Leema Agena Reference MM/MC

Phono stage

Relative price

above typical

Among the 44 phono stages in the catalogue, this one is above typical.

A band places a component against its peers and carries no price. It is deliberately the only price indicator on this page: a second one, measured against a different set, would narrow the two together far enough to give the figure away.

What it is

Welsh-built reference. Designed by Lee Taylor & Mallory Nicholls (ex-BBC engineers, Leema co-founders). Two physical inputs each with two stored cartridge profiles → up to 4 active arms/carts; six total presets in memory.

Switching matrix uses 30 switches (15 per channel) on baseplate of related Elements Ultra — Agena uses front-panel button-driven config with display.

Competition record

Assessed against 10 rivals across the sixty systems: it takes the slot in none of its 48 head-to-heads.

Where it gives ground

The dimension the engine names as the weakest link, counted across every head-to-head it lost.

quietness at rest ×34
low-level clarity ×15

Who it comes up against

Naim NVC TT MM/MC

16 lost · Anchored, Artisan, BBC Sound, Cavity-Native, Characterful, Intimate, PRaT, Reference, Romantic, Twin Arms

Against the Twin Arms brief, the Naim NVC TT MM/MC keeps the slot decisively.

On its own merits the Leema Agena Reference MM/MC is the weaker phono stage for that brief.

Musical Fidelity M8x Vinyl

8 lost · Anchored, Characterful, PRaT, Romantic

Against the Anchored brief, the Musical Fidelity M8x Vinyl keeps the slot decisively.

With the van den Hul The Frog, the pairing gives up most on quietness at rest.

With the Audiolab 9000Q, the pairing gives up most on quietness at rest.

On its own merits the Leema Agena Reference MM/MC is the weaker phono stage for that brief.

Rega Aura Reference MC

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 low-level clarity.

With the EAR Yoshino 868L (Line), the pairing gives up most on low-level clarity.

On its own merits the Leema Agena Reference MM/MC is the weaker phono stage for that brief.

Rega Aria Mk3 MM/MC

5 lost · Anchored, Characterful, PRaT, Romantic, Twin Arms

Against the Anchored brief, the Rega Aria Mk3 MM/MC keeps the slot decisively.

With the van den Hul The Frog, the pairing gives up most on quietness at rest.

On its own merits the Leema Agena Reference MM/MC is the weaker phono stage for that brief.

It sits well above the share of the budget this brief aims at the phono stage position.

EAR Yoshino 88PB MM/MC

4 lost · Artisan, Reference, Twin Arms

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 quietness at rest.

With the Audiolab 9000Q, the pairing gives up most on quietness at rest.

On its own merits the Leema Agena Reference MM/MC is the weaker phono stage for that brief.

Tom Evans Groove+ SRX MkII

3 lost · Vocals-First

Against the Vocals-First brief, the Tom Evans Groove+ SRX MkII keeps the slot by a whisker.

On its own merits the Leema Agena Reference MM/MC is the weaker phono stage for that brief.

Whest Audio 60Se Pro

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 Leema Agena Reference 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.

Whest Audio TITAN Pro II

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 Leema Agena Reference 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.

Cyrus Classic PHONO

1 lost · Vocals-First

Against the Vocals-First brief, the Cyrus Classic PHONO keeps the slot by a whisker.

On its own merits the Leema Agena Reference MM/MC is the weaker phono stage for that brief.

It sits well above the share of the budget this brief aims at the phono stage position.

Michell Apollo + Muse PSU

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.

With the Audiolab 9000Q, the pairing gives up most on quietness at rest.

On its own merits the Leema Agena Reference MM/MC is the weaker phono stage for that brief.

What the reviewers said

How it scores

Clarity

Electrical noise floor 72 from listening evidence

Voice

Presence & articulation 72 from listening evidence

LowerVolume

Micro-dynamic resolution 74 from listening evidence

Specifications

mm capable	True
mc capable	True
mm gain db	36/42/44
mc gain db	48/54/56/60/61/64/65
mm load resistance kohm	47/100
mm load capacitance pf	100
mc load resistance options ohm	20/50/100/500/1000
mc load capacitance options pf	100/250/430/580/1100/1250/1430/1580
rumble filter	True
output level mv	250
output impedance ohm	100
balanced output	True
dimensions mm	560/210/450
weight kg	12.0
psu external	False
notes