ZEN Air Phono
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.
MC and MM
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.