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Classic Audio MC Pro Phonostage Review

Rate this phono stage:

  • 1. Poor (headless panther)

    Votes: 7 3.1%
  • 2. Not terrible (postman panther)

    Votes: 7 3.1%
  • 3. Fine (happy panther)

    Votes: 55 24.1%
  • 4. Great (golfing panther)

    Votes: 159 69.7%

  • Total voters
    228
Here we go, arranged in order of MC SINAD+gain, then MM SINAD+gain:
There were nine MM + MC head amps, and one other MC only - the Graham Slee Reflex C.
I changed the SINAD figure for several amps, either because the Review Index figure was for the ADC or DAC, or quoted MM instead of MC.
Its interesting reading, though. Congratulations Michael!
There were about a dozen phono amps that weren't in the Review Index, so I added those as well, and put them in alphabetical order this time:

ModelPrice
USD
SINADGAINTOTSINADGAINTOTRec'dReview
Date
Review
Link
MMMMMMMCMCMC
ART Pro AudioPrecision Phono Pre$81
78​
34​
112​
60​
52​
112​
Yes6/13/22Review Link
ART Pro AudioUSB Phono Plus$99.99
59​
45​
104​
0​
No08/03/23Review Link
Cambridge AudioAlva Duo$300
84​
39​
123​
63​
60​
123​
Yes7/24/23Review Link
Cambridge AudioAlva Solo$180
86​
39​
125​
0​
No11/01/19Review Link
Chord ElectronicsHuei$1,500
44​
49​
93​
0​
No11/07/20Review Link
Classic AudioMC Pro$850
0​
73​
69​
142​
Yes8/13/23Review Link
Darlington LabsMM-5$199
64​
41​
105​
0​
No7/24/21Review Link
Emotiva AudioXPS-1$200
82​
42​
124​
0​
Yes5/16/19Review Link
eXemplar AudioException Phono$6,950
64​
43​
107​
54​
73​
127​
No3/25/19Review Link
FosiAudio Box X5$110
86​
38​
124​
65​
57​
122​
Yes12/01/25Review Link
FurutechAlpha Des Labs GT40$525
40​
41​
81​
0​
No10/05/19Review Link
Graham SleeReflex C$900
0​
59​
50​
109​
No01/09/21Review Link
Graham SleeGram Amp 2 Comm'tr$299
69​
39​
108​
0​
No04/11/22Review Link
Hagerman Audio LabsBugle3$199
74​
40​
114​
0​
N/A3/18/23Review Link
Hagerman Audio LabsBugle2$150
61​
40​
101​
0​
No8/14/20Review Link
ifiZen Air£99
69​
40​
109​
66​
64​
130​
Yes27/06/22Review Link
ifiZen Phono£199
67​
37​
104​
0​
Yes26/06/22Review Link
LehmannaudioDecade Phono Stage£2,099
79​
45​
124​
66​
56​
122​
Yes21/02/24Review Link
Lounge AudioLCR Mk3$300
53​
40​
93​
0​
No04/07/19Review Link
MarantzAV10£7,000
80​
35​
115​
Yes01/12/23Review Link
MofiStudioPhono Stage£349
74​
41​
115​
0​
No21/04/24Review Link
Musical FidelityMX-VYNL$1,000
79​
42​
121​
0​
Yes06/07/19Review Link
Musical SurroundingsNova 3$1,500
69​
43​
112​
0​
N/A12/29/20Review Link
NADPP 2e£219
64​
37​
101​
62​
59​
121​
No14/01/24Review Link
NADPP 4$229
54​
42​
96​
0​
No04/06/21Review Link
ParasoundZphono$200
76​
47​
123​
56​
59​
115​
Yes09/08/20Review Link
Parasound200 Pre$895
69​
43​
112​
0​
N/A09/11/21Review Link
Parks AudioPuffin$400
73​
40​
113​
0​
Yes1/25/21Review Link
Pro-JectPhono Box DS3 B£799
78​
46​
124​
59​
66​
125​
Yes28/01/24Review Link
Pro-JectPhono Box DC£129
79​
40​
116​
58​
58​
116​
Yes19/08/24Review Link
Pro-JectPhono Box DS2 USB$600
80​
40​
120​
0​
Yes07/12/20Review Link
Pro-JectPhono Box MM$89
76​
40​
116​
0​
No07/08/23Review Link
Pro-JectOptical Box E Phono$200
76​
34​
110​
0​
No12/13/20Review Link
Pro-JectTube Box S2$400
69​
40​
109​
0​
No4/26/20Review Link
PS AudioStellar$2,499
65​
44​
109​
51​
61​
112​
Yes9/24/21Review Link
Pyle AudioPro PP444$13
48​
35​
83​
0​
No10/15/19Review Link
RanePS1$50
75​
36​
111​
0​
No5/16/19Review Link
Realistic42-2101A$20
58​
38​
96​
0​
No1/22/21Review Link
RegaFono Mk3$400
78​
41​
119​
0​
No11/04/20Review Link
Rek O Kut UltraUltra$159
76​
39​
115​
0​
No5/17/22Review Link
RollsVP29$50
49​
41​
90​
0​
No1/22/21Review Link
SchiitSkoll$399
81​
41​
122​
64​
59​
123​
Yes10/14/23Review Link
SchiitMani 2$149
81​
44​
125​
0​
Yes2/23/22Review Link
SchiitMani$130
74​
43​
117​
0​
Yes07/11/19Review Link
Six AcousticsYork$437
67​
40​
107​
48​
60​
108​
No04/12/22Review Link
SOTAPyxi$300
80​
46​
126​
65​
59​
124​
Yes5/27/23Review Link
SuperphonRevelation Preamp£349
59​
38​
97​
0​
Yes16/05/24Review Link
SutherlandKC Vibe MK2£999
85​
45​
130​
0​
Yes29/09/22Review Link
U-Turn AudioPluto 2$99
78​
40​
118​
0​
Yes6/23/21Review Link
U-Turn AudioPluto$100
80​
36​
116​
0​
No06/10/18Review Link
VincentPHO-8$250
73​
40​
113​
51​
58​
109​
No3/25/20Review Link

