Our expert team has listed the best phono pre-amplifier for both vinyl and digital records, which will give you excellent quality and exceptional audio experience at a reasonable price. At $500, these are a steal for bringing out the warmth of your favorite records and cartridges. We’re confident you’ll enjoy them as much as we do!
There are many inexpensive preamps in markets, but the price does not count for outstanding quality-sound because a low-budget pre-amplifier will provide you sound with low quality, and you cannot perfectly enjoy your vinyl records. Our listed Pre-Amplifier is compatible with Both MM (moving magnet) and MC (moving coil) cartridges and many kinds of turntables. Vinyl record lovers always hate off extra and high rumble noise, so these preamps feature rumble filters to cancel extra rumble noise and help you reduce noise.
Our Top 3 Recommendations

Excellent sound quality
Works with any cartridge
High performance
The Best Phono Preamp Under $500
If you need a mid-range stereo performance, then the Puffin preamplifier can help match your turntable with additional connectivity options. These listed preamps have excellent mono mods, stereo switches, and load impedance adjustment features for the best sound quality. But if you want to achieve an exceptional audio experience that will blow your mind and leave you coming back for more, then an investment in a better equipment is required. But still, for an exceptional audio experience, you need some little investment.
Best Phono Preamp Under $500 Summary
Award | Image | Model | Price |
---|---|---|---|
Best tube phono preamp under $500 |
![]() |
ProJect Tube Box S2 | See On Amazon |
Best phono stage under $500 |
![]() |
Puffin Phono DSP Preamp | See On Amazon |
best phono preamp under $200 |
![]() |
ProJect Audio Phono Preamp | See On Amazon |
Best budget phono preamp |
![]() |
Emotiva Audio XPS One | See On Amazon |
Best phono preamp with headphone jack |
![]() |
Nobsound Little Bear | See On Amazon |
Best high end phono preamps |
![]() |
Parasound Zphono Phono Preamplifier | See On Amazon |
Best Phono Preamp Under $500 At a Glance:
- ProJect Tube Box S2
- Puffin Phono DSP Preamp
- ProJect Audio Phono Preamp
- Emotiva Audio XPS One
- Nobsound Little Bear
- Parasound Zphono Phono Preamplifier
Best Phono Preamp Under $500 Reviews
ProJect Tube Box S2
Best tube phono preamp under $500
SPECIFICATIONS
Type: Tube | THD: 0.02% | Outboard power supply: 18 V / 1.000 mA DC | Power consumption: 470 mA DC | Tubes: 2 x ECC83 | Subsonic Filter: Below 20 Hz | Line-level output: RCA(one pair), Phono sockets | Weight: 410 g without power supply | RIAA-equalisation Curvee: Nonconformity
REASONS TO BUY
✓ Can be used with MM or MC cartridges
✓ Low TDH
✓ Multiple gain levels
✓ Easy to hookup
✓ Circuit design without OpAmps
✓ Subsonic filter button
✓ Dual mono circuitry
✓ Gold-plated RCA
✓ Brings 3D "holographic" quality
REASONS TO AVOID
✗ The Price
✗ Signal seems ultra precise
✗ Emits low humming sound
The first preamp is Tube max S2, and this preamp is much compatible with many varieties of turntables. The S2 preamp comes with the supporting technology for both MM and MC cartridges and is a pre-assembled amplifier that can easily set up, and you have to set it properly and plugin it. The Tube max S2 metal-designed casing feels very solid and is surprisingly heavy. The preamp box has two pairs of common type replaceable ecc83 tubes installed on it already, and you can easily swap them out whenever you want. On the preamp bottom, there are some switches that you can use for changing the input preamps capacitance, and also these switches used for the typical setting impedance of your turntable cartridge. On the front, there are six preamps gain controls steps with led light signals, and next to it, there you can see a small subsonic filter button which will use for rolling of frequencies when you turn it on and by using this subsided subsonic filter, you can roll-off the frequencies below 20 Hz for cutting any low rumble, which may pick-up by your turntable. The Tube max S2 pre-installed tubes are great and are for actual amplification. The preamplifier has no OpAmps (operational amplifiers) option in circuit design, and overall the Tube max S2 box is the best phono preamp for under 500.
