Did Aiyima just release the best phono preamp under $100?

This phono preamp under $100 really surprised me...
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[@ForeverAnalog]

Do you use a moving magnet or moving coil cartridge?

[@MattCoykendall1]

Hey! I have this one in for review as well. I tested the MC side on a Denon DL-103r it handles it and is useable but could use a bit more gain for MC. I agree with your thoughts that this is going to be primarily a MM preamp though, good review....now I guess I better get mine wrapped up ha!

[@ForeverAnalog]

Thanks for sharing! Yeah, I was tempted to buy a MC cart to test this preamp, but in the end I felt folks using MC would probably rarely pair it with a $99 preamp, lol. Looking forward to your review!

[@Jeep_on_audio]

Hey Matt. It would be nice to test it with some upgraded opamps too. 5532 are not that great.

[@danisold]

MM. Ortofon 2m blue. No desire to upgrade. Same with phono stage, schiit mani 2. No desire to upgrade. Nice review.

[@ForeverAnalog]

Ooh yeah, Schiit Mani 2 is tough to beat! Thanks for watching!

[@flynow5614]

I have the black.

[@patricksullivan9340]

Great review. I agree with others that this is mostly marketing glitz, to include (likely mediocre) MC functionality. Set that aside, and just look at this as a really solid, hundred dollar MM option. It’s great for us consumers to have good options in this price range! My main systems preamp has a nice built in phono input, but in two other systems, I use an NAD PP 2e; I’ve been very satisfied with that phono preamp. Keep up the good work… I have just ‘subscribed’!

[@ForeverAnalog]

Thank you for the kind words! I really enjoyed the MM function and playback at this price but yeah, the MC features seem like they are targeting the wrong audience lol. Thanks for the sub!

[@lucasg7637]

Which preamp would you recommend for a PL-112D? I have a AT-VM95E cartridge. A Denon AVR-789, and lastly two 606 S Jamo Speakers and a center Jamo speaker. Thank you

[@thelowprofile9767]

Talking about phone preamps, would you like to test and compare against the cheap Kinter PR400 which one reviewer claimed that it was actually good.

[@ForeverAnalog]

I’m not familiar with that one!

[@josecintron85]

How would you compare the Aiyima to the Schiit Mani (IK the Mani is $50 more), assuming you've had the opportunity to use the Mani?

[@ForeverAnalog]

I no longer have the Mani so I hesitate to compare since I haven't used it in a long time. I do like the idea of a gain knob on the T3 Pro over the switch on the Mani in terms of features.

[@Jeep_on_audio]

On the T3 Pro you can upgrade the opamps (front ones for MM) for a better sound. This will lift the sound quality to a different level. Even Sparkos. But OracleII 02 are very affordable at $7 /pc and a definite upgrade already. The variable gain is something really smart. Just put the volume at 100% and vary the gain. This will take a lot of stress out of the opamps.

[@Douglas_Blake_579]

Tubes in most modern equipment are used in Cathode Follower circuits. They actually offer no gain ... buffers as Aaron says. Gimmicks indeed.

[@carminedesanto6746]

GM ☕️ Interesting phono head amp ..at that price point.

[@ForeverAnalog]

I thought so too. Considering the high price of MC carts, I'm curious if owners would even consider a preamp this cheap to pair with their expensive MC cart?

[@carminedesanto6746]

As a Koetsu fanboy…probably not. I’d look to more of a match in my system.🧐

[@flynow5614]

Can't go wrong with grado.

[@ForeverAnalog]

Very true!

[@TheNorliss]

A bit odd that it offers gain from 0dB to 39dB. In what scenario would you ever be needing a phono pre-amp with 0dB or with anything much less than 30-odd dB, for that matter? Also, to do MC properly is difficult and cheapie devices like this have it purely for marketing reasons as they think it looks better value for money. I'd be willing to bet it doesn't do well with MC carts and anyone going to the trouble and expense of buying an MC cart will most likely be wanting a higher quality phono pre than this, in all honesty.

[@ForeverAnalog]

I agree. Overall it's a great MM preamp, but I doubt people who've spent hundreds (or thousands) on a MC cart will settle for a $99 preamp lol. Thanks for watching and commenting!