iFi ZEN Air Phono - High Resolution External Turntable Preamplifier

I bought iFi ZEN Air Phono to replace Rega Fono Mini A2D. They are both high quality pre-amps from audiophile brands in budget friendly price bracket. I didn't find many comparisons online between them so I decided to write this review. Also there aren't many reviews on ZEN Phono Air. ZEN Phono model has more reviews which in general are favourable. Rega Fono Mini A2D has been What Hi-Fi? recommendation for years, that's what affected in my decision to get Rega few years ago. Sound profiles in these pre-amps are completely different. Rega sounds very warm and bass heavy, sound signature is more analogue. Bass sounds almost too boomy in certain records and makes rest of the details in music hard to hear. ZEN Air Phono is much brighter, clearer and detailed, more analytical. Bass is controlled, not overpowering. I assume this depends which you prefer and what is your setup. For my setup, B&O Beogram RX2 turntable and rebuilt MMC4 cartridge, Air Phono is much better. ZEN AIR Phono design is more modern and looks much better. It is bigger in size though. Rega is just plain metal box. ZEN is something you could leave for display as part of your setup, Rega is something you want to hide behind a cabinet. I found grounding cable hard to attach to Rega, you might need screwdriver in fact. In ZEN you just attach it back of the panel and use the knob to tighten it in place. Rega has USB connection if you want to transfer your records to digital format. I don't need this functionality but keep this in mind if you want to digitazise your collection. ZEN supports both MC and MM cartridges but I think this would be too budget option for anyone using moving coil cartridge. Nice feature still. ZEN also has subsonic filter which you can turn on or off. Filter is supposed to reduce noise caused by warped records. I found this feature to make sound more muffled when turned on. Might be good if you have really badly warped record and need to use it every now and then. By default I would suggest to turn it off. Purpose of this review isn't to say that Rega is by any means bad option to go for. In my opinion ZEN is just better sounding and also better value for money. ZEN is currently £90 in Amazon, Rega's RRP is £120. Hope this review helps someone to choose between these two pre-amps.

Wow. My AudioTechnica LP3 was doing OK with my Yamaha receiver and Yamaha speakers but a friend suggested upgrading the cartridge and I saw a marginal improvement Then this phono amp had price down to 79 squid pushing me away from other sub 100 squid options. Blown away (metaphorically). Found a compatible mains adapter (not supplied), a spare red/white audio RCA cable. Plugged in, switched deck from line to phono and away I went. Fantastic sound. I cannot describe using hifi expert terms so I will just say that I am hearing much more stuff from records and both low and high frequencies are clearer. I cannot tell it is vinyl. The power lead supplied was just long enough. One extremely small negative - slight delay on start up/switch on of device. PS - Not using ground (deck grounded). No hum anyway.

Iv only tried this preamp out with one album so far. I used the 2018 version of Pink Floyds Animals. Reason being that the new version of this lp is claimed to be like "lifting a veil on the music"...and it is when played on my older full valve preamp. Played on the Ifi I felt like the veil had been pulled back over the music. It seemed to lack any good high end, instead favouring the low end (which sounded great). I think its trying to create a lush warmth to the music, and it does but at the cost of high end, it just seemed much more rolled off. Will try again when the new amp arrives but at the present its not for me.

Replaced a more expensive unit which died after 5 years. Used on an MC cartridge, output is higher than the old unit, which is good. Well packed with detailed specifications which seem almost too good to be true at the price. Needs a USB 1 amp supply (packing contains a large box with just a USB cable inside - obviously space for a power supply). USB cable could be longer as I had to use an extender. As recommended by others I am using a combined USB adapter/power bank which should give a cleaner power supply. So far I am impressed.

Great amp for its price range. Link between my technics and a set of active edifier speakers sound is really good quality

Didn't like it stopped working after 3 months & now involved in tedious support marathon

Does exactly as advertised. Transforms the old, onboard, phono stage on my technics amp. Back to music as it should be. Recommend

I've yet to add to my system, but looks well made. You should be aware that comes with a power cable but no power supply, so will cost more than you first thought. I'm my case another £23 for a power supply from Argos. So not value for money.