Also Read: Best Songs For Water Speakers
Puffin Phono DSP Preamp
Best phono stage under $500
SPECIFICATIONS
Firmware: V1.21 | Gain Settings: -4dB (CDs) to 72dB (MCs) | Tube: (2H) | Tape: (3H) | Connectors: Traditional RCA-type | Digital inputs: DAC | Volume Controller: Yes | Bass Controller: Yes
REASONS TO BUY
✓ Lots of gain settings
✓ Easy to adjust
✓ Easy to hookup
✓ Twenty gain settings
✓ Tilt tone controls
✓ Bass and volume controller
REASONS TO AVOID
✗ Large
✗ Emits low humming noise
The next one is the Puffin Phono DSP, and this elegant phono preamp device comes with only analog outputs and also has a wide range of gain settings. You will find the ground wire hook on the top center, and on the left and right of the hook, there are two inputs and two outputs. The main benefit of the Puffin DSP device is its volume control option which will help you stop the sound while changing your records, and also it features a tilt control option, which will help you adjust the sound warmer and brighter and help you to get higher sound with deep details and lower for a warm sound. People love to listen to the bass, and the Puffin Phono DSP Phono pre-amplifier comes with the base controller, which helps you in controlling the bass graph because, in certain types of music, you want the bass to turn down, so the control button will help you and there is no need to buy any equalizer for adjustment. The Puffin DSP high-frequency filter will help you reduce noise and old LPs best sound, which you don’t like to listen to, and on the other hand, its low-frequency filter will help you get rid of rumble motor noises and other noises. The Puffin DSP mono mod will allow you to sum the channel from the left and right, and this pre-amplifier also has a stereo mode. So. overall, the Puffin Phono DSP is the best phono preamp under $500.
Also Read: Best Celestion Speaker For Rock
ProJect Audio Phono Preamp
best phono preamp under $200
SPECIFICATIONS
Cartridge: MM, MC | Gain Range: MM: 40 dB, MC: 60 dB | TDH: MM 0.01%, MC 0.05% | Impedance: Ultra-low Impedance | RCA Sockets: Yes- gold-plated | Size: Small size | Power Supply: 18 Volts | Manufacturer: Pro-Ject
REASONS TO BUY
✓ Excellent sound quality
✓ Works with any cartridge
✓ High performance
✓ Small size
✓ Ultra-low impedance output
✓ Comes with power adapter
✓ Great mc settings
✓ Came with RCA cable
✓ Great body design
✓ Very user friendly
✓ Delivers high fidelity performance
✓ RIAA equalization curve
REASONS TO AVOID
✗ No LED lights
✗ Bit heavy
The next is Pro-Ject Audio Phono Box and is a compact amplifier that will give you clear sound. The phono box came in a black and brushed metal look, which looks pretty durable but a bit heavy. On the backside of the Pro-Ject Audio box, you will see some input ports and a line-out port, and also it has a selector, which will help you select the MM and MC cartridges you are using with your turntable. You can install it close to the record player without any trouble. The Pro-Ject Audio amplifier power consumption is only 18-Watt, and for power connection, you can find a power port on the backside of the Pro-Ject Audio Box on where other ports are installed. The Pro-Ject Audio company will give you the original power supply inside the package, and you don’t have to purchase a new one. Like other preamps, it also has the same cartridge compatibility. You can easily adjust both MM and MC cartridges, so, overall, the Pro-Ject Audio phono box best phono preamp under $500.
