Best Home Audio Phono Preamps in 2022

Last update: December 7, 2022

Do I need an amplifier if my turntable has a preamp?

If you have a turntable with a preamp, you do not need an amplifier. The preamp will amplify the signal from the turntable and send it to your speakers. If you do not have a preamp, you will need an amplifier to amplify the signal from the turntable and send it to your speakers.

Do modern turntables need an amplifier?

Do modern turntables need an amplifier? No, most modern turntables do not require an amplifier. They have a built-in pre-amplifier that can be connected directly to your speakers.

Do turntables actually sound better?

Some people say that turntables actually sound better than other types of music players. Turntables can produce a warmer sound because they don't use digital files. Vinyl records are also said to have a better sound quality than CDs.

Do vintage turntables sound better?

There's no denying that vintage turntables have a certain charm. But do they actually sound better than their modern counterparts? The answer is a bit complicated. On the one hand, vintage turntables can have superior build quality and attention to detail. On the other hand, they may not have the same level of performance or features. It really comes down to what you're looking for in a turntable. If you want the best possible sound quality, you'll probably be better off with a modern turntable. But if you're after the nostalgic appeal


Pro-Ject - Phono Box S2 (Black) Review:


Love it, especially the ability to change capacitance. Here, I purchased some extremely low capacitance LC-1 Blue Jean cables. I only had a modified Cambridge 640p, which I used to drop the capacitance to an Audio Technica cartridge's preferred level by removing the 220 capacitors; however, my Ortofon 520 cartridge required a slightly greater capacitance. I didn't want to spend as much money or more on a phono preamp because I just have an MMF 5.1 turntable. This was the ideal solution and, in my opinion, performs better than products in a similar price range.



Pro-Ject Tube Box S2 Phono Preamplifier - Black Review:


I must begin with... I wouldn't say I'm an audiophile. Since I was a child, I haven't owned a turntable (U-Turn Orbit Plus) or a tube preamp until now. U-Turn Orbit Plus, Pro-Ject Tube Box S2, and AudioEngine A5 speakers are what I'm using.I was and still am quite satisfied with the integrated Pluto preamp. At first, the system sounded fantastic. But I had to give a tube preamp a try. (I play the guitar, I like tubes, sue me.) Very early on, I only ever compared the Pluto to the Pro-Ject. And to be really honest, I didn't think it sounded any better than the Pluto. Because of this, I do not consider it to be worth $400. Having said that, the project suddenly sounds absolutely amazing to me. Maybe there was tube burn-in. Maybe everything is psychological. Yet that sounds fantastic!I quickly switched the tubes to new Mullard manufacturing. I didn't even attempt it with the provided tubes.You may read about how great the bass is in numerous reviews of the audio quality. Deep, full, and filling. but not too much. I can't claim to be hearing things for the first time. That is definitely not the case. Still, it simply sounds wonderful.I have it set at 40 dB. (was originally at 43db, but backed it down). Put on the Subsonic filter as well. I have it set at 220 pf with my Ortofon OM20 stylus, and to my ears, that sounds the finest. (You'll need to do some research on the pF settings for your specific setup, stylus, etc. It's awesome because you can adjust to your preferences. My cable runs are really short. (Mogami cables, I believe one 2549 and one 2534.)In the end, I'm not sure if it's worth $400 to me. But I must offer it a positive review. It sounds fantastic! Go for it if you have an extra $400 burning a hole in your wallet and you're not completely satisfied with your current preamp.



Vincent PHO 8 Phono Stage MM/MC Outboard Power Supply Silver Review:


10/7/2017 UPDATE: I've had the chance to buy and try out the $300 Lounge Audio MKIII since I wrote this review. It is a $300 Phono Stage, just like the Vincent Pho 8. This MKIII is a game-changer since it DOES provide compelling enough value for me to choose it over the $130 Schiit Mani, demoting the Mani to woodshop duties (yes, I have a TT in my woodshop... yeah, first world problems.) The MKIII is currently at the top of the HT.Oh, and it goes without saying that I believe the Lounge MKIII is superior to the Vincent Pho 8; in fact, I'll say it completely outperforms it. But do your own study; the MKIII is highly regarded everywhere, with the exception of one eccentric Singaporean who, up until he erred and underestimated the MKIII, I thought had some credibility. However, it's also possible that the MKIII didn't agree with his setup or that he just had a poor "ear" day. This does happen with phono stages; sometimes what works well in one configuration fails in another. How he is the only person on the earth who does not believe the MKIII offers compelling value for $300 is beyond me.In the end, if I had to choose between purchasing the Vincent for $300, Mani for $150, or the Lounge MKIII for $300, it would be easy for me to choose the MKIII. So much so that I recently purchased a SECOND MKIII and the Lounge Copla for my MC cartridges. You don't trust me? Try it out for yourself; once you hear it and see how well it is made, you'll be convinced. For those looking to spend less than $750, the Lounge seems to be the "sweet spot" for price to value in phono stages.LAST UPDATEOriginal Vincent PHO 8 review:Only you and your personal ears (and budget) can finally decide whether the Vincent Pho 8 is a solid choice or has a good price to value ratio with all of the phono stage options available.However, I can confirm that I also currently own a Schiit Mani and a Radial J33 in addition to this phono stage. I should also mention that I recently returned a Cambridge Audio 651 since I didn't think it was significantly better than the $200 Radial J33 or the $130 Schiit Mani for $200. (Please note that I also have a review of the Cambridge 651).I could try to explain to you in a few lines what I believe MY ears heard on the Vincent and how it compares, but this time I'll keep it brief. In conclusion, I don't believe the $300 Vincent stage provides any superior sound over the $130 Schiit Mani. After listening for MANY hours, it is what my ears discovered. To help me with my impressions, I occasionally played the same music twice on the two distinct stages.I am aware of the Vincent's stellar reputation, which is well-deserved. It is still most likely among the best 10 stages under $500, in my opinion. By no means does this stage become a terrible stage just because I believe the Mani has a better price to value and is in the same class sonically. The Mani, is it better? It depends on what your ears tell you. They both fall into the same musical category in my opinion; neither one is superior to the other. The price point is very different, though. In some ways, the Mani has caused a serious issue for many phono stage producers today who cater to the under $500 market.Gratitude for reading.



