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Product of the Year 2025, Best Phono Stage Under £400 – What Hi-Fi? Magazine
Editors' Choice 2023 - ecoustics.com
"Big, Powerful, Punchy Sound"
The Rega Fono MM MK5 phono stage has been designed to be effective, easy to use, and above all to beautifully reproduce music. The Fono MM MK5 uses a fully discrete, cascaded, complementary amplifier input stage, a configuration designed to optimize the performance of your moving magnet cartridge.
Now housed in a brand new redesigned case to match the newest version of the Fono MC and Rega’s latest range of electronic components. it offers a modern look guaranteed to integrate with any hi-fi system.
Award-Winning Performance
England's What Hi-Fi? magazine honored the Fono MM MK5 by honoring it with a Product of the Year Award 2025, for Best Phono Stage Under £400.
"This little phono stage turns in a strong performance. It has a fast, punchy sound that works a treat with the likes of Bruce Springsteen’s Born To Run set. There is plenty of drive to the title track with the Rega conveying the hard-charging energy of the track well. Things are rock solid rhythmically and there is enough in the way of low-end power to satisfy. Those lows are taut and tuneful without being overbearing."
"The new casework is smart enough, though the secret to the Fono MM’s success really comes down to its performance. Judged by sound quality, the Rega Fono MM Mk5 phono stage remains the one to beat at this level."
"Fleet of Foot. Engaging. Full of Texture and Tone"
The Fono MM MK5 also grabbed an Editors' Choice 2023 from ecoustics.com. According to reviewer Ian White, "You have to tip your hat to the folks at Rega. While the top turntables in their lineup are not exactly inexpensive, they remain committed to those of us who have their feet firmly planted in the entry-level and mid-tier high-end categories. The Rega Fono MM MK5 Phono Preamp is a great example of that."
"How does it sound? Fleet of foot. Engaging. Full of texture and tone. It adds some warmth to the sound but there is so much more vitality to the sound with the right cartridge."
"A Wide Open Soundstage"
The Rega Fono MM has been a What Hi-fi? magazine award winner in its various versions from 2017 through 2021. "Get connected and you can sit back and enjoy a big, powerful, punchy sound," raves What Hi-fi? in a Five Star review. "A wide-open soundstage gets the best from sparse, voice-driven recordings, while that bottom end power, coupled with great dynamics, ensure dance tracks have presence and rhythm."
Upgraded Inside and Out
The aesthetic design of the Fono MM was as important as the quality of its electrical capabilities, so it benefits from the same updated aluminum case as the Rega Neo and Fono MC amplifier, giving it a design which offers a familiar feel and moreover brings it in line with its illustrious bigger brothers.
The RIAA equalization has been split into two stages to minimize interaction. Premium polyester capacitors have been used in the signal path, and polypropylene capacitors are used in the RIAA equalization circuits for superb performance.
Easy to Set Up and Use
Fono MM MK5 will amplify the signal from an MM cartridge to the appropriate level for a typical 200mV line level input. The Fono couldn't be easier to set-up. It simply connects to the line input on the amplifier, and the tonearm leads and ground (if used) to the input sockets and ground terminal of the Fono MM MK5 back panel.
"Top-Notch Quality"
"The main factors that make this phono preamp such a great choice are the design, operation, and audio fidelity," observes soundorganisation.com, March 11, 2024.
These are three things that Rega is known for in the Hi-Fi world. The Fono MM Mk5 features a minimalist design that blends style and functionally. It’s clean and simple. The result is an understated looking machine that brings top-notch quality to the speakers from any record that is played."
"I Don't Think You Can Go Wrong"
"I don't think you can go wrong with the Rega unit," reports Fono MM MK5 owner DavidTT at audiokarma.org, May 31, 2024.
For years I fiddled with my phono equipment, swapping out turntables, phono amps and cartridges often. Once the Planar 6 and MM MK5 were in place I was happy to leave well enough alone and it's now been ~two years since I made any changes."
