Best Turntable Amplifiers – Budget to High-End Amps
Whether you’re a seasoned audiophile or just now dipping your toes into the vinyl resurgence, the significance of a top-notch turntable amp cannot be overstated.
Join me as we round up the best turntable amplifiers that will significantly improve the soundstage, vocal clarity, instrument separation and bass response in your records!
The Best Turntable Amplifiers for Your Setup
After thorough testing with my trusted turntable, I present to you my favorite amplifiers that promise to take your vinyl experience to new heights.
| PHOTO | AMPLIFIER |
|---|---|
 | Vincent PHO 701 |
 | Cambridge CXA81 |
 | Schiit Mani |
1. Cambridge CXA81: Integrated Brilliance Redefined
Pros:
Delivers a vibrant sound, features Bluetooth capability, and seamlessly connects with your phono amplifier or turntable.
Cons:
While the price ($999.99) might give you pause, the auditory delight of the CXA81 outweighs these considerations. I also love how well built this Cambridge amplifier is, as well.
- You can purchase the Cambridge CXA81 on Amazon today.
2. Schiit Mani 2: Great Budget Turntable Amp
Pros:
Compact yet powerful, the Schiit Mani 2 emerges as a budget-friendly champion. Its small form factor doesn’t compromise on sound quality, making it a value-packed choice for those mindful of their budget.
Cons:
In my original Schiit Mani review, I expressed reservations about the Schiit Mani. However, upon reflection, regional anomalies may have played a role.
Unless more widespread issues surface, dismissing this amp from the recommendation list might be unfair.
3. Vincent PHO-701: Elegance in Tube Amplification
Pros:
Prepare to be captivated by the Vincent PHO-701. Boasting a separate chassis for the amplifier and power, it exudes a warm sound complemented by the soothing glow of its tube.
The PHO-701 is a significant upgrade for those transitioning from solid-state amps like the Vincent PHO-8.
Cons:
Practicality calls for extra space in your setup due to a separate chassis (though stacking is an option).
While the improvement over solid-state amps is discernible, it’s not a seismic shift – think of it as the leap from Blu-ray to 4K in home vide.
| Buy the Vincent PHO-701 at: |
|---|
| View Price on Amazon |
| You might also enjoy reading: |
|---|
| Best Turntable Upgrades (For Improved Sound Quality) |
The Different Amplifiers for Turntables You Must Know
When it comes to vinyl, there are four kinds of amplifiers you should know: a phono preamplifier, a stereo receiver, a power amplifier, and an integrated amplifier. Here are the differences between them:
Phono Preamplifier: Boosts the weak signal from the turntable’s cartridge to a standard line-level signal. To listen to your vinyl records, you’ll need to connect your turntable to your phono preamp, and then connect your phono preamp to a stereo receiver or integrated amplifier.
Stereo Receiver with Phono Input: A stereo receiver amplifies the signal from your turntable and connects it to your speakers. You can bypass the need of a phono preamp if your stereo receiver has a built-in phono stage input on the back.
Power Amplifier: Amplifies the line-level signal to drive speakers with volume and clarity. It should be noted, however, that a power amplifier are integrated into stereo receivers and integrated amplifiers.
Integrated Amplifier: Combines preamplifier and power amplifier functions in one unit, streamlining the setup for vinyl playback and offering convenience.
Phono Preamplifiers You Will Love
| PHOTO | AMPLIFIER |
|---|---|
| Vincent PHO 701 |
 | Pro-Ject Phono Box DS2 |
| Schiit Mani |
Schiit Mani – Cheap Turntable Amp for Those on a Budget
Now the Schiit Mani is incredibly versatile, accommodating both Moving Magnet (MM) and Moving Coil (MC) cartridges. This flexibility allows it to work with a wide range of turntables, making it a versatile option for vinyl enthusiasts.
When I tested the Schiit Mani, I loved how small and lightweight it was. It can fit inside the palm of your hand, and for less than $200, provides very good sound for your money. I found the Mani delivered surprisingly good audio reproduction at a good budget price.
The Schiit Mani offers adjustable gain and loading settings too, giving users the ability to fine-tune the preamp to match the specifications of their cartridge.
This level of customization ensures optimal performance and compatibility with various turntables and cartridges, catering to audiophiles with specific preferences.
Pro-Ject Phono Box DS2 – Good Mid-Level Amp
This phono preamp offers a combination of advanced features and high-quality components that elevate the vinyl listening experience. The best part is that Pro-Ject offers this great phono preamp for less than $350.
The Pro-Ject Phono Box DS2 boasts a dual-mono circuitry design, which ensures optimal channel separation and minimizes crosstalk for a clean and accurate stereo image.
Its premium components, including high-grade capacitors and audiophile-grade amplification modules, contribute to its exceptional sound quality, delivering detailed and dynamic playback of vinyl records.
