Lindemann Woodnote FONO Phonostage

The Woodnote FONO is a phono preamplifier for moving-magnet and moving-coil cartridges. It is built in two enclosures, an amplifier unit and a separate linear power supply, and it includes an analogue-to-digital converter alongside its analogue outputs.

Input stage and equalisation

The amplifier circuit is fully discrete and uses low-noise J-FET transistors at the input. A J-FET input is purely voltage-controlled and draws zero input bias current from the cartridge. Lindemann points out that with moving-coil cartridges, DC current can act like an eddy-current brake and may magnetise the cartridge. Equalisation is passive RIAA in a two-stage amplifier design, which lets each stage run with frequency-independent negative feedback and keeps distortion low in the bass.

Power supply and setup

The external supply uses an R-Core transformer with symmetrical windings, additional mains filtering and low-noise linear voltage regulators. For moving-coil cartridges, input impedance is set in 13 steps between 25 and 800 ohms with DIP switches on the rear panel.

Outputs

The RCA outputs carry a purely analogue signal to an amplifier or preamplifier. The built-in converter works at 24 bit / 96 kHz and feeds coaxial and TOSLINK outputs, so records can be digitised or played through a DAC, a digital amplifier, suitably equipped active loudspeakers or the streaming components of the Woodnote series.

Specifications

• Cartridges: MM and MC, stereo RCA input
• Gain: MM 46 / 52 dB; MC 66 / 72 dB
• Input impedance: MM 47 kOhm; MC 25 – 800 Ohm in 13 steps
• Input capacitance: MM 150 pF; MC 1 nF (optional)
• Signal-to-noise (RMS, unweighted): MM 80 dB; MC 70 dB
• Channel separation: > 80 dB at 10 kHz
• Outputs: stereo RCA (line level); coaxial and TOSLINK digital at 96 kHz / 24 bit
• Dimensions / weight: unit 207 x 250 x 62 mm, 1.4 kg; power supply 80 x 204 x 49 mm, 0.7 kg