The Records You Thought Were Ruined? They're Not.

The FM 123 Phono Linearizer

Swiss Engineering Meets Your Record Collection's Reality

Let's be honest: most vinyl isn't pristine. Even brand-new pressings arrive with the occasional tick. Well-loved classics carry the scars of decades. Shellac 78s from the golden era of recording are riddled with surface noise that can overwhelm the performances locked within.

The FM 123 was created for music lovers who refuse to accept that surface noise is the price of admission. Drawing on pioneering technology from FM Acoustics' legendary FM 223 PhonoMaster, the FM 123 brings professional-grade de-click and de-crackle circuitry to serious collectors at an accessible price point.

The result? Your records suddenly sound like they've been restored—because in a sense, they have.

How It Actually Works (And Why It Matters)

Here's what makes the FM 123 remarkable: it doesn't just filter out high frequencies and call it "noise reduction." That approach, used by many digital solutions, removes surface noise by also removing musical detail, air, and presence. The music survives, but it's been dulled and flattened.

The FM 123 uses proprietary analog circuitry that analyzes the audio signal in real-time, identifying and removing transient clicks, pops, and crackle while leaving the music completely untouched. The signal stays in the analog domain—no A/D or D/A conversion, no digital processing artifacts, no compromise to resolution.

The technology is so sophisticated that it can handle even acoustically-recorded 78 RPM shellac discs, revealing performances that may not have been heard clearly in nearly a century. One professional record librarian who experienced the FM 123's capabilities called it "Nirvana."

The de-click and de-crackle function is adjustable and can be bypassed entirely when you don't need it, giving you complete control.

Because Every Era Had Its Own Rules

Here's something most vinyl enthusiasts discover too late: not all records were created equal, even by the same standards.

Before the RIAA curve became universal, every major label used its own equalization recipe. Columbia, RCA, Decca, Mercury—each had their own house sound. Even after standardization, variations persisted. European pressings often differed from American ones. Mono recordings from the '50s and '60s frequently used different curves than their stereo counterparts.

The FM 123 includes continuously variable de-emphasis controls that allow you to dial in the precise playback curve that matches how each record was actually mastered. This isn't subtle tweaking—it's the difference between hearing a recording through a veil and hearing it as the engineers intended.

That original Blue Note pressing suddenly opens up with proper tonal balance. Your mono Ella Fitzgerald records reveal a voice that sounds present and real, not thin or exaggerated. Deutsche Grammophon classical recordings from the '60s finally make sonic sense.

This is what makes FM Acoustics phono stages "Linearizers" rather than just "preamplifiers"—they correct for the variations that exist in real recordings, not just the theoretical ideal.

Built for Every Cartridge You'll Ever Own

Moving magnet or moving coil. Vintage treasure or modern reference. High output or whisper-quiet. The FM 123 adapts to them all.

Unlimited combinations of cartridge loading allow perfect impedance and capacitance matching for any MM or MC cartridge ever made. This isn't just about compatibility—it's about optimization. When a cartridge sees the ideal load, it tracks better, sounds more natural, and reveals more of what's actually in the groove.

With extremely low noise and hum levels combined with large signal-handling reserves, the FM 123 ensures that what you hear is music, not the electronics. The proprietary Class A circuitry uses zero overall feedback or feedforward, resulting in a transparency that lets the character of your cartridge and records shine through without electronic coloration.

The Sound of Silence (In the Best Way)

The first time you engage the de-click circuitry on a well-worn record, the experience can be startling. Not because the music changes—it doesn't—but because decades of accumulated damage simply recedes into the background.

Suddenly you're not listening around the pops and crackle, wincing at every tick, distracted by surface noise. You're listening to the performance. The pianist's touch. The vocalist's breath. The ambient space of the recording venue. All the things you came for.

And when you play pristine pressings? The FM 123's absolute transparency ensures you hear every bit of quality you've invested in. Nothing added, nothing taken away, just the groove's truth revealed with stunning clarity.

Golden Era Recordings Deserve Better

If your collection includes mono recordings from the '40s, '50s, and early '60s—the golden era of jazz, classical, and early rock—the FM 123 is practically essential.

These recordings were often made with superior microphone techniques and tape quality than many modern productions, but they've been locked behind layers of surface noise and incorrect playback curves for decades. Libraries, archivists, and serious collectors have long needed a solution that could properly reproduce these treasures.

The FM 123 is ideal for libraries and serious record collectors, offering professional-level performance that brings endangered recordings back to life. That Charlie Parker session from 1951? The Karajan recording from 1963? Your grandfather's collection of swing 78s? They all deserve to be heard the way they were meant to sound.

Swiss Precision, Unbeatable Value

The FM 123 features:

• Hand-selected components tested through extensive listening sessions
• Proprietary discrete Class A circuitry throughout
• The same meticulous construction standards as far more expensive FM Acoustics products
• External power supply for optimal noise isolation
• Compact footprint that fits almost any setup
• Swiss build quality designed for decades of reliable service

The FM 123 is crafted to order, ensuring each unit receives individual attention and testing. This isn't mass production—it's precision manufacturing where every detail matters.

What You'll Actually Hear

Testimonials about FM Acoustics phono stages consistently mention the same revelations:

The way instruments are positioned in space becomes clear and distinct. You can hear the recording venue's acoustic signature—the size of the room, the reflections, the air. Vocalists sound present and human, not processed or artificial. The emotional content of performances comes through unfiltered.

And with the FM 123's de-click circuitry engaged, all of this happens without the constant distraction of surface noise. Your listening sessions become about the music again, not about tolerating imperfections.

As one reviewer noted, FM Acoustics electronics reveal exactly what the recording engineer was doing and how well they succeeded, with extraordinary clarity and fidelity—yet this transparency never comes at the price of an analytical or sterile presentation. 

An Investment in Rediscovery

The FM 123 represents serious commitment to vinyl playback. But consider what you're actually gaining:

• The ability to properly play records from any era, with correct equalization
• Technology that rescues imperfect records without compromising perfect ones
• Professional-grade performance built to last decades
• Compatibility with any cartridge you currently own or might acquire
• Swiss engineering and craftsmanship at an accessible price point
• Freedom from the constant distraction of surface noise

Every serious record collector reaches a point where they want more from their vinyl than surface-level playback. They want to hear what's actually there—the full performance, the complete recording, the music as it was intended.

The FM 123 is built for that moment.

Your Collection Has Been Waiting

Whether you're rescuing vintage treasures, enjoying modern audiophile pressings, or exploring the vast history of recorded music, the FM 123 ensures that surface imperfections never stand between you and the performances you came to hear.

The FM 123 is crafted to order with individual attention to every unit. To experience what your record collection has been trying to tell you—without the interference—contact your authorized FM Acoustics distributor or reach out directly.

Because the music you love deserves to be heard, not endured.

FM 123 Phono Linearizer
Resolution Series
Swiss-made. Professionally capable. Built for serious collectors.