Phono stage
typical
Among the 44 phono stages in the catalogue, this one is 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.
Dual-mono Class A. MC stage = Class A current feedback. MM stage = Class A voltage feedback with RIAA in NFB loop. DC servos enable direct coupling input-to-output.
"Current shunt" PSU design with custom voltage regulator.
Hand-built in Yorkshire by single technician. Two MC inputs (factory-set to 100Ω + 470Ω) plus one MM = three turntable/cartridge combinations simultaneously connected.
Assessed against 6 rivals across the sixty systems: it takes the slot in none of its 30 head-to-heads.
The dimension the engine names as the weakest link, counted across every head-to-head it lost.
8 lost · Anchored, BBC Sound, Characterful, Intimate, Romantic
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.
With the NVA P50SA MKII, the pairing gives up most on depth of bass.
On its own merits the Sugden Masterclass PA-4 MM/MC is the weaker phono stage for that brief.
rich, natural bodyPROXY: Sugden Class A house
7 lost · Anchored, BBC Sound, Characterful, Intimate, 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.
On its own merits the Sugden Masterclass PA-4 MM/MC is the weaker phono stage for that brief.
low noisePROXY: Sugden Class A house
6 lost · Anchored, Characterful, Romantic
Against the Anchored brief, the Musical Fidelity M8x Vinyl keeps the slot clearly.
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 depth of bass.
On its own merits the Sugden Masterclass PA-4 MM/MC is the weaker phono stage for that brief.
dual-monoMusical Fidelity M8x Vinyl press record
4 lost · BBC Sound, Intimate
Against the Intimate brief, the Rega Aura Reference MC keeps the slot clearly.
With the EAR Yoshino 868L (Line), the pairing gives up most on low-level clarity.
On its own merits the Sugden Masterclass PA-4 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.
low noisePROXY: Sugden Class A house
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 Sugden Masterclass PA-4 MM/MC is the weaker phono stage for that brief.
2 lost · Vocals-First
Against the Vocals-First brief, the Cyrus Classic PHONO keeps the slot by a whisker.
On its own merits the Sugden Masterclass PA-4 MM/MC is the weaker phono stage for that brief.
rich, natural bodyPROXY: Sugden Class A house
Sugden Class A phono stage with discrete circuitry Sugden Masterclass PA-4 + Hi-Fi News· Harmonic texture
sweet musicality PROXY: Sugden Masterclass Class A house· Harmonic texture
rich, natural body PROXY: Sugden Class A house· Tonal body
low noise PROXY: Sugden Class A house· Low-level noise floor
RIAA tracking within +/-0.3dB SPEC: RIAA accuracy +/-0.3dB (manufacturer)· Tonal body
| mm capable | True |
|---|---|
| mc capable | True |
| mm gain db | 40 |
| mc gain db | 67 |
| mm load resistance kohm | 47 |
| mm load capacitance pf | 100 |
| mc load resistance options ohm | 100/470 |
| riaa accuracy db | 0.3 |
| snr db | 70 |
| output level mv | 360 |
| output impedance ohm | 600 |
| balanced output | False |
| dimensions mm | 430/110/330 |
| weight kg | 6.0 |
| psu external | False |
| notes |