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Capability

Phono amplification

Preparing a magnetic cartridge’s signal for a line-level input.

A phono stage raises the tiny signal from a record player’s magnetic cartridge to line level. It also applies RIAA equalization: the correction that restores the frequency balance altered when the record was made.

You’ll find this stage in standalone phono preamps and in some turntables and amplifiers.

Match the input to the cartridge’s output and recommended load. MM means moving magnet; MC means moving coil. Some high-output MC cartridges use an MM input, so follow the cartridge’s instructions rather than choosing by those letters alone.

Key specs

  • Gain: how much the cartridge signal is amplified.
  • Loading: the electrical conditions the phono input presents to the cartridge, described by resistance and capacitance.
  • RIAA accuracy: how closely the stage follows the intended playback correction.
  • Noise: unwanted sound added by the phono stage. Compare MM and MC figures separately, with the same test conditions.

Product categories with this capability

Specifications

Sources