For all the convenience that streaming music services and Internet radio provides, an argument can be made that nothing connects music fans better to their favorite artists than analog audio like vinyl. Many consider vinyl to be a labor of love, and it’s that “labor” that helps music lovers to develop their affinity for the format. But breaking down that labor means diving in to the components necessary to spin vinyl. Moving beyond the obvious need for a turntable, one of the first questions asked as far as customization is concerned is whether the user wants a traditional turntable or one that includes a built-in phono preamp?
Turntables with built-in phono preamps are often more affordable, and they are much easier typically to setup and install compared to traditional turntables. Some of these modern turntables through their built-in preamplifiers provide provisions to digitize the analog signal for the purpose of converting that analog content into digital files or simply providing another connection method to AV receivers or integrated amplifiers that don’t offer analog inputs.
For those that want the full vinyl ownership experience, however, the choice becomes clear: The pairing of a turntable with an external phono preamp.
Understanding the Purpose of a Phono Preamp
Serving as the foundation of audiophile systems for decades up until the 1980s when the CD player was introduced the primary means of home audio entertainments once the television had been introduced was turntables.
The issue with analog audio and the playback of vinyl that predates the golden era of home audio is the signal strength of turntables. Solving this dilemma is the external phono preamp. The phono preamp is a component that can be placed between a turntable, and some type of amplification product such as a receiver, integrated amplifier or stereo preamplifier to amplify the signal coming from the turntable.
Part of the appeal of a phono preamp lies in the array of product choices the category offers. Unlike digital audio, which limits choice, system configuration and other options, analog audio provides an almost endless array of choices.
Breaking down those choices, users can choose between a moving magnet (MM) and moving coil (MC) phono cartridge, as well as a choice of turntable tonearms, and of course phono preamps. It should be noted the choice of a MM or MC phono cartridge may have an influence on the choice of phono preamps, and of course, price is another determining factor.
Regardless however, whether someone chooses a MM or MC cartridge, here are 16 phono preamps that help deliver the warmth, dimension and visceral experience that only analog audio can seem to deliver.
16 Phono Preamps from Budget Kings to Industry Powerhouses
- Bryston BP-2
- Cambridge Audio Alvo Duo
- Cary Audio VT-500
- Chord Huei
- Clearaudio Nano V2
- iFi Zen Phono 3
- Luxman E-250
- McIntosh MP100
- Moon by Simaudio 310LP
- Music Hall PA 2.2
- Musical Surroundings Nova III
- NAD PP 2e
- Parasound ZC ZphonoXRM
- Pro-Ject Phono Box DS3 B
- Rega Aria MK3
- VPI Industries Avenger Phono
Bryston BP-2 (retail price is $1,995)
Available in a choice of silver or black finishes, the BP-2 can deliver up to 41dB of gain for MM phono cartridges, and in its MC mode the phono preamp can deliver an additional 20dB or 30dB of gain. The Canadian company adds the BP-2 also provides RIAA equalization.
Cambridge Audio Alvo Duo (retail price is $349)
The affordable Cambridge Audio product provides compatibility with MC and MM phono cartridges delivering 39dB of gain to MM cartridges and 60dB of gain to MC cartridges. Internally, the Alvo Duo utilizes a switch-mode power supply to reduce noise, and it provides a headphone input for personal listening sessions.
Cary Audio VT-500 Phono Preamp (retail price is $4,496)
Based in North Carolina, this audiophile manufacturer offers a selection of high-performance tube components that includes its VT-500 phono preamp. The VT-500 employs four 6SL7 dual-triode tubes, an external regulated power supply, and two step-up transformers. The component can be used with MM and MC cartridges.
Chord Huei (retail price is $1,725)
The compact, audiophile solution offers music lovers gain stage steps ranging from 49dB to 70dB for MC cartridges and 21dB to 42dB of gain for MM cartridges. Chord designed the product with loading to support a range from 100 ohms to 3,700 ohms for MC cartridges, and 47 ohms for MM cartridges.
