Previously only possible with the Elevator EXP/Reflex M phono stage preamp combo, the Reflex C phono stage preamp brings that missing excitement to moving coil cartridge listening, revealing the secrets hidden in your vinyl - as well as great dynamics, delicacy and just the right amount of warmth. The soundstage is simply spellbinding!

"a good upgrade from the best of the currently available sub-$1,000 preamps like the Dynavector DV-75. It's good enough to pip the WhestTWO and even go head to head with the much more expensive Plinius Koru without embarrassment. A superb product, worthy of audition if you are in the market for a high end phono stage."

Michael Wong, AudioEnz (New Zealand)

Ultra Linear!

It does what valves (tubes) did so well, but couldn't do with moving coil because of valve noise - the best sounding valve gear was ultra-linear, and we've made ultra-linear possible with low noise in solid state.

Innovative

Imagine a tube/valve solution for moving coil phono stage pre-amplification? If only! Unfortunately tubes/valves don't have the open-loop gain and are too noisy to do moving coil pre-amplification unless you also use a step-up transformer (or even better, the Elevator EXP flat gain step-up stage). But now, with the Reflex C phono stage preamp you can get the sound you're searching for - yes, that illusive tube/valve linearity from solid state!

But how? Conventional solid state moving coil phono stage preamps have poor open-loop bandwidth which means their open-loop response is only a few tens of hertz (see plot). Negative feedback straightens their response out but obviously it has to make a 45 degree slope into a horizontal line - in doing so it introduces much phase modulation.

The Reflex C phono stage preamp has more than ten times the open-loop bandwidth which means, for the same amount of negative feedback there is an over tenfold reduction in phase modulation. It has been known for several years that tubes/valves have this property (albeit at much lower gain) but there wasn't the technology available to replicate it in solid state, and at the required gain. Now there is!

For the 2010/2011 season, the Reflex C phono stage preamp is offered with a universal-voltage energy-efficient mains plug mounted power supply option. The PSU1 linear power supply option offering an even more dynamic feel is also available.

Click here for the moving magnet version