What Hi-Fi? Verdict
The Nano is an impressive niche product. If you need a headphone output on your phono stage, buy one
Pros
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Clean, clear and open sound
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fine stereo imaging
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impressive build and finish
Cons
- -
A touch too much dynamic restraint for our tastes
Why you can trust What Hi-Fi? Our expert team reviews products in dedicated test rooms, to help you make the best choice for your budget. Find out more about how we test.
What we have here is a moving coil/moving magnet phono stage with a built-in headphone output.
Like all the Clearaudio phono stages we've reviewed, the Nano is beautifully made. It's chunky, solid and nicely finished.
Switching between MM and MC gain setting is done by means of a jumper bar, as is the operation of the subsonic filter: this prevents low-frequency noise caused by the turntable from breaking through.
There's even the option of changing the cartridge loading, done by swapping (supplied) resistors positioned on the underside of the Nano.
A wide, precise soundstage
In use, the Nano delivers a wide soundstage with much precision when it comes to positioning sounds.
Tonally, it's convincing and delivers plenty of detail.
Our only issue is that it sounds a little restrained dynamically, and this takes the edge off listening enjoyment a touch.
On the headphone side of things it does well, managing to drive Grado's iGrado and AKG K701s without issue.
The sonic signature retains the precision and tautness of the line-level output.
