Audio Video News

Internet-based Canadian home-audio company Fluance has introduced an affordable phono preamplifier to complement its line of turntables.

The PA10 High Fidelity Phono Preamplifier ($80) converts low-level signals to line-level so turntables that don’t have a built-in preamp (most) can be used with any audio gear. Finding a receiver or AV receiver that has a built-in phono preamp — once a standard feature — is a hit or miss proposition these days.

Designed for turntables equipped with a moving-magnet (not moving coil) phono cartridge, the PA10 provides the RIAA equalization required for the proper playback of vinyl LPs.

The preamp is built around a low-noise power supply and low-impedance output stage to ensure deviations from the RIAA curve do not exceed ±0.5 dB and distortion is kept "ultra-low…for a clean and detailed presentation,” according to Fluance.

The PA10 also uses separate Texas Instruments OP amps for each channel to optimize channel separation and minimize crosstalk between channels. A selectable high-pass filter rolls off deep bass (below 20 Hz) to reduce resonant feedback and turntable rumble, which can occur when listening at loud volumes or with bass-heavy music. The filter is also said to “drastically reduce” unwanted acoustic feedback to the stylus by eliminating woofer pumping.

A metal enclosure within the PA10’s wood cabinet shields the preamp from electromagnetic interference and electronic noise. Key manufacturer specs include 0.004% total harmonic distortion (THD), a signal-to-noise ratio greater than 90 dB, and crosstalk that exceeds 86 dB.

For more information, visit fluance.com.