Phono Preamp Reviews

Seta Nano phono preamplifier

Michael Fremer Aug 19, 2010 First Published: Aug 19, 2010

The minuscule electrical output of an analog signal from a moving-coil cartridge needs to be boosted before it can be converted to digital and equalized in the digital domain. Of course, you could use your current phono preamplifier and record an equalized signal to hard disk, but then you wouldn't get to experience Pure">http://www.stereophile.com/computeraudio/pure_vinyl_lp_recording_amp_ed… Vinyl's digital RIAA correction—nor would you be able to avail yourself of all the equalization curves provide by Pure Vinyl, of which there are almost too many to count.

Phono Preamp Reviews

Seta Model L phono preamplifier

Michael Fremer Aug 19, 2010 First Published: Aug 19, 2010

The minuscule electrical output of an analog signal from a moving-coil cartridge needs to be boosted before it can be converted to digital and equalized in the digital domain. Of course, you could use your current phono preamplifier and record an equalized signal to hard disk, but then you wouldn't get to experience Pure Vinyl's digital RIAA correction—nor would you be able to avail yourself of all the equalization curves provide by Pure">http://www.stereophile.com/computeraudio/pure_vinyl_lp_recording_amp_ed… Vinyl, of which there are almost too many to count.

Audacious Audio Phono Preamp Reviews

Boulder Amplifiers 1008 phono preamplifier

Michael Fremer Jul 06, 2010 First Published: Jul 06, 2010

Why bother with three phono preamps most of us can't afford? For the same reason the enthusiast automobile magazines cover the newest Ferraris and Lamborghinis: just reading about them is fun.

Art Dudley Listening Phono Preamp Reviews

Listening #90

Art Dudley Jun 28, 2010 First Published: Jun 28, 2010

The best result of mathematics is to not need it.—Oliver Heaviside, 1850–1925

Budget Component Reviews Phono Preamp Reviews

Musical Fidelity V-LPS Phono Stage

Sam Tellig, Michael Fremer Feb 02, 2010 First Published: May 02, 2009

Not being fond of self-flagellation, I don't usually do analog. I am not a fuddy-dudley, nor am I especially fremerous.

Phono Preamp Reviews

Nagra BPS phono preamplifier

Michael Fremer, Fred Kaplan Sep 24, 2009 First Published: Jun 24, 2009

This tiny, lightweight, battery-powered jewel is loosely based on Nagra's VPS phono stage that I reviewed">http://www.stereophile.com/phonopreamps/908nag">reviewed in October 2008 but uses bipolar transistors instead of tubes. The bottom of the company's familiar brushed-aluminum case has a grippy rubber material die-cut to spell Nagra. It's intended to keep the preamp from sliding, but stiff cables will have the BPS hanging in the air if you're not careful. The BPS costs $2399.

Audacious Audio Phono Preamp Reviews

Lamm LP2 Deluxe phono preamplifier

Art Dudley, Michael Fremer Sep 18, 2009 First Published: Dec 18, 2002

In an ideal world, I'd have every phono section I've reviewed in the past 16 years on hand to compare with these three and with all that arrive in the future. But because I have a life, I don't, and I wouldn't even if I could, though some readers (and one retailer) have insisted that that's the only way that I could possibly be of any use to them. Ha! And for those who are concerned that I've neglected the Manley Steelhead, not so! It's still my reference.

Phono Preamp Reviews

Audia Flight Phono preamplifier

Michael Fremer Aug 31, 2009 First Published: May 31, 2009

I first spotted Audia Flight's exquisite-looking two-box phono preamplifier ($6100) at last year's Hi-End show in Munich, and now that Musical Sounds is importing Audia Flight gear, a review of the Phono seemed a good idea. I know nothing about Audia Flight or the designer, or what Italian audiophiles think of them, but the more time I spent with the versatile, exquisitely built Phono, the more I liked everything about it.

Phono Preamp Reviews

American Hybrid Technology phono preamplifier

Jonathan Scull Aug 10, 2009 First Published: Dec 10, 1993

Just as the Trappist Monks of Digital Audio are once again grabbing at the bellpulls to ring the death knell of analog, another fine piece of gear pops up dedicated exclusively to LP playback: the American Hybrid Technology Phono Stage. To one of the Analog Committed, this is good news. That the unit sounds as wonderful as it does is even better news. Anything else? Pull up a pew, Brother.

Phono Preamp Reviews

The Mod Squad Phono Drive phono preamplifier

John Atkinson Feb 06, 2009 First Published: Jan 06, 1989

Thomas Alva Edison may have had a fully equipped laboratory, with a team of assistants slaving every day over ideas to be adopted when ripe as those of the great inventor, but the image of American ingenuity which rings true to me is of the lone tinkerer, working alone and mixing a generous dose of good ol' Yankee know-how with the sweat of his brow—a lot of it. These days, with the faithful PC and a hardworking CAD program at his side to do the math, the lone tinkerer seems to be thicker on the ground than ever, to judge by the humongous numbers of small companies selling high-end hi-fi components as revealed in Stereophile's readership survey (see p.5). Whether these loners will ever rise above their origins depends, among many other things, on their ideas being truly worthwhile.