If your home audio system includes a turntable, you will always need a phono preamp in the chain. Also called a phono stage, this component is essential for the playback of vinyl records. It raises your turntable's audio output to make it compatible with line-level amplifiers and delivers a sound you can hear through your hi-fi system. At the same time, it also adds standardised equalisation to convert the original signal recorded in the vinyl groove, for a tonally even presentation.
Many stereo amplifiers, turntables and active speakers now come with a phono stage built-in, but if they don't, you will need to buy a separate phono stage to complete your vinyl system and hear your records. Upgrading your existing phono stage or opting for an external one is also a good way to upgrade your turntable system's sound beyond what's possible with the built-in versions, giving you that extra performance kick to give your vinyl another layer of sonic depth.
Phono stages can be compatible with moving magnet or moving coil cartridges – or even both. Check which type your turntable has before choosing a new phono stage. You can check out our buying advice on choosing the right phono preamp for you, or scroll down to see our list of the best models we recommend, new and old, across all budgets and sizes.
Every model on this has been rigorously tested by our experienced review team in our dedicated listening rooms with the appropriate turntable and cartridge pairing at each price level, so you can trust our advice.
The quick list
The Fono MM Mk5 phono stage remains the one to beat at this level.
The best-sounding option if you’re shopping on a tight budget.
With a built-in amp for your cans, this is a two-for-one treat.
Hugely capable without breaking the bank, the 110LP v2 is well worth auditioning.
Detailed, refined and articulate, the MX-VYNL pairs perfectly with a suitable system.
With a similarly talented source and system Vertere’s premium phono stage really shines.
I have been testing hi-fi separates such as turntables, amplifiers and phono stages for over a decade in my time at What Hi-Fi?, and as a turntable user myself, I know the importance a good phono stage can make to your vinyl system's performance. Which phono stage is best for you will depend on the cartridge and turntable you already have, while the price, type and extra features of a phono preamp should cater to your specific vinyl set-up's needs and talents. Above all, it should deliver the best sound quality from your record collection – and all our top picks here do just that.
Recent updates
13th November: All the new 2024 What Hi-Fi? Award winners have been labelled. We haven't had many new phono stages come through our testing room doors recently, but the affordable iFi Zen Phono 3 and high-end Vertere Calon are two products that are on our reviewing schedule in the coming months.
The best phono preamp overall
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.
No, the changes aren't massive from the previous models, but what remains is the Fono MM's ability to knit music together confidentially and cohesively. When testing the phono preamp out with the Rega Planar 3/Elys record player (it's moving magnet only), we were once again struck by the unit's fast, punchy sound that gives your favourite tracks a real sense of weight and gusto.
Detail is great, too, uncovering new layers of musicality and texture as it goes, especially with regard to vocals. From Beethoven to Bruce Springsteen, the Rega Fono MM is completely at home.
Rega didn't exactly reinvent the wheel with the Mk5 model, but that's not necessarily a bad thing. That new case is certainly attractive enough, while that same agile, punchy performance gives you just the sound you're looking for if you like your music to have a bit of bite.
Read the full Rega Fono MM Mk5 review
The best budget phono preamp
If you're looking for the best budget phono stage currently on the market, Rega's Fono Mini A2D is a top contender. This tiny, plain box was never much of a looker, and the Mk2 version is no different, with a new glossy front panel and a neater appearance simply bringing it up to date with Rega's current amplifier range.
The most important part of this phono stage, the audio circuitry, remains unchanged from the original model we gave five stars to. It features stereo RCA for input and output connections, and a USB (Type B) output with an accompanying level control, for recording your vinyl records to your laptop as a digital file. It's unusual to see this option on a phono stage, let alone at this budget level, but it's a fairly easy process to digitise vinyl provided you have the time and good recording software. We use Audacity and have no problems recording numerous tracks from vinyl to our MacBook Pro. The quality of the recordings mirrors that of the Fono Mini A2D's performance, and that’s a positive thing.
