Phono Preamp Shootout

Using a VPI Traveler V1 with Sumiko EvoIII Cartridge playing a Blood Sweat & Tears album from the local thrift store cleaned with Spin Clean.





A simple recording using Audacity at 24/96 and then all files normalized with replay gain.  The following phono stages were compared:


Waamamps Tube MM Phono stage with vintage Mullards, Ribbed Telefunkens and Sylvanias.  I preferred the Teles over the Sylvanias by a narrow margin but both were significantly better than the Mullards.

Cambridge Audio 540p with aftermarket 1a wall wart.

Rega Mini Fono USB

Rega Fono (Full Size)

Soundsmith MMP3

Creative X-Fi HD

All were tested via recording with the Creative X-Fi and by listening thru AKG 701s, AKG K550, Beyerdynamic 990 Pro, and finally with Fostex Full Ranges in DIY cabinets.  So how did they rank?

1) Rega Fono

2) Soundsmith

3) Rega Mini Fono

4) Waamamps w/Tele

5) Cambridge Audio

6) Creative