RCM Audio theRIAA MkII Phono Stage

There is a downside to RCM’s theRIAA MkII as there was in the original, and the clue is in the name. If you’re clamouring after Decca and Columbia EQ curves, this isn’t the phono stage for you. That’s it!

In all honesty, reviewing something, you know this well is a double-edged sword. I’ve used theRIAA for the best part of a decade, and in its MkII guise, I’ll probably use it for about the same again. Yes, there are some truly lovely sounding phono stages out there, but this one I know backwards and value it for its absolute faithfulness to the intention of both cartridge designer and most importantly, the recording. It exposes the differences – and similarities – between cartidges. But perhaps, more importantly, it can get past the artifice of audio and bring you closer to the music itself. And that is the goal of all right audio equipment, after all.

TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS

• Input Sensitivity: 0.2-5mV (adjustable)
• Gain: 52–76dB (2Vrms output)
• Input impedance: 20ohm–47kohm
• Input capacitance: 100pF
• Input mode: balanced/unbalanced
• Input: RCA
• THD: 0.01%
• Signal to noise ratio: 85dB
• RIAA linearity: ±0.1dB (20Hz–20kHz)
• Output impedance: 70ohm
• Output level: 2Vrms (nominal),
  9Vrms (max)
• Dimensions: 44 × 26.5 × 12cm (preamp), 20.5 × 27 × 10.5 (PSU)
• Weight: 13.5kg
• Price: £13,500

Manufactured by: RCM Audio

URL: rcmaudio.pl

Distributed by: Fi Audio

URL: fiaudio.co.uk 

Tel: +44(0)1563 574185

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