Vertere Acoustics Phono-1 LX – Updated Phono Stage With Technology From The Flagship Calon Model

British company Vertere Acoustics has introduced the Phono-1 LX, a new version of its compact phono stage for MM and MC cartridges. The model continues the development of the Phono-1 line, which has been gradually refined over the years without any radical change to its external concept. As before, the device has a fairly understated appearance, while the main changes are hidden inside the chassis.

The Phono-1 remains one of Vertere’s key products in the category of relatively accessible High-End phono stages. Over the past nine years, this platform has gone through several stages of modernization: the original version was followed by the MkII variant in 2019, then the Phono-1 MkII L in 2022, and now the company has brought the Phono-1 LX to market. The manufacturer describes the new modification as the most significant update to the design in the model’s history.

In developing the LX version, Vertere’s engineers used the experience gained from creating the flagship Calon phono stage. This higher-end model is built according to a dual-mono concept and was shown in 2024 at High End Munich. Therefore, the Phono-1 LX can be viewed not as an entirely new product, but as a deeply reworked version of an already established platform, with some solutions transferred from a higher class.

Its predecessor, the Phono-1 MkII L, already offered a fairly substantial set of technical upgrades. It received a gold-plated L-shaped printed circuit board, a revised internal architecture and more convenient access to the DIP switches. In addition, the model retained wide adjustment options for matching different cartridges: ten gain settings, fifteen input impedance settings and nine capacitance settings.

In the Phono-1 LX version, this foundation has been revised even further. The new model features an improved printed circuit board, a modernized internal DC power supply, refined AC input filtering, a new two-position grounding switch, updated chassis and cover elements, as well as the brand’s signature blue-green power indicator.

Vertere places particular emphasis on power quality and noise reduction. The new printed circuit board features a higher-quality gold-plated finish, which is intended to improve connection stability and mounting reliability. According to the developers, the redesigned DC power supply provides cleaner and more stable energy delivery to the phono stage’s sensitive circuits. This is especially important for such a device: the signal from a cartridge is extremely low in level, so any interference, grounding issues or power instability can noticeably affect the final sound.

The filtering system has also been strengthened. A choke is installed at the AC input to suppress high-frequency interference before it enters the circuit. Another choke is placed after the transformer and provides an additional stage of power cleaning before it is fed to the DC circuits. Grounding has also been simplified: the new switch allows users to choose between two modes – ground lift or ground connection, depending on the specifics of a particular audio system.

Externally, the Vertere Phono-1 LX phono stage retains the recognizable minimalist look of the series, but has received a more refined finish. The new cover has a subtle silver metallic texture, while the removal of the four screws from the top panel gives the design a cleaner visual appearance. According to the company, the updates should result in a darker background, improved dynamics, a more precisely formed soundstage and more natural vocal reproduction. The recommended retail price of the Vertere Acoustics Phono-1 LX in Europe is just under €2,000, although exact availability dates have not yet been announced.