Preamp reviews from Reddit
Summary
We analyzed 158 Reddit reviews across 19 subreddits and 65 posts to rank the best Preamp brands recommended by redditors, including communities like r/turntables, r/StereoAdvice, r/BudgetAudiophile, r/basspedals, r/guitarpedals. Top-rated brands include Schiit (4.4/5), iFi (4.5/5), ART (4.6/5).
Stats
Reviews158
Subreddits19
Posts65
Brands77
Products77
158 reviews from
and
By Brand
/By Product
#1
Schiit
4.4
(19)
"Schiit mani 2"
"If you will be using your turntable forever, you might as well get a good phono stage."
"Schiit Mani 2 $150."
"It's really a great pre"
"Very happy with the combination."
"I have a schiit mani 2 and have zero noise issues."
"These are both widely considered to be good preamps."
"I was looking for a solid phone pre-amp and ended up ordering the Aiyima T3 Pro, U-Turn Pluto 2, Schiit Mani 2, and JDS Atom Phono."
"The Schiit Mani 2, CA Alva Solo, and iFi Zen Phono are usually regarded as best for price / performance."
"Schiit Mani 2 and iFi Zen Phono are the two I see most often recommended."
#2
iFi
4.5
(11)
"IFI Zen Air Phono $100"
"IFi Zen Phono"
"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."
"I have ifi Zen Phono (connected to Carbon EVO as well) and for 200 bucks it beats preamps five times its price."
"$99"
"IFi Zen Phono has a power cable that is sold separately that reduces excess noise too."
"[iFi ZEN Phono 3] MM/MC with 36-72dB gain range."
"Consider the ifi Zen Air for $99."
"[iFi Zen Air Phono](https://www.amazon.com/iFi-Audio-Zen-Air-Phono/dp/B09V7TPL4W) $99."
#3
ART
4.6
(9)
"Art DJ Pre ii $66"
"ArtDJ Pre II or Douk T14 EQ"
"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."
"In order of price from about $65: Art DJ Pre II."
"ART makes a bunch of different small format preamps and similar units for pretty inexpensive."
"Check out ART DJ Pre II."
"The Art DJ Pre II can be had for $60 and it works well."
"Sounds good to my ears."
#4
Darlington Labs
5.0
(5)
"Stretch another 150 and grab a Darlington Labs MP6B."
"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."
"I can also recommend the idi Zen Phono as a good option."
"Darlington Labs MP7B, hands down."
#5
Emotiva
4.0
(5)
"Phono preamp: Emotiva $59"
"Consider the Emotiva PH-1"
"...if you insist on spending money grab the Emotiva XPS-1."
"The Emotiva XDA-3 was one that I considered that might fit your criteria."
"[Emotiva XPS-1](https://emotiva.com/products/xps-1) $179."
#6
Sota
4.8
(4)
"I just got the sota pyxi and couldn’t be happier!"
"The Sota Pyxi ($300) is excellent with my Nagaoka MP-200."
"Consider the Sota Pyxi ($300)."
"It's a great performer at $350 USD"
#7
JDS Labs
4.3
(4)
"Buy the JDS and the Schiit or iFi and do a blind A/B test with the help of a friend and keep what you like."
"JDS Labs PH01 is $99 on sale."
"[JDS Labs PH01](https://jdslabs.com/product/ph01-phono-preamp/) is a good value for $99."
"[JDS Labs PH01](https://jdslabs.com/product/ph01-phono-preamp/) $99 on sale."
#8
Cambridge Audio
4.3
(4)
"I'm using a Cambridge audio alva solo with my PDC evo and its really good. No complaints so far at all."
"I also have a Solo. Works great."
"Loved my Cambridge Audio Solo. Great little pre-amp."
"The Schiit Mani 2, CA Alva Solo, and iFi Zen Phono are usually regarded as best for price / performance."
#9
U-Turn
4.3
(4)
"The U-turn Pluto is $90-100 and sounds every bit as good as a preamp 5-10x as expensive."
"I was looking for a solid phone pre-amp and ended up ordering the Aiyima T3 Pro, U-Turn Pluto 2, Schiit Mani 2, and JDS Atom Phono."
"The U-Turn Pluto is very accurate and clean, MM only, around $100."
"It was a big upgrade for me over the phono preamp in my old technics sa-gx690."
#10
EBS
5.0
(3)
"I‘m pretty sure the bass player in the Orchestra at „Hamilton“/London is using an EBS Stanley Clarke preamp."
"Love it. 2 separate pre channels."
