If you’re dipping your toe into the world of vinyl, you might find that you’re missing an important link – namely a phono preamp – between your record player and your active speakers or amplifier. The best external phono preamp (or a phono stage) is a neat way to bridge that gap; it’s also a great way to upgrade the quality of your existing vinyl set-up, as they tend to be a better quality than the ones built into your powered speakers, amplifier or turntable.
iFi’s Zen Phono 3 model is a compact and wallet-friendly phono stage that can neatly slot into most affordable vinyl systems, and is – unusually for a phono stage at this level – compatible with both moving magnet and moving coil cartridges.
