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SPL Phonos Phono Preamp

Let me put this very succinctly - I'm blown away by the SPL Phonos phono preamp.  I've been playing around with several phono preamps the past few months to find one that's a great fit for my system.  I have an AMG Giro turntable with a Koetsu Rosewood (standard) cartridge.  My amp is a Gryphon Diablo 120 feeding Clearwave Symphonia loudspeakers.

SPL is a German brand active in the pro audio community.  I never heard of this brand until looking up some reviews/surveys on phono preamps, where the SPL phono preamp received several accolades.  I was able to buy one  from Vintage King Audio, and there was a 30 day return policy in case I didn't like it.

The SPL is a medium-sized unit - larger for instance than the small Rega, Simaudio Moon or iFi phono preamps, but smaller than many others that are the size of your average CD player or line stage preamp.  The SPL has switchable gain, 3 different capacitance choices for MM cartridges and 6 impedance choices for MC cartridges, including 220 ohms which I chose for my Koetsu.  There is also a useful subsonic switch that provides cutoff of frequencies below 20Hz, helpful in reducing rumble.  It's available in red, silver and black finishes.  I think the main sonic feature of the SPL is the use of what is called the Voltair circuit - a higher than usual voltage circuit.

This phono preamp created the most dynamic sound I've heard from vinyl.  The bass is very present and powerful, and provides a great foundation for the music.  There is an abundance of clarity and detail, but not in a manner that screams "transparency".  Rather, this preamp is very balanced and smooth, and nothing sounds exaggerated or out of place.  There is plenty of space between instruments, and the sound never becomes congested - something I absolutely do not like.

The real bottom line is that I'm having a blast listening to vinyl in my system.  It's hard to stop listening to records at night, and that's a great sign that the sound is serving the music well.

I suggest looking at the SPL if you're in the market for a $2k to $3k phono preamp.  Obviously, I've not heard all the phono preamps in this range, but I've heard 3 others (and even one other that was $4k), and the SPL was the best choice for my system and listening preferences.  It's certainly worth a close look.


128x128tasos1
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audiofun
799 posts
 
Anamighty Sound Sculpture a.4 and Anna Diamond are finally in the house :) neither is run-in so hang in there while I put them through their paces. I will state that the Anna Diamond is the REAL deal and does not appear to be a tarted up Anna, it is an information retrieval monster. Out of the box the Diamond sounds closer to my R2R than ANY cartridge I have ever heard. My original Anna sounded decent out of the box as well, unlike other cartridges I’ve used such as the Audio Technica ART 1000, a beautiful and awesome sounding device (but only after about 40-50 hours). The a.4 is a work of art but was really tight right off the bat, i.e. it displayed a great deal of information and a wide sweeping soundstage but it was too relaxed, almost lazy sounding. After about an hour on a locked white noise track the a.4 loosened up considerably but I can hear that she will need more run in to get the suspension compliant.

Over the next week I shall be performing a great deal of break in and comparisons between the Anna, Anna Diamond and the a.4 using the AMR PH 77 and the Luxman EQ 500 on my Garrard 401 with the Artisan Fidelity Reference platter and bearing set. The SP10 MK 3 NGS is still being turned into something very very unique and heavy :)

I’ll let you all know what I hear.


jtsnead's avatar
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jtsnead
217 posts
 
Still using the SPL looking to get a new stage to work with mu Ortofon MC A95
noromance's avatar
noromance
10,001 posts
 
@lewm
The DC runs transistors or tubes to amplify or pass the audio signal coming from an upstream source to some downstream source. Where in this process does the fuse pass the audio signal?
The DC /is/ the audio signal. The amplifier modulates the DC line using tubes or transistors. The signal is not ushered untouched through the active devices. The signal merely controls the power flow across a load.
lewm
13,358 posts
 
noromance, I assure you that my understanding of the process of electronic amplification is as complete or incomplete as yours. We just chose different words to describe the process. Nor did I say (or think) that the signal is "ushered" anywhere. Nor does your comment contradict my point that the fuse placed on the power transformer primary does not pass the audio signal. Let’s just leave it be.
I don’t know why I got so lathered up about fuses back in November, 2019. I should know better than to argue over tweaks, and in fact I thought I did know better long before the end of 2019. If you like it, it’s good. I will only add that if fuses are so critical to overall sound quality, then the fuseholder must assume equal importance. Wouldn’t putting a $150-fuse in the typical cheap pot metal fuseholder to be found on the back panel of even expensive components be an exercise in wishful thinking? Yet there is not much literature about fuseholders. Nor are there many boutique fuseholders from which to choose. I settled on Acme silver-plated cryo-treated fuses in an Acme fuseholder, which has silver-plated contact surfaces, where I am concerned that a fuse might make a sonic difference, as in my OTL amplifiers where there is a fuse actually for real in the signal path. Acme fuses and fuseholders are not crazily priced and seem fine. Enough said, unless you or someone else wants to discuss this off-topic further.
Also, I think I made the point back in 2019: I do NOT deny that ICs and power cords can affect the sound. But for power cords, I have found by experience that, for me anyway, the main factors are current-carrying capacity and low characteristic impedance, not quantum effects or any hoo-doo voodoo.
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