Amazon.com: Customer reviews: Arcam: rPhono Phono Preamp

Reviewed in the United States on March 22, 2018

I own a very expensive audio system with a good deal of money in the analog portion. However, I don’t have a lot of room for a full size Phono preamp. I lived with the integrated phono section of my preamplifier for a long time before buying and using an iFi Phono pre which was a big improvement. But then the Arcam came along with spectacular reviews on Analog Planet and What Hi-Fi. Well it is everything said in the reviews and for $100 more than the iFi out paces it in all the important ways of sound stage and flat out better sound. One of the things making this little audio wonder so wonderful is the infinite non-indexed load adjustments for left and right channels individually 50 ohms-550 ohms. Performs and sounds at a much higher price point and well worth the price. Did I mention gain of 70db, 80db, and a whopping 82db for low moving coil cartridges? I just did.

2 people found this helpful

Helpful

Tazman

Very Pleased

Reviewed in the United States on February 17, 2018

Verified Purchase

Wonderful Phono Stage, super quite and the ability to dial in your Input impedance on MC and capacitance on MM
is great. The MC stage is comparable to the Belles Soloist I have and the MM is exceptional. At this price point
I doubt you will find anything better.

One person found this helpful

Helpful

dac0964

Wonderful and a pleasure to listen.

Reviewed in the United States on December 5, 2017

Verified Purchase

Great phono amp... gives very clear music presentation and very balance in that no frequency is emphasized over others.

One person found this helpful

Helpful

Frank Roscoe

Excellent phono stage

Reviewed in Canada on November 20, 2019

Verified Purchase

rPhono has replaced. David Hafler pre amp. Sound improve the is noticeable. Enjoying my vinyl even more.

One person found this helpful

Mike Banks

This phono stage really does live up to the hype

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on December 2, 2018

Verified Purchase

I have a decent phono stage built in to my ATC CA2 pre but something was missing, mostly weight. Records were fun and I have pretty much not been playing CD's for a while (not streaming either). After a bit of research and checking reviews I took a bit of a gamble, I mean, I have a perfectly decent upmarket preamp with phono stage already... Anyway, as it happened I got lucky, I ordered around 10am and the man delivered it around 7pm on the same day!

So, how does it sound? I was in for a bit of a surprise. I was aware that having spent over £300 on this I would be looking for improvements but there was no squinting to try and detect the difference. It has depth, weight, dimension, clarity, fidelity, warmth but not dullness, smooth but with detail. It's very fast and musical. I'm running a Clearaudio Concept with the MM cart and it's transformed it from sounding pretty impressive to beyond excellent. It's opened up what's on the groves so much it has been one of those "I wish I'd got one sooner" things. I am knocked out with the sense of depth and 3D'ness. So, in summary, sometimes those magazine reviewers do get it right and I can strongly recommend the Arcam. I was thinking that at this price it really won't be *that* good but it's stunning. If I win the Lotto I'll probably end up with some mad Luxman or something but even then, I'd keep this for my 'B System' :-)

5 people found this helpful

F. Laskowski

Schwammig - in meinen Ohren

Reviewed in Germany on September 16, 2020

Verified Purchase

Den Arcam rPhono hatte ich als klangliche "Aufwertung" anstelle meines Project S2 einsetzen wollen.

Navh genauer Prüfung aller (auch sinnloser) Einstellungen ergibt sich aus meiner Sicht das Folgende:

Dem rPhono fehlen vor allem Details, zuerst spürbar bei Konturen, Impulsen und Farben im Vergleich zu meinem schon vorhandenen halb so teuren Project preamp. Die "Entdeckungsreise" beim Hören einer neuen gut produzierten Schallplatte entfällt. Vielleicht erzeugt das den warmen und weichen Klang des rPhono, der (so wie schon die fehlenden Details) ein unrealistisches Klangbild ergibt (zumindest für einen erfahrenen Konzertbesucher).

Für 100€ statt 500€ wäre der runde Gesamteindruck wohl mit dieser Schwammigkeit akzeptabel.

So aber nicht.

Gruß, F. L.

Translate review to English

maurizia spotorno

high quality and cheap price

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on December 28, 2019

Verified Purchase

In my opinion, under the price level of 500 pounds, it is practically impossible to find a technically refined and aesthetically beautiful phono stage that is equipped with wide adjustment possibilities (both for MM and MC cartridges) such as the Arcam Rphono, product of which I am fully satisfied.

One person found this helpful

D.R.

Great seller

Reviewed in Canada on November 20, 2019

Verified Purchase

Great seller, was at my door in 2 days, and great product

alex i

Used non working item

Reviewed in Canada on October 11, 2020

Verified Purchase

The seller shipped used item with European 50 Hz power supply., no US plug. Also missing manual and switching tool.

David Phillis

After all the hype, I was expecting better

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on April 3, 2020

Verified Purchase

I purchased a new, old stock item recently and after all the rave reviews was expecting a level of performance that simply was not forthcoming. My system is far from, "basic", a Gyrodec with AT MM cart, Arcam A19, (integrated phono), and PMC speakers. For the life of me, I could not detect a worthwhile difference between the std phono input on the A19 and the rPhono when used with a line level input. After reading the manual and checking my cartridges requirements, I played around with the various settings and remained convinced that the £329+ I paid for it, (orig £400 when new and widely available), could well be spent elsewhere. I am sure that other permutations of equipment may well benefit, (plus other ears), afterall, the reviews cannot be that wrong? Right? So, after several hours listening to my best known vinyl I am returning this very well made, high quality but nevertheless unrewarding, (for me) piece of hardware back for a refund.

5 star
4 star
3 star
2 star
1 star

Arcam: rPhono Phono Preamp

›

Customer reviews

Customer reviews

Arcam: rPhono Phono Preamp

There was a problem filtering reviews right now. Please try again later.

From the United States

There was a problem loading comments right now. Please try again later.

There was a problem loading comments right now. Please try again later.

There was a problem loading comments right now. Please try again later.

From other countries

Questions? Get fast answers from reviewers

Arcam: rPhono Phono Preamp › Customer reviews

Customer reviews

Arcam: rPhono Phono Preamp

There was a problem filtering reviews right now. Please try again later.

From the United States

There was a problem loading comments right now. Please try again later.

There was a problem loading comments right now. Please try again later.

There was a problem loading comments right now. Please try again later.

From other countries

Questions? Get fast answers from reviewers

Arcam: rPhono Phono Preamp

›

Customer reviews