamps for a bit more money (check out the Cambridge preamp above), the PP 2e is a great midrange amp. At under $200, it’s a bargain.
However, the NAD PP 2e is quite lacking in features. It can only switch between MM and MC cartridges. Given its great sound, that’s not a huge deal, but if you want a preamp with more features, you’ll want to look elsewhere.
One option to consider in that regard is the?new NAD PP4, which offers additional features, including a USB input and a full DAC section. However, at $229, it’s a bit pricey, and there are better options on this list. For example, the Schiit Mani 2 offers four switchable gain modes for a cheaper price.
11. Vertere Phono-1 MkII L
Vertere already had a great phono stage, but this updated version has achieved a significant performance boost thanks to careful care and polishing of the circuit board and power supply. The neat little box remains intact, with the only addition to the design being an orange power LED.
The?new Phono-1 MkII L?is a great performer, with useful features and tweaks to help you get the most out of any cartridge. It’s a pleasure to listen to, with a detailed and musical delivery.
We like the scale of the performance and the way the Vertere conveys the seismic dynamic changes of a recording with great enthusiasm. As with the previous generation (and the award-winning one), our biggest takeaway from listening to this phono stage is that it makes listening to music interesting and, if necessary, fun. And what more could you ask for in a hi-fi product?
If you own a previous version of the?Phono-1, don’t be afraid to upgrade to this new version. If you’re a new buyer, don’t hesitate to pick this up. It’s a clear upgrade and worth the price increase. Given the right source of talent and system, this is one of the?best phono stages we’ve heard in this price range.
12. iFi Audio Zen Phono
The?folks at iFi Audio?have recently completely redesigned their lineup, and the?new Zen Phono?certainly stands out with its simple design and rich, warm sound.
Overall, we prefer the?Schiit Mani 2, which we think has a bit more life and energy for a cheaper price, but there’s no denying that the Zen Phono’s audio quality is excellent. There’s also a filter to handle slightly warped records.
Depending on whether you use an?MM or MC cartridge, you can get a variety of settings from the Zen Phono, but this highlights the preamp’s biggest weakness.
It has a fixed load depending on the gain, and if you use a low-output cartridge like the Ortofon, you may not get the results you want. This, plus the fact that there are so many excellent competitors in this price range, means that the?Zen Phono is a good, but not great, phono preamp.
FAQs
What is a phono preamp?
This?type of ‘preamp’ amplifies the phono signal. The?record player's needle picks up a weak signal from the vinyl, which is then?amplified to balance out the lows and highs.
In the 1950s, everyone in the music industry agreed to continue making records according to the?RIAA (Recording Industry Association of America)?standard.
This ensured that as much well-recorded music could be put on one side of the record as possible. To do this, the recording process required the lows to be 'attenuated' by 20dB, and the highs to be boosted by 20dB. This is because low frequencies have a longer wavelength, so they take up more space.
By reducing these frequencies, more songs could be put on the record, and the needle could register the signal more easily. A?phono preamp basically reverses this process, boosting the lows by 20dB and cutting the highs by the same amount. The signal is then amplified overall and sent to a 'line' level amplifier, DJ mixer, or pair of active speakers.
Do I need a phono preamp?
If your?record player has a button to switch between phono and line signals,?you don't need a phono preamp. It's that simple. When connecting your player to the line input, make sure the button is set to 'Line'. Select 'Phono' whenever connecting to a special phono input.
The input type will almost always be indicated on your amplifier or mixer. If not, it is safe to assume that what you are looking at is a line input. If your turntable does not have a line/phono switch, it will use a phono signal (unless otherwise stated in the device or its user manual).
In this case,?you can only connect it to a device that has a phono input. If your amplifier, mixer, or active speakers do not have one of these, you will need a phono preamplifier.
What is the difference between a phono preamp and an attenuator?
While a?preamplifier amplifies sound, an attenuator does the opposite, attenuating sound. Therefore, an attenuator is used to reduce the line signal of a given audio device to make it compatible with devices that only have a phono input (such as older amplifiers and mixers). These days, most devices are equipped with at least one line input, so they are rarely used.
What inputs can I find on a phono preamp?
The?most common preamp connection is RCA, which can be identified by two red and white plugs or sockets. The same goes for record players, and you’ll find at least one RCA input on most amplifiers, mixers, and active speakers. However, some phono preamps also offer (professional) connections such as?XLR, USB or S/PDIF.
Is a separate phono stage better?
As with many standalone hi-fi kits, the theory is that using separate kits for individual tasks almost always delivers a better sound. In a turntable setup, it is preferable to have as much of the circuitry away from the platter, tonearm and cartridge as possible, so that there are no microscopic vibrations or electrical interference that can affect the cartridge’s very precise job of accurately tracking the tiny grooves on the record and reproducing the sound.
While many turntables come with a decent enough phono stage built-in, I have always found that a separate phono stage with its own power supply delivers better performance.
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