Silent gain. Pure resolution.
High-performance phonostages that breathe life and scale into your analogue signal.
The journey from the record groove to your speakers is a fragile one. A dedicated phonostage is essential for amplifying the minute signal of your cartridge while preserving the natural warmth and dynamics of vinyl. Our collection ranges from the compact, versatile solutions of iFi Audio and Pro-Ject - perfect for fine-tuning any setup - to the world-class, heirloom-quality engineering of Moonriver Audio and Octave. Whether you need the ultra-low noise floor of a solid-state design or the holographic, liquid sound of a vacuum tube stage, these components ensure your music is amplified with absolute integrity. Discover the bridge that turns a quiet vibration into a room-filling performance.
Xindak LP-1(V) Phono Amplifier
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Cayin CS-6PH Phonostage - Type UK
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Trigon Volcano III Power Supply
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Carot One Ernestolone Phono
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Pro-Ject Phono Box DS2 Phono Preamplifier
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ProJect Tube Box DS2
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ProJect Tube Box S3 B Phono Stage
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Clearaudio Balance Reference Phono Stage
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Acoustic Signature Tango Reference MM/MC Phonopreamplifier
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PS Audio PMG Signature Phono Stage
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Clearaudio Balance V2 Phono Stage
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Pro-Ject Tube Box DS3 B Phono Preamp
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Trigon Exxceed Phono Pre Amplifier
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Mola Mola Lupe Phonostage
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Lehmann Audio Decade Jubilee Phonostage
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Remton Audio V383 Tube Phono Stage
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The Vital Translator: Choosing a Phono Stage.
A turntable cartridge generates the most fragile, microscopic electrical signal in your entire audio system. Before that signal can even be recognized by a standard amplifier, it must be completely reconstructed and massively boosted. The Phono Stage (or Phono Preamplifier) is the crucial translator that performs this delicate task. Upgrading to a high-quality, dedicated phono stage is often the most breathtaking upgrade an analog lover can make, instantly lifting a "veil" from the music and revealing spectacular dynamics and inky-black backgrounds. Click through the tabs below to understand how they work and find the perfect match for your cartridge.
The Magic of the RIAA Curve
If you were to plug a turntable directly into a standard amplifier, the music wouldn't just be incredibly quiet—it would sound like a screeching, tinny whisper with absolutely zero bass. This is because of how vinyl records are made.
When a record is cut, the bass frequencies are drastically reduced (so the physical grooves don't become too wide and take up the whole record), and the treble is heavily boosted (to overcome the natural surface noise of the vinyl). The primary job of a phono stage is to apply the RIAA Equalization Curve. This acts as an exact mirror image to the cutting process: it massively boosts the bass back to its original glory and gracefully rolls off the treble, restoring the rich, full-bodied, and lifelike sound of the original studio recording.
Matching MM and MC Cartridges
Not all cartridges produce the same amount of electricity. You must match your phono stage to the specific type of cartridge mounted on your tonearm:
- Moving Magnet (MM): These cartridges produce a relatively "high" output (usually around 4.0mV to 5.0mV). An MM Phono Stage provides a standard amount of gain (typically around 40dB) to boost this signal to a usable level.
- Moving Coil (MC): High-end MC cartridges have microscopic internal coils, meaning they produce a shockingly low electrical output (often below 0.5mV). If you plug an MC cartridge into an MM phono stage, it will be whisper-quiet and lifeless. You must have an MC Phono Stage, which is engineered to provide massive amounts of gain (60dB or more) with absolute, whisper-quiet purity.
Loading and Adjustability
If you look at the back (or underside) of a premium phono stage, you will often see a bank of tiny "DIP switches." These allow you to perfectly tune the phono stage to the exact electrical requirements of your specific cartridge.