Clearaudio Nano V2 (retail price is $500)
The reasonably priced Nano V2 offers users what could be considered a unique feature: No power switch. This design the company explains helps to keep the internal electronics at an ideal operating temperature. The Nano V2 works with MC and MM phono cartridges, and it provides up to 69dB of gain for MC cartridges and 49dB of gain for MM cartridges.
iFi Zen Phono 3 (retail price is $249)
The affordable Zen Phono 3 incorporates the company’s subsonic filter that intelligently monitors the noise of turntable rumble and low-frequency information. The iFi solution provides a choice of four MM and MC gain settings, along with a choice of impedance selections.
Luxman E-250 (retail price is $2,395)
Luxman is a legendary brand in the audiophile community and the company’s E-250 phono cartridge is engineered to live up to the company’s respected history. The E-250 phono preamp enables vinyl fans to set their system’s load impedance and load capacity. The E-250 provides dual RCA inputs and left/right RCA outputs.
McIntosh MP100 Phono Preamp (retail price is $2,000)
For many people McIntosh is the go-to audiophile brand, and the N.Y.-based company’s MP100 offers music fans the ability to drive MC and MM phono cartridges. McIntosh emphasizes the MP100 offers a choice of six loading settings respectively for MC and MM cartridges, and for those that want to digitalize their vinyl signals the phono preamp provides optical, coax and USB digital outputs.
Moon by Simaudio 310LP (retail price is $2,300)
The Canadian high-performance home audio company’s 310LP phono preamp utilizes a design that includes an isolated toroidal power supply on a separate circuit board, along with multiple stages of voltage regulation. Providing connection versatility, the 310LP also provides a choice of RCA or XLR (balanced outputs) to support its connection to preamplifiers with balanced inputs.
Music Hall PA 2.2 (retail price is $450)
The PA 2.2 is a competitively priced modern phono preamp that handles analog audio including signals from MC and MM phono cartridges. Through its USB output homeowners can utilize the unit for digital applications. Music Hall specifies the PA 2.2 to deliver 26dB of gain for MM cartridges and 20dB of gain for MC cartridges.
Musical Surroundings Nova III Phono Preamp (retail price is $2,000)
The made-in-the-U.S.A. Nova III employs a dual-mono circuit design, and it provides vinyl fans with a choice of 13 gain options and 19 loading options. The Nova III also provides users with what the company describes is a hybrid RIAA EQ curve and a proprietary subsonic filter.
NAD PP 2e Phono Preamp (retail price is $249)
NAD has always been known as a brand that delivers a high level of performance and value, and when it comes to the company’s PP 2e, the cost-effective phono preamp provides MC and MM cartridge compatibility at a reasonable price. NAD specifies the PP 2e to deliver 35dB of gain for MM cartridges and 60dB of gain for MC cartridges.
Parasound ZC ZphonoXRM Phono Preamp (retail price is $279)
Parasound offers a choice of several phono preamps that includes its affordable ZC ZphonoXRM solution. The reasonably priced Parasound product works with MC and MM phono cartridges, and it provides a choice of RCA or XLR outputs. The preamp also provides a choice of load impedance settings and gain settings to add extra layers of setup flexibility.
Pro-Ject Phono Box DS3 B (retail price is $799)
The competitively priced DS3 B phono preamp incorporates a dual-mono design, along with a balanced gain stage, and the preamp can be used with MC and MM cartridges. Pro-Ject points out the DS3 B offers music lovers a subsonic filter that it says reduces low-frequency noise. The DS3 B also provides a choice of load settings, gain settings and capacitance settings.
Rega Aria MK3 Phono Preamp (retail price is $1,695)
Featuring a modern industrial design and a half-width footprint, the ARIA MK3 phono preamp from the British company incorporates a full analog design. Rega boasts the MM input utilizes low-noise, bipolar transistors arranged in a compound pair, and two separate power supplies for each channel. The MC input employs parallel connected low-noise FETs arranged in a compound pair.
VPI Industries Avenger Phono (retail price is $2,500)
VPI is a go-to analog manufacturer for generations of audiophiles, and to support its selection of turntables, the company offers products like its Avenger Phono. N.J.-based VPI says its MC phono preamp features a single high-gain/variable gain amplification stage that is completely isolated using a battery power supply.
Today’s home audio scene features vinyl lovers using old, restored turntables like this Thorens TD-160, as well as new, modern turntables. Photo/Bob Archer – CE Pro
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