The Article
BUYERS GUIDE: PHONO AMPLIFIERS FOR ALL
23rd January 2021
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.]
To see the video guide, click:
OK Much appreciated.
OK, it’s arrived. I have the Hana specs and the dip switch settings and haven’t the first clue how the two marry up.
This is the Rega specs:
LOADING RESISTANCE
1 and 2 off = 400Ω
1 on = 100Ω
2 on = 150Ω
1 and 2 on = 70Ω
CAPACITANCE
3 off = 1000pF
3 on = 4300pF
GAIN
4 off = 63.5dB
4 on = 69.5dB
And the Hana SH specs:
Stylus Shibata
Cantilever Aluminum
Output Level 2mv/1kHz
Output Balance <1.5dB/1 KHz
Vertical Tracking Force 2g
Trackability 70 µm/2g
Channel Separation 28dB/1kHz
Frequency Response 15-32,000Hz
Impedance 130Ω/1kHz
Suggested Load Impedance 47kΩ
Cartridge Weight 5g
From that where would you start?
Thanks in advance.
I always set up phono amps by ear. I only use the spec sheet as a rough guide so I’d start with 100 Ohms, 63.5 gain and 1000pf and then experiment from there with each setting to see how you like it. A lot of people can become animated by the ‘correct’ settings but the only ‘correct’ settings are the numbers your ear likes. So spend a day listening to the settings. A-B each one. Take time to get to know each setting then flip to the next one along and see if that makes any difference, then go the next one, etc.
Thanks Paul, good advice. I read this starting point as 1 on the other 3 off, correct? Is it OK to switch whilst the record is playing?
That’s right and no, switch off your main amp before you flick the phono amp switches.
Phew, glad I waited for your response. Rega advise turning on the phono amp before the main amp, I guess for similar reasons. I was immediately impressed with this setting after listening to the default. What direction do you recommend for next steps?
One silly question. Have you ever used different settings for left & right just to see what happens? 🙂
What I meant was that, if you are going to throw switches on your phono amp, don’t do it while the main amp is on or you risk sending spikes to your speakers which might damage them. That’s different from a general ‘switch on’ sequence as advocated by Rega.
And no, I haven’t done the left/right thing. Not sure what the benefit would be, to be honest.
Forgot to mention the default settings are Left 1 and 4 on 2 and 3 off. Right is the same.
got myself a pretty neat set up, think i got it sussed real neat, jvc QL-A2 turntable (Goldring elan cartridge), jvc T-X1L tuner, Yamaha ax-9 amp, jvc XL-V241 cd player, Dali zensor 3 speakers, qed xt40i speaker cables qed performance rca leads, norstone esse hi-fi rack & norstone stylum speaker stands
I love and loathe Forums in equal measure. The latter happens when just a day after your new bit of kit arrives you read, “The Rega Fono MC is not designed for high output MC’s, just low output ones. It simply has too much gain and too low ohm-settings, and the capacitance settings is far off too. Clearly not a suitable phono pre-amp for a high output MC cartridge.” Does this Swedish gentlemen, writing in 2019, know what he’s talking about? Buyers remorse is a horrible thing. 🙂