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For lovers of vinyl records, our expert team has listed the best phono preamp under 500 dollars which will give you brilliant quality and exceptional audio experience in price. In online and offline markets there are also lots of cheap preamps but for great quality-price not matters because cheap quality preamplifier will provide you with low quality and you cannot enjoy your vinyl records properly.
These listed preamps support both MM (moving magnet) and MC (moving coil) cartridges and are much compatible will many kinds of turntables. Vinyl record lovers hate off extra and high rumble noise so, these preamps are featuring rumble filters for the cancellation of extra rumble noise and will help you in reducing noise.
Best Phono Preamp Under 500 And 200 Dollars
If you need a preamp that has a small body design, then the Puffin phono preamplifier can easily set and adjust near your turntable. All preamplifiers in the given below list has great mono mods, stereo switches, and load adjusting features for proper controlling settings.
In the market, you will also find some inexpensive preamps which you can buy easily if you have a very low budget. Still, for a brilliant audio experience and durability, you need some normal investment. So, checkout best phono preamp under 500 and 200 dollars below.
| PHONO PREAMPS IMAGE | PRODUCT TITLE | PRODUCT DESCRIPTION | CHECK PRICE |
|---|---|---|---|
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Pro-Ject Tube Box S2 Phono Preamplifier | Best Tube Phono Preamp | CHECK PRICE |
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Puffin Phono DSP Phono preamp | Best Phono Stage Under 500 | CHECK PRICE |
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Pro-Ject Audio - Phono Box DC - MM/MC Phono preamp | Best Phono Preamp Under 200 Dollars | CHECK PRICE |
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Emotiva Audio XPS-1 Phono Preamp | Best Budget Preamp | CHECK PRICE |
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Nobsound Little Bear T11 6N2/12AX7 Vacuum&Valve Tube Phono Turntable Preamplifie | Budge Tube Phono Preamp | CHECK PRICE |
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Parasound Zphono MM/MC Phono Preamplifier | Top Phono Preamps | CHECK PRICE |
Pro-Ject Tube Box S2 Phono Preamplifier - Black
First is Tube max S2 box review and the compatibility of this phono preamplifier is with the maximum variety of turntables. This phono preamplifier comes with the supporting technology for both coil and moving magnet cartridges. The amplifier comes in pre-assembled and very easy to set up this amplifier and just you have to set it properly and plug-in.
If we take a look at casing quality which feels very solid and metal designed surprisingly heavy. The black Tube max S2 box has two pairs of common type replaceable ecc83 tubes which are installed already on it and you can easily swapping them out when you want.
On the bottom, you can see switches which we use for changing the input preamps capacitance and these switches are used for the typical setting impedance of that phono cartridge which you are using with your turntable.
You can also check to set it using instruction book. On the front you will see some six preamps gain controls steps with led light signals and next to it there you can see small subsonic filter button which will use for rolling of frequencies when you turn it on.
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 and it also have front Gain control button.
The pre-installed tubes on max S2 box are tremendous and actual amplification, and this preamplifier has no OpAmps (operational amplifiers) option in circuit design. Overall the Tube max S2 box is best for MM cartridges and MC cartridges. It is best phono preamp under 500 dollars.
Specifications
| Type | Tube |
| THD | 0.02% (check details on amazon) |
| 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 |
Pros
- 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
Cons
- The Price
- Signal seems ultra precise
- Emits low humming sound
Puffin Phono DSP Phono preamp
Next one is Puffin Phono DSP review, and this beautiful Phono preamp device comes with only analogue outputs and has a wide range of gain settings. On the top centre, you will find the ground wire hook, and on the left and right of the hook, there are two inputs and two outputs. The main benefit of this Puffin Phono DSP is that it comes with the volume control option.
The Volume control option In Parks Audio will help you in stopping the sound while when you are changing your records. This amplifier features a tilt control option, which will help you in adjusting the sound warmer and brighter and also helps you in getting higher sound with deep details and in lower for a warm sound.
People love to listen to bass, and the Puffin Phono DSP Phono pre-amplifier comes with the bass controller which helps you in controlling the graph of bass 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 DSP Phono preamp also has a high-frequency filter will help you in noise, and old LPs sound which you don’t like to listen and on the other hand the filter of low frequency will helps you in getting rid of rumble motor noises and other noises which you don’t want to hear.
The mono mod will help you in sums the channel from the left and right, and on the other hand, the amplifier also has stereo mod. Overall the Puffin Phono DSP is best phono preamp 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 |
Pros
- Lots of gain settings.
- Easy to adjust.
- Easy to hookup.
- Compatible with MC / MM cartridges.
- Twenty gain settings.
- Tilt tone controls.
- Bass and volume controller.
Cons
- Large.
- Emits low humming noise.
Pro-Ject Audio - Phono Box DC - MM/MC Phono preamp with line Output – Blk
Next product is Pro-Ject Audio Phono Box, and this compact amplifier will give you straight forward sound. The phono box came in a black and brushed metal look which seems very durable and a bit heavy in weight. On the backside of the phono box, you will see some input ports and line out port.
The Pro-Ject Audio Phono amplifier comes with the selector, which will help you in selecting the moving coil and magnet which depends upon which cartridge you are using with your turntable.
Its small size looks pretty good, and you can install it close to the record player without any trouble. The power consumption if this Pro-Ject Audio amplifier is only eighteen volts and you need 18 volts power supply to run this amplifier.
