Phono Preamp Reviews

Doing a review of the VPI Prime? For here or Stereophile?

Michael, nice review. This is moving to the top of my list for a preamp upgrade. Do you plan on reviewing any of the new Rega or Music Hall TT's in the $1000 - $1500 range? I'd love for you to be able to do more product reviews. Thanks

Are they at all useful for mono records? I don't have many of them, but I've always wondered if you need two phono preamps, one with all the curves for mono records, and another one for stereo records, given that very few phono preamps offer more than one curve. Or are you better off with just one good quality phono preamp, even if you want to listen to mono records on occasion?

Any plans for JA to run a set of measurements to confirm the claimed increases in S/N ratio and dynamic range?

When you referred to "1kHz resistive loading", did you instead mean 1k ohm?

How does it compare now to the Lehmann Audio Black Cube SE in your opinion? Time to change to this iPhono 2?

Hi,
How about reviewing the other 2 much talked about phono stages, namely the Lounge & the Parks Audio-Budgie?

Thanks for the review, Michael. I bought an iPhono2 last week and have been thrilled with what I'm hearing. I'm using a VPI Classic 3 with SDS and a Clearaudio Maestro Wood MM cartridge.
As it breaks in I"m hearing deeper into the music and noticing a much bigger and more defined sound stage, not to mention the phenomenal bass.
It's hard to believe this little wonder is only $500!

(My only complaint is that the miniscule typeface surrounding the dip switches is really tough to read with my middle-aged eyes. Perhaps iFi should include a magnifying glass with each unit.)

I have been using the Hovland Hp-100 phono section for 16 years. Always found it ver good. But having recently purchased a Symposium Acoustic Osiris Rack, added resolution and subtraction of distortion showed a lack of quality in the phono pre. I own a Transfiguration Proteus so I didn't buy the original IFi with only 60db gain. But the 2 with 72db and multiple loading options and as an urban dweller with limited room, I pre-ordered one. The Proteus has an internal impedence of 1 ohm. The ifi2 enabled me to find a soul satisfying load setting of 76.5 ohms coupled wth 72db gain and the increased power supply simply embarrassed my Hovland phono pre. IMO one of high end audio's best recent achievements. If you walked into an audio showroom with a mega $$$ phono pre shown but not in use and the ifi2 hooked up but out of sight no one would know the trick played on them. It's that good. And yes Mike, 50-100 hours break-in makes this little trouble maker a real contender,

I've heard the original iPhono and thought it was pretty darn good and had a lot of versatile settings, assuming you could read the microscopic lettering on the bottom.

But iFi fired the US distributor Avatar Acoustics a while ago, and I get bad vibes from that. Who do they have for support and service? They also dropped Avatar as AMR distributor, which is even more troubling. What were they thinking? Without good representation and solid service a component is worthless. I think they shot themselves in the foot, big time.

As pointed out by the previous commenter, they dropped Avatar Acoustics as their distributor. In talking with a couple of the resellers that were supplied by Avatar, the first they knew of this decision was the receipt of an email saying that Avatar was no longer their distributor and they would be advised about how to order shortly. When I called Avatar they had not been formally advised that they were no longer the distributor. They had heard about it from the resellers and were attempting to determine what had changed. Avatar were puzzled by this as iFi Audio had no other distribution system in place! I am not sure what transpired but I do know that Avatar was a strong proponent of the iFi product line and was selling lots of units. This decision makes no sense to me and I hope that someone will come forth with a rational explanation! I own five iFi products, but I am waiting until I find out more about iFi's plans before I commit to any more of their products.

Another great review. I'm looking forward to hearing one of these someday!

Related to the topic of distribution in the US, those of us who have dealt with Avatar Acoustics in the past appreciated their excellent service. I'm sure each of us have stories of how they went above and beyond normal expectations to take care of us...that's just how Darren operates the business.

