Phono Preamp reviews from Reddit
Summary
We analyzed 304 Reddit reviews across 8 subreddits and 82 posts to rank the best Phono Preamp brands recommended by redditors, including communities like r/turntables, r/BudgetAudiophile, r/vinyl, r/StereoAdvice, r/sonos. Top-rated brands include Schiit (4.5/5), iFi (4.5/5), ART (4.3/5).
Stats
Reviews304
Subreddits8
Posts82
Brands45
Products91
304 reviews from
and
By Brand
/By Product
#1
Schiit
4.5
(64)
"Schiit mani 2"
"Schiit Mani'"
"I use a Mani 2 with an OC9XML and am very happy with the combination."
"Schiit Mani 2 and iFi Zen Phono are the two I see most often recommended."
"Schiit mani2"
"The Schiit Mani is $120 and was their only pre-amp for years."
"Schiit Mani 2 $150"
"Schiit mani 2"
"Schiit Mani 2 if you can stretch budget."
"I have a schiit mani 2 and have zero noise issues."
#2
iFi
4.5
(44)
"Honestly the ifi with the iPowerX is all you need. :)"
"I strongly suggest it. Comes without a power supply so you can use a basic wall wart phone charger to use it for $99 and add the iPowerX whenever you have the extra dough."
"IFi Zen Air Phono $89 https://www.amazon.com/iFi-Audio-Zen-Air-Phono/dp/B09V7TPL4W"
"Ifi zen air phono is still available from what I see. Pair it with the iPowerX power supply and you have a giant killer."
"I’d suggest the ifi zen air with the iPower x power supply. It won’t disappoint"
"This is a serious phono stage especially when paired with their low noise power supply."
"IFI Zen Zen Air phono $74, usually $100. Great sale."
"IFI Zen Phono"
"Significantly improved the sound"
"Awesome phono preamp for the price, and delivers a full-bodied, resolving sound."
#3
ART
4.3
(37)
"The ART DJ PRE II is the consistent winner when it comes to cheap preamps."
"The ART DJ Pre II is one of the most recommended budget preamps for a reason."
"[ART DJ Pre II] sounds phenomenal."
"Art DJ Preii $66 under $100 champ."
"ART DJ-Pre II is the best bang for buck."
"You absolutely cannot go wrong with the ARTDJPREII."
"The Art DJ Pre II is the best value under £100 by far."
"I think the DJPreii ($65) is pretty hard to beat for the price."
"For phono preamp value it is hard to beat the ART DJPre II."
"I also vouch for the ART DJ pre II Phono Preamplifier, very good for its price."
#4
Cambridge Audio
4.3
(25)
"I also have a Solo. Works great."
"Loved my Cambridge Audio Solo. Great little pre-amp."
"Im using a Cambridge audio alva solo with my PDC evo and its really good."
"The Alva Solo probably outpeforms anything that retails less than $500usd."
"Over: Cambridge Audio Alva Solo, or the pricier Duo"
"If you have the cxa81 why not just get the Cambridge solo alva at $229? It's best in class at that price."
"The Cambridge Audio Alva Duo is about as good as they come"
"Get the Cambridge Audio Alva Duo and it will do both MM and MC."
"I really like my Cambridge Audio Solo."
"It’s good"
#5
Pro-Ject
4.1
(22)
"Sounds great!"
"I would recommend the Pro-Ject Phono Box E. You'll be hard pressed to find something that sounds better in this price range."
"I use the Pro-Ject DS2 and I love it. Highly recommend."
"I use the Pro-ject S2 Ultra for my Pro-Ject X1."
"I absolutely love it."
"I had a similar budget and settled for a Project Phone Tube Box S after a few auditions. Very happy with it."
"With this budget I would look for a Pro-Ject Phono Box."
"Pro-Ject has some XLR equipped phono preamps; would they be a consideration?"
"If I were to choose a ProJect phono, it would be one of the Tube Boxes."
"Something I think is nice about the Pro-Ject Phono Box S3 B is the front-mounted controls for easily selecting gain and loading options."
#6
Rega
4.3
(12)
"I've got the Rega Fono mini and am perfectly happy with it."
"Yes, an underrated component in your system. I suggest this."
"I’m a fan of my Rega Fono Mini. I can’t imagine getting much better for twice the price"
"I’m happy with my Rega Fono Mini A2D"
"The Planar 1 and Phono MM are a brilliant match."
"This video sold me on the REGA FONO MM MK5 over the SHIIT Mani 2."