"Highly recommend it!"
#11
Fosi
3.5
(4)
"If you want an external phono preamp then consider spending more than Klispch did: Fosi Phono Box X2."
"I use this exact Fosi preamp on my NAD C370."
"The Fosi is designed for MM only. If you want to get an upgrade in sound then I would suggest going with a upgraded MM cartridge."
"Your Fosi preamp is designed for MM carts, which produce a signal up to 5mV."
#12
SansAmp
4.3
(3)
"The only answer is SansAmp."
"If you have never owned a preamp pedal and you are an amateur or semipro, sansamp is the one to get."
"Sansamp"
#13
iFi Audio
4.0
(3)
"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"
"Pair it with the iPowerX power supply and you have a giant killer. DO NOT buy the new V3 version as it’s not better than the combo I’ve suggested, is more expensive than said combo , and has reliability issues."
#14
Behringer
4.0
(3)
"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, new and used (£10) and has good reviews."
"I'd consider a less expensive clone with a separate drive pedal. For example, the Behringer BDI21 is widely liked."
#15
Hagerman
4.0
(3)
"Over budget, Hagerman Bugle."
"[Hagerman Bugle MC], scroll down for Jims build video and written testimonials."
"[Hagerman Bugle](https://hagerman-audio-labs.myshopify.com/collections/phono-preamps/products/bugle-mc-phono-preamp)"
#16
WiiM
5.0
(2)
"WiiM Amp Pro is what I would suggest."
"Thanks everyone! I got a WiiM Pro Plus yesterday and it sounds FANTASTIC."
#17
Wiim
4.5
(2)
"WiiM is the current leader in streaming stuff so they’re a reliable choice."
"...I would follow this up by grabbing a great preamp or integrated..."
#18
McIntosh
4.5
(2)
"That C53 pre at $2500 is a great deal as it will hold that value for decades."
"Picked up a c53 last weekend at my local magnolia to try out."
#19
Cambridge
4.5
(2)
"I have a Cambridge due to its very low THD rating."
#20
MXR
4.5
(2)
"Sounds more like an SVT sound when engaged."
"MXR is sweet and small (not mini tho)."
#21
Cloudlifter
4.0
(2)
"A preamp can help solve that, such as a Cloudlifter."
"I’d recommend a Cloudlifter that plugs right into your interface."
#22
Pro-Ject
4.0
(2)
"Pro-Ject has some XLR equipped phono preamps; would they be a consideration?"
"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."
#23
Bozak
4.0
(2)
"Bozak or Art DJ"
"Phono preamp: Bozak $22"
#24
Rega
4.0
(2)
"Rega fono mm."
"My goto."
#25
Fluance
4.0
(2)
"A guy I met selling my spare speaker stands has extra Fluance phono amp for $60."
"It sounds significantly better than the fosi x2 imo."
#26
Yamaha
4.0
(2)
"Yamaha cx-830 is nice. Won't need a recap."
"There's a yamaha one that goes with this, cx-600, 800, or 1000 i believe."
#27
JDS
3.5
(2)
"I was looking for a solid phone pre-amp and ended up ordering the Aiyima T3 Pro, U-Turn Pluto 2, Schiit Mani 2, and JDS Atom Phono."
"JDS Atom seems to be a headphone amp."
#28
miniDSP
5.0
(1)
"Get this Preamp/DAC - miniDSP Flex."
#29
Mackie
5.0
(1)
"Biggest bang or the buck: Mackie 402-VLZ mixer gives you 2 preamps, 4 channels of mixing."
#30
Bottlehead
5.0
(1)
"Consider a tube based preamp, like a Bottlehead Moreplay."
#31
LR Baggs
5.0
(1)
"It always delivers to help get the right EQ while eliminating problematic feedback."
#32
Line 6
5.0
(1)
"Works as an all in one solution."
#33
Sushibox
5.0
(1)
"Upright players love it."
#34
Milkman
5.0
(1)
"Really really great for steel."
#35
SSL 2+
5.0
(1)
"It's the best & most stable preamp/interface I've ever owned."
#36
BAE Phono Preamp
5.0
(1)
"Honestly, save up a little while longer. Once you get to about $1500/ channel, you're getting a fully pro- level preamp territory: BAE, R Neve, API, Avalon, chandler, etc."
#37
Phono Preamp
5.0
(1)
"Yes, you need a phono preamp, as it takes the minuscule cartridge signal and amplifies it and EQs it to line level, where your headphone amp can take over."