You will power port on the backside of this Phono Box where other ports are installed. The company gives you the original power supply inside the package, and you don’t have to purchase a new one.
Like other amplifiers, this one has the same cartridge compatibility, and you can adjust both MM and MC cartridges easily. So it comes in the budget range and is the Best Phono Preamp Under $100.
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 |
Pros
- Affordable and best budge preamp.
- 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 cables.
- Great body design.
- Very user friendly.
- delivers high fidelity performance.
- RIAA equalization curve.
Cons
- No LED lights.
- Bit heavy.
Emotiva Audio XPS-1 Phono Preamp
Next is Audio XPS-1 Phono Preamp review and you can easily buy this in the range of two hundred dollars. The Audio XPS-1 amplifier is compatible with the both MM and MC type cartridges, and you can connect both types of cartridges without any trouble.
The body design of this XPS-1 preamp is very different from other preamps and comes in a long length design. On the front, you will find a resistance value changer, and you can only change one resistance value for the per channel. For output connection, there are two left and right output ports in the bottom end of this XPS-1 when you give power supply to this phono amplifier the durable power led light will give you a turn-on signal.
For changing the option of the cartridge like MM to MC, the button is broadly installed on the top front of this XPS-1 phono amplifier. Overall the amplifier will provide you with brilliant quality audio with low impedance and is the best phono preamp under 500.
Specifications
| RIAA | standard RIAA curve +/- 0.25 dB |
| Operating voltage | 100 VAC and 240 VAC |
| Supporting Cartridges | 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 |
| connectors | gold plated brass input |
| Ground terminal | Yes |
| Output connectors | Yes |
Pros
- Easy to hookup.
- Compatible with MM/MC cartridges.
- Very Low TDH
- Easy to adjust
- superb analog sound quality.
- excellent technical performance.
- Precise equalization RIAA curve.
- very low distortion.
- LED is pretty bright.
Cons
- Like other preamps, this XPS-1 doesn’t entirely work with the MM type cartridges.
Nobsound Little Bear
If you are looking for pure tube preamplifier, then this Nobsound Little Bear T11 is suitable for you. It is the improved variant of little bear T10 and gives you brilliant audio performance and active RIAA equalization. If we compare Little Bear T11 with oldest T10 variant, then T11 is offering very low background noise when your volume is average.
In front body design, you will find both line-in and phonon-in connecting options and in the front centre of this preamps volume controller is installed for equalizing the volume at normal and high stages. It has a replaceable tube feature, and you can easily change and replace 6N2/12AX7 tubes when you want. It is best phono preamp under $500.
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 |
Pros
- Easy to use
- Low background noise
- Low TDH
- Re-changeable 6H2,6H2n tubes
- Active RIAA equalization
- Three metal covers & four acrylic covers
- Great sound performance
Cons
- Only for MM cartridges
Parasound Zphono MM/MC Phono Preamplifier
Next is Parasound Zphono preamplifier which comes in the list of top phono preamps in market segmentation. The Parasound Zphono will give you high performance better sound quality with-in your budget. For entry-level vinyl lovers, this Zphono is best phono preamp under 500. It features two MM-inputs and MC analogue inputs.
Both inputs give you balanced XLR and on the other hand, unbalanced RCA inputs. Like Puffin Phono preamplifier it also comes with mono and stereo switch, and even the perfect rumble filter which will significantly help you in reducing and cancelling extras rumble noise. Both mono, stereo, switches will help you in controlling settings for getting exceptional audio experience.
The main benefit of this preamp is that at a time you can connect easily connect two turntables with it. On the front body design there you find a select switch which will help you in making it very easy in switching between MM and MC cartridges.
The Zphono preamplifier also has load adjusting feature which you can use for moving coil cartridges for adjusting load impedance up to 11 adjustments with impedance knob.
The Zphono preamplifier gives you high performance and low noise because it has best XRM features. The gain option will help you in selecting very suitable gain options for you MM and MC type cartridges up to standard settings(MC: 40 decibels MM:50 decibels). It is best phono preamp under 500.
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 - two pairs stereo, line-level input jacks |
| Rumble filter switch | Yes |
| mono/stereo switch | Yes |
Pros
- Accurate frequency response.
- USB has an A-D converter.
- High quality digital recordings.
- Has rumble filter switch.
- Easy To hookup.
- Very suitable gain options.
- Compatible with MM/MC cartridges.
- Exceptional audio experience.
- Great body design.
- RIAA equalization.
- Best phono preamp under 500.
Cons
- Limited gain range.
Buyers Guide – Best Phono Preamp Under 500 And 200 Dollar
For expensive phono preamps, you can buy Tube max S2 box which has a tremendous dual-mono circuit and replaceable tube option. For small size phono preamp the Puffin Phono DSP, Pro-Ject Audio and XPS-1 Phono Preamp are perfect. You will find only two interchangeable tube type phono preamps which are Pro-Ject Tube Box S VS s2 and Nobsound Little Bear T11 gives brilliant audio quality.
If you are finding Preamplifier for Moving Magnet cartridges, then Nobsound Little Bear T11 is marvellous preamp choice for your vinyl records. The quietest phono preamp on our list is Parasound Zphono and is best phono preamp under 500 DOLLAR.