{"id":1381,"date":"2009-05-10T00:47:23","date_gmt":"2009-05-10T05:47:23","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.soundadviceblog.com\/?p=1381"},"modified":"2009-05-10T00:47:23","modified_gmt":"2009-05-10T05:47:23","slug":"product-of-the-day-day-10-parasound-zphono-phono-preamplifier","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/www.soundadviceblog.com\/?p=1381","title":{"rendered":"Product of the Day, Day 10: Parasound Zphono Phono Preamplifier"},"content":{"rendered":"

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Parasound Zphono Phono Preamplifier<\/strong><\/p>\n

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The Parasound Zphono phono preamplifier is the right product at the right time for a lot of people.\u00a0 It’s a top-performing component at an affordable price at a time when vinyl is enjoying a renaissance.<\/p>\n

A question many with have is, “Why is a phono preamplifier necessary?”\u00a0 There are two reasons- amplifying the signal from the cartridge, and applying the RIAA equalization curve.<\/p>\n

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An ordinary line-level component such as a DVD player or Blu-ray player puts out an electrical signal of around 2.5 volts.\u00a0 This is easy for a receiver to amplify.\u00a0 A phono cartridge puts out a signal from as low as .2 millivolts (thousands of a volt) to 6 or 7 millivolts.\u00a0 This is far too low for a receiver to amplify unless it has a dedicated phono input.\u00a0 (Most surround receivers do not have this input.)\u00a0 So, job one is to take the infitesimal electrical signal from the phono cartridge and amplify it so the receiver can reproduce it.<\/p>\n

The second job of the phono preamplifier is to apply the RIAA equalization curve.\u00a0 When a record is mastered it has an equalization curve applied.\u00a0 If you were to press the frequencies onto the record exactly as they are, the needle would not be able to track the grooves.\u00a0 So an “equalization curve” is applied at the pressing, and when the needle tracks the groove and the electrical signal is sent from the cartridge the phono preamplifier takes it and applies the curve again to restore the frequencies in proper proportion with each other.<\/p>\n

Both of these tasks are very sensitive and a top-performing phono preamp will make a noticeable difference in your system.\u00a0 Audiophiles who love vinyl consider the phono preamp as much of a component as the turntable or cartridge, and will exercise a lot of care in its selection, matching it carefully to the rest of their system.\u00a0 Some phono preamps cost $10,000 or more!\u00a0 You will be pleased to know that Parasound’s excellent Zphono is only $150.<\/p>\n

The Zphono has truly great sound and matches well with most any cartridge.\u00a0 What sets it apart from other phono preamplifiers is its all-discrete componentry, generous size and grounded outlet.<\/p>\n

Most budget phono preamplifiers use IC (integrated circuit) chips which tend to be noiser and of less sonic fidelity than designs that use fully discrete componentry, i.e. transistors, capacitors, resistors, etc.\u00a0 The Zphono is one of the lowest, if not THE lowest phono preamplifier that uses fully discrete componentry.<\/p>\n

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The Parasound Zphono is also generously sized and extremely well built.\u00a0 It fits well on your equipment rack and you really feel like you are getting your money’s worth.\u00a0 Most budget phono preamps use a “wall wart” transformer to furnish electrical power.\u00a0 The Zphono has a three-prong grounded plug that goes directly into the wall.\u00a0 Take it from me, this is a LOT better than using an annoying wall wart!<\/p>\n

If you have a nice vinyl system now, adding a Zphono will give your system a nice bump up in sound quality.\u00a0 Until you have experienced what a good phono preamplifier can do you won’t know what you are missing.\u00a0 If you are adding a good turntable to your surround sound receiver and need a phono preamplifier, $150 for a Zphono will get you a great one and will grow with you as you upgrade your system.<\/p>\n

The Parasound Zphono is available from hi-fi specialty shops and online from Acoustic Sounds<\/a>.\u00a0 Learn more at www.parasound.com<\/a>.<\/p>\n

See you tomorrow for the Product of the Day<\/a>!<\/p>\n


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