What to buy and why. This video also includes a hardware overview based upon varying price points
Paul Rigby looks at broad issues regarding buying a Phono Amplifier. A guide for all price points.
Then examines a range of Phono Amplifiers from differing price points.
Mainly aimed at the beginner, hopefully everyone can take something away from this one. You can also read a host of in-depth phono amplifier reviews on this site, of course. Examples include the Huei from Chord, the Blue Horizon Profono, the intriguing Median from Iota, Moon’s 110LP V2 and many more!
[Check out my Patreon Page at www.patreon.com/audiophileman, for exclusive postings! I publish regular update on this site. Check out this example.]
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14 Comments
john keenan
23rd January 2021 at 12:13 pmi think now and do not envision going after a new amp dedicated for phono now i have hit the sweet spot with an amazing purchase last year a vintage amp JVC JA-S222, i have always been a Yamaha guy, i had the Yamaha as-301 with the Wharfedale d330 floor standers now they sounded good but i was at first in the thinking why has Wharfedale got a great name as they did not really excite the senses, that changed hugely with the jvc amp they were elevated to a high warm pleasing level beyond expectations
Rorie
23rd January 2021 at 4:45 pmWay tooo long ! But I suppose the beginners really need to know this stuff first. Thanks for doing this.
Christopher Simmonds
23rd January 2021 at 10:50 pmGreat review Paul and very useful, but I have a question, about transformers. I currently have an Ortofon MC Quintet Blue which I bought under Ortofon’s exchange scheme. For years I have used MC cartridges and in the last century I laid out the princely sum of about £75 for a Dynavector DV6A silver wound stepup transformer with balanced or unbalanced output It still sounds fine but has to be sited carefully to avoid hum. I’ve only ever used built in phono stages and now have a Quad Artera Pre, but I’d like your opinion of whether to buy a good phono MM amp or, sell the transformer and get a dedicated MC phono amp to replace it, thankyou.
Paul Rigby
26th January 2021 at 2:26 pmThanks Christopher – what would be your budget for a proposed phono amp?
Chris Simmonds
27th January 2021 at 8:45 amWell I am enjoying my new Quad Altera Pre, pure analogue preamp and it’s rather good phono stage. The Quad phono input easily beats my old Pro-Ject Phono box and it’s created a bit of a dilemma. I think I’d have to spend a fair lump of cash to get a better one. If I could better it considerably (maybe you can review the Quad Altera Pre) I think my budget would be £500 – £750
Paul Rigby
27th January 2021 at 1:23 pmHi Chris – I think this model offers great value and sound. Well worth a look: https://theaudiophileman.com/110-phono-amplifier-review-moon/
Chris Simmonds
27th January 2021 at 4:44 pmHi Paul, thanks for the recommendation. Will let you know how it goes. I believe Noel Keyword had reviewed the Quad Altera Pre and found that the phono stage was very good but not definitive. Let’s see how the Moon compares, thanks.
steve murrell
25th January 2021 at 1:44 amToo many words mate…..if you go into a store and ask for a phono pre amp, you will be shown a phono amp. What a rave! Also, I don’t believe you mentioned once that vintage amps will have a phono input, so a phono amp won’t be needed. You assume that all your viewers have modern amps bereft of this input. Mistake…..many people still have vintage gear and prefer it over newer ‘digital only’ gear.
This vid could have been half the length it ended up being…..but it was still good. Can’t knock anyone who promotes the playing of LP’s too much!
Paul Rigby
26th January 2021 at 12:09 pmHi Steve – that’s not what I was referring to. Many people approach me with advice on a ‘pre amp’. Not a ‘phono pre amp’.
Also, all of my introductory Buyer’s Guide videos are long because I try to be thorough and address the salient points. Especially as these video are principally aimed at beginners – as stated in the description. There’s nothing so worthless as a Buyer’s Guide that skimps on (what I would stand by as) essential information for the sake of trying to keep to a standard 10 minutes or so: form over function. We’re also then into chocolate tea pot territory. I did include a Time Stamp if all you required was a hardware overview while, for those who are not beginners, the fast forward button is readily available.
steve murrell
25th January 2021 at 1:47 amOop’s, should have watched the whole thing before my above comment. 🙂
Ian Barber
25th January 2021 at 1:34 pmHi Paul,
Love your Buyer’s Guide to phono amplifiers, both the first part and the hardware part. It’s taken me a while to get through it all ( too many interuptions0, but I got there in the end just now.
I noticed that there is an awful lot of editing in the first part, anyway, so it must have taken an age to complete getting it just right, but you did. I am borrowing a used Primare R32 tomorrow, for a few days to see how it goes with my replay system, and I hope to post my thoughts on this full-sized and weighty unit, whether I decide to buy it , or not. It is a very heavy ( 8.6kg ) bulky unit, and I will have to re-arrange my 8 tier rack to get it to fit-in. I am looking forward to hearing a high-end phono amplifier and seeing what effect it has on the sound quality( hoping for chalk & cheese ) in my middle ground system. Cheers Ian
Paul Rigby
26th January 2021 at 11:59 amThat’s just my style, Ian – the chopping thing. It maintains a pace. Some like it, others don’t but that’s the way I prefer to produce my vids. And sure, please let us know how you get on.
Rob
30th March 2021 at 11:39 amHi Paul,
Another excellent video. I think you are becoming more like the “Rick Stein” of the Audiophile world!
I must say valves are the way to go with phonostages. The latter part of last year I traded in my Goldnote PH10 for a Modwright ph9. As good as the Goldnote is , the move to valves is a leap and the first for me. The Modwright ph9 needs reviewing here. It’s simply stunning.
Paul Rigby
30th March 2021 at 7:15 pmThanks Rob – quite a compliment 🙂 Agreed on valves.