It's unlikely that iFi will issue a press release describing in detail their reasons for parting ways with Avatar or especially how they handled the transition. As happy and loyal customers of both companies, the best we can hope for from iFi is to bolster their new distribution and service team and actually deliver on product and service commitments. We will also stay in touch with Avatar and support whatever new initiatives Darren takes on since we know that good people make great things happen.

I actually have an iFi product that needs some repair work, so I'll report back on the experience of working with the new support team in Washington once the work is complete.

The timing and events that separated these two companies were unfortunate, but I remain hopeful that iFi and Avatar Acoustics will continue to succeed since we all stand to benefit from their successes.

Mike:
In a phono preamp with both MM & MC inputs, which is appropriate for high-output MC cartridges? I still use a classic Adcom micro-ridge II cartridge, which has output well over 2mv. Running it through a passive PS Audio preamp (the preamp has only one set of inputs, marked simply "PHONO") produces output well in excess of the line-level outputs of disk players. And I mean like 18dB higher than the output of my Oppo!
So, on a newer device like the iFi, should a cartridge input be selected solely as a function of desired gain? That is, would you expect a problem connecting a high-output MC through the iFi's MM inputs? In my case, the Adcom has a 47K output impedance, so I'm not sure what other issues might exist.
"Inquiring Minds Want to Know" Don

... as always, for reviewing a broad cross-section of phono gear. Yes it's great to hear about how wonderful something like the Boulder 1008 sounds but it's even greater to hear you enthusiastic for the quality of this ~$500 piece of equipment.

That you can be excited by a phono solution at this price range is a real testament to your dedication to all of us out here in phono-land, no matter our ability or inclination to spend. Kudos to you!

Is all the filtering going on. Worried that it could EQ the sound or muffle it.

Hi there,

sorry for asking, I think I'd missed something: where did you find the ifi micro phono 2 at 499 USD?

Thanks in advance.

Regards

i.

I took your advice & purchased the iFi 2. I am happy & amazed.

Do you recommend RIAA or the default eRIAA?

I really love this phono preamp, but wanted just a little bit more. So I tried a linear power supply this evening, instead of the iPower, and the sound is now even more amazing.

I have one of these. Out of the box I liked it but I ended up replacing the wall wart power supply with a big linear power supply from sBooster, and the few things that bothered me cleared right up. It smoothed out, imaging improved and a more natural decay replaced things going off into a slightly vague fog. I ended up replacing my more costly Primare R32 and Juicy Music Tercel II (and nice tube stage) with it, when it was only meant to be my back-up.

I had a positively awful experience with iFi when my iPhono2 failed. You can read about it here if you’d like to consider it as you’re thinking about the iPhono2, which actually sounds pretty good. http://forums.stevehoffman.tv/threads/heads-up-ifi-phono-2.627504/page-15

MY FEELINGS

(and a few words about iFi Audio)

Here is a tale about my feelings. And, incidentally, about the iFi iPhono2.

I bought an iFi iPhono2 second-hand in December. It was in near-perfect condition. I had read a lot of very nice reviews of this unit. I felt excited.

It stopped working a few weeks later — like one morning, just ... nothing. I felt deflated.

I checked iFi’s published warranty. My unit still met all of the terms. I felt optimistic.

The original purchaser sent me a copy of his sales slip to verify that it was within the stated warranty period. I felt grateful.

I could not find a customer service phone number for iFi. I wondered what kind of company doesn’t have a phone number. Sometimes it’s the kind that doesn’t want to hear from customers. I felt apprehensive.

I filled out the iFi service form online. A tech responded with a few suggestions that did not, alas, resuscitate the unit. I asked how to go about securing service for a product under warranty. The tech told me that the warranty does not apply to a second purchaser. I felt confused.

I pointed out that the warranty states no such condition, establishes no such limitation, contains no such words. It just says that it applies one year from the date of purchase, and that my unit met that condition. I felt empowered.

I knew they would check for themselves and agree. How could they not? It was in plain English. I felt reassured.

I was told that the policy of AMR, iFi’s parent company, is that warranties do not apply to second purchasers. I felt puzzled.

