"Powerful and Yet Utterly Composed"
Clearaudio does it again – this time with a new, upgraded version of the Smart Phono phono preamp. The Smart Phono V2's beautiful, minimalist aluminium housing contains one of the best sounding phonostages in its price range. It provides up to 54 decibels gain at one kilohertz and an extremely linear frequency response. For superb performance from both MM and MC cartridges, Smart Phono V2 has two separate sets of circuitry using SMD technology. A slide switch on the underside selects MM or MC use.
A Wealth of Exceptional Features
The Smart Phono v2 features a newly designed, CNC-machined, resonance-free aluminum chassis. It is a larger, higher performance version of the popular Clearaudio Nano phono stage. The beautifully crafted chassis hides a wealth of exceptional features such as the latest advanced surface mount-device technology, compatibility with both moving magnet and moving coil cartridges, and linearity from 20 Hz to 20 kHz.
And there's no power switch on the Smart Phono. Leave it plugged in, and it knows when to switch on from standby mode. This is what makes it smart.
"With the Smart Phono connected, the music was powerful and yet utterly composed," notes Channa Vithana in England's Hi-fi World magazine in its review of the original-model Smart Phono. "[It] works to a high standard and did so without a fuss even in a high-end Origin/Live Linn Origin LP source system."
"Many Years of Happy Listening"
The original-model Smart Phono won a "Most Wanted Component" listing in The Stereo Times magazine. "Partnered with the likes of the Benz Micro Ace cartridge it can provide the analog lover with even a beer-budget analog rig many years of happy listening," observes Dave Thomas.
It's a smart value, too. In fact, you'll have trouble finding a better, more versatile phono stage for the money than the Smart Phono v2.