Sonically, it's as frill-free as it looks but gets the basics right. It's a lively presentation, full of convincing and nuanced dynamic contrasts, with power and passion behind vocals. While it's not the most refined or spacious sound, there's ample detail and insight to hold our interest. We use both a Sumiko Rainier MM and Vertere’s Sabre MM cartridges during our testing and the Fono Mini A2D sounds balanced with both. It has Rega's surefooted sense of rhythm and punch, plenty of low-end articulation and its overall composure when the music gets demanding is admirable.
What we find most impressive is the musically cohesive way that Rega organises and delivers all this information – for this price, there's no better alternative. We imagine this phono stage to be an ideal go-between, say, a KEF LSX II LT speaker system and a turntable, or if you wanted to upgrade your existing vinyl system. A talented little device that delivers excellent performance for the money.
Read the full Rega Fono Mini A2D Mk2 review
The best phono preamp with headphone jack
Well this is certainly a looker. With an offset volume dial, minimalist styling and mirrored rear labelling that's easy to read even if you're peering over the top of the unit, it's clear a lot of thought has gone into the Cambridge Audio Duo phono stage. And no less attention has been paid to the audio quality.
The presentation is very good indeed, being spacious and cohesive, while the sound is dynamic and the timing spot-on. It doesn't quite match the Rega Fono MM MK3 for punch, but it certainly holds its own verve with both MC and MM cartridges.
The bonus here is the inclusion of a built-in headphone amplifier with 6.3mm headphone jack, which is somewhat unusual but entirely welcome in a phono stage at this level. It's a lovely way to upgrade your vinyl system or add a bit of modern flourish.
The smooth, full-bodied performance, coupled with the inclusion of a headphone amp, makes this stylish box certainly worthy of consideration.
Read the full Cambridge Audio Duo MC/MM review
The best mid-price phono preamp
It doesn't have the snappiest of names, but the Moon 110LP v2 does a fine job of improving your vinyl performance. The neat aluminium box is finished to Moon's high standards and is switchable, meaning it's capable of handling both moving coil and moving magnet cartridges.
Provided you keep it away from other mains-powered products and power cables, this phono stage will prove suitably quiet and hum-free. Features are basic but it's clear that Moon has focused on the bit that counts – sound quality.
As such, the Moon 110LP v2 is one of the best phono preamps of its kind at this price. It works particularly well with moving magnet cartridges, dishing up a smooth, fluid and refined sound with a satisfying punch. We like how stereo imaging remains stable even with demanding music – it's an accomplished performance. It has a subtle way with music that's rewarding and easy to listen to for long hours.
With moving coil cartridges, large-scale dynamics are a touch restrained and bass is softer – but you’d have to spend half as much again to get a phono stage that does appreciably better.
If you’re in the market for a quality affordable phono stage, this little Award-winning box is well worth auditioning.
Read the full Moon 110LP v2 review
The best audiophile phono preamp
Phono stages tend to be, apart from the sleek Cambridge Audio Duo above, rather plain black boxes. Musical Fidelity takes a different approach: this phono preamp is beautifully made, with a smartly machined front panel and nice-to-use controls.
Rather than use a series of dipswitches (as many rivals do), the MX-VYNL has a rather elegant control dial to manage the switch between moving coil and moving magnet inputs and their different loading requirements.
Alongside a standard single-ended phono input – something that will be used by the vast majority of decks around – it can also accept a balanced signal in the form of a mini XLR 5-pin connector.
Thankfully, convenience is far from the MX-VYNL's only strength - sound is wonderfully transparent and detailed, digging up low-level instrumental strands and sonic textures with ease. We love the way it handles vocals. There's a fluidity to it that makes rivals seem mechanical by comparison, although it may not have the outright rhythmic cohesion found in the similarly-priced Rega Aria. But it doesn't exactly hold back when it comes to bite and attack.