Twice I wrote to ask if I had missed something. Twice I asked if the company was applying additional warranty conditions beyond those stated in the warranty. Twice I received no reply to those questions. I felt ignored. Twice.

The tech offered that a new board would cost $126. I protested politely, and was told that the cost could be reduced to $99 for a “warranty transfer” and “handling charge.” That seemed like an awful lot of “handling” for a board that weighs about six ounces, but I am not in the warranty transfer business, or the handling business, so I can’t claim to know for sure. I felt frustrated.

I told the tech I though this was unfair. If they insisted on the charge, I said, I would describe the situation online. He told me the company takes that kind of thing very seriously. I felt like I cared deeply.

Then I realized that AMR is a multi-million-dollar company that’s apparently willing to gamble bad publicity against $99 — or was it $126? — and not just any $99 or $126, but $99 or $126 that would pay for a repair that the warranty stated it would cover.

Sorry, my error: I just wrote that I felt like I cared deeply, but I was not in touch with my feelings when I wrote that. In fact, I felt like I did not care.

All of this was taking a lot of time. I told the tech that I thought it was not right, but I decided to cut my losses and pay the $99. (I am principled but I am not an idiot.) I asked for an invoice, which I did not receive. I felt ignored. Again.

Instead, the tech explained the policy to me once more, very carefully, so I could understand why they would not want to extend a warranty to a product that met all stated warranty conditions. The tech did not address the question of whether the warranty actually contains language that correlates with what the company wants. I felt mumbo-jumboed.

I am no Pulitzer winner, but I understand the language and ways it can be used to make a plain fact appear to be less plain. I felt patronized.

Again I asked for an invoice. I received it. I paid it. I felt angry. I also felt a little poorer.

At that point I was told that the US facility is in Virginia, which — o lucky day! — borders my own state. I’d be back in business in a jiffy! I felt relieved.

I was told that the staff in Virginia were preparing for an audio show, and I would have to accept a delay. I said that was not acceptable to me. I felt impatient.

The tale above is a condensed version of an online conversation that took 17 days. It was not for lack of timely responses on my part. I felt exasperated.

Finally, the tech said they would dispatch the board from the UK, where iFi is located. It arrived nine days later. O happy day! I felt anticipation as I waited for the mail carrier.

I installed the new board myself. It involved turning 11 hex screws. It takes about four minutes, including locating the hex wrenches. I felt proud of my DIY skills.

The replacement board did not work. I know because in the meantime I bought a different phono stage. It arrived two days after the replacement. For reasons of my own sanity, I waited to notify iFi until the replacement phono stage arrived to be sure I wasn’t being more of an idiot than I am capable of being. I assumed the replacement would solve the problem. I felt like a great vacuum had descended over my turntable. (Not the kind of vacuum made by VPI or Audiodesk.) I felt dumb.

I notified iFi. I was asked to ship everything to Virginia. I felt like I had freedom, which is just another word for nothing left to lose.

They turned it around in a couple of days and returned it to me. They confirmed that the old board was probably the result of “the chip” going bad, and that the replacement board had “low output.” I felt vindicated, sort of. Mostly I just felt like I had lost this game.

I received the unit promptly. It worked properly. Total cost: $99, plus $8 shipping charges. Total time from initiating the ticket to receiving the functioning replacement: 40 days. What I felt mostly was a bad taste in my mouth. I don’t think it was the PB&J I had for lunch.

I sold the iPhono2. I realize this story is not the worst thing that ever happened to anybody, but it was enormously frustrating nonetheless.

I felt like I wouldn’t do business with iFi again. Now there’s something I felt like I could control.

I'm torn between these 2 phonos to run my ZU-DL103. Can you please recommend me one?.
Thanks!

ok, which one sounds more life-like? the iphono2 or the graham slee era gold v. and also, I read a review recently that implied the bass was too much on the iphono2. could there be some "mega bass" manipulation in the iphono2? that would bother me.