New to Phono Stages?
Not sure where to start?
Before you buy, understand what you’re buying. These three guides will save you from the most common mistakes.
What Is a Phono Stage?
Why every turntable needs one, what RIAA equalization does, and how it fits into your signal chain.
Built-In vs External Phono Stage
When the built-in stage is good enough — and when upgrading to a dedicated unit makes a real difference.
Turntable 101 Curriculum
30 structured guides from turntable foundations to cartridge mechanics and phono stage matching.
Turntable 101 — Structured Curriculum
Understand what your phono stage actually does
Foundations →
How a turntable works and why the signal chain matters — before you buy anything.
Cartridge Mechanics →
MM vs MC vs MI — understanding cartridge types is essential for phono stage matching.
Phono Stage →
Gain, loading, RIAA accuracy — everything that separates a good phono stage from a bad one.
Best-Of Lists
Watch Out For
Common Beginner Mistakes
Most phono stage problems come down to a handful of the same errors. Read the explainer before you buy.
Using an MM phono stage with an MC cartridge
MC cartridges output ~0.3 mV where MM outputs 5 mV. An MM stage won't have enough gain — the result is thin, noisy sound.
Assuming the built-in phono stage is good enough
Entry-level built-in stages often add noise and can't be bypassed cleanly. A dedicated unit is a genuine upgrade.
Setting cartridge loading to the wrong impedance
MC cartridges are sensitive to loading. Too low kills dynamics; too high adds brightness and edginess.
Ignoring RIAA accuracy
A poorly-measured RIAA curve skews the entire tonal balance. A cheap stage can introduce 2–3 dB of tilt across the frequency range.
Buying a stage that handles only MM
A cartridge upgrade to MC later means buying a new phono stage too. MM/MC flexibility is worth paying for upfront.
HiFi 101
View full curriculum →