- Capacitance: Crucial for MM cartridges. Adjusting the capacitance allows you to fine-tune the high frequencies. If it's set too high, the treble might sound harsh or rolled-off. Matching the manufacturer's recommended capacitance ensures a perfectly flat, accurate frequency response.
- Impedance (Resistance): Crucial for MC cartridges. Moving coil cartridges are highly sensitive to the electrical "load" they see from the phono stage. By adjusting the impedance (measured in Ohms), you can dial in the cartridge's mechanical damping. Set too low, the sound can be dark and closed-in; set too high, it can become overly bright and aggressive. Finding the "sweet spot" snaps the soundstage right into focus.
Phonostage FAQs
I plugged my turntable into the "Aux" or "CD" input and it sounds whisper-quiet and tinny. What went wrong?
I plugged my turntable into the "Aux" or "CD" input and it sounds whisper-quiet and tinny. What went wrong?
You have bypassed the phono stage. Standard inputs on an amplifier (like Aux, CD, or Tuner) are "line-level" inputs designed to accept a strong 2-Volt signal from a CD player or streamer. A turntable cartridge only produces a few tiny millivolts of power.
To fix this, you must place an external phono stage between your turntable and your amplifier. The phono stage will boost that microscopic signal up to a standard line-level voltage and apply the crucial RIAA equalization curve so your amplifier can process it correctly.
My turntable already has a built-in phono stage. Can I still upgrade to an external one?
My turntable already has a built-in phono stage. Can I still upgrade to an external one?
Yes, and it is a highly recommended upgrade. However, there is a crucial step you must take: you must bypass the turntable's internal phono stage first.
Most turntables with built-in phono stages feature a small switch on the back labelled "Phono / Line."
- "Line" means the internal phono stage is turned ON.
- "Phono" means the internal phono stage is bypassed, sending the pure, raw cartridge signal out of the RCA cables.
If you want to use an upgraded external phono stage, flip the switch to "Phono."
Why does my phono stage have a loud, buzzing hum?
Why does my phono stage have a loud, buzzing hum?
Because a phono stage applies such massive amplification (often boosting the signal by 1,000 times or more), it acts as a magnifying glass for any electrical interference in your system.
If you hear a loud, continuous hum, it is almost certainly a grounding issue. Ensure the thin grounding wire coming from your turntable is securely screwed into the dedicated "Ground" or "GND" post on the back of your phono stage. Additionally, keep your phono stage physically away from massive power transformers, Wi-Fi routers, or heavy power cables, as the sensitive internal circuits can pick up electromagnetic interference from these devices.
What is a Step-Up Transformer (SUT) and do I need one?
What is a Step-Up Transformer (SUT) and do I need one?
A Step-Up Transformer is a specialized, high-end device used strictly for Moving Coil (MC) cartridges.
Unlike a standard active phono stage that uses electrical power to boost the signal, an SUT is entirely passive (it doesn't even plug into the wall). It uses heavy, internal coils of ultra-pure wire to naturally step up the low voltage of an MC cartridge to a higher level. You then plug the SUT into a standard MM Phono Stage. Audiophile purists absolutely love SUTs because they provide the massive gain required for an MC cartridge without adding a single decibel of electronic background hiss.
Should I buy a Solid-State or a Valve (Tube) Phono Stage?
Should I buy a Solid-State or a Valve (Tube) Phono Stage?
Both topologies are fantastic, but they offer two completely different listening experiences:
- Solid-State: Uses transistors and high-grade op-amps. Solid-state phono stages are incredibly quiet, offering pitch-black backgrounds and lightning-fast dynamics. If you want absolute precision, tight, punchy bass, and uncolored neutrality, solid-state is the way to go.
- Valve (Tube): Uses vacuum tubes to amplify the signal. Many audiophiles believe tubes and vinyl are a match made in heaven. While they might have a slightly higher noise floor than solid-state, tubes add a breathtaking, organic warmth to the music. They excel at making vocals and acoustic instruments sound strikingly real and three-dimensional.
