The Nano Phono V2 is the smallest phono preamplifier in the Clearaudio electronics range, housed in solid aluminium and suitable for MM as well as MC pickups. Clearaudio makes it in Erlangen, Germany, and also offers the Nano Phono Headphone V2, which is the same stage with a headphone output added at the front. The company stresses that the circuit keeps working quietly even when exposed to outside interference.
Key specs that matter
At 1 kHz the stage amplifies by 34 dB for MM and by 54 dB for MC. The MM input is specified at 47 kOhm and 220 pF, while the MC loading can be set individually. RIAA accuracy is within 0.4 dB from 20 Hz to 50 kHz, following the 75, 318 and 3,180 µs time constants. Distortion stays under 0.04 %, noise sits 81 dB below signal for MM and 70 dB for MC, both A-weighted, and overload margin in MC mode is 18 dB. Channel separation exceeds 80 dB at 1 kHz. The maximum output is 10 V RMS from a 75 ohm source, through RCA sockets, with RCA inputs as well. Power comes from an external plug-in supply rated at plus and minus 18 V DC and 300 mA. The case is roughly 85 x 106 x 25 mm, stage and adapter together weigh about 500 g, and the warranty is three years after registration.
Engineering and use context
The circuit uses SMD parts that are placed by hand in Erlangen and tested several times before shipping. Mode selection between MM and MC is made with a jumper on the underside, and a second jumper there switches a subsonic filter in or out. DIP switches on the bottom adjust the input impedance so that different MM and MC systems can be matched without compromise. Power draw is 2.3 W in operation, below 0.3 W in standby and zero when switched off. The Headphone V2 version adds a 3.5 mm jack for listening directly at the preamplifier, and both are