Phono Stages of the Year
“The Solo proved a fine and reliable base-level movingmagnet phono stage, delivering clean and clear amplification.”
If your amp doesn’t have a phono input, or if you want to upgrade it (few things affect the delicate output of a turntable like your phono stage), the UK’s Cambridge Audio released this excellent entry-level phono preamp this year, the $299 Solo. It’s almost black-box simplicity in terms of use — it’s for moving magnet cartridges only (a ‘Duo’ is available if you also need to handle moving coil cartridges), and it has a non-defeatable rumble filter which we found assisted its clean and clear amplification, especially for turntables with any bearing noise. Despite fears of bass loss or phase distortion from such a rumble filter, the Solo delivered no audible ill effects, and proved a fine and reliable phono stage. More info: www.synergyaudio.com