![]() I wholly recommend iFi Zen to anyone who want to upgrade from a budge phono preamp. The overall performance in all ares has gone up a few more levels than the Ortofon 2M Blue which basically has similarly sound output as the old VMS 20 E. But I am very pleased with the iFi Zen performance as well as it quirky looks and solid built.įast forward to a few days ago, I purchased an Audio Technica AT-VM95sh with a Shibata stylus. Unfortunately I can.t compare it to the Rega Fono MM I initially preferred. The music as a whole flows without ant hurry and individual instruments are clearly well defined. Middle range is detail-rich and the bass is solid. In comparison to my old preamps, the sound is so much cleaner with more details dragged from my LPs which are obscured before especially the high frequences, clear without fatigue. I used 2 favourite LPs for my tests, Autobahn by Kraftwerk and War of the World Musical by Jeff Wayne. It didn't disappoint when I wired it up to my AudioLab amp, Micro Seiki TT and Musically Technology PM15 speakers with the 2M Blue & all Van Den Hul interconnects. I chose the iFi Zen as I had read some users' report that it is slightly superior to the Cambridge in some of it sound stages. They didn't have it in stock but recommended a Cambridge or the iFi Zen, which are both highly recommended in What Hi Fi. I went to my local Richer Sound in Croydon, which I used to purchase my stuff years ago, to browse for a phono preamp with a Rega Fono MM in mind. I research online and finalized on a Ortofon 2M Blue which is closed to the VMS 20E as they both have a nude stylus. Last year I realized that I have to upgrade my trustful cartridge, Ortofon VMS20E Mk 2 and the phono pre-amplifier by NAD & Pro ject MM. With the digital revolution I switched to CDs years ago but still play my large collection of LPs regularly. IFi Zen phono preamp I'm a music lover foremost but also a hifi enthusiast ensuring my equipment can reproduce a faithful sound, as I am musically trained. ![]() Maximise your vinyls’ potential, with the iFi ZEN Phono. The unique AI subsonic filter used by iFi gets around these phase issues, creating a more natural sound while maintaining the speaker protection offered by regular subsonic filters. The downside with subsonic filters is they often also harm the sound by creating phase issues. ![]() Subsonic filters reduce rumble and are especially handy when playing warped records. This means you hear more detail and less background hiss – common on inferior phono pre-amps. Using top quality components from the likes of Panasonic, Texas Instruments, TDK and muRata, the iFi ZEN Phono is full of the best ingredients! Carefully implemented, these components come together to maximise the signal to noise ratio. A balanced output reduces noise and crosstalk, reducing distortion and improving the detail you hear. The circuit also utilises a balanced output design. Implementing top quality TDK capacitors, fitted in parallel, the ZEN Phono produces extremely low levels of distortion – giving class-leading precision. High precision and balanced output for class-leading sound quality Covering outputs from 36dB to 72dB, the ZEN Phono sees you through a range of cartridge upgrades. Choose between MM (Moving Magnet), MC (Moving Coil) High, MC Low and MC Very Low for the correct match with your turntable’s cartridge. ”It is one of the most outstanding pieces of affordable engineering in any category I have ever tested.” ’AV Forums’ – Best in Class.įeaturing no fewer than four cartridge settings, the ZEN Phono matches up with the vast majority of cartridges. ![]()
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