The U-Turn Audio Pluto is an option for those who want an inexpensive phono preamp, but prefer one that has excellent housing. The reasons for this are clear, a stainless steel case such as the one that is used with the Pluto preamp means that interference is less of a problem than it may be in some of the competing options. Prices valid in stores (all including VAT) until close of business on 28th November 2023. (Some of these web prices are cheaper than in-store, so please mention that you've seen these offers online.) Having been successful in implementing solid-state pre-amplification for low-output moving coil by using one of the rather limited methods, can that same input stage be used for moving magnet? The short answer is no. Provided you keep it away from other mains-powered products and power cables, this phono stage will prove suitably quiet and hum-free. Features are basic but it's clear that Moon has focused on the bit that counts – sound quality. At the bottom in dashed blue is the Audio Precision analyzer testing itself. We see that it takes it about 0.4 seconds to drop from that peak down to baseline level.

Of course I will be able to return the product but it will be after I paid customs on it when I received it ): ): The Cambridge does a little bit of everything, and it does so while looking and feeling the money’s-worth. If you’ve got a record player you can’t hear, the Alva Duo is for you. You shouldn’t buy the Cambridge Audio Duo if…It cleverly uses individual channels for the left and right speakers, this means no crosstalk and is something not often found at this price. You can select whether to use a low cut filter that gets rid of the very lowest frequencies, this can stop rumble. Rather than use a series of dipswitches (as many rivals do), the MX-VYNL has a rather elegant control dial to manage the switch between moving coil and moving magnet inputs and their different loading requirements. We don’t advise pairing this with a high-end turntable as it won’t do it justice, but for a budget setup, and the cheapest preamp that is passable in quality, we do like the Behringer PP400. 10. Parks Audio Puffin

Moonage Daydream by David Bowie sounds big, bold and detailed. The Alva ST’s spacious presentation has no problem filling our large listening room, the sound is clean and relatively uncluttered.If you’ve already got a suitably talented turntable and really want to hear how good it is, this Cyrus combination is a must-buy. The amplification is reliable, and it meets the RIAA standard with EQ that give a rich sound and highly accurate representation of the sound. The THD is low, and there’s even a filter for inaudible low sounds that can stop rumbling. A WIMA film capacitor gives clarity to the sound. The Bluetooth stream is stable and clean, voices in particular coming through with clarity and ample detail. It’s an enjoyable performance, and while it’s not as detailed as listening through a wired system, it’s still a great feature that means you can, for instance, listen to your vinyl collection at night without disturbing others.

It may look identical to the Alva TT at first glance, but there are plenty of changes and new elements when you look closer.

Here are the best phono preamps 2023:

It’s built and specified well, and it makes good on its specification by turning in a low-noise, high-quality performance that plays to vinyl’s inherent strengths. In terms of detail, dynamic headroom and stereo focus, it wants for nothing. So the Zen has definitely made a difference - I also don’t have to turn my amp up as much as when using the CA (which surprised me given it’s also a CA), which is good as it means I don’t need to turn it down before switching sources, and getting a hell of a fright when I forget. Some amplifiers don’t offer sufficient grunt. You could buy a new one that does, but it’s likely to be a big upgrade, especially as you might otherwise be happy with your amplifier. So instead, you should buy a preamplifier (or phono stage, as they’re sometimes called). That way, you can get a workable output from your turntable without having to bin off some of your system. Cambridge Audio Duo design – Impressively put together

We love the scale of performance and the way the Vertere delivers the seismic dynamic shifts of the recording with so much enthusiasm. As with the previous generation (also an Award-winner), our main takeaway after hearing this phono stage is that it makes listening to music interesting and, where appropriate, fun. There’s not much we can ask of any piece of hi-fi beyond that.

Cambridge Audio new Solo and Duo phono stages

As with the original model, the Alva ST features aptX HD Bluetooth, which lets you wirelessly stream your vinyl in up to 24-bit/48kHz hi-res quality to compatible wireless speakers and wireless headphones. It’s a convenient feature that means you can listen to your vinyl collection with a more versatile range of kit, and with no need for extra wires. Been having a good play this morning. As I only upgraded my stylus to Blue (from the Red) earlier this week I’d been wondering whether the Zen has actually had as big a difference as I thought it was. The MCP-2 has variable loading between 10 Ohms and 5K Ohms. You can match this value up to your system for the best results for your listening. My confidence is not high in this test yet but it is something I am going to run in the future until I figure out its limitations/value. Then swapped the Red for the Blue and tried again - same cleaner sound but definitely with more detail.