Cambridge Audio Alva Duo - Stereo Moving Magnet and Moving Coil Phono Stage/Pre-Amplifier - Lunar Grey

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If you find the appearance basic, the performance is going to blow your mind. Among its winning talents is the well-timing. Fono Mini A2D enhances music with passion and properly aligns beats making it unbeatable by its competition. Musical Fidelity also takes pride in its adjustability. Instead of one switch, it comes with two sets of loading plugs behind the chassis. When you match this phono preamp with a suitable turntable, it delivers any song’s ultimate power and pure joy. Glenn Croft’s passing in November 2022 was a rather sad moment for audiophiles who have used his products for a few decades. Not only was he a very gifted designer but a lovely man. The Croft RIAA Phono Preamplifier is a fantastic product but Glenn made them by hand so we’re likely to see used versions selling for a premium going forward. Sadly the headphone stage is a throw-away design. You can use it in a bind but don't be surprised if it has too little power/too high of a noise floor.

Another oldie but still a goodie, the Gram Amp 2 holds its own nearly a decade after first coming on the scene. And you can see why - simplicity is the name of the game here, an approach that ages remarkably well. It's a moving-magnet phono stage with one set of inputs, one output, no bells or whistles.

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Most of the time, anyway. We did find that with elements like vocals and acoustic guitars, the Gram Amp 2 Communicator lost the plot a little. When these took center stage, the sound became floaty and unrealistic. We like the Gram Amp 2 Communicator and it’s a worthy alternative to the other preamps on this list, but it’s not quite perfect.

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.) Are you unsatisfied with the sound from your turntable? Get yourself a phono preamp for the desired output. Our Cadenza Bronze MC also came across as easy going but at the same time the Duo provided a silky open sound stage with plenty of depth, fully revealing the qualities of the Bronze, where budget phono stages commonly mask its abilities.Sound quality is seriously talented and it comes bursting with texture and insight. It's a wonderfully clean and crisp sound, with more low-end weight and substance sitting alongside Cyrus’s traditional values of precision and speed. The phono preamp technology remodels intentional rich sound after it leaves your favorite vinyl record. So whether you’re starting out or just upgrading your sound system, investing in a good phono preamp is delivering the promise of excellent sound. Besides, you don’t have to break the bank to get the best. We've continuously been impressed with Rega's excellent (and rather affordable) Fono MM range, so it was something of a relief that the latest model, which featured a brand-spanking new look, didn't sacrifice style for sound. That same Rega DNA is still in there throughout the latest Fono MM Mk5 phono stage.

I found I could crank headphone volume up tomaximum with Audio Technica’s ATH-ADX5000 headphones and not be deafened. A bit more gain would have been appropriate here but it was not a big issue overall. CONCLUSIONThis is where the phono stage (or phono preamp) comes in. It has two jobs. Firstly, it has the reverse response built into it – one that boosts bass and flattens treble to exactly the right degree, which should result in a tonally even presentation for the audio signal. If you’re a DJ, you should pay attention to the ease and convenience of carrying the turntable preamp to your countless gigs. Preferably, find a tiny one that fits with other equipment in the bag or get one that comes with its carrier bag.