Ask S&V

Q I have a Denon receiver. Since the receiver has no phono input, I purchased a Pfantone AMP2 phono preamp so I could play records through it. The preamp works, but the volume level is low, even with the Denon’s volume turned all the way up. A friend suggested that the preamp simply doesn’t have the power to provide full stereo sound. Is this correct, or is there some other explanation? —Shaun Herron / via e-mail

A Pfantone AMP2 phono preamp? Since I’m totally unfamiliar with that brand, I did a Google search, which turned up one or two listings for used models selling on eBay. It also turned up this hilarious post from way back in 2003 on the Audio Asylum forum: “I happened to be walking by an audio/electronics (warning!) retailer today, so I popped in and bought a little beauty called the Pfantone AMP2 Solid State Phono Preamplifer for the grand total of $32. The near total absence of any bottom end is impressive all on its own. Norah Jones sounds like she’s singing from the bottom of a well, with only mid and high-frequency strings as backup. Take Five now sounds like one of those wax disc archive recordings. Stay away from Pfantone, Pfriends.”

To judge from your experience, and from the experience of the AA poster, the Pfantone AMP2 is a poor-sounding, poorly made product. The only other scenario I can think of is that it’s designed for moving-magnet phono cartridges and that your turntable has a moving coil cartridge, which has a much lower output level. Either way, buyer beware. As for legit outboard phono preamps, NAD, Rega, Music Hall, and Cambridge Audio all make models worth checking out.