A key question that many audiophiles who are new to the vinyl space will have been what is the difference between a phonostage and a phono preamplifier? These two terms are often used interchangeably, but the key difference is the ability to control volume. A phonostage will amplify the signal that comes from the turntable, but it is very limited in its ability to allow you the user to adjust the gain, which means you will need a separate stereo preamplifier for that function. A true phono preamplifier however as the ability to adjust the gain, which would then allow you to go directly to an amplifier if you wished instead of needing to add another preamplifier into the signal chain.
For many audiophiles who are new to the world of vinyl and turntables they are often seeking a few things. Components they can afford, components they have space for and components that will make noticeable improvement to the sound in their signal chain. I have had the pleasure of reviewing several items from iFi audio, and this is a market niche that they fill quite nicely. Many of their components are not full rack width (17 inches), are affordable, and they are often an improvement over the components that are built into less expensive integrated amplifiers and preamplifiers. Looking at the Zen Phono 3 phonostage, you are getting quite a bit for $250. You have moving magnet and moving coil cartridge support, a subsonic filter, four selectable gain and impedance settings, as well as balanced and unbalanced output options. Let’s take a closer look at this phonostage to see if it is worth both your hard-earned money and your audiophile consideration.
What Makes the iFi Zen Phono 3 Phonostage So Special?
- The iFi Zen Phono 3 offers a lot of sonic detail. There was a noticeable amount of added detail that came through in the sound of the vinyl that wasn’t present when using the phonostage that was in my preamplifier on its own.
- Being able to configure the input impedance and input capacitance ensures you get the optimal sound from your specific cartridge. While these functions are more for the moving coil cartridge than the moving magnet cartridge, they are still valuable as part of your upgrade path, so that if/when you choose to move to a moving coil cartridge from a moving magnet you can get the optimal configuration.
- There is a subsonic filter included in the iFi Zen Phono 3. If you have ever had one of your records, get warped over time, or you didn’t realize the vinyl was warped when you bought it used, you can appreciate how helpful it can be to have a filter to allow you to continue to use those records.
- The diminutive size of phonostage lets you place it into smaller spaces. If you are someone who doesn’t use a rack for your audio but instead is using a table or a desk, you will appreciate the size of the iFi Zen Phono 3. Measuring at just 6.2 inches long, 4.6 inches wide and 1.4 inches high, you should be able to find a good spot to place the phonostage even if your space is limited.
Why Should You Care About the iFi Zen Phono 3 Phonostage?
One of the most difficult decisions for a new audiophile in their journey is where do I go next after you have started. If vinyl is one of your mediums of choice for music, then moving the phonostage that is built into your turntable or your integrated amplifier or preamplifier to a dedicated phonostage is a great place to start. The iFi Zen Phono 3, at a modest price will provide a meaningful sonic upgrade that anyone can appreciate, while still providing you with more room to grow later.
Some Things You Might Not Like About the iFi Zen Phono 3 Phonostage
- The balanced output requires an adapter on the iFi Zen Phono 3. iFi achieves balanced output for the Zen Phono 3 using a 4.4-millimeter connection, not with two standard XLR outputs. This means to connect the phonostage back to your preamplifier you will need to get an adapter. iFi doesn’t include this cable in the box, and it will cost you another $100 if you buy it directly from iFi. Note: most turntables are connected via an unbalanced connection so not including the XLR adaptor is a smart way to keep the price down and the value high.
- The iFi Zen Phono 3 lacks true volume control. While you can adjust the gain, you can only do so in four stages, 36 dB, 48 dB, 60 dB, 72 dB. These seem to be more intended to handle different types of cartridges then allow you to adjust the volume of your music. You will need to have a preamplifier to handle the finer volume controls. This seems obvious but why not.
Listening to the iFi Zen Phono 3 Phonostage …
I placed the iFi Zen Phono 3 phonostage between my Pro-Ject X1 B turntable (which uses a Sumiko Rainier moving magnet cartridge) and my Anthem STR preamplifier. The preamplifier then went into my Anthem MCA 225 Gen 2 amplifier with the sound coming out of my Paradigm Premier 700F floorstanding speakers. I used Wireworld’s Oasis 10 interconnect cables to run from the turntable (unbalanced) to the phonostage and from the preamplifier to the amplifier (balanced XLR).
