Phono Stages & SUTs

The Aavik R-188 is a phono stage made by Aavik for Moving Coil (MC) and DS Audio optical cartridges. It uses a fully balanced, floating MC input stage with ultra-low-noise BISS transistors, a 75 μs filter, and a hand-matched passive RIAA network; its optical input has a direct-coupled, floating input stage, ultra-low-noise regulators, and adjustable high- and low-pass filters. It provides 58 or 64 dB MC gain, 26 dB optical gain, adjustable MC input loading from 50 ohms to 10 k ohms, one pair each of floating RCA MC inputs and optical RCA inputs, one pair of RCA outputs, 70-ohm output impedance, 21 kg weight, and dimensions of 440 × 430 × 116 mm.

The Aavik R-588 is a phono stage made by Aavik for Moving Coil (MC) and DS Audio optical cartridges. It uses a fully balanced, floating MC input stage with ultra-low-noise BISS transistors, a 75μs filter, passive RIAA network, and adjustable 50Ω–10kΩ input loading; the optical input uses a direct-coupled, floating stage with adjustable high- and low-pass filters. It includes 108 active Tesla coils, 216 active square Tesla coils, and ninth-generation dither circuitry, with 58 or 64dB MC gain, 26dB optical gain, RCA inputs and outputs, 70Ω output impedance, and dimensions of 440 × 430 × 116mm at a weight of 21kg.

The Aavik R-180 is a phono stage made by Aavik for moving-coil cartridges. It uses a discrete, floating balanced, ultra-low-noise bipolar input circuit with a 62 dB gain and adjustable cartridge loading from 50 ohms to 5 ohms; its signal-to-noise ratio is 94 dB measured at 1 kHz. The unit incorporates 36 active Tesla coils, active square Tesla coils, dither circuitry, and a natural-based composite cabinet material designed to minimize mechanical resonance, with aluminium use limited to what is required for cooling.

The Aavik R-280 is a phono stage made by Aavik. It uses a discrete, floating-balanced, ultra-low-noise bipolar input topology for moving-coil cartridges, with adjustable cartridge loading from 50 to 5 ohms, 62 dB gain, and a 94 dB signal-to-noise ratio measured at 1 kHz. Its construction includes a natural-based composite cabinet with minimal aluminium, separate units, 72 active Tesla coils, 176 active square Tesla coils, eight dither-circuitry stages, and an Aavik copper inner chassis.

The Aavik R-580 is a phono stage manufactured by Aavik. It uses a discrete, floating-balanced, ultra-low-noise bipolar input circuit with 62 dB gain, adjustable moving-coil cartridge loading from 50 to 5 ohms, and a signal-to-noise ratio of 94 dB at 1 kHz. The R-580 includes 108 active Tesla coils, 248 active square Tesla coils, 11 dither-circuitry units, and a solid-copper inner chassis.

The Aavik R-880 is a phono stage by Aavik, presented by Audio Group Denmark, with support for DS Audio optical cartridges. Its optical-cartridge input uses a dedicated direct-coupled floating input stage that operates without a conventional DC-blocking capacitor, followed by an RIAA filter and discrete operational amplifier. An adjustable high-pass filter and optional low-pass filter address modulation and high-frequency response, allowing bass and treble adjustment for individual cartridge models.

The ACCUSTIC ARTS® PREAMP V PHONO is a preamplifier manufactured by ACCUSTIC ARTS® and handmade in Germany. It uses a fully balanced input-to-output circuit, a Class A output stage, a four-channel digital volume control, three balanced XLR and three unbalanced RCA inputs including a surround-bypass input, balanced and unbalanced outputs, and a switchable 1/4-inch headphone output. Its specifications include a DC–120 kHz frequency response, greater than 115 dB crosstalk attenuation, 11 Veff maximum output voltage, less than 0.001% THD+N, and a 50 VA magnetically shielded German-made toroidal transformer; the front panel and cover are solid aluminum, with solid chromed-brass knobs.

The ACCUSTIC ARTS® TUBE PHONO II is a tube-hybrid phono preamplifier for MM and MC cartridges, manufactured by ACCUSTIC ARTS® and handmade in Germany. It uses two selected and matched E83CC/12AX7 dual-triode tubes with a professional Class A output stage, selectable MM capacitance and MC impedance, RIAA precision of ±0.17 dB, and balanced XLR and unbalanced RCA outputs. Its construction includes a solid aluminum front panel and cover, chromed brass control knobs, and two magnetically shielded 75 VA toroidal transformers.

