Phonostages

The phono stage does two things that nothing else in the system can do — it provides the 30 to 70 dB of additional gain a low-output cartridge needs, and it applies the inverse RIAA curve that lets the recording sound the way the mastering engineer intended. Both are easy to do adequately and surprisingly hard to do well at very low signal levels. The right phono stage is the one matched to your cartridge's output and impedance, not the one with the longest spec sheet.

Alma carries seven lines with MM and MC capability across the spectrum. Nagra's Classic Phono and HD Phono are all-tube reference designs with continuously variable MC loading and selectable EQ curves beyond RIAA. Accuphase's C-37 and C-47 set the modern Japanese solid-state reference. Dan D'Agostino and Vinnie Rossi bring American engineering at statement and mid-tier respectively. Fezz Audio's tube phonostages anchor the entry tier. SPL's Phonos brings 120V-rail headroom to the category. Thorens's MM-008 module rounds out the lineup for moving-magnet users. Cartridge-to-phonostage loading is matched at point of sale; we don't sell either component blind to the other.