It's superb balance of attitude and refinement. If the rest of your system is up to scratch, the MX-VYNL is worth the investment.
Read the full Musical Fidelity MX-VYNL review
The best high-end phono preamp
Vertere already had a great phono stage on its hands, but this updated version manages to deliver significant performance gains, thanks to some careful housekeeping and honing of the circuit board and power supply. The tidy little box remains the same; an orange power LED is the only addition to the design.
The new Phono-1 MkII L is a brilliant performer, with a useful selection of features and adjustments that should help you get the most from any cartridge. Its detailed, musical delivery makes it a joy to listen to.
We love the scale of performance and the way the Vertere delivers the seismic dynamic shifts of the recording with so much enthusiasm. As with the previous generation (also an Award-winner), our main takeaway after hearing this phono stage is that it makes listening to music interesting and, where appropriate, fun. And what more could we ask from any hi-fi product?
If you’ve got an earlier version of the Phono-1 don’t worry about swapping it out for this new one. For new buyers, don’t hesitate to go for this version as it's a clear step up and worth the price hike (now £1350 / $1895 / AU$2700). Given a source and system of appropriate talent, it remains one of the finest phono stages we’ve heard at the price.
Read the full Vertere Phono-1 MkII L review
Also consider
- iFi Zen Phono: While a new Zen Phono 3 has been released, the original Zen Phono is yours for just under £200. For its price and compact size, it packs a lot in: MM and MC cartridge support, balanced circuit design, low-noise power supply, and a clean, detailed and balanced sound. The MM-only Rega Fono Mini A2D betters it for timing and rhythmic engagement at a lower price, but the iFi is better featured.
- Graham Slee Gram Amp 2 Communicator: Low on frills, high on quality: this dinky device is a long-standing favourite with vinyl fans and the What Hi-Fi? review team. Superb detail, excellent timing, and ferocious dynamics still impress for £180. Adding the PSU1 power supply brings more punch and weight to the sound, but it is an extra cost.
- Rega Aura: Rega's more affordable phono preamps are easy to recommend here, but even more accomplished is the brand's flagship high-end moving-coil offering. The impeccably built Aura MC phono stage costs £4000 and is fully adjustable, with terrific clarity and insight levels, impressive agility and expressive dynamics – it's hugely exciting to listen to.
How to choose the best phono preamp for you
Which phono stage you need is entirely dependent on what your existing turntable system is, and your budget.
If you have a budget turntable, then an affordable phono stage that's simple to use and is compatible with your (most likely) moving magnet (MM) cartridge is the only parameter you need to consider. If you're a hi-fi enthusiast with a more premium or high-end turntable and enjoy fine-tuning your system and swapping out different MM and moving coil (MC) cartridges like a mad scientist experimenting for the best sound quality, then you'll want a phono stage with plenty of flexible cartridge loading and gain adjustments to suit your matching high-end system, and more inputs.
Phono stages typically only have one set of inputs (for the turntable) and one set of outputs (to the amplifier). Even those on the entry-to-mid-level price range now increasingly let you switch between MM and MC cartridges – although beware that plenty still specialise in one type only. High-end phono stages tend to be larger (separate power supply units and better components all take up space), while budget options have a smaller footprint. Compatibility trumps design in this category, although it's not hard to find nicely made boxes.
Ultimately, which phono stage you choose will depend on what's most appropriate for the turntable and cartridge you already have, so make sure you've got your deck's specifications handy. It's the same case if you're looking to upgrade your current vinyl set-up, although it's always worth looking at the next model up for future-proofing.
Of course, sound quality is the final decider: we'd recommend demoing your new phono preamp with your existing deck and system if possible, to ensure you get the best-sounding performance when spinning your vinyl records.
How we test phono preamps
We have dedicated, acoustically treated testing facilities in Reading and London, where our team of experienced, in-house reviewers test the majority of hi-fi and audio kit that pass through our door – including phono preamps (or phono stages).
