British audio manufacturer Audiolab has announced the PPA7, a multifunctional phono preamplifier that marks the brand’s first standalone product of its kind in almost two decades. The new model is designed for turntables equipped with moving magnet (MM) and moving coil (MC) cartridges. In addition to phono amplification, the compact unit integrates a headphone amplifier, a Bluetooth transmitter, and an analog-to-digital converter, allowing users to digitize their vinyl records on a computer.
The Audiolab PPA7 features separate RCA inputs for MM and MC cartridges, along with stereo RCA outputs offering selectable fixed or variable output levels. This allows the unit to be connected to integrated amplifiers, active speakers, or directly to a power amplifier. For MM cartridges, the input capacitance can be set to 100 or 220 pF with an input impedance of 47 kΩ, while MC cartridges benefit from selectable loading options of 100 or 330 ohms. Maximum gain reaches 52 dB for MM and 66 dB for MC, with additional adjustment available within a ±6 dB range.
For wired headphone listening, the PPA7 incorporates a dedicated headphone amplifier delivering up to 600 mW of output power through a 6.35 mm jack, supporting headphones with impedances ranging from 20 to 600 ohms. A Bluetooth 5.3 transmitter with aptX HD support enables wireless audio transmission to compatible headphones and speakers. Another key feature of the Audiolab PPA7 is its vinyl digitization capability via USB-C, supporting audio resolutions of up to 24-bit/192 kHz. When recording to a Windows or macOS computer, users can adjust the digital output level from −12 to +3 dB.
The new phono preamplifier is housed in an aluminum chassis measuring 208 × 56 × 180 mm and features a 33 mm monochrome OLED display, two rotary controls, and a remote control. The rear panel also includes a USB-A port for firmware updates and 12V trigger connections for integration with other audio components. The analog stages are powered by a regulated dual-rail ±8.5V supply. The Audiolab PPA7 is expected to go on sale in the UK in late October 2026, with a recommended retail price of £499.