"The Rega preamps are worth checking out."
"I went with the Rega Fono Mini a2d, which is OK."
"I recommend fono m5."
"Rega Fono Mini A2D MK2."
#7
Fosi Audio
4.7
(7)
"I recently got a Fosi Audio Box X2 for my Fluance RT82. It works and sounds great to me."
"I always use a $60 Fosi X2 with matched tubes. It sounds phenomenal."
"Fosi Box X2 tube hybrid with the GE tube upgrade. Sweet lil preamp."
"Fosi X2 is what I suggest. I have about 5 preamps here, and the X2 is the cheapest by a few hundred yet out performs all of them."
"Fosi x2 with the recommended tubes not the ones that come with is."
"I just bought the Fosi Audio Box X2 last week for like $60. It does well, I think."
"I landed on the fosi audio x2. I would have preferred the x4, but it was out of stock."
#8
Darlington Labs
4.6
(7)
"Stretch another 150 and grab a Darlington Labs MP6B. It is by far the best bang for your buck."
"You would be crazy to buy anything other than: Darlington Labs MP7B/8B."
"Darlington Labs MM6B is the best bang for buck under 500."
"For 100 dollars more the MM6B from Darlington Labs is leaps and bounds better than the ifi."
"Just because it doesn’t get mentioned and isn’t super well known Darlington Labs intro unit (MM-5) is a great piece of gear."
"I couldn’t be a happier customer of theirs."
"I’m a tremendous fan of Darlington Labs MM-6 or MM-5 even."
#9
U-Turn
4.4
(7)
"I use the U-turn Pluto 2, with the older monolith turntable that most think is a rebadged elac miracord 50."
"Lower budget U-Turn Pluto 2 is just as good as the Schiit Mani that costs $50 more."
"I run a Pluto and am very pleased with it."
"- U-Turn Pluto 2."
"U-turn is pretty good."
"The U-Turn Pluto 2 preamp is as good or better than the others."
"I'm using a U-Turn Pluto and it sounds nice to me."
#10
NAD
4.3
(7)
"I want on Craigslist and found a NAD pre from the 80s. It is perfect."
"I'm using the NAD PP-2 preamp and really happy with it. Amazing sound quality especially through headphones."
"I'm really happy with it."
"Pretty much any of them are very good, even the early ones."
"I can recommend it: [NAD PP2e](https://nadelectronics.com/product/pp-2e-phono-preamplifier)"
"Handles both MM and MC cartridges."
"Ones that did not beat it include: NAD PP2."
#11
Hagerman
4.0
(7)
"Hagerman Bugle 3 or Cornet 3"
"[Hagerman Bugle MC], scroll down for Jims build video and written testimonials."
"[Hagerman Bugle]"
"Nice sounding preamp, inexpensive."
"Hagerman audio labs- bugle 2 solid choice in the under $1000 range."
"Very good."
"Over budget, Hagerman Bugle"
#12
JDS Labs
4.3
(6)
"However that is a awesome deal for the JDS Labs at $100"
"JDS Labs PH01 $99."
"Buy the JDS and the Schiit or iFi and do a blind A/B test."
"The JDS Labs PH-1 may be plenty good for the E and 100 stylus."
"Maybe the JDS sounds a bit better"
"[JDS Labs PH01] is a good value for $99."
#13
Musical Fidelity
4.4
(5)
"The only one that beat it hands down is a $350 preamp, the Musical Fidelity LX2-LPS."
"The Arcam rPhono and Musical Fidelity LX2-LPS are well worth looking at."
"Cambridge Alva Duo, Musical Fidelity V90LPS, Vincent PHO300."
"The LX2-LPS is worth consideration."
"Brilliantly even sounding phono stage."
#14
Parks Audio
4.8
(4)
"Parks Audio Puffin will do MM & MC."
"I like my Parks Audio Puffin Phono Stage a lot"
"Parks Audio Puffin DSP"
"I use a Parks Audio Puffin Phono DSP with my VM540ML, which I love."
#15
Vincent
4.5
(4)
"I upgraded from the Schiit Mani 2 to a Vincent pho-300. Best decision ever."
"In my opinion this is the best preamp for the money."
"Vincent PHO-300"
"The Vincent pho-8 gets good reviews from what I see."
#16
Emotiva
4.3
(4)
"Emotiva XPS-1, on closeout from the manufacturer for $99."
"Emotiva XPS1 $179."
"Emotiva XPS-1 $179."
"I went with the eMotiva XPS-1 and have been very happy with it."
