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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
audiofun
799 posts
 
Lewm:

We are cool :)
When I used the word signal, perhaps not the best choice, I was referring to the 60hz sinusoidal from the wall.

I understand your point to a degree. Think of it like an auto engines fuel line. All the processing is done in the engine but if I have an inferior fuel line it will directly affect my engines performance. The fuse is a DIRECT corollary to the fuel line. Just like inferior metals (elementally contaminated copper for example) in a power cord will affect the sound, the wire and in fact the material of the end caps of a fuse and its resonance properties will affect the sound. It is the same reason that different power cords absolutely have an effect on my PS Audio Power Regenerators.

The Quantum argument is marketing crap and we certainly are not dealing with quarter wavelength theory or the like.

The entire power source first must go through the fuse, the choke-point. Remove the fuse, no power...
geoffkait's avatar
geoffkait
23,365 posts
 
Lewm
A fuse is a piece of wire designed to burn up when a certain amount of current passes through it for too long a time. That’s ALL it does and all it should ever do. The only way that I see for a fuse to affect sonics would be if its inherent resistance is great enough to retard the current demands of the component in which it is installed. So, I could be made to imagine that a fuse that displays very low resistance when in operation at tolerable current levels would be preferred over one that exhibits higher resistance at that very same current draw. Yet I have never seen any of the boutique fuse marketeers touting their products on this basis. Most seem to prefer an allusion to Quantum Mechanics. Further, the conductivity of different metals is not a scientific mystery. I would have thought that the major manufacturers of fuses have known for a long time what metals exhibit properties (low resistance, high temperature coefficient, etc) that are favorable to optimize fuse performance. Likewise, directionality can only come into play if in the process of reversing the fuse in its holder, you do something to lower the resistance at the interfaces between fuse and holder, either deliberately or accidentally. Finally, what is the rationale for expensive fuses that are only going to be used in the typical crappy fuseholder? Shouldn’t a fuseholder affect sound, as well?

>>>>I haven’t been keeping track but I’m pretty sure you just broke the record for the most logical fallacies in a single paragraph. Congrats! 🤗
audiofun
799 posts
 
counterreset:

Did you ever form an opinion about the Phonos? If so, I’d like to know you thoughts regarding its sound.
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