Low noise floor, transparent reproduction, sensible cost. Published on March 12, 2009 
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Phonomena II Phono Preamplifier
SRP: $600
Specs:
Gain Dip Switches: 40 thru 60dB in 13 steps
Input Loading Dip Switches: 30 to 100k Ohms in 17 steps
Dimensions: 8.5" W x 6" D x 2" T
Weight: 3 lbs.
Warranty: 3 years
Musical Surroundings
5662 Shattuck Ave.
Oakland, CA 94609
503-547-5006
info@musicalsurroundings.com
Intro
When I moved to Portland eight years ago I needed a phono preamp for my SOTA Star turntable setup, the various multichannel preamps I was using no longer offering moving-coil inputs, only moving-magnet, which I don't have. I tried a couple of tubed phono preamps, but both were extremely sensitive to both hum and also interference from a local rock FM station. (My Transfiguration Spirit MC cartridge is quite low output.) I ended up with the Grado PH-1 solid state wood-body preamp, which is very basic in having only a switch for High and Low - no other settings. Currently $500. It has a rather high noise floor, but after covering with foil and grounding it I was able to reduce the FM interference to a very low level most of the time.
I've had some concerns lately when doing A/B comparisons of original vinyls and various audiophile optical disc reissues that the vinyl didn't always sound audibly superior to the digital discs - often sounding nearly identical. One of my writers recommended I try Michael Yee's new Phonomena II Phone Stage from analog turntable maker/distributor Musical Surroundings, and I'm glad he did. The Phonomena II is based on the highly-regarded Nova Phonomena phono stage but without the battery pack, and at a $400 savings. There is also a no-holds-barred SuperNova model phono preamp which sports three inputs.
Basics
The Phonomena II has the same discrete circuit as the Nova, with multiple accessible dip switches (engineers call them mouse pianos) on the back panel to set a great variety of gain and loading options. The unit brings either MC or MM signals up to line level to feed any preamp or amp. A supplied wall-wart provides the power supply for the preamp. It has a too-bright blue LED on the front, as seems to be de rigeur with many audio components now. No level controls, of course, since your main preamp would be handling that.
Usage/Evaluation
My Transfiguration cartridge requires only 10 Ohms loading impedance and the lowest setting achievable on the Phenomena II was 30 Ohms, so I selected that. There was no exact correlation between the .4 mV output of my MC cartridge and the many different gain levels as I had hoped, so I started at about 52.7dB and kept raising it while auditioning until I settled on 58.4 dB. You raise or lower the four dip switches in various combinations to achieve the settings you want.
My first pleasant discovery was that the Phonome... |