Best of all, if you need to covert your vinyl records to digital MP3 files, don’t fret. You can simply purchase the Project Phono Box DS2 USB version, which will make vinyl transfer to computer a breeze.
| Buy the Project Phono Box DS2 at: |
|---|
| View Price on Amazon |
| View Price on Turntable Lab |
Vincent PHO-701 – High-End Affordable Audiophile Quality
My favorite phono preamp on this list is the Vincent PHO-701. The PHO-701 is unique in that it’s a tube amplifier.
So what’s a tube amplifier, you might ask? Well, a tube amplifier uses vacuum tubes (or valves) to amplify audio signals.
In the context of vinyl playback, tube amplifiers are prized by audiophiles for their unique sound characteristics, often described as warm, rich, and smooth. They have a different sonic signature compared to solid-state amplifiers, which use transistors instead of vacuum tubes.
The Vincent PHO-701 succeeds in recreating the illusion of live music with a wide, engaging soundstage. It provides accurate RIAA equalization, ensuring faithful reproduction of the original recording with minimal distortion or coloration.
In fact, I recently upgraded to the Vincent PHO-701 from my old Vincent PHO-8, and I’m really impressed with the difference.
The sound from the PHO-701 is warmer and more enjoyable compared to its predecessor. One thing I’ve noticed is that the high frequencies are not overly bright on the PHO-701, which I certainly appreciate.
Despite this, the soundstage remains wide and clear, creating an immersive experience where vocals and instruments really stand out as I listen to records.
So whether you’re listening to delicate acoustic passages or dynamic rock or hip hop tracks, the PHO 701 delivers a rich and immersive listening experience that brings out the best in your vinyl collection.
| Buy the Vincent PHO-701 at: |
|---|
| View Price on Amazon |
Stereo Receivers That Are Great
Yamaha R-N303
The Yamaha R-N303 features a dedicated phono stage for connecting your turntable directly to the receiver. This phono input includes a built-in phono preamplifier, ensuring optimal playback of vinyl records without the need for an external preamp.
In addition to the phono input, the R-N303 offers a variety of other connectivity options, including Bluetooth. This allows you to stream music from your smartphone, tablet or computer.
On top of that, if you have a bluetooth record player (like the Victrola Re-Spin or the wireless version of the House of Marley Stir It Up Turntable), you can stream your records through the Yamaha R-N303.
Integrated Turntable Amplifiers Simplify Vinyl Playback
| PHOTO | AMPLIFIER |
|---|---|
| Cambridge CXA81 |
 | Marantz PM8006 |
Cambridge Audio CXA81
I personally own the Cambridge Audio CXA60, so I definitely love the more refined model of the Cambridge Audio CXA81.
Now the Cambridge Audio CXA81 delivers clear, detailed sound with ample power to drive speakers. Its high-performance amplifier section ensures accurate reproduction of your vinyl records, allowing you to experience the full richness and depth of your favorite albums.
The CXA81 boasts a robust amplifier section with 80 watts per channel into 8 ohms (120 watts into 4 ohms), providing plenty of power to drive even demanding speakers.
This ensures dynamic and engaging sound reproduction, whether you’re listening to quiet acoustic passages or powerful hip hop, rock, or metal music.
The Cambridge CXA81 does not have a built in phono stage, which means an external phono preamp will be required in order to play vinyl records.
Marantz PM Series
For years, I used a Marantz PM Series amplifier (which you can see in the photo above) before I purchased a Cambridge amplifier. Still, I very much enjoyed my time with the Marantz, and found it was easy to use and provided very pleasing sound when listening to vinyl.
If you prefer Marantz over Cambridge, I’d recommend the Marantz PM 8006, which has a built in phono stage and even a dedicated CD player input, as well.
Final Thoughts
Finding the best turntable amplifier is vital for any vinyl lover looking to enhance their listening experience. Throughout this article, we’ve explored a variety of top-tier amplifiers, each offering unique features and benefits tailored to different preferences and needs.
By dissecting the details of various amplifiers such as the Schiit Mani, Pro-Ject Phono Box DS2, Vincent PHO-701, Yamaha R-N303 and Cambridge Audio CXA81, you’ve gained valuable insights into what makes a great amplifier for vinyl playback.
From the importance of phono inputs and preamplifiers to the nuances of sound quality and connectivity, you’re now fully equipped with the knowledge to make an informed decision when choosing a record player amp for your setup.
Ultimately, investing in a high-quality turntable amplifier is an investment in your love for vinyl records, ensuring that every note and nuance is faithfully reproduced for your listening pleasure.
If you’re a seasoned audiophile, then you know the benefit a good turntable amplifier can bring to the listening experience. So remember to choose wisely when selecting your next great amp for your record player!
- If this article helped you, please “like” my Devoted to Vinyl Facebook page!
You May Also Want to Read:
