Classy Two-Chassis Hybrid Design Phono Stage Now with USB Output
Vincent Audio’s two-chassis PHO-701 MM/MC phono preamp improves upon the best-selling PHO-700 with two great new features. First, it offers a USB output, allowing you to archive your vinyl tracks to your computer. The second feature is added adjustability to match your cartridges.
The PHO-701 makes it easy to convert your vinyl tracks into digital files, and the sound quality is excellent. The analog signal from your turntable is converted to a CD-quality digital stream by a built-in Analog-to-Digital converter. The A/D chip is a CS5340 made by Cirrus Logic. The output is fixed at 24-bit / 192 kHz and uses a USB connection. Just plug the PHO-700 into your PC or Mac computer, which will recognize the PHO-700 by the name "USB-Audio". Using recording software you can find on the web (such as the free Audacity app) you will be able to easily archive your vinyl.
In addition to giving you a convenient way to digitize your LP tracks, the PHO-701 also offers the ability to fine-tune the input to a wide range of phono cartridges via dip switches on the bottom for best sound quality. With these switches, you can easily adjust the input capacitance and input impedance. See your phono cartridge user guide for the recommended settings.
Power Supply Has Its Own Separate Chassis
The PHO-701 puts its power supply in a completely separate chassis for pristine signal quality. It will reward you with an amazing vinyl experience. Separate cases for audio and power supply circuitry help isolate the signal chain from AC distortion and interference.
The PHO-701 performs its RIAA correction with high precision for ultra-low distortion and uses the highest quality audiophile parts, inside and out. It has a single phono input, which can be switched to accommodate low-output MC cartridges or MM/high-output MC cartridges.
"It Blew Me Away"
"The PHO-701 may be one of Vincent’s best designs to date, meeting the challenge of building a phono stage with low-noise and as much loss-free transmission as possible," raves Peter Stanton-Ife in his HifiPig.com review for January 28, 2015. "[It] generally blew me away on all sorts of music. I had to remind myself of the cost of this phono stage… I genuinely struggle to think of a phono stage below £1000 which will best this unit…"
Vincent's Best Compact Preamp to Date
For more than ten years, Vincent Audio has been successfully designing and manufacturing phono preamplifiers. Often overlooked in the digital era, vinyl has recently been experiencing a dramatic comeback. The preamp is a necessary component, which allows you to connect your turntable to receivers, amplifiers, and other gear that lack a dedicated phono input.
In a record player, the output signal is at a much lower level than the signal from a line stage component, such as a CD player. So the challenge in building a great sounding phono stage is to provide a low-noise and loss-free transmission. Vincent met that challenge and exceeds expectations with the PHO-701.
Highly Regulated Separate-chassis Power Supply
Vincent has deliberately omitted the typical 'wall-art' AC power adapter, opting for a specially designed and highly developed outboard power supply instead. Feeling is believing. The power unit has impressive heft when held in the hand and testifies to the quality of the transformer, metal chassis, shielding, and other components.
This no-compromise approach to power helps the PHO-701 to achieve its low-noise performance. The PHO-701 uses the same power supply that is already employed to great advantage in Vincent's critically acclaimed PHO-8 phono preamplifier. It is connected to the separate-chassis audio circuitry using a nine-pin DIN cable. The voltage is highly regulated and filtered, so that the ripple and hum found in unconditioned AC power right out of the wall will not reach the phono section. The delicate audio circuitry only receives clean power.
Vacuum Tube Circuitry for Smooth, True-to-Life Sound
The PHO-701 delivers the luxurious sound that can only be obtained with finely-made vacuum tube equipment as well as the power associated with solid state designs, including speed, reliability, and control. That's a difficult combination to beat, especially once you factor in the affordable price.
Look inside the front panel 'window' of the PHO-701 and you'll see a 12AU7 vacuum tube used in dual triode mode. This contributes to the warm, true-to-life sound. High-quality components from Nichicon, Wima, and other companies improve the parameters of noise ratio and amplification.
