Zen Phono 3 - Audiophile MM/MC Turntable Pre-Amplifier with Adjustable Loading and Intelligent Subsonic Filter

Great preamp for the money. The high output MM is great to match with lowout put Grado MI carts. It gives an incredible black noise floor. I also use it for an AT33MONO and a Rega Ania and have found that it does an excellent job delivering great RIAA EQing while giving a silent noise floor. Great phonostage.

Outstanding phono preamp. Great sound stage and detail. Mine is paired with a Fluance RT-85 with Ortofon 2M Blue going into a Fosi Audio P4 preamp, Fosi Audio V3 and Klipsch RP-600Ms. My records just came alive!

Amazing little preamp! It has changed my LP listening experience. Save yourself the frustration and order two longer RCA cables. Only one is included and it's far too short and it will limit any flexibility you might want with your setup. I ordered the 3' FosPower (2 Pack) and they were perfect

Just got it today, but will update my review if anything changes. I have seen some report issues with power after a few days. I listen nearly every day, so I'll be keeping an eye and will update this if anything happens.I witched to this after relying on my Yamaha Aventage amp's built-in preamp for a while, which I was happy with. I do think this sounds a bit better though and want to stick with it so long as it keeps sounding great like it does. I'm using it in MM mode with an Ortofon 2M Blue stylus. Some say that stylus is a bit bright, and that my amp's preamp can be, so I wanted to warm it up a bit, and really enjoying the sound after a couple hours.Not worth lowering the review but as someone else mentioned, the power supply cable is very short. You might want to get a barrel-cable extension if you don't have an outlet or extension cord within a couple feet of it. Luckily, my power strip is attached to the back of the cabinet my turntable is on, so I had one very close and it wasn't a problem for me. It is also a bit light, and since I use some very heavy RCA cables, I can't put it too close to the rear of the platform it is on or the weight of the RCA cables causes the front to pop up. I may find something small but heavy to place on it so that it isn't blocking any airflow around it etc. but would allow me to scoot it back a bit. I've run into this with several things, comes with using heavy cables, and isn't a fault of the product, just a heads up there!

Absolutely amazing sounding preamp with a great build quality. The sound is extremely quiet, detailed and clear while never being harsh or fatiguing. It's like the best of digital and vinyl combined. Smooth highs that don't sound smoothed over like a lot of phono gear. Great detailed bass that still has weight but is never thick(the bad kind) or muddy. Very musical and enjoyable to listen to for hours. None of the harshness that digital can have while still being very detailed and clear.Tried another budget preamp that didn't sound any better than the one in my decent receiver but this thing takes the sound to a whole new level.

I liked the improvement in sound in comparison to the integrated phono amplification of my receiver. I was already liking the unit, when the phone stage started to take too long to turn off and off. After a few days, the gadget just stopped turning on. I ignore if it was an internal issue or if it was just the adapter that was failing. I decided to return the whole thing. I just ordered a replacement hoping that this second unit will work fine without power issue. I will keep my fingers crossed.

The iFi Audio Zen Phono 3 is the latest iteration of iFi's popular entry-level phono preamplifier, aiming to bring high-fidelity vinyl playback to a wider audience. Building upon the success of its predecessors, the Zen Phono 3 promises improved performance and features at an attractive price point. Does it deliver? Let's find out.Build and Features:The Zen Phono 3 retains the compact and sturdy design of the Zen series. The aluminum enclosure feels solid and well-built, giving a sense of quality that belies its price. The front panel is clean and straightforward, featuring a single power button and indicator LED. The rear panel houses the RCA inputs and outputs, a grounding post, and a gain switch offering settings for MM (Moving Magnet) and MC (Moving Coil) cartridges, including a dedicated setting for low-output MC cartridges. This versatility is a significant plus, allowing it to accommodate a wide range of turntables and cartridges.Sound Quality:This is where the Zen Phono 3 truly shines. Compared to previous versions, the 3rd generation offers a noticeable step up in sonic performance. The sound is clean, detailed, and dynamic, with a wider soundstage and improved clarity. Bass is tight and well-defined, midrange is smooth and natural, and treble is crisp without being harsh. The noise floor is impressively low, even with sensitive MC cartridges, allowing for greater detail retrieval and a more immersive listening experience.MM Performance: With MM cartridges, the Zen Phono 3 provides a lively and engaging sound. It brings out the best in classic MM designs, offering a balanced and enjoyable listening experience.MC Performance: The dedicated MC settings, especially the low-output option, are a standout feature. The Zen Phono 3 handles the delicate signals from MC cartridges with impressive finesse, delivering a detailed and nuanced presentation.Pros:Excellent sound quality for the price.Versatile MM and MC compatibility, including low-output MC support.Solid build quality.Low noise floor.Compact and attractive design.Cons:No adjustable loading options for fine-tuning MC cartridge performance (though the provided loading generally works well).External power supply (though it's a small and unobtrusive unit).

Very happy with this phono preamp. Incredible detail and soundstage. Using with an AT-LP8X turntable and a Hana EL moving coil cartridge and the combo is a match made in heaven. I have used many phono preamps including Cambridge Alva Duo and Schiit Skoll and I can say comfortably that the iFi Zen Phono 3 is a better performer. I really like the Cambridge, hard to beat, but the Zen manages. Dollar for dollar, it's the best you can get.