#17
Douk
4.0
(4)
"You can add the Douk T14 to your list."
"Douk T14"
"I’ve got a Douk Audio T4 preamp, $69 on Amazon. It’s actually not bad."
"New amplification with a built in phono stage preamp for the RT82: Douk Audio X1."
#18
Behringer
3.8
(4)
"Just get a Behringer PP400. It's affordable, and beats the crap of our much more expensive phono amps."
"Something like a Behringer pp400 is very cheap and plentiful supply."
"[Behringer PP400] $19 may be sufficient for the Edifiers."
"An under $20 starter phono preamp will be enough for that amp and basic low cost speakers."
#19
Graham Slee
4.7
(3)
"I'd suggest looking at Graham Slee - I built the Graham Slee Genera preamp from a kit, and I really like the sound."
"I gave my Art DJ Phono pre away."
"I’m currently running a Graham Slee Gram Amp 2 SE and it is great for MM carts >3 mv output."
#20
UTurn
4.5
(2)
"Uturn Pluto 2. Checks all the boxes and has reviewed well."
"Under $100 worth buying: UTurn Pluto 2"
#21
Sota
4.5
(2)
"The Pyxi is a huge upgrade from the Mani 2, much clearer sounding. It is worth $300."
"Consider the Sota Pyxi ($300)."
#22
Bellari
4.5
(2)
"It's been flawless for 3 years now"
"This Bellari preamp is well reviewed."
#23
MoFi
4.0
(2)
"I love it, but its the first preamp I’ve ever had so not much to compare it to"
"Been using a mofi studiophono and loving it."
#24
Cambridge
4.0
(2)
"I recommend any of those for MM carts."
"I bought a Cambridge duo alva phono thinking it would be an upgrade, but it was not much different."
#25
EAR
5.0
(1)
"I have had a great experience with the tube-based EAR834 2-box clone available on ebay."
#26
Eversolo
5.0
(1)
"Get the A8 I highly doubt you will be disappointed."
#27
Darlington
5.0
(1)
"Darlington MM5"
#28
Boozehound Labs
5.0
(1)
"I bought the assemble yourself kit from boozehound labs for around $90."
#29
Arcam
5.0
(1)
"The Arcam rPhono and Musical Fidelity LX2-LPS are well worth looking at."
#30
Vincent Audio
5.0
(1)
"My phono stage of choice is the Vincent Audio PHO-701."
#31
The Lounge
5.0
(1)
"Take a look at The Lounge LCR MKIII. It gets a lot of love on the Steve Holfman forums."
#32
Budgie
5.0
(1)
"I absolutely love my Budgie. It's $400 and fixed my sound floor issues over the music hall mini."
#33
Yamaha
5.0
(1)
"Those Yamahas have incredibly good integrated phono preamps."
#34
Technolink
4.0
(1)
"Supposedly a bit better than the Art DJ Pr"
#35
Naim
4.0
(1)
"Mk5 or whichever you can afford. I have a Naim stageline N."
#36
NAD, Harman Kardon, Yamaha
4.0
(1)
"You can also use a typical hifi preamp, and in the US many can be had for <$100 or close to that amount on the used market."
#37
Sony
4.0
(1)
"I have my RT82 hooked up to a sony str-dh190 (an amp with a built in phono preamp)."
#38
Rolls
4.0
(1)
"Rolls Bellari. Arte djll. Schiit Pro-ject audio."
#39
Fisual
4.0
(1)
"The Fisual UPA-1000 is £5 from av.com and is as good a budget phono stage as I’ve heard."
#40
Gram Amp
4.0
(1)
"I'd be saving for a Gram Amp Fanfare as a kind of bare minimum to get the max out of your 103r investment."
#41
Bozak
4.0
(1)
"[Bozak] or [Art DJ]"
#42
Fosi
4.0
(1)
"Something like a Fosi X1 would probably do the trick."
#43
Edifier
4.0
(1)
"Get a pair of Edifier 1280DB and a cheap phono preamp."
#44
Micro-Touch
3.0
(1)
"You don’t need a preamp as the Micro-Touch 2G cartridge is a ceramic cartridge."
#45
DigitNow
3.0
(1)
"I bought a $10 from digitnow on amazon and I get decent enough sound out of it."
Discover your audience
GummySearch is an audience research toolkit for 130,000 unique communities on Reddit.
If you are looking for startup problems to solve, want to validate your idea or find your customers online, GummySearch is for you.
Sign up for free, get community insights in minutes.
Tell me more
Get started