I started with a Stevie Wonder’s “Superstition” from his 1972 album Talking Book. This 50-year-old recording on vinyl in the modern era sounded great with the iFi Zen Phono 3 in my setup. You could easily hear the separation with the instruments, and the bass was very present in the reproduction and the horns never sounded harsh. This all-time classic Stevie Wonder track was a joy to listen to (as it always is), and it didn’t take long before I was tapping my foot to the beat. The other thing about a 50-year-old vinyl though is that it has that very used vinyl sound which are the pops and clicks. The phonostage didn’t do much to filter those sounds out, which you really shouldn’t expect at this price point, but they simply passed that part of this records character along.
Whenever I am reviewing something with vinyl, I love digging up Eric Clapton’s “Layla” (on vinyl) from his 2021 album Lady in the Balcony. This is one of Clapton’s most notable songs. As you may know Clapton wrote the song about George Harrison’s wife who he as courting at the time, and this was originally recorded with Derek and the Dominoes back in 1970. This is a much more modern take on the track, which much more resembles the version Clapton recorded for his famed Unplugged session from 1991. This version however feels more robust with the bass guitar and keyboard being much more prominent. When listening to this track with the iFi Zen Phono 3, the bass guitar was very noticeable. As well I was able to pick up some of the finer details of the recording such as the harmonies in the chorus. The sound stage was noticeable as well as I could place Clapton’s guitar and vocal in the arrangement against the backing bass guitar, keyboard, and drums in this pseudo live recording.
The last track I used to test the iFi Zen Phono 3 phonostage was “E Street Shuffle” from Bruce Springsteen’s 1973 album The Wild, The Innocent & the E Street Shuffle. The opening track on one of Springsteen’s earlier records starts itself of slow before eventually whipping itself into a fury. With 10, yes 10 instruments in the mix it can be difficult to try to pick them out. (I suppose you could play this as a game if you wish), but the iFi Zen Phono 3 did an admirable job in allowing you to be able to pick them out with relative ease. Even as the track closes, which is where most of the instruments are found, you can pick out the guitar, from the keyboard from the saxophone etc. This was yet another enjoyable reproduction of an older track where the sonic different between the phonostage in my preamplifier and the iFi was quite noticeable in favor of the separated phonostage.
Will the iFi Zen Phono 3 Phonostage Hold Its Value?
At such a modest investment, you really don’t have a lot to lose here under any circumstances. The upgrade path that is available to you through the Zen Phono 3 should ensure that you get your money’s worth and then some. However, if you choose to upgrade from this you are still likely to pocket around half of your investment based on what the phonostage sells for on the use market at the time of writing.
What is the Competition for the iFi Zen Phono 3 Phonostage?
I would expect for most people who are looking at purchasing a iFi Zen Phono 3 the biggest competition is really going to the phonostage that is in your turntable, preamplifier or your integrated amplifier.
The Cambridge Audio Alva Duo ($349 – Buy at Crutchfield) is an option if you are either looking for a phono preamplifier (with a volume knob) or you don’t have much interest in configuring the impedance or gain of your cartridge. In my review of this product the Cambridge Audio Alva Duo (read my review) I found the sonics to be pleasing, and while the cost is a bit higher, it is very well built.
The Pro-Ject PhonoBox S2 ($269 – Buy at Crutchfield) is a very direct competitor to the Zen Phono 3. Pro-Ject has taken a minimalist approach to this phonostage. There is a power button on the front, one set of unbalanced input and output on the back along with the button to use their subsonic filter. To keep the size of the device small Pro-Ject put the configuration for the gain and impedance on the bottom of the unit. This phonostage also handles moving magnet and moving coil cartridges as well.
The Mobile Fidelity StudioPhono ($349 – Buy at Crutchfield) is also worth a look in this price range. This phono preamplifier checks many of the same boxes as the others in this price range, but some unique things that you can do with the StudioPhono is you can run everything in mono which is great if you have some mono vinyl. This is also a phonostage was designed to use rectangular form factor, with the inputs on the short side of the rectangle, to make it easy to place the unit in your signal chain.
Final Thoughts on the iFi Zen Phono 3 Phonostage …
As a reviewer, one of the most common conversations I have with both myself and others involved in the hobby is what is the value of the component that I am reviewing. This question while on the surface seems simple, it really requires you to think about who the product was made for. Some products are easier to place than others. At the heart of it the iFi Zen Phono 3, is easy to place.
The iFi Zen Phono 3 is a component that is designed for the audiophile who wants an upgrade from the phonostage that has been built into another device to a separate unit. The iFi Zen Phono 3 not only achieves this mission, but it does it incredibly well. I reviewed phonostages that were more expensive but ultimately didn’t provide as thrilling of a sound. This is where we find real value in the hobby, and it make it very easy for me to recommend this phonostage to anyone who is ready for a sonic upgrade for their vinyl collection and who doesn’t have space for a rack width component in their signal chain.
