Phono stage
well below typical
Among the 44 phono stages in the catalogue, this one is well below 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.
Linear Systems LSK389 dual JFET front end (signature Rega low-noise topology shared with Aria / Aura). MUSE op-amp in RIAA stage; polypropylene caps in signal and EQ paths.
Mk4 update aligned aluminium case with Neo Mk2 PSU and Fono MM Mk5; circuit derives from Aria phono development work.
Compliant with MC-only constraint for upper tiers — gain range and loading adjustability sufficient for most low-output MCs.
Assessed against 10 rivals across the sixty systems: it takes the slot in none of its 55 head-to-heads.
The dimension the engine names as the weakest link, counted across every head-to-head it lost.
14 lost · 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 decisively.
With the van den Hul The Frog, the pairing gives up most on bass weight.
On its own merits the Rega Fono MC Mk4 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.
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 decisively.
With the van den Hul The Frog, the pairing gives up most on rhythmic grip.
With the NVA P50SA MKII, the pairing gains most on tonal body.
On its own merits the Rega Fono MC Mk4 is the weaker phono stage for that brief.
bass full of texture and shapeThe Ear (Kennedy) 2017 (orig Fono MC)
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 bass weight.
With the Audiolab 9000Q, the pairing gives up most on quietness at rest.
On its own merits the Rega Fono MC Mk4 is the weaker phono stage for that brief.
dual-monoMusical Fidelity M8x Vinyl press record
7 lost · BBC Sound, Cavity-Native, Intimate, Reference
Against the Intimate brief, the Rega Aura Reference MC keeps the slot clearly.
With the van den Hul The Crimson, the pairing gives up most on rhythmic grip.
On its own merits the Rega Fono MC Mk4 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.
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 Rega Fono MC Mk4 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.
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 quietness at rest.
With the Audiolab 9000Q, the pairing gives up most on quietness at rest.
On its own merits the Rega Fono MC Mk4 is the weaker phono stage for that brief.
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 low-level clarity.
On its own merits the Rega Fono MC Mk4 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.
plenty of gain... virtually no noiseThe Ear (Kennedy) 2017 (orig Fono MC)
2 lost · Vocals-First
Against the Vocals-First brief, the Cyrus Classic PHONO keeps the slot by a whisker.
On its own merits the Rega Fono MC Mk4 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.
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 low-level clarity.
On its own merits the Rega Fono MC Mk4 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.
plenty of gain... virtually no noiseThe Ear (Kennedy) 2017 (orig Fono MC)
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 low-level clarity.
With the Audiolab 9000Q, the pairing gives up most on quietness at rest.
On its own merits the Rega Fono MC Mk4 is the weaker phono stage for that brief.
plenty of gain... virtually no noiseThe Ear (Kennedy) 2017 (orig Fono MC)
entry Rega MC phono, Award-winning Rega Fono MC Mk4 + What HiFi reviews· Timing precision
dynamic impact, good speed, musicality The Ear (Kennedy) 2017 (orig Fono MC)· Presence & articulation
bass full of texture and shape The Ear (Kennedy) 2017 (orig Fono MC)· Tonal body
plenty of gain... virtually no noise The Ear (Kennedy) 2017 (orig Fono MC)· Low-level noise floor
RIAA tracking within +/-0.2dB SPEC: RIAA accuracy +/-0.2dB (manufacturer)· Tonal body
| mm capable | False |
|---|---|
| mc capable | True |
| mc gain db | 63.5/69.5 |
| mc load resistance options ohm | 70/100/150/400 |
| mc load capacitance options pf | 1000/4300 |
| riaa accuracy db | 0.2 |
| input overload mv | 6.7/3.4 |
| output level mv | 200 |
| output impedance ohm | 200 |
| balanced output | False |
| psu external | True |
| psu options | Rega PS1 (included); not user-upgradeable |
| notes |