What it is
NEW ENTRY (2026-05-12) per Tier 1 currency audit. Audio Note (UK) M6 Phono — Level 4 phono preamplifier, one tier above M3 Phono (also added in this update). Hand-built Hove, East Sussex. Per Audio Note UK: "The M6 Phono Pre Amplifier features an ECC82 and 7044 equipped line stage and uses a 6X5 valve-rectified power supply based on the M10 Galahad PSU. Audio Note (UK) Silver wiring, one Watt AN(UK) Tantalum resistors, our own custom electrolytic capacitors and Audio Note (UK) copper foil signal capacitors are used throughout the circuit, along with in-house designed and manufactured, custom Audio Note (UK) output transformers, which feature a UHiB c-core, copper primary and a silver secondary."
Recognition: Positive Feedback 2024 full review: "The M6 provided an extraordinary amount of inner detail, longer decay of notes, more evident timbral textures with more timbral realism, and revealed even more harmonic sophistication". Jeff's Place comparative walkthrough M3 vs M6 concludes the M3 is "extraordinary" but the M6 raises both resolution and bloom. Audio T positions M6 as the "Level Four" flagship of the M3-M8 family.
CRITICAL PARTNER: M6 Phono is the natural M-series tier match for Audio Note Ginrei (Level 4 monoblocks, also added in this update). M3 Phono → Conqueror Silver Signature / P4 Balanced Tonmeister (both Level 3) is one reference vinyl chain; M6 Phono → Ginrei (both Level 4) is the next tier above. In cavity-constrained context: NO cavity-eligible speaker meets the 90dB+ sensitivity requirement of the AN UK SET amp range — architectural tension unresolved.
Who it comes up against
10 lost · Anchored, Artisan, Cavity-Native, Characterful, PRaT, Reference, Romantic, Silent Path
Against the Silent Path brief, the Music First Audio Baby Reference V2 keeps the slot decisively.
With the Audio Note P1 SE, the pairing gives up most on quietness at rest.
With the Whest Audio 60Se Pro, the pairing gives up most on quietness at rest.
On its own merits the Audio Note M6 Phono is the stronger preamplifier — but it loses here on fit: the pairing with the Audio Note P1 SE gives up quietness at rest under the Silent Path weighting.
had not heard a better preampStereophile (Art Dudley) — Baby Reference V1 review
had not heard a better preampStereophile (Art Dudley) — Baby Reference V1 review
6 lost · Anchored, Artisan, Characterful, PRaT, Reference, Romantic
Against the Anchored brief, the Audiolab 9000Q keeps the slot decisively.
With the Musical Fidelity M8x Vinyl, the pairing gives up most on quietness at rest.
With the Longdog Audio P6100M Biamp 2x2 (4 units), the pairing gives up most on quietness at rest.
On its own merits the Audio Note M6 Phono is the weaker preamplifier for that brief.
S/N exceeding 112dB A-weighted, THD <0.002%Audiolab 9000P/Q HomeTheaterReview specs + Audio Tailor review
S/N exceeding 112dB A-weighted, THD <0.002%Audiolab 9000P/Q HomeTheaterReview specs + Audio Tailor review
4 lost · Cavity-Native, Characterful, Romantic
Against the Cavity-Native brief, the Leema Neutron keeps the slot decisively.
With the Leema Hydra II, the pairing gives up most on vocal presence.
With the Rega Aura Reference MC, the pairing gives up most on quietness at rest.
On its own merits the Audio Note M6 Phono is the stronger preamplifier — but it loses here on fit: the pairing with the Leema Hydra II gives up vocal presence under the Cavity-Native weighting.
2 lost · Intimate
Against the Intimate brief, the EAR Yoshino 868L (Line) keeps the slot decisively.
With the EAR Yoshino 890, the pairing gives up most on midrange truth.
With the Rega Aura Reference MC, the pairing gives up most on low-level clarity.
On its own merits the Audio Note M6 Phono is the stronger preamplifier — but it loses here on fit: the pairing with the EAR Yoshino 890 gives up midrange truth under the Intimate weighting.
lower detection level with greater resolutionPositive Feedback (Day) 2024
timbral textures with... harmonic sophisticationPositive Feedback (Day) 2024
2 lost · Anchored, PRaT
Against the Anchored brief, the NVA P50SA MKII keeps the slot decisively.
With the Longdog Audio P6100M Biamp 2x2 (4 units), the pairing gives up most on quietness at rest.
With the Naim NVC TT MM/MC, the pairing gives up most on quietness at rest.
On its own merits the Audio Note M6 Phono is the stronger preamplifier — but it loses here on fit: the pairing with the Longdog Audio P6100M Biamp 2x2 (4 units) gives up quietness at rest under the Anchored weighting.
pin sharp clarityNVA owner consensus (P50SA)
pin sharp clarityNVA owner consensus (P50SA)
2 lost · Artisan, Reference
Against the Artisan brief, the Exposure 3510 Preamplifier keeps the slot decisively.
With the Exposure XM9 Biamp 2x2 (4 units), the pairing gives up most on quietness at rest.
On its own merits the Audio Note M6 Phono is the stronger preamplifier — but it loses here on fit: the pairing with the Exposure XM9 Biamp 2x2 (4 units) gives up quietness at rest under the Artisan weighting.
It sits well above the share of the budget this brief aims at the preamplifier position.
1 lost · Intimate
Against the Intimate brief, the Audio Note M2 Phono keeps the slot clearly.
With the Audio Note P1 SE, the pairing gives up most on low-level clarity.
On its own merits the Audio Note M6 Phono is the stronger preamplifier — but it loses here on fit: the pairing with the Audio Note P1 SE gives up low-level clarity under the Intimate weighting.
It sits well above the share of the budget this brief aims at the preamplifier position.
lower detection level with greater resolutionPositive Feedback (Day) 2024