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. This collection holds all-tube phono stages from Rogue Audio, built in Pennsylvania, and Unison Research of Italy, for both MM and MC cartridges.
Rogue's Ares II is a low-noise tube phono stage with adjustable loading and gain for low, medium, and high-output cartridges. Unison Research offers the Phono One and Simply Phono for valve-driven vinyl, each with switchable settings to match your cartridge. A tube phono stage is the natural front end for a valve system. Add a tube preamplifier to complete a valve front end, or browse all phono preamps.