Schiit Mani Phono Preamp for MC and MM Cartridges Review:


My receiver is a Denon AVR-1300W. It lacks an out-of-the-box phono or aux input for a turntable because it is an A/V kind. For about a year, I've been pining for some kind of pre-amp (the 1300W replaces the utterly useless Onkyo TX-NR626 that I purchased from Woot!). The Denon only has two sets of analog device inputs, whereas the TX-NR626 has more than I need with four.The other restriction on my decision to buy a phono preamp was whether to obtain one that could accommodate both MM and MC phono cartridges. My SL-D2 currently has a Shure M97E cart, but if I ever hit it big, I have dreams of acquiring an MC style cart (lol).If you do some investigation, you can find many less expensive solutions that are still effective, however they are almost all MM type preamps and not for both. Although there are several intriguing tube designs available, I didn't want something that could burn my kids if I unintentionally left it on.One night, I came across a story on a Project TT that a guy had rebuilt using the Shiit brand. This caught my attention, so I visited their website and looked at the Mani. When compared to more expensive models like Cambridge and others that are out of my price range, the Mani model is relatively affordable. I am aware that there are certain limitations at $149, including the lack of a DAC, but for me, there is the law of diminishing rewards versus price. When playing Jazz, Classical, or Rock, my SLD2 sounds fantastic considering my haphazard setup... good value for the moneysimple setup, new connection to AV1300W, and TT pluginMani's construction is really robust, and the high-quality casing materials used seem like they'll last for a very long time.Simple to control adjustable gain for MM and MC dirt.



Music Hall Mini MM Phono Pre-Amplifier Review:


This was the second preamp I bought because the Pyle PP999, which I believe I paid $20 or less for, performed as poorly as its price was low when I used it with my relatively new Sony STR-DN840 and Technics SL-B350 TT. The music simply wasn't as loud as I remembered it being on my old 1991 Kenwood receiver, which had a dedicated phono input. The improvement in sound quality and volume that the Music Hall Mini phono preamp offers is exactly what I was hoping it would provide in terms of appearance and feel! Additionally, it is American-made! (in contrast to any of my other audio equipment, with the possible exception of the Bose satellite speakers).The Music Hall Mini is a much-appreciated addition to my home entertainment system and was quite simple to set up. My description is little in scale but high in value, and my vinyl once more produces deep, rich sound. I felt obligated to share my results with you audiophiles who are looking at preamps for less than $USD 100 and want a high-quality, American-made equipment to help you get the most out of your vinyl collection because I haven't found many reviews for this unit online.



Parasound Zphono MM/MC Phono Preamplifier with USB Review:


This device gives me the flexibility I need to simultaneously enjoy and transfer the audio from my 78s, LPs, cassettes, Reel-to-Reel tapes, and video tapes to the digital arena. A "True Audiophile" might not be impressed because it can only produce CD-quality sound, but for anyone who would love to hear and digitize their old analog recordings once again, it is a dream come true! My home entertainment system is connected to one output, and my PC is connected to the other. Additionally, I can immediately plug in my headphones such that the only thing standing between my source and my ears is the Parasound. The outcome is astounding. Due of the superior quality of new-release vinyl over anything she can download, my daughter has started purchasing it. My source gear is outdated, but it still has a high used market value and outperforms anything you can get today for less than $1,000 in any format. Evenings are becoming much more pleasurable as we rediscover and share the greatest music of the past 100 years with the Parasound Zphono with USB!



