Phono Amps
A long time ago, back in the mists of time (well at least 20 years ago) the idea of a separate amplifier just for a pickup cartridge would have seemed a bit strange. Sure there were so-called Head amps, to step an MC pickup to MM level, but why would you need an amplifier complete with equalisation to play records when every decent integrated amp came with a pretty good phono stage already inside?
Times move on, and even decent top end preamps mostly aren't equipped to play records (I know there are some notable exceptions like the excellent Audible Illusions, and a few others), so there is an ever growing number of stand alone phono amps (I'm amazed how many, considering the relatively small demand to play LPs - I say relatively, because we seem to be busy enough!).
Enough waffle - on to the products. This is by no means an exhaustive list of what we stock, but does include the main players.
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Musical Fidelity X-LPS This excellent and versatile (MM/MC switchable) unit sadly might not be with us much longer, with MF talking of it being discontinued. Sort of inside view here (couldn't be bothered to desolder some wires to completely remove the innards!). Comes with a plastic wall box type power supply (transformer). GBP 149.00 NB: Just replaced with X-LPSv3 for GBP 250.00 |
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Graham Slee Gram Amp 2SE A relatively new name in Britain, but already well known in the US thanks to their hifi press. Super value unit with the emphasis on sound quality rather than aesthetics (though there's no accounting for taste!) MM only, generally not a problem in this price range. Another view here, and an inside view here. GBP 214.00 Also available: Please note: the latest versions of these units are slightly changed from the picture. |
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Trichord Dino Mk2/ Dino+ Power Supply One of our best sellers, and for very good reason. The basic unit (just the top unit in the picture opposite, together with a "wall wart" power supply) sounds excellent, and is very flexible indeed with a whole plethora of external switching (see picture) to adjust gain and loading for MM and MC. Inside view here. (Internals changed since Mk2 introduced) By adding the Dino+ power supply, easy to do after purchase, the performance is elevated to a new level as the numerous magazine reviews attest to. GBP 349.00 (Dino Mk2 only - just the top unit opposite) GBP 575.00 (Dino Mk2 with Dino+, as opposite) Please note: the latest versions of these units are changed from the picture - they are now in black cases. Silver is no longer available. |
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Graham Slee Era Gold Mk5 Another GS product which became known in the 'States before Britain, due to a switched-on importer. The GS philosophy is for separate units for head amp / phono amp, so anyone with an MC is going to need the (truly excellent, Les tells me) Elevator head amplifier with adjustable resistance / capacitance loading. Rear view showing the build quality, ditto with the inside view. GBP 480.00(Era Gold MM amp, with PSU-1 power supply) GBP 510.00(Elevator EXP MC head amp) Please note: the latest versions of these units are slightly changed from the picture. |
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Tom Evans Microgroove If ever there was a cult product line, this is it. Tom designed the original Michell ISO phono amp, and it's derivatives, and various others too, and now his own product line is thriving with an enviable reputation based on superlative sound quality. The Microgroove (rear view and inside view) can be upgraded to the Microgroove Plus (inside view) which has the proprietary Lithos power supply regulator fitted, elevating it to even better performance. You can, of course, also purchase the Microgroove Plus at a higher price. Please note that all Tom Evans units are fixed gain and loading (generally only MC) and these should be specified before ordering, although a "general" unit with average gain/loading can be supplied - please consult us. GBP 480.00 (Microgroove) GBP 900.00 (Microgroove Plus) |
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EAR 834P An all valve design, the EAR also has a large cult following worldwide, helped by glowing reports in the hifi press, and, obviously, great sound quality. Three models are available, the standard MM only in basic black case (please consult our EAR page for a picture), the MM/MC version (using EAR's proprietary step-up transformers) with or without output level control, making it suitable for direct connection to a power amp, and the deluxe version (pictured left) with a far higher quality case, better phono sockets, but otherwise similar insides. GBP 769.00 (standard black, MM only) GBP 863.00 (standard black, MM/MC) GBP 1175.00 (chrome deluxe MM/MC, as opposite) |
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Brinkmann Fein The beautifully made Fein comes with it's own Granite base, both for sonics and aesthetics. The output level control is a proper high quality unit and followed by a buffer stage to drive any cables and power amp. Three gain settings to suit virtually any MM and MC are provided externally (see rear). Internal construction is exemplary. GBP T.B.A. |
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Tom Evans Groove This is Tom's "statement" product and has proved to be up amongst the finest phono amps irrespective of price. Featuring advanced techniques, including the TE Lithos hand-built wide bandwidth power regulators, the no compromise nature of the design means every unit is optimised for a specific cartridge with no adjustments provided - gain and loading must be specified at the time of ordering (a "general purpose" unit can be specified - please consult with us). Inside view. GBP 1900.00 Groove "Plus" also available at GBP 3800.00 |
Why do I need a phono amp?
Please don't be offended if this is obvious to you - just don't read it! We do get asked, however...
Most source components (CD, Tuner, Tape etc) have output levels at what is broadly known as "line level". This, as far as I know, is a term originating in the "pro" field, but put simply, for hifi purposes, it means somewhere between about 100mv (a tenth of a volt) and 1V. This is what most most modern integrated amps (or preamps) are set up to work with on their various inputs.
A pick up cartridge, as a source, is very different. A Moving Magnet (MM) type typically gives only about 5mV (five thousandth of a volt), and a Moving Coil (MC) type is even worse, giving only about 300uV (less than a third of one thousandth of a volt). As you can see, both types of cartridge require enormous amounts of low-noise amplification to bring them up to a suitable level for a standard line-level input. Just to make it even harder, when records are cut, the treble is boosted in order to overcome surface noise on playback, and this has to be matched by a treble cut / bass boost on playback, to level the frequency response again - this is called equalisation.
So, a phono amp has the difficult job of providing massive amplification with low introduced noise, coupled with an inbuilt permanent tone control, the RIAA equalisation curve, all just to make your pickup cartridge look the same as a CD player etc, suitable for feeding a standard input.
