Buffer amp no gain

It's PHONO.

UK phone connectors are similar to a Ethernet jack with pins on the side. See https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/British_telephone_socket

Autocorrect?

Yep autocorrect, it is indeed phono.

Bumpy had "phono" in his original post. The use of "phone" in my post was either an auto correction or more likely the result of a brain to finger malfunction.

@larryi - Thank you for the link to information about transformers. I have tried transformer volume controls and was not a fan, although I could see the appeal as they have a smooth sound.

Transformers are also used by some preamp/amplifier manufacturers on the input/output sides of things as they can offer benefits related to impedance matching and galvanic isolation, can be used to convert balanced signals, and can add about +6dB gain. The SMc mods to my TLC-1 preamp (now buffer) included Lundahl transformers on the output side, the same as used in their VRE-1 preamp. In addition to their already well-regarded line of transformers, Lundahl offers two higher level (or at least more expensive) transformers - one wound using Cardas copper wire and one wound with silver wire. My TLC-1 has the Cardas wire version as the silver was quite expensive. I never thought about the contribution of those transformers to the sound of the preamp so your linked article was quite interesting to me.

I never thought about the contribution of those transformers to the sound

E V E R T H I N G contributes to the system sound, including the room, furnishings and weather!

So when someone says a specific product is the MIRACLE CURE, hightail it in the opposite direction.

A local dealership that sells only tube electronics (some made in-house) sells an in-line transformer buffer.  I did not need it, but, I did get to hear what it does.  It makes the sound seem more "open" and expansive (more enveloping soundstage), and whether or not this is artificial, it sounded good to me.  But, I didn't think I needed it because my gear is stuffed with iron--the linestage has transformer inputs and transformer outputs, and my amplifier has transformer inputs and, of course, output transformers.  All of these transformers are quite old Western Electric parts.

I have heard only the Silver Rock transformer volume control and the MyEmia autoformer volume control, but, neither was actually in my system.  I have not played around with different forms of volume controls, but, I have heard various passive linestages with different types of volume control, including light-dependent resistors.  In my own system, I heard Placette's passive linestage with a 128 step relay switched attenuator, and their unity gain active linestage with the same 128 step attenuator.  I bought the active stage; it sounded more lively than the passive even if it had no gain.