Fluance PA10 High Fidelity Phono Preamp (Preamplifier) with RIAA Equalization for MM Turntables/Vinyl Record Players Review:


After doing a lot of research and without knowing much about Fluance, I chose to buy this product. Their YouTube video about having two discrete chips for left and right along with adhering to the RIAA curve really impressed me. Wow is all I can say after connecting this to my Gemini direct drive turntable and Yamaha receiver. I'm hearing a dimension on my vinyl that I've never experienced on a CD or MP3. Highs and vocals that aren't present in the MP3 or CD recordings are audible to me. With its wood grain appearance, delicate Fluance text engraved into the front, and unobtrusive LED front indicator power light, the preamp looks fantastic. I'm genuinely impressed and I suggest this to those of us who have high-quality equipment, need a product that will sound amazing, and come from a business that puts a lot of technical expertise into its goods.



Yamaha RX-A880 Premium Audio & Video Component Receiver - Black Review:


The last three receivers I bought during the past ten years left me incredibly unimpressed. This time, I made the decision to use a more expensive (for me) receiver (the Yamaha RX-A880), and I'm glad I did. I was unable to get the sound I needed with lower quality receivers (less than $500). But the RX-A880 performs well. When the music is playing loudest, it has the ability to drive the speakers without distortion. Lower end receivers are simply unable to supply the necessary power to properly drive my Polk audio speakers. Prior receivers allowed me to turn the volume up to its highest setting without being overwhelmed. I don't believe I've ever been able to increase the volume past halfway with this receiver. incredibly impressive (I enjoy loud rock and roll.)I do have a few issues that keep me from rating the product 5 stars: It would be nice if you could set useful descriptions for the inputs that are shown on screen when changing sources. It can be challenging to locate the desired source. Second, the documentation has to be improved. It is crucial to inform the system of your speaker configuration. That should be bold and thoroughly explained. Last but not least, it takes longer than I would anticipate to sync up when changing sources. I want instance synchronization and display when changing sources.If I could, I'd give 4.5 stars. It's nearly flawless.



Turntable Lab: Rolls VP 29.TTL Phono Preamp - Turntable Lab Edition Review:


remarkable sound quality for the pricing range. The Rolls VP29 TTL outperforms the Behringer PP400 that I was previously using! Undoubtedly a "warmer" and friendlier sound. I had to use a lot of EQ before switching to the Rolls VP29 TTL to get the warm sound I was going for. I lowered the EQ on this phono pre-amp, relaxed, and listened to the music. I can suggest this to audiophiles on a budget because it has a VERY low noise floor (to my ears, there is nothing audible).



Nobsound Little Bear T7 Vacumn Tube Mini Phono Stage RIAA MM Turntable Preamp & HiFi Tube Pre-Amplifier (Black) Review:


Due to the seller's aggressive advice to ground this to a dirt ground, water pipe, or metal window, I hesitated to purchase this.The hum, or lack thereof, was non-existent after I simply connected the ground on my SL-1200 MK2 Turntable to the available ground on the Little Bear.My Vintage Teac Receiver CD input was more than satisfied with the Little Bear output, plus the seller (allegedly) added the ability to adjust gain using a trimpot on the PCB. I say apparently because I chose not to open the Little Bear because I didn't feel the need to. The Chinese 6J1 tubes sounded well (a spare is included), but if you want to find a "Sweeter" sound, you can experiment with Soviet 6J1 P-EV matched pairs or GE 5654W matched pairs, among other options. The audio is enjoyable, the aesthetics are pleasing, and you can upgrade your audio system with a tube preamp for $50 or more. The build quality seems to be strong.


Do you need a phono preamp and a preamp?

If you want to play vinyl records, you need a phono preamp. This type of preamp amplifies the signal from your turntable so that it's strong enough to be sent to your speakers. If you're using a receiver or amplifier that doesn't have a phono preamp built in, you'll need to buy one separately. Preamps are used to boost the signal from your turntable so that it's strong enough to be sent to your speakers. If your receiver or amplifier doesn't have a preamp built in, you'll need to

Does a better turntable actually sound better?

A better turntable will certainly sound better than a cheaper one, but it may not be worth the extra expense if you're just starting out. Turntables can range in price from a few hundred dollars to several thousand, so it's important to do your research before making a purchase. A good rule of thumb is to buy the best turntable you can afford.

Does quality of preamp affect sound?

The quality of your preamp can absolutely affect the sound you are getting from your system. If you are using a lower quality preamp, you may notice that your system sounds muddy or unclear. A higher quality preamp will provide a cleaner and more accurate sound. It is important to match the quality of your preamp to the quality of your other components in order to get the best sound possible.

How do I choose a phono preamp?

There are a few things to consider when choosing a phono preamp. The first is gain. How much amplification does your phono preamp need to provide? The second is impedance. What is the input impedance of your phono preamp, and does it match the output impedance of your turntable's cartridge? The third is noise. How much background noise is produced by your phono preamp, and is it audible? Finally, there is price. How much are you willing to spend on a phono preamp? If you are unsure about any of these

How much does a good preamp cost?

A good preamp can cost anywhere from $100 to $1,000. The price depends on the features and quality of the preamp. If you want a preamp with a lot of features and great sound quality, you'll have to pay more.

Is a preamp needed for home recording?

No, a preamp is not needed for home recording. You can use the built-in preamps in your audio interface, or you can use a standalone preamp.