Phonostages — Keces Audio Ephono+

The Ephono+ is a phono preamplifier from Keces Audio, built as a two-chassis design with a separate power supply and switchable gain settings. The physical separation of power supply from signal path is a deliberate design choice common among more serious phono stages, intended to keep mains-derived noise as far as possible from the delicate low-level signal a phono cartridge produces.

Key specs that matter

Two single-ended inputs are provided. MM impedance is 47 kOhm with switchable 40/46/52 dB gain; MC impedance is switchable across 56/100/22 ohms with 60/66/72 dB gain, an unusually comprehensive set of options covering both cartridge families with meaningful headroom in either direction. Distortion is under 0.004% for MM and under 0.03% for MC, both strong figures, with the moving-magnet path measuring noticeably cleaner than the moving-coil path, a common pattern given the higher gain the latter requires. The unit ships as a 2 kg main chassis plus a 3 kg external power supply, together weighing more than many single-box competitors despite the modest individual component sizes.

Sound and use context

Expect a clean, low-distortion presentation for moving-magnet operation, with the switchable gain and impedance settings covering a range of moving-coil cartridges too - the breadth of switchable options here means a single unit can realistically serve a household through several different cartridge upgrades over time without needing replacement.

Pairing

The switchable MM and MC settings cover most cartridges directly without needing a separate step-up device, a genuine convenience for anyone who anticipates changing cartridges more than once.

Alternatives

Keces Audio's broader electronics range includes DACs and amplifiers for a system built around the same brand, worth considering for anyone who values a consistent design philosophy and support experience across their whole signal chain. Because the power supply is physically separate from the signal-handling chassis, cable routing between the two boxes deserves a little planning, ideally keeping the connecting lead short and away from other mains cabling to preserve the isolation benefit the two-chassis design is meant to deliver in the first place. Buyers who already own a step-up transformer for a very low output cartridge should check whether Keces Audio's own switchable MC gain settings remove the need for that separate box entirely, since 72 dB of gain is enough for all but the most extreme low-output designs.