Page 123 - Hi-Fi World (January 2020)

VINYL SECTION

The rear panel carries gold plated RCA phono sockets for left and right channels, plus a ground
terminal. Also here is a mains master switch, rocker style, and IEC mains power input socket.

AAPhono was our Timestep Evo In Arms’ (Mobile Fidelity analogue and low noise caters for them well
Technics SL-1210 Mk2 modified re-master, 45rpm) ‘Your Latest – and also accommodates higher
turntable fitted with SME309 arm. Trick’ came across nicely, with output types adequately. I heard
Pickup cartridges were an Ortofon plenty of dynamic push to the bass a creamy smooth sound that had
Cadenza Bronze MC and an Audio line whilst Knopfler’s vocals drifted deep silences, being noise free.
Technica VM750 SH (Shibata) MM. out clearly. Again, smooth, easy Absence of gain options, volume
After spinning a lot of LPs I going and slick: an engaging listen. control or XLR balanced outputs
can best summarise the AAPhono are minus points – but not for
as creamy smooth and easy going. CONCLUSION everyone. For those who want a
It didn’t come at me in any one The AAPhono is aimed at those well built and finished phono stage,
area but I sat back and enjoyed its with low output (high quality) free of fripperies and with svelte
svelte delivery all the same. Our moving coil cartridges. Its high gain sound the AAPhono will appeal.
Cadenza Bronze, with its stage
depth and rock solid bass suited
well, although the AAPhono didn’t MEASURED PERFORMANCE
tease the best from it in depth
terms. It did support a wonderful Frequency response of Audio affect on audio band response at all.
dark silence however, that allowed Analogue's AAPhono runs flat from Gain values were a normal x100
transient events to push out a low 4Hz up to 20kHz our analysis (40dB) for MM but a very high x2000
clearly. Drum rolls in Sing Sing Sing shows, with either MM or MC selected. (66dB) for MC, where x1000(60dB) is
('Big Band Spectacular' – a direct The SubSonic (SS) warp filter cuts gain common. This best suits low output
cut from Chasing the Dragon) sharply below 28Hz to produce massive MC cartridges, usually more expensive
moved clearly across the stage attenuation of -35dB at 5Hz, with no designs. In keeping with this aim input
and had visceral power. I’ve heard noise with MC was a very low 0.11µV,
the Bronze sound stronger and FREQUENCY RESPONSE making hiss all but inaudible even at AUDIO ANALOGUE
more forceful but the AAPhono high volume. Although the unit can AAPHONO
was tidy and tight. Marianne deliver a healthy 10.5V output swing £1600
Thorsen’s violin, fronting the this limits input overload to a low-ish
Trondheim Solists playing Mozart 5mV with MC (but a high 105mV with
Piano Concertos (2L of Norway), MM). EXCELLENT - extremely
benefitted from the silky sound of The AAPhono is well purposed for capable
this unit, making for an easy yet high quality (low output) MC cartridges
impressive listen that revealed her measurement showed, having both high VERDICT
vibrant playing. gain and low noise. It also well suits Smooth sounding, low noise
phono stage for MC and MM
Switching to our Audio DISTORTION MMs. NK worth hearing.
Technica VM750 SH cartridge (MM)
didn’t change the picture much. Its FOR
Shibata stylus on a tapered alloy PHONO (MM/MC) - build and finish
cantilever (like that of the Bronze) Frequency response (-1dB) - smooth sound
- low noise
4Hz-20kHz

brought out more high-end detail Distortion (1kHz, 5mV) 0.01/0.2%
and was less forceful lower down – Separation (1kHz) 68dB AGAINST
but these are cartridge differences. Noise (IEC A, ein) 0.15µV / 0.11µV - no gain options
If anything the AAPhono imposed Gain (MM, MC) - no XLR outputs
its own smooth sound to more x100 (40dB) / x2000 (66dB) - no volume control
closely align their qualities. Overload 10.5V out Decent Audio
With LPs possessing obvious +44 (0)5602 054669
bass, such as Dire Straits ‘Brothers www.decentaudio.co.uk

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