iFi Zen Phono 3 - Still The BEST Phono Stage under $300!?

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‪@iFiaudiochannel‬ ‪@cheapaudioman‬
This is my review of the iFi Zen Phono 3 - an updated version of the amazing Zen Phono Stage from ‪@iFiaudiochannel‬ - this is the ONLY Phono stage in this price range that offer balanced connections - a super low noise floor measured at -151dBv - and a Sub Sonic filter that eliminates rumble from warped records - this thing is awesome - check out the review to see all the features!
Audio Test files from Zoom F3 Recorder - we.tl/t-Q9lsx9...
Buy all the Zen 3 Series items -
Zen Can 3 - amzn.to/3S7E32K
Zen Dac 3 - amzn.to/3S7E32K
Zen Phono 3 - amzn.to/3Wj0LHU
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Zen Air Phono - amzn.to/3UA0VX5
Zen Can Signature 6XX Balanced headphone AMP - amzn.to/3UA0VX5
Sennheiser HD6XX Headphones - amzn.to/3bOa3aB
4.4mm balanced cable for Sennheiser Headphones - amzn.to/3AJ1Wpb
4.4 to 4.4 MM balanced Cable - amzn.to/3AHrSk3
4.4mm balanced extension cable - amzn.to/3AHrSk3
🔊🔊🔊My home audio equipment🤘🏻 (affiliate links THANKS!) 🙏🏻
Clean your Vinyl! - amzn.to/3osAdSO
Best Phono Stage - amzn.to/3LnZby1
My Turntable - amzn.to/3S7WFjv
My Other Turntable - amzn.to/3b6mg9V
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Stands - amzn.to/3zurx4J
My Sub - amzn.to/3BcD1uK
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Headphones - amzn.to/3bOa3aB
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#vinylcollection #hifi #audiophile
Intro - 0:00
Disclaimer - 1:02
What Happened to no. 2 - 1:47
What's in the box - 2:42
Connection on the back - 4:10
Balanced Cables - 5:15
Form Factor and Looks - 5:55
The new Button! - 6:47
What are my cartridges? - 7:38
The Old Button! - 8:27
Using with the Zen Can Signature 6xx amp - 10:18
Its quiet - 11:28
What Pieces of Vinyl have I tried out? - 12:15
Should You Upgrade? - 13:42
Added Bonus Test (Links in Description for files to listen to) - 15:15
Conclusion - 16:38

[@MrToonfish]

I used the iFi Zen phono too... Then... I recommend you put your hands and ears on the iFi Audio micro iPhono3 Black Label, you'll be amazed by the performance as long as the whole system is good too from the TT to the speakers, of course ! This $1000 phono preamp is a stunning piece of hi-fi equipment for sure.

[@carlosquintanilla3700]

Thank you, I was looking at this info. Subscribed.

[@PiecesofVinyl]

Thanks for the sub!

[@carolineleonard8214]

I use the ifi Zen Phono as recommended by Randy, you and others with my Rega P3. I agree that you can use online reviews to inform your decision. I'm very happy to send people your way after they've listened to my rig. Please keep the excellent reviews coming.

[@PiecesofVinyl]

Thanks for watching! Will do!

[@6643bear]

I use my zen phono 2with my p3 too , it’s pretty good , also I done lot of research on KZbin including Randy too . Regards mark

[@6643bear]

Great interesting review , u recently bought the zen phono v2 it’s pretty good . Regards mark

[@djspecialpaul]

Nice review - I use currentl a Radial J33 as a phonostage and love it. But this look great too and similar price tag. May i have to test this guy, too.

[@6643bear]

I like the idea with the matching and fir that price it’s very good , I had already den dac v2 and the zen phono amp, if I didn’t have one like to look at this one . Great vid , regards mark

[@booieaguilar4792]

I Definitely gotta check this out. Always giving that great breakdown. Much love brotha man. For me your the standard I'd love to get too eventually.

[@PiecesofVinyl]

Thanks again man!

[@cali2558]

I’ve been looking at this model. Great review and you talked me into it. lol

[@PiecesofVinyl]

Thanks for watching! You will love it!

[@xentakis]

Nice, I actually just got this for my office turntable. I’m far from an expert but I’ve been impressed

[@DavidPietersen]

**Office** turntable? Living the dream man

[@xentakis]

@@DavidPietersen I work for myself from my home office, so I’ve got a little setup there with a Rega P1 (eco deck), so yes, living the dream in a way.

[@PiecesofVinyl]

I am about to setup a “third deck” and have an office setup! I will be using the zen air phono.

[@nikoniarz]

I have previous model which i used with ortofon 2m blue. Now i use ortofon quintet red i think about upgrading. I use mc low setting i 1kohm loading, but ortofon reccomends lower setting (about 100 ohm loading)....

[@carriestuart9921]

I own the previous model. Only bought it just last October. In Canada (on Amazon) our prices are quite a bit higher than what you pay in the US. The older Zen cost me $300, whereas the new one is listed at $400. For me, I sincerely doubt the benefit of an upgrade at this stage of the game. My cartridges are in that range just above entry level. I have an Ortofon Blue (and the basic RED) and an Audio Technica VM540ML which I prefer over the Blue. I suspect with a much better cartridge, the differences between to original Zen and the Zen 3 versions would be much more noticeable and appreciated. For the short term, I'm holding my cards and won't be gambling that I'll appreciate a meaningful improvement in my vinyl sound reproduction.

[@paulwoaert]

For the listening of vinyl, isn't the iFi Audio Zen Dac V2 (paired with the iFi Audio Zen CAN, for example) sufficient ? Because the Zen Dac V2 also has RCA ports. Do we have necessarily to go through their Zen Phono ?

[@PiecesofVinyl]

It’s not just RCA ports that are needed for a turntable. The signal coming out of the TT alone is super quiet - you need a phone stage to boost the signal before it goes to a pre amp or whatever. If you see an amp or a dac/pre that has a “phono” line in - that means it has a built in phono stage. But those are usually not as good as stand alone phone stages.

[@Audiojunkabus]

well, it's certainly the oddest looking :)

[@nateut4866]

Do you know can you use the balanced output on the back of the can 3 to run to your regular amplifier (assuming it has a balanced input of course)? I’m thinking of picking up both it and the phono 3, but am just trying to figure it all out first. Does one 4.4mm balanced output take priority over the other(the one on the back vs. the headphone one on the front), or do they both work similtaneously?

[@PiecesofVinyl]

I have use the additional balanced out on the headphone amp to record my vinyl. I don’t have an amp with a balanced input - yet - as for using both I think you can only use one of the balanced inputs at a time. You can use the balanced and the rcas at the same time.

[@joeytavarez2093]

Good review. I would rather see a mono switch vs the Rumble switch. That for me would make this a no brainer upgrade.

[@ceylonmooney]

i enjoy your enthusiasm, but u need to back up your claim by comparing it to its competitors. without comparing this to its competitors (mani 2, sota pyxi, etc.), any claim or question is meaningless. nowhere in this video do you attempt to address your claim in a meaningful way.

[@PiecesofVinyl]

I don’t have the resources (yet) to have all those products to compare them. It’s why in the video I mention this - and I am basically saying this is the best phono stage I have tried in this price range. I have also referred the viewers to three other channels that do have those resources and encouraged them to follow those channels as well. Links in the description and those channels all agree - this is one of - if not - the best phono stages in this price range. Thanks for commenting! The more viewers and comments and hopefully schiit and these other companies will want to reach out for reviews as well!