Фонокорректоры — Sugden Audio A21SE STAGE TWO

The Sugden A21SE Stage Two is a compact phono preamp by the English firm Sugden Audio, built as a two-box unit that handles MM or MC cartridges. It was designed as the vinyl companion to the A21SE family and uses a mains-powered external supply that sits in its own small case.

Key specs that matter

Input sensitivity is 3.0 mV in moving magnet mode and 0.15 mV for moving coil. The MM input uses a fixed 47 kohm load, while MC loading can be set internally to either 100 or 470 ohm. The choice between MM and MC gain is also made inside the unit. Output is a fixed line-level signal, so volume is handled by the amplifier that follows it. Frequency response is 20 Hz to 20 kHz within 1.5 dB, with noise at least 64 dB below signal. The amplifier case measures 60 x 140 x 77 mm (height, width, depth), the separate power supply is 50 x 140 x 77 mm, and the packed weight of the pair is 2 kg. A screw-type ground post takes the ground lead from the turntable.

Engineering and use context

Splitting the audio circuit from the transformer and rectification keeps electrical noise from the supply away from the delicate phono signal, which matters at the very low voltages a moving coil cartridge produces. The input stage is a low-noise, low-distortion instrumentation amplifier, and current feedback circuitry is used to reach wide bandwidth and good response to transients. Because gain and loading are selected on internal settings, the unit is best configured once for the cartridge in use rather than changed often. Sugden notes that the Stage Two needs its own mains supply and cannot be powered from the LTVS unit used elsewhere in the A21SE range. The narrow footprint lets both boxes fit next to a record deck or tuck behind other components. Placing the supply box a little away from the amplifier box further reduces the chance of hum pickup from its transformer.

Pairing

Any amplifier with a spare line input can take the fixed output, and the Sugden A21SE integrated, which lacks internal phono circuitry, is the natural host. The two MC load values suit most low-output moving coil cartridges, while standard moving magnet designs connect straight to the 47 kohm setting. Short, well shielded interconnects between turntable and phono box help keep hum low.

Alternatives

The Sugden Masterclass PA-4 is a larger phono amplifier from the brand, with two MC inputs, one MM input and two line outputs.