iFi Zen Phono 3 review

If you’re dipping your toe into the world of vinyl, you might find that you’re missing an important link – namely a phono preamp – between your record player and your active speakers or amplifier. The best external phono preamp (or a phono stage) is a neat way to bridge that gap; it’s also a great way to upgrade the quality of your existing vinyl set-up, as they tend to be a better quality than the ones built into your powered speakers, amplifier or turntable.

iFi’s Zen Phono 3 model is a compact and wallet-friendly phono stage that can neatly slot into most affordable vinyl systems, and is – unusually for a phono stage at this level – compatible with both moving magnet and moving coil cartridges.

Build & features

The Zen Phono 3 is a nicely made unit, with a similar footprint and design as its predecessor. The chassis is identical in dimensions and finish to the Zen DAC 3 we reviewed recently, and it’s a sleek, smart unit that is easy to accommodate on your desktop or hi-fi rack space.

There has been a major cosmetic lift from the original model, with the Zen Phono 3 now featuring a circular display and LEDs to indicate the different gain and loading options chosen, along with responsive buttons that help you make these adjustments.

The LEDs are subtle enough to not distract you when listening to records in a dark room, while the labels are legible – it’s a straightforward unit to use.

Compared with the previous model, the Zen Phono 3 allows you to mix and match gain and load settings independently of each other – you have four gain settings from 36dB to 72dB and four input impedance settings. This makes it compatible with a wide range of cartridges – even moving coil models. You can select low to very high gain settings using a switch at the rear of the unit, while you can choose the correct load option for your MC cartridge using the front panel button.

Around the back, you’ll find a single pair of stereo RCA inputs and outputs, along with a single 4.4mm balanced output.

The Zen Phono 3 boasts a relatively quiet noise floor as standard, while you can go further and diminish low-frequency rumbles caused by warped records or excitation of cartridge/arm resonances by using the Subsonic filter. This is a useful function but also affects overall transparency to a degree.

That this phono stage can work with a variety of moving coil cartridges for this price level is clearly a huge draw, but it’s worth noting that most good-sounding MC cartridges tend to cost at least double the price of the Zen Phono 3. While it’s admirable that an entry-level product such as this is so versatile and also offers an upgrade path, we think it offers most when partnered with budget-to-midrange moving magnet cartridges.

Sound

We plug the Zen Phono 3 into our reference system of the Rega Planar 3 RS Edition turntable, Naim Nait XS 3 amplifier and Epos ES-7N speaker. For comparison, we have our current Award-winning Rega Fono MM Mk5 phono stage (MM only, £230) and the five-star Cambridge Audio Alva Duo (£299), the latter of which is also compatible with MM and MC models.

Straight away, the iFi Zen Phono 3 shows its mettle with a refined, smooth and spacious presentation. Fleetwood Mac’s Dreams comes through in a composed manner, with guitar strums, drum kicks and vocals delivered with good detail and even better clarity. There is no undue harshness at the top end, which means that some of those scratchy, bright, high-pitched tones on Portishead’s Numb and Roads are a little more polished and polite. Overall it’s a nicely balanced sound that isn’t fazed by a rather rough and compressed Slipknot pressing or a very old but great-sounding Son House blues album.

We would like the iFi to dig a bit deeper into subtleties and have greater precision and verve when it comes to dynamics and rhythms, however. Bass performance is fairly taut and solid, although switching over to the Rega MM Mk5 brings us that greater level of authority, muscle and verve that we were missing. The Rega phono stage adds a heap of extra subtlety and textural depth to voices and instruments, along with a more propulsive sense of rhythm. The iFi’s sound is just a touch lightweight in comparison, but it also sounds fairly nimble and smooth-flowing.

The Rega MM Mk5 is more willing to unearth the grittiness and nuances of recordings, although it is a smaller-sounding and less refined presentation than the Zen Phono 3. The Cambridge Duo is also nicely dynamic and punchy (and has the added benefit of a headphone port), but it lacks the detail levels, refinement and clarity of the iFi rival. The Zen Phono 3 easily offers the biggest and most spacious sound of the three.

To test its MC capabilities, we plug the Phono 3 into our reference Technics SL-1000R record player with the Kiseki Purpleheart MC cartridge. This a high-end option far beyond what we would ever suggest pairing with the iFi, but it shows the iFi to be a decent and consistent performer with moving coil cartridges, though lacking in true transparency. Given this phono stage’s price point, that isn’t a major issue.

Verdict

The iFi Zen Phono 3 is a neat little unit and a good upgrade option for your turntable system. We like its clear, refined and big-sounding presentation, but find it plays it just a little too safe for our liking. For a similar price, the Rega rival is more expressive and musically satisfying.

However, we can see the iFi’s combination of features, smart design and price attracting those looking to give their fledgling vinyl system a spruce. It’s an alternative worth considering.

First reviewed: March 2025

SCORES

• Sound 4
• Build 5
• Features 5

MORE:

Read our review of the Rega Fono MM Mk5

Also consider the Cambridge Audio Duo MC/MM

Best phono preamps: budget to high-end, tried and tested