All-tube MM/MC phono stage with three inputs, up to 75 dB of gain and cartridge loading adjustable from the remote or front panel. Part of the Saturn series and offered in Signature and Eclipse upgrade tiers.

Allnic Audio is a small South Korean manufacturer led by veteran transformer designer Kang Su Park, building tube electronics and transformers in limited runs with a narrow international dealer network rather than mass retail. The H-1202 is the entry point into Allnic's phono-stage lineup (below the flagship H-7000LCR and statement H-8000DHT), using in-house-wound Permalloy-core step-up transformers and NOS tube regulation, and has been reviewed by The Audio Beat, Audiophilia, and AudioResurgence — evidence of sustained audiophile-press reputation despite its small-batch Korean manufacture.

Pure Class A vacuum-tube MM/MC phono stage using NOS E180CC triodes with built-in nickel-core step-up transformers and no negative feedback. Successor to the acclaimed H-1201.

The Aqvox Phono 2 Ci MkII is a German-made, fully balanced solid-state MM/MC phono preamplifier built entirely from discrete transistors with no op-amps in the signal path, using genuine balanced circuitry throughout and true-balanced current-mode amplification for moving-coil cartridges via its XLR inputs. It targets audiophiles running balanced tonearm cables and long balanced interconnects who want to extend a fully balanced signal chain back to the turntable.

La Gran Filarmonía XF Universum MAGNUM es un amplificador integrado a válvulas fabricado por Ars-Sonum, con una configuración de doble push-pull de pentodos que trabaja en clase A hasta 40 W mediante polarización automática y regulación de pantalla, y está diseñada para altavoces de 3 a 12 ohmios. Su potencia declarada es de 2 × 55 W RMS a 8 ohmios, 2 × 60 W RMS a 6 ohmios y 2 × 55 W RMS a 4 ohmios, con respuesta de 10 Hz a 80 kHz (-3 dB), distorsión armónica total inferior al 0,4 % a 40 W RMS, relación señal/ruido superior a 90 dB, tres entradas de línea y una salida de cinta. Incorpora transformadores de salida y alimentación fabricados por Ars-Sonum, conectores Furutech bañados en rodio, controles bañados en oro de 24 quilates, condensadores VCap CuTf y Mundorf de plata/oro/aceite, selector ELMA, control de volumen DACT de 24 pasos, válvulas 8 × E34L, 2 × JAN6189W y 2 × E88CC, chasis de acero inoxidable pulido y unas dimensiones de 440 × 210 × 384 mm con un peso de 22 kg.

The Ars-Sonum MC Tube Phono Preamplifier is a handcrafted stereo moving-coil phono preamplifier made by Ars-Sonum, including its power supply and transformer. It uses passive RIAA equalization with matched, selected components to 0.1% tolerance, local current feedback at every stage instead of global feedback, an electronic-island topology, and independent power regulation per channel and stage. The unit has a polished stainless-steel chassis, copper, stainless-steel, and cobalt shielding, a 3D hierarchical grounding-star topology, elasto-pneumatic damping, and Lundahl amorphous-core step-up transformers with optional silver wire; dimensions are 18 × 10 × 27 cm and weight is 4.8 kg.

William Zane Johnson's landmark early-70s tube preamplifier that helped launch the American high-end; prized by collectors, especially in SP-3a-1 form.

Auditorium 23 is a small German maker run by designer Keith Aschenbrenner, hand-winding step-up transformers and building loudspeakers in small numbers with a narrow specialist-dealer network rather than wide retail. The Hommage T1 was A23's first "statement" product line entry, developed by Aschenbrenner after studying and dismantling vintage transformers including a Western Electric 618B, intended as a companion piece to the marque's SoloVox loudspeaker; it is distinct from the more affordable Hommage T2 already in this catalog.

The Auditorium 23 Hommage T2 is a high-end step-up transformer (SUT) from the German audio company Auditorium 23, designed specifically to extract maximum performance from higher-impedance, higher-output moving-coil cartridges such as the EMT TSD 15 and OFD 25, and Denon DL-103. Unlike typical SUTs built for very low-output cartridges, the T2 uses an unusually high turns ratio to deliver very high gain from these higher-impedance cartridge designs, a combination Stereophile called "sick" in its impact and tonal vividness when paired with an EMT OFD 25. It remains listed as a current product by US high-end audio dealers.

The Ayre IBE Disc is a system-enhancement audio disc containing a five-minute glide tone intended for playback through an audio system at a moderately low listening volume, along with additional tracks with specialized functions. The disc is designed to address residual magnetic fields that may build up in audio components; it weighs 10 oz and measures 6 × 6 × 1 in.