Enjoy a purer listening experience with the ZEN Air Phono, our super affordable phono stage. A phono stage, also called a phono pre-amp, provides the connection between the record cartridge/pickup (stylus) and the amplifier. Turntable cartridges output a very small signal. This signal needs amplifying up to several hundred times the original size before it is loud enough for your amplifier. A phono stage increases the signal level from millivolts to volts. When vinyl was the standard for audio recording, the phono stage was built-in to receivers and amps, allowing direct connection of a turntable. These days most receivers and amps do not contain a phono stage so a separate unit is needed. It is a necessity for any turntable without a phono stage already built in. It will also upgrade a basic built-in phono stage in a turntable or amplifier system.
Listening to music on vinyl is good for the soul. It sounds purer than listening to a track via your phone or computer. Make this experience purer still by reducing hiss, noise and rumble on your records with the ZEN Air Phono.
There are two kinds of turntable cartridge – Moving Magnet and Moving Coil – and the ZEN Air Phono works with both of them. The MM setting is for cartridges with an output voltage of 2mV and higher. The MC setting for outputs less than 2mV. You use the gain switch on the rear to change this setting. It also has a precise RIAA equalisation setting to satisfy the most demanding vinyl lover.
As we all know, records can become warped with age. With the ZEN Air Phono any warp on your records will be driven away by our ‘subsonic filter’. Normal subsonic filters remove ‘rumble’ AND bass and cause phase issues. Our unique AI phono sub-sonic filter removes ‘rumble’ only.
Power Supply Requirement
DC 5V/1.0A (centre +ve)
Frequency Response
20Hz -20kHz (±0.15dB)
Channel Separation
75dB (1kHz all modes)
Max Output Voltage
RMS6.5V RMS 600Ω(1% THD & N)
Input Impedance
MM 47k / MC 1k
Output Impedance
100Ω
Gain
MM 40dB / MC 64dB
SNR
MM (40dB ±1dB): 86dB (A-weighted) re 1V / MC (64dB ±1dB): 82dB (A-weighted) re 1V
Total Harmonic Distortion
MC: -80dB / 0.01% re 1V; MM: -90dB / 0.005% re 1V
Power Consumption
1.8W
Dimensions / Weight
158 x 117 x 35 mm / 320g