NAD PP4 Digital Phono/USB Preamplifier

The NAD PP 4 — Play the Record, and Keep a Digital Copy

Most phono stages do one job. The PP 4 does two: it is a moving magnet and moving coil phono preamplifier for your system, and a 16-bit/48 kHz USB analog-to-digital converter for your computer, with NAD's recording level control sitting between them.

That combination answers a specific problem. Records that were never reissued, live bootlegs, family tapes, pressings too fragile to play often — the PP 4 gets them onto a hard drive while still being the phono stage your turntable uses every day.

It ships with VinylStudio Lite for Windows and Mac, plus a shielded USB cable, so the software and the connection are settled before the box arrives rather than being a second purchase you discover later.

Engineering and Measured Performance

Two Cartridge Inputs, Properly Separated

Moving magnet runs at 35 dB into 47 kΩ with 200 pF. Moving coil runs at 58 dB into 100 ohms with 180 pF. A rear-panel switch selects between them, and the loading changes with the mode rather than staying fixed.

Noise, Distortion and Accuracy

Signal-to-noise measures 76 dB A-weighted on moving magnet and 78 dB on moving coil. Distortion stays under 0.03 percent in both modes, RIAA accuracy is held to ±0.3 dB, and dynamic range reaches 89 dB.

Headroom Where Records Need It

Input overload on moving magnet is 10 mV at 20 Hz, 100 mV at 1 kHz and 900 mV at 20 kHz. Loud passages and heavily cut sibilants are where cheap phono stages break up, and those figures are why this one keeps its composure where they do not.

The Infrasonic Filter and the Line Input

A filter attenuates 14 dB at 5 Hz, taking warp energy out before it reaches your amplifier. A separate line input, at 47 kΩ and accepting up to 5.3 volts, lets a cassette deck or any other analog source use the same USB path.

Who Is the NAD PP 4 Best For?

• Anyone digitizing a record collection. The USB output and the bundled VinylStudio Lite make it a complete solution rather than a box plus a research project.
• Owners of a low-output moving coil cartridge, who get 58 dB and a matched 100 ohm load without buying a separate step-up device.
• People with cassettes or reel tapes worth saving. The line input runs them through the same converter, so one purchase covers both formats.
• Listeners with warped records, since the infrasonic filter removes the energy that makes woofers pump and wastes amplifier power.
• Not for anyone needing high-resolution digital files. The PP 4 records at 16-bit/48 kHz and goes no higher. For archiving at 24-bit, capture the analog output with a dedicated converter from our phono stage range paired to a separate audio interface.

How Does It Connect?

Turntable to the phono inputs with the ground wire on the post, then the analog outputs to a line input on your amplifier. Set the rear switch to match your cartridge before you play anything, because the loading changes with it.

For recording, the USB socket connects to a Mac or PC using the supplied shielded cable. Set the recording level so peaks stay below clipping, then let VinylStudio Lite split the side into tracks and tag them.

Pairs Well With

Archiving a collection well takes more than the converter:

• Record cleaning fluid and a brush — every click you clean off before recording is one you will not be editing out afterward.
• A fresh stylus — a digital file is permanent, and it will preserve exactly what a worn tip gave it.
• A moving coil cartridge — the 58 dB setting and the 100 ohm load are here specifically for these.
• A record clamp or weight — holding the disc flat matters more when you only intend to play it once.

Frequently Asked Questions

What resolution does it record at?

Sixteen-bit linear PCM at 48 kHz. That is above CD sampling rate and well matched to what a record's own noise floor can support, though it is not a high-resolution format if that is specifically what you are after.

Does it handle low-output moving coil cartridges?

Yes. The moving coil setting provides 58 dB of gain into a 100 ohm load, which covers the great majority of low-output designs. Flip the rear switch and both the gain and the impedance change together.

Can I record cassettes through it?

The separate line input exists for exactly that. Connect a tape deck's output there, accept up to 5.3 volts, and the same USB converter and software handle the transfer without any rewiring of the turntable.

What software is included?

VinylStudio Lite, for Windows and Mac. It handles splitting a continuous side into individual tracks, tagging them and writing out audio files, which is the tedious part of the job if you try to do it by hand.

Do I need the computer connected to listen?

The analog outputs work independently. Leave the USB cable unplugged and the PP 4 is simply a phono stage; connect it only when you want to record something.

What does the infrasonic filter do?

It attenuates 14 dB at 5 Hz, which is warp territory rather than music. Removing that energy stops visible woofer movement and keeps amplifier power going toward sound instead of pushing cones back and forth.

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