Vinyl Asylum: REVIEW: Rega FONO Phono Preamp by beken

Model:	FONO
Category:	Phono Preamp
Suggested Retail Price:	$400 (Canadian)
Description:	Moving Magnet Phono Stage
Manufacturer URL:	Rega
Manufacturer URL:	Rega

Review by beken on November 05, 2001 at 11:50:58
IP Address: 198.161.19.2

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for the FONO

First off, I bought this unit because I needed an inexpensive phono stage. I couldn't afford some of the units termed "affordable" and also satisfy the WAF. Other units I considered came from Creek, Rotel, NAD. I did not know anything about the Rega FONO until the sales person recommended it to me to match my front-end and amplifier combination. He said if I spent a whole lot more, I should upgrade my front end. If I spent any less, it wouldn't bring out the best of my system. I had no reference and there were no reviews of the Rega unit for me to research on. I did feel that I was missing something when listening to LPs on the above 3. Not that they were bad, just I felt I needed more of something. The sales person said the Rega was more "refined".
So off I went and took the box home. The pictures of the unit on the internet (Rega's advertising) flatter the actual unit. I was a bit disappointed by the plastic box. But the shape was unique and clean from an asthetics point of view. Hopefully the sound would be where Rega spent it's money on. I wasn't disappointed. I heard instruments I didn't know was on the LP before. Pat Metheny Group's Travels took on a new life. The stage was absolutely huge, I could tell where each musician was placed and the music's pace and rhythm came through. It gave me the sense that I was at the concert (in fact I did attend a concert where the same songs were played). Also in my stash of classical LPs, I put on Swan Lake and it never sounded better. I gained a greater appreciation for classical music (could be me starting to show my age though). However, rock or pop music was a mixed bag. The Eagles' Hotel California was rivetting. Michael Jackson's Thriller was awful. The signal was heavily compressed and I found it a chore to listen through the entire song. Could it be the cartridge alignment? Possibly. My Sheffield Labs records sound great too. However, on parts where the music went from soft to extremely loud very fast, it seemed to cut something off. The CD of the same recording (Pat Coil's Dreams and Schemes) seemed to have more attack on the transients but the LP had a sense of a deeper soundstage. Would a bigger power supply (comes with a walwart supply) cure this?
So is the Rega FONO as good as, say, the Lehmann Black Cube? Given some of the reviews I've read, I'm of the impression that it isn't. However, for the list price of $400CDN ($250US), it is competitive with the Rotel, NAD, Parasound, Creek range of phono preamps. In my opinion (subjective), it sounds better but I think the Creek unit looks better. The dealer has asked me a couple of times how I like my unit and is willing to trade (at value I paid for the unit) if I didn't like the Rega FONO. I like the music so I think I'll keep it.

Product Weakness: Seems to lack power for huge dynamic swings and compresses the signal a bit. Ruthlessly revealing of bad recordings.
Product Strengths: Good detail, imaging, pace for the money.

Associated Equipment for this Review:
Amplifier:	YBA Integre DT
Preamplifier (or None if Integrated):	None
Sources (CDP/Turntable):	Ariston RD-80, Grado Prestige Silver
Speakers:	Mordaunt Short MS100Gold
Cables/Interconnects:	Vanden Hul
Music Used (Genre/Selections):	All sorts
Time Period/Length of Audition:	6 months
Other (Power Conditioner etc.):	Adcom ACE515 Power conditioner
Type of Audition/Review:	Product Owner

Product Weakness:	Seems to lack power for huge dynamic swings and compresses the signal a bit. Ruthlessly revealing of bad recordings.
Product Strengths:	Good detail, imaging, pace for the money.