Emotiva Audio XPS One
Best budget phono preamp
SPECIFICATIONS
RIAA: Standard RIAA curve +/- 0.25 dB | Operating voltage: 100 VAC and 240 VAC | Supporting Cartridge: MM/MC | RCA: line-level RCA inputs | Gain range: MM: 40 dB, MC: 60 dB | TDH MM: <0.0075 % , < 0.02%, 20 Hz – 20 kHz | Connector: Gold Plated Brass Input | Ground Terminal: Yes | Output Connector: Yes
REASONS TO BUY
✓ Easy to hookup
✓ Compatible with MM/MC cartridge
✓ Very Low TDH
✓ Easy to adjust
✓ superb analog sound quality
✓ Excellent technical performance
✓ Precise equalization RIAA curve
✓ Very low distortion
✓ Led is pretty bright
REASONS TO AVOID
✗ Doesn’t work with MM-type cartridge
Next is the Audio XPS-1 Phono Preamp, which you can easily buy for under $200. With both MM and MC-type cartridges, the Audio XPS-1 is perfectly compatible, and you can connect it with both types of cartridges without any trouble. For changing the cartridge option like MM to MC, the button is broadly installed on the top front of this XPS-1 phono amplifier. The XPS-1 preamp design is much different from other preamps and comes in a long-length design. You will find a resistance value changer on the front, and you can only change one resistance value per channel. There are two left and right output ports in the bottom end for output connection, and when you give a power supply to the amplifier, the power led light will provide you a turn-on signal. Overall the amplifier will give you excellent quality audio with low impedance and is the best phono preamp under 500.
Nobsound Little Bear
Best phono preamp with headphone jack
SPECIFICATIONS
Output Voltage: 2.0V | Gain: = 48dB | Input RIAA: ≤ 5Mv THD ≤ 0.5% | Frequency Response: Standard characters | Signal to Noise Ratio: ≥ 65dB(A)1KHz (input: 10mV; output: 0.7V) | Power supply: AC 110V(115V) 60Hz/50Hz | Manufacturer: Nobsound | Supporting Tubes: 6N2/12AX7 Tubes | Cartridge Type: Only MM
REASONS TO BUY
✓ Easy to use
✓ Low background noise
✓ Low TDH
✓ Re-changeable 6H2,6H2n tube
✓ Active RIAA equalization
✓ Three metal cover
✓ Great sound performance
✓ Four acrylic cover
REASONS TO AVOID
✗ Only for MM cartridge
If you are looking for a pure tube preamplifier, then the Nobsound Little Bear T11 is suitable for you. The improved variant of the little bear T10 gives you excellent audio performance and active RIAA equalization. If we compare Little Bear T11 with the oldest T10 variant, then T11 is offering very low background noise when your volume is average. You will find both line-in and phonon-in connecting options on the front, and in the front center of the preamp, the volume controller is installed for equalizing the volume at normal and high stages. The T11 has a replaceable tube feature, and you can easily change and replace 6N2/12AX7 tubes when you want.
Parasound Zphono Phono Preamplifier
Best high end phono preamps
SPECIFICATIONS
RIAA Equalization: MM-47 kΩ, MC-47 kΩ or MC-100 Ω | Additional inputs: 2 | TDH: Not specified | XRM: Yes | A-D converter: Yes | USB output: Yes | Rumble filter switch: Yes | Mono/stereo Switch: Yes
REASONS TO BUY
✓ Accurate frequency response
✓ USB has an A-D converter
✓ High quality digital recordings
✓ Has rumble filter switch
✓ Very suitable gain options
✓ Excellent body design
✓ RIAA equalization
REASONS TO AVOID
✗ Limited gain range
Next is the Parasound Zphono preamplifier, which comes in the list of top phono preamps in market segmentation. The Parasound Zphono will give you high performance within your budget. For entry-level vinyl lovers, this Zphono is the best phono preamp under $500. It features two MM-inputs and MC analog inputs, and both inputs give you balanced XLR, and it also has unbalanced RCA inputs. Like Puffin Phono DSP, it also comes with a mono and stereo switch. It also has the perfect rumble filter, which will significantly help you reduce and cancel extras' rumble noises. Both mono, stereo switches will help you in controlling settings for getting an exceptional audio experience. The main benefit of Parasound Zphono is that you can connect easily connect two turntables at a time with it. The Zphono preamplifier also has a load adjusting feature to move coil cartridges for adjusting load impedance up to 11 adjustments with an impedance knob. The gain option will help you select very suitable gain options for your MM and MC-type cartridges up to standard settings(MC: 40 decibels MM:50 decibels). Overall, the Parasound Zphono is the best phono preamp under 500.