Sound quality is key in forming our verdicts and star ratings. What Hi-Fi? is all about comparative testing, so we listen to every phono preamp we review against the current leader in its field and price point to gauge how it compares to the best-in-class competition. We are lucky to be able to keep all What Hi-Fi? Award winners in our stockroom so we can always truly compare new products against our current best-in-class products in each price band.
We are always impartial in our testing and ensure we hear every phono preamp at its optimum – with the matching turntable and appropriate cartridge(s) of course. We'll use them in their best use case with different partnering source kit and speakers, as well as play plenty of different types of music and records through them. We give phono stages ample time to run in and listen to them over days and weeks to get a full picture at how each model performs.
All review verdicts are agreed upon by the team as a whole rather than an individual reviewer, to eliminate any personal bias and to ensure we are consistent across all our reviews. There's no input from PR companies or our sales team when it comes to the verdict, and What Hi-Fi? is proud of having delivered honest, unbiased reviews for nearly five decades.
You can read more about how we test and review products on What Hi-Fi? here.
FAQ
Why do I need a phono stage?
The audio information stored in a record's groove measures as small as a micron (1000th of a millimetre), so the scale of the task to retrieve it and playback through your speakers is immense – one that your standard line-level stereo amplifier isn't able to do on its own.
The physical limitations of vinyl mean that the original audio signal has to be altered before it can be recorded onto its tiny grooves – low frequencies are reduced in level and the high frequencies are boosted. The curve that governs this equalisation standard was set by the RIAA (Record Industry Association of America) in 1954.
This 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.
Secondly, it acts as an amplifier. The cartridge signals from tracking the groove can be as low as a thousandth of a volt (CD’s output is specified at 2V, for instance) so the signal has to be amplified massively before the line-level stage of a stereo amplifier can take over to deliver the sound through your speakers.
Learn more about how a vinyl record makes a sound
Is a separate phono stage better?
As with many pieces of standalone hi-fi kit, the theory goes that using separate pieces of kit to do individual jobs will almost always provide a superior sound. In a turntable set up, keeping as many bits of circuitry away from the platter, tonearm and cartridge is preferred, so there are no minute vibrations or electrical interferences that will affect the cartridge's highly precise job of accurately tracking the tiny grooves in a record to reproduce sound.
While many turntables come with decent enough phono stages built in, we have always found that a separate phono stage, with its own power supply, will deliver the better performance. Even budget models such as the Rega Fono Mini A2D or Graham Slee Gram Amp 2 Communicator will bring better precision, detail and rhythmic agility to your turntable system.
How much difference does a phono stage make? Will a phono preamp make my turntable sound better?
A phono stage's job is essential if you want your turntable setup to make a sound through speakers when spinning records. A phono stage provides extra amplification – the output of a cartridge can be as small as a thousand times less than a typical CD player – and it equalises the tonal balance.
Vinyl isn’t physically able to accept large amounts of bass during the cutting process, so the tonal range of the music has to be skewed heavily towards the higher frequencies to make things work. On playback, the phono stage’s job is to rebalance this. A good phono stage will let your record player shine, a poor one will have you wondering what the vinyl fuss is about.
So how well a phono stage performs will have a direct impact on the overall sound you hear from your turntable system. It certainly pays to choose a good one, then.
Recent updates
- November 2024: Labelled the current 2024 What Hi-Fi? Award winners, and added an update log.
- July 2024: Checked through current products, prices and advice to ensure accuracy and added hands-on photo gallery for the Cambridge Audio Duo.
- May 2024: Added an Also Consider section to offer additional choices to consider when buying.
- February 2024: Updated our advice and testing process, and added FAQ section to help buyers with the most asked questions about turntables.
- January 2024: Added Rega Fono Mini A2D Mk2 entry following its five-star review.
- November 2023: What Hi-Fi? Award-winning products are labelled after the 2023 Best Buys and Product of the Year announcements.
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