#38
MiniDSP Flex Balanced
5.0
(1)
"MiniDSP Flex Balanced"
#39
Fosi Audio Box X1
5.0
(1)
"Fosi Audio Box X1"
#40
HX Stomp
5.0
(1)
"HX Stomp. Don’t need anything else."
#41
Klipsch
5.0
(1)
"Perhaps consider a pair of powered Klipsch they have the phono preamp built-in."
#42
Ampeg
5.0
(1)
"I sold my Sansamp VTDI to pay half toward an Ampeg SGT-DI."
#43
Rotel
5.0
(1)
"This is a bit over your budget but frankly the best one to get."
#44
EverSolo
5.0
(1)
"I just picked up an EverSolo DMP-A8 and have been very impressed with its performance."
#45
UA
5.0
(1)
"I like the UA Apollo Twin."
#46
API
5.0
(1)
"I run everything through an API 512c pre."
#47
Eversolo
5.0
(1)
"Get the A8 I highly doubt you will be disappointed."
#48
Warm Audio
5.0
(1)
"A used warm wa12 mk2, the black one, could potentially fit under a pedal board and sounds sick on vocals."
#49
Ava
5.0
(1)
"In addition to the excellent recommendations you've already received, I'd add this one to the list: Vision Q phono preamplifier."
#50
NAD
5.0
(1)
"EBay for an NAD phono preamp. Pretty much any of them are very good."
#51
Grace
5.0
(1)
"Grace m101, and a sound devices 442 both work a treat."
#52
Art DJ
5.0
(1)
"Art DJ"
#53
Pueblo Audio
5.0
(1)
"Pueblo Audio or Sound Devices. Both great units."
#54
Millenia
5.0
(1)
"For foley you want lots of clean gain. Usual suspects: Millenia, Grace designs, focusrite Isa or John hardy."
#55
Tone Hammer
5.0
(1)
"I agree with the general consensus that it rocks and would be a great fit."
#56
K&K
4.0
(1)
"Some kind of preamp will improve the sound."
#57
Friedman
4.0
(1)
"Pedal based things like the Friedman IR lines (in your case perhaps the IR-D) are real tube preamps in a pedal."
#58
Classe
4.0
(1)
"That Classe Pre for half off MSRP is also a decent deal if you want to buy new."
#59
Nux
4.0
(1)
"Nux melvin lee can usually be had for $120 used."
#60
Aiyima
4.0
(1)
"I was looking for a solid phone pre-amp and ended up ordering the Aiyima T3 Pro, U-Turn Pluto 2, Schiit Mani 2, and JDS Atom Phono."
#61
MC
4.0
(1)
"The MC Quintet should sound better than the 2M Red however if you think it's 5 to 7 times better on your friends setup."
#62
2M
4.0
(1)
"If you are looking for an upgrade have you considered upgrading just the stylus to the 2M Blue?"
#63
Fire-Eye
4.0
(1)
"Works great."
#64
Aguilar
4.0
(1)
"Maybe an Aguilar OBP or a Darkglass Tone Capsule."
#65
Lusithand
4.0
(1)
"Try something different, like a filter preamp."
#66
Bogner
4.0
(1)
"I like the Bogner Blue Mini for DI preamp."
#67
Vincent Tube Phono Stage
4.0
(1)
"I've heard that a tube phono stage by Vincent is a '},{"
#68
SansAmp Programmable Bass Driver DI
4.0
(1)
"The Sansamp programmable bass driver DI lets you switch between 3 presets."
#69
Spectra Drive
4.0
(1)
"Spectra drive! Lots of drive options (around 22 tone prints from their app I think from clean, tube drive, fuzz and more) and separate drive switch to activate."
#70
Zeibek Designer Submarine
4.0
(1)
"The zeibek designer submarine is a really great bass pre."
#71
Kinter
4.0
(1)
"A $15 phono preamp is more than sufficient for the small basic inexpensive $79 M Audio BX3 speakers."
#72
Avalon
4.0
(1)
"I’ve got a Avalon VT-737SP between my soundsystem and dj mixer."
#73
Tech 21
4.0
(1)
"The sans amp seems to be probably the cheapest decent pre."
#74
Fire Eye
4.0
(1)
"A lot of people like the Fire Eye Red Eye, but it is a bit expensive."
#75
Focusrite
4.0
(1)
"Focusrite mp8 is very good value if you are using Dante."
#76
Rolls
4.0
(1)
"Check out the Rolls MP13."
#77
Sound Devices
4.0
(1)
"I own a sound devices 442 to record foley."
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