What it is
Three valves: 3× 13D16 triodes by default (audio dual-triode developed for this product); ECC83 fitment available on request. Two x10 step-up transformers for MC mode. Cathode-follower output stage. Single-ended RCA in/out. Earthing post. Switch button on rear selects MM (out) / MC (in). Cambridgeshire UK production continues at EAR Yoshino facility.
Review evidence: HFN (Ken Kessler) "if you want a small, well-built tube phono stage that just gets out of the way of the music, you can stop looking". HFN editor Paul Miller bench measurements: +48.8dB MM, +68.5dB MC. Stereophile and Bob Reina's historical 834P review carries partial relevance: similar topology, similar character ("openness, scale, three-dimensionality... sweetest bass... vocals s-i-g-h-h-h"). New HFN review for PhonoBox itself takes precedence on character description.
Compatibility — same as predecessor: MC SUT impedance suits 5-50Ω MCs (Hana ML/SL, Dynavector, Sumiko Songbird/Pearwood, ATR MC carts, lower-impedance EMT/Lyra/Cadenza Black). Very-low impedance (<5Ω: Koetsu Rosewood, Ortofon SPU, Audio Note Io) may benefit from external SUT bypassing the internal one. Output impedance suitable for ≥10kΩ preamp inputs and modest cable runs.
Who it comes up against
14 lost · Anchored, Artisan, BBC Sound, Cavity-Native, Characterful, Intimate, PRaT, Reference, Romantic
Against the Intimate brief, the Naim NVC TT MM/MC keeps the slot clearly.
With the van den Hul The Frog, the pairing gives up most on midrange truth.
On its own merits the EAR Yoshino PhonoBox MM/MC is the stronger phono stage — but it loses here on fit: the pairing with the van den Hul The Frog gives up midrange truth under the Intimate weighting.
It sits well below the share of the budget this brief aims at the phono stage position.
Tim de Paravicini-designed valve phono classicEAR Yoshino 834P + Stereophile multi-decade heritage
13 lost· 1 won · Anchored, Artisan, BBC Sound, Cavity-Native, Characterful, Intimate, PRaT, Reference, Romantic, Silent Path
Against the Anchored brief, the Rega Aria Mk3 MM/MC keeps the slot clearly.
With the van den Hul The Frog, the pairing gives up most on spatial detail.
With the NVA P50SA MKII, the pairing gives up most on depth of bass.
On its own merits the EAR Yoshino PhonoBox MM/MC is the stronger phono stage — but it loses here on fit: the pairing with the van den Hul The Frog gives up spatial detail under the Anchored weighting.
openness, scale and three-dimensionalityHi-Fi News (Kessler), 2020 (PhonoBox)
7 lost· 1 won · Anchored, Characterful, PRaT, Romantic
Against the Anchored brief, the EAR Yoshino PhonoBox MM/MC takes the slot clearly.
With the van den Hul The Frog, the pairing gains most on quietness at rest.
With the Audiolab 9000Q, the pairing gives up most on depth of bass.
On its own merits the EAR Yoshino PhonoBox MM/MC is the stronger phono stage for that brief.
a whole level of refinement above the 834P for its quietnessHi-Fi News (Kessler), 2020 (PhonoBox)
7 lost · BBC Sound, Cavity-Native, Intimate, Reference
Against the Intimate brief, the Rega Aura Reference MC keeps the slot decisively.
With the van den Hul The Crimson, the pairing gives up most on midrange truth.
With the EAR Yoshino 868L (Line), the pairing gives up most on low-level clarity.
On its own merits the EAR Yoshino PhonoBox MM/MC is the stronger phono stage — but it loses here on fit: the pairing with the van den Hul The Crimson gives up midrange truth under the Intimate weighting.
Tim de Paravicini-designed valve phono classicEAR Yoshino 834P + Stereophile multi-decade heritage
3 lost · Vocals-First
Against the Vocals-First brief, the Tom Evans Groove+ SRX MkII keeps the slot decisively.
With the Etsuro Urushi Gold MC, the pairing gives up most on midrange truth.
On its own merits the EAR Yoshino PhonoBox MM/MC is the weaker phono stage for that brief.
It sits well below the share of the budget this brief aims at the phono stage position.
Tim de Paravicini-designed valve phono classicEAR Yoshino 834P + Stereophile multi-decade heritage
3 lost · Artisan, Reference
Against the Artisan brief, the EAR Yoshino 88PB MM/MC keeps the slot decisively.
With the van den Hul The Colibri, the pairing gives up most on spatial detail.
With the Audiolab 9000Q, the pairing gives up most on tonal body.
On its own merits the EAR Yoshino PhonoBox MM/MC is the stronger phono stage — but it loses here on fit: the pairing with the van den Hul The Colibri gives up spatial detail under the Artisan weighting.
openness, scale and three-dimensionalityHi-Fi News (Kessler), 2020 (PhonoBox)
valve warmth + classic Tim de Paravicini voicingEAR 834P + multi-source listening reviews
2 lost · Silent Path
Against the Silent Path brief, the Whest Audio 60Se Pro keeps the slot decisively.
With the Goldring Eroica HX MC, the pairing gives up most on quietness at rest.
On its own merits the EAR Yoshino PhonoBox MM/MC is the stronger phono stage — but it loses here on fit: the pairing with the Goldring Eroica HX MC gives up quietness at rest under the Silent Path weighting.
It sits well below the share of the budget this brief aims at the phono stage position.
a whole level of refinement above the 834P for its quietnessHi-Fi News (Kessler), 2020 (PhonoBox)
2 lost · Vocals-First
Against the Vocals-First brief, the Cyrus Classic PHONO keeps the slot decisively.
With the Etsuro Urushi Cobalt Blue MC, the pairing gives up most on midrange truth.
On its own merits the EAR Yoshino PhonoBox MM/MC is the stronger phono stage — but it loses here on fit: the pairing with the Etsuro Urushi Cobalt Blue MC gives up midrange truth under the Vocals-First weighting.
Tim de Paravicini-designed valve phono classicEAR Yoshino 834P + Stereophile multi-decade heritage
1 lost · Silent Path
Against the Silent Path brief, the Whest Audio TITAN Pro II keeps the slot decisively.
With the Goldring Eroica HX MC, the pairing gives up most on quietness at rest.
On its own merits the EAR Yoshino PhonoBox MM/MC is the stronger phono stage — but it loses here on fit: the pairing with the Goldring Eroica HX MC gives up quietness at rest under the Silent Path weighting.
It sits well below the share of the budget this brief aims at the phono stage position.
a whole level of refinement above the 834P for its quietnessHi-Fi News (Kessler), 2020 (PhonoBox)
1 lost · Silent Path
Against the Silent Path brief, the Michell Apollo + Muse PSU keeps the slot decisively.
With the Goldring Eroica HX MC, the pairing gives up most on quietness at rest.
On its own merits the EAR Yoshino PhonoBox MM/MC is the stronger phono stage — but it loses here on fit: the pairing with the Goldring Eroica HX MC gives up quietness at rest under the Silent Path weighting.
It sits well below the share of the budget this brief aims at the phono stage position.
a whole level of refinement above the 834P for its quietnessHi-Fi News (Kessler), 2020 (PhonoBox)