In Hi-Fi+ Issue 146, Alan Sircom reviewed the MG-1 turntable, SG-1 arm, and PHONO-1 phono stage. He wrote, “The dynamic range on this turntable is phenomenal, bettered only by a few, and two of those in the Vertere range. This is one of the most confident vinyl front-ends you can buy, and not just ‘at the price’. The MG-1 turntable delivers much of what the better and best Vertere turntables can produce, the SG-1 arm is already a known good ‘un, and the PHONO-1 is one of the most naturally sounding phono stages I’ve heard in a long time.”

This phono stage is sensational. Firstly the amount of cartridge loading settings is ridiculous. To find this many settings on a sub £1000 product is basically unheard of. The phono-1 will play almost any cartridge available. Sound-wise it is again extremely rare to find this kind of openness and transparency on a phono stage at this price point, it is something that you would normally only get from a £5k product. The Phono-1 is a giant killer and should worry most phono stages under £5000! With more than 10 gain settings, 15 resistance and 9 capacitance settings, PHONO-1 leaves nothing to chance. It makes the perfect match for almost any Moving Coil or Moving Magnet cartridge

You can use the PHONO-1 with any cartridge!” . I took him at his word, and out came an old Ortofon MC7500 cartridge. This was – how can I put it nicely? – evil. The MC7500 is a fabulous cartridge from the 1990s, but it was virtually a cartridge in search of a phono stage good enough to cope. When it was launched, most were supplied with Ortofon’s own step-up transformer, because it delivered 0.15mV. Say that figure to most phono stage makers and you can see the blood drain from their faces. “That’s not a moving coil,” they say, “that’s a single piece of wire wrapped around a magnet.” They then mumble something that makes them sound like a muted McEnroe. Touraj just smiled and said, “Cool, let’s try it!”  This was a doubly difficult test for Vertere, because the MC7500 is not the kind of cartridge you would normally put on a deck and arm at this level. In 2017 prices, it would be north of about five grand in terms of index-linking and performance. could the  PHONO-1? Of course it could!  - The Absolute Sound

MC | MM Preamplifier PHONO-1

Enjoy the full musical experience from every track and every album with PHONO-1, the perfect interface between your record player and your amplifier.

MC | MM Preamplifier PHONO-1 gets the best from any high-quality record player, with maximum dynamic range and supreme detail resolution. With more than 10 gain settings, 15 resistance and 9 capacitance settings, PHONO-1 leaves nothing to chance. It makes the perfect match for almost any Moving Coil or Moving Magnet cartridge.

Why MC | MM Preamplifier PHONO-1?

Realise the potential of any high-quality record player
Superb dynamics and detail with extremely accurate RIAA eq
Perfect level and load matching for Moving Coil and Moving Magnet cartridges
Brings continuous enjoyment when playing records, without exception
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MM Preamplifier Gold Plated PCB Assemblies
Gold Plated PCB Assemblies

Separate high-quality gold plated PCBs for the main phono circuit and the mains power transformer ensure that any unwanted interference is kept well away from the audio signal.

These PCBs, combined with the use of high-quality components and special solder, guarantee consistent optimum performance for the long term.

MM Preamplifier Double Shielded Main PCB
Double Shielded Main PCB

Vertere’s PHONO-1 MM | MC Preamplifier utilises stainless steel shields to further enhance isolation of the RIAA and preamplifier circuits.

All power supply components and circuits are outside of the main cover shield and away from any signal path.

MM Preamplifier Switchable Input Loading
Switchable Input Loading

PHONO-1 has two internal switch banks that allow 15 resistance and 9 capacitance settings for left and right channels.

Perfect load matching is crucial to maximising performance, for both Moving Coil and Moving Magnet cartridges – and in this respect PHONO-1 leaves nothing to chance.

MM Preamplifier Switchable Gain Setting
Switchable Gain Setting

Another switch bank offers no less than 10 gain settings to provide the best level matching, within the gain range provided.

This ensures minimal level change between different sources used in the system.

MM Preamplifier Chassis Ground and PCB Earth Switch
Chassis Ground and PCB Earth Switch

A 3-way switch provided at the back of PHONO-1 gives the options of ‘Hard Ground’, ‘Ground Lift’ or ‘Soft Ground’ connection of the preamplifier and the chassis, to minimise any hum that may be introduced between the PHONO-1 and the main amplifier.

Gold Plated PCB Assemblies

Separate high-quality gold plated PCBs for the main phono circuit and the mains power transformer ensure that any unwanted interference is kept well away from the audio signal.

These PCBs, combined with the use of high-quality components and special solder, guarantee consistent optimum performance for the long term.

Double Shielded Main PCB

Vertere’s PHONO-1 MM | MC Preamplifier utilises stainless steel shields to further enhance isolation of the RIAA and preamplifier circuits.

All power supply components and circuits are outside of the main cover shield and away from any signal path.

Switchable Input Loading

PHONO-1 has two internal switch banks that allow 15 resistance and 9 capacitance settings for left and right channels.

Perfect load matching is crucial to maximising performance, for both Moving Coil and Moving Magnet cartridges – and in this respect PHONO-1 leaves nothing to chance.

 

 

Switchable Gain Setting

Another switch bank offers no less than 10 gain settings to provide the best level matching, within the gain range provided.

This ensures minimal level change between different sources used in the system.

Chassis Ground and PCB Earth Switch

A 3-way switch provided at the back of PHONO-1 gives the options of ‘Hard Ground’, ‘Ground Lift’ or ‘Soft Ground’ connection of the preamplifier and the chassis, to minimise any hum that may be introduced between the PHONO-1 and the main amplifier.

Silver or Black Finish Front Panel

The PHONO-1 is also available in a silver or Black finish to match other partnering equipment.