Vincent Audio's PHO-701 is an optional two-driver MM/MC hybrid phono preamplifier

Vincent Audio knows their way around phono preamps, and the company's two-chassis MM/MC hybrid model PHO-701 now appears on the back of its lauded PHO-700 predecessor. Firstly, the dual-body PHO-701 MM/MC would improve on the PHO-700 by providing additional adjustment options for your cartridge options, and secondly, it also includes a USB output.

The PHO-701 is RIAA corrected for ultra-low distortion and also features a single phono input that can be switched to accept low output MC cartridges or high output MM/MC cartridges. The ability to adapt the input to a wide variety of pickups is accomplished via DIP switches on the bottom of the unit that allow adjustment of input capacitance and input impedance. (Any cartridge owner's manual should provide the recommended settings.)

With USB Among Us, note that the PHO-701's onboard A/D converter contains a CS5340 chip from Cirrus Logic. The output is fixed at 24-bit/192kHz and uses a USB connection. When you connect the PHO-701 to a PC or Mac, the device will recognize the PHO-701 as "USB Audio".

The PHO-701 houses its power supply in a completely separate case for what the company says is "pristine signal quality". Separate enclosures for the audio and power circuits are designed to protect the signal chain from distortion and AC interference.

With the PHO-701, Vincent Audio has dispensed with the typical power supply, opting instead for an external power supply specifically designed to help the PHO-701 achieve low noise. The PHO-701 uses the same power supply used in Vincent's PHO-8 phono preamplifier. It connects to the separate chassis audio circuitry via a 9-pin DIN cable. The voltage is highly regulated and filtered so that the ripple and hum that occurs with unconditioned AC power does not reach the phono section. Expected Result: The audio circuitry should only receive clean power.

A look through the front panel window of the PHO-701 reveals a 12AU7 vacuum tube inside, used in dual triode mode. High-quality components from Nichicon, WIMA and other companies aim to improve signal-to-noise ratio and gain parameters.

The Vincent Audio PHO-701 MM/MC Dual-Cabinet Phono Preamplifier has an MSRP of $799.95.

With all of that in mind, it seems to me that the PHO-701 deserves a hands-on review from AP , don't you think?

To learn more about Vincent Audio, click here .
You can find an authorized Vincent Audio dealer near you here.

VINCENT AUDIO PHO-701MM/MC HYBRID PHONO PREAMP
($799.95)

specifications
RIAA tolerance/deviation: 10 Hz - 20 kHz (max. 0.5 dB)
Output Impedance: 250 ohms
Input Sensitivity (MM): 58mV
Input Sensitivity (MC): 6.8mV
Input Impedance (MM): 47k ohms
Input Impedance (MC): 100 ohms
Distortion: 0.05%
Signal-to-noise ratio (S/N): MM > 81 dB; MC > 69dB
Dimensions (width/height/depth): 130 x 82 x 225 mm (2x)
Weight: 2.7kg (PHO-701ps: 1.5kg; PHO-701: 1.2kg)

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