A tube phono preamplifier amplifies the tiny signal from a moving-magnet or moving-coil cartridge and applies RIAA equalization through a vacuum-tube stage, adding valve warmth to vinyl at the most delicate point in the chain. Because the phono stage works with the lowest signal levels in the system, its noise floor and loading options matter more here than anywhere else, and a well-designed tube stage brings body and air to records without losing detail. Getting the phono stage right is the foundation of great analog sound. This collection holds all-tube phono stages we carry, for both moving-magnet and moving-coil cartridges.
Current highlights include Rogue Audio's Ares II, a low-noise tube phono stage with adjustable loading and gain for low, medium, and high-output cartridges, and Unison Research's Phono One and Simply Phono. A tube phono stage is the natural front end for a valve system. Add a tube preamplifier to complete it, or browse all phono preamps.
