iFi Audio Zen Phono Stage

iFi ZEN Phono is a wonderful enhancement to your vinyl setup that will optimise every MM/MC cartridge. Packed with AMR/iFi trickle-down technology, iFi Zen Phono lets you rediscover your treasured LP collection.

iFi flagship phono amp

Flagship phono amplifiers create their own power supply off the mains like a mains regenerator. This is fundamental to a well-designed phono stage. Without this, it will struggle to amplify the signal without added noise. This is why phono stages sometimes ‘hiss’ Unusually, the ZEN Phono has its own high-tech clean power supply.

It creates a 1.2MHz power supply (20k x mains frequency of 60Hz). In this circuit, a 10uF filtering capacitor is equal to 200,000uF at lower, audible frequencies. With serious levels of noise filtration, it performs at the level of classic LC filtering circuits as found in classic tube amplifiers. On its own ‘island’ PCB, it is isolated so there is no noise pollution of the analogue stage. Just super clean +/- 12V DC. Measured EIN (Equivalent Input Noise) is -151dBV. It is 20dBV quieter than some Stereophile Class A+ phonos which are -131dBV.

Exceptional engineering

The EQ circuit uses multiple TDK C0G capacitors in parallel. This is for best stability and the least distortion. They beat polystyrene capacitors and are close to Teflon. Already using the lowest tolerance capacitors combined with multiples in parallel, tolerance is exponentially improved by the square root of the number of capacitors.

The RIAA EQ tolerance level (+/- 0.15dB) is impressive as it is on par with hand-selected capacitors. The ZEN Phono has some seriously good audio components backing up the fantastic circuit design with trickle-down tech from its AMR PH-77 and iFi iPhono siblings.

Super sub-sonic filter

The intelligent sub-sonic filter is from the iPhono range and is quite special. Normal sub-sonic filters remove ‘rumble’ and bass and add phase issues. Unique AI phono sub-sonic filter removes ‘rumble’ only. With MM/MC, high/low and very low, the ZEN Phono is able to handle just about any cartridge. From 36dB all the way up to 72dB. So as your vinyl system grows over time, the ZEN Phono will always keep up.

Balanced circuit design

Just not seen at this price point it is a superior method to the traditional single-ended circuit approach. Balanced circuits reduce noise and crosstalk. Less Interference – clearer sound. This OV series operational amplifier is another example of a top-notch component used to get extremely low noise, low distortion (0.0001%) and wide bandwidth.

ECPU capacitors

Each ECPU capacitor is constructed from some 3,500 layers of ultra-thin dielectrics less than 0.5μm thickness. It offers class-leading Equivalent Series Resistance (ESR), low impedance and frequency stability and vanishingly low distortion.

Low Noise ICs

TI low-noise ICs offer great unity gain bandwidth, very low noise and distortion, high output drive capability, Common-mode and Power Supply Rejection Ratios of over 100 dB, wide maximum-output-swing bandwidths and high slew rates.

High Stability

TDK C0G capacitors offer high stability and low losses for resonant circuit applications. They are pricey but are a perfect addition to our products. muRata control-type, low-ESR high-Q multi-layer capacitors. The ‘ESR control’ aspect of the Murata is something special. Their noise suppression abilities are impressive.

Key Specs

Unlike any other entry-level phono stage. iFi ZEN Phono has:
- MM/MC from 36dB >72dB gain and a super-silent noise floor -151dBV
- Precise RIAA with bal out, performance comparable to £1k+ phono stages
- An intelligent sub-sonic filter addresses warp without eliminating bass