Enjoy a purer listening experience with the ZEN Air Phono, our super affordable phono stage.
A phono stage, also called a phono pre-amp, provides the connection between the record cartridge/pickup (stylus) and the amplifier.
Turntable cartridges output a very small signal.
This signal needs amplifying up to several hundred times the original size before it is loud enough for your amplifier.
A phono stage increases the signal level from millivolts to volts.
When vinyl was the standard for audio recording, the phono stage was built-in to receivers and amps, allowing direct connection of a turntable.
These days most receivers and amps do not contain a phono stage so a separate unit is needed.
It is a necessity for any turntable without a phono stage already built in.
It will also upgrade a basic built-in phono stage in a turntable or amplifier system.