The recently tested Fosi Audio Box X5 comes out well.

I will endeavour to update this table when a new phono amp test is published.
 
@welwynnick Would you consider posting this and further updates in a new thread? This is just super useful info to have and it would be easier to keep it up to date and in one place in its own thread :)
 
Sure. I'm happy to share the spreadsheet with anyone else as well, but I don't think I can attach it to posts.
 
Sure. I'm happy to share the spreadsheet with anyone else as well, but I don't think I can attach it to posts.
If you want to attach it, I think you need to ZIP it for the forum software to be happy.
 
New thread is here:
 
The RCA sockets are by design intended connected to the chassis or isolated? I own the unit and I've noticed that the RCA sockets are a bit recessed so that the shield of the cables' plug (negative) hits the chassis when inserted.

Thanks,
Stefano
 
The RCA sockets are by design intended connected to the chassis or isolated? I own the unit and I've noticed that the RCA sockets are a bit recessed so that the shield of the cables' plug (negative) hits the chassis when inserted.

Thanks,
Stefano
Should be isolated, but probably won't make much difference in situ. With normal RCA connectors it shouldn't be a problem.
 
The RCA sockets are by design intended connected to the chassis or isolated? I own the unit and I've noticed that the RCA sockets are a bit recessed so that the shield of the cables' plug (negative) touches the chassis when inserted.

Thanks,
Stefano
Should be isolated, but probably won't make much difference in situ. With normal RCA connectors it shouldn't be a problem.
Thanks Michael. I've managed to leave a little gap from the rear panel and the RCA plugs avoiding inserting them until they stops, but in fact there is no gain in terms of noise or anything else.
 
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