Following the MM PRO phono stage, designed to work with moving magnet (MM) cartridges, the British company Classic Audio introduced in the PRO series the compact MC PRO phono stage , oriented, as the name suggests, to work with moving coil (MC) cartridges. The novelty is also author’s – the full name includes the name of the developer – Classic Audio MC PRO by Michael Fidler .
In the words of Michael Fiedler himself, “Despite the much lower input level, the MC PRO phono stage delivers noise levels even lower than those of the best MM stages. To achieve this, it is required to design a sufficiently quiet input amplifier .
Like the MM PRO, the MC PRO is handcrafted in Kent, England and uses the most advanced Classic Audio technology. The input stages are hybrid, combining discrete bipolar transistors with ultra-low noise integrated circuit op-amps.
Michael Fiedler also notes that conventional MM/MC combo phono stages degrade the noise level of MC drivers by effectively using an additional MC amplification stage before the MM input. That is, the noise of both pre-amplifier stages are summed. The MC PRO’s pre-amplification stage, specifically designed for use with Moving Coil (MC) heads, provides a signal-to-noise ratio of up to 81 dB at an input signal of 0.5 mV.
The RIAA equalization accuracy is 0.1 dB, which is significantly lower than the usual 0.5 dB error for MC equalizers – as a result, it is possible to achieve a lack of coloration and a balanced sound in the midrange. The phono stage is equipped with a third-order infra-low frequency filter tuned to a frequency of 23 Hz, which makes it possible to attenuate vibrations with a frequency of 10 Hz and below by 14 times. Three-stage gain distribution provides less than 0.0005% distortion. The Classic Audio MC PRO phono stage uses an external linear power supply with a voltage of 9 V. The switching arsenal includes both unbalanced on RCA connectors and balanced on XLR outputs.
The Classic Audio MC PRO by Michael Fidler MC Phono Stage is now available to order directly from the Classic Audio website for a suggested retail price of $850 or £650 or €750. The price includes delivery to any country in the world where the company is represented. Today, Classic Audio supplies its products directly to customers in the US, EU, Australia and India.
Classic Audio MC PRO by Michael Fidler phono stage specifications:
- RIAA accuracy: ±0.1 dB, 40 Hz to 22 kHz
- Channel balance: ±0.1 dB, 40 Hz to 22 kHz
- Signal-to-noise ratio (220 Hz to 22 kHz): 81.5 dB, 500 μV reference, 10 ohm cartridge impedance
- THD: <0.0005%, 20 Hz to 22 kHz, at 21 V RMS
- Maximum output voltage (20Hz to 28kHz): 21V RMS (XLR) or 10.5V RMS (RCA)
- Maximum output voltage at 1 kHz: 7.3 mV RMS at 63 dB, 2.3 mV RMS at 73 dB gain
- Maximum input voltage at 10 kHz: 35 mV RMS at 63 dB
- Minimum load resistance: 1 kΩ (RCA), 2 kΩ (XLR)
- Output impedance: 75 ohm (RCA), 150 ohm (XLR)
- Input impedance: 120 ohm
- Subsonic filter: 23 Hz, 3rd order, for -23 dB at 10 Hz
- Dimensions (W x H x D): 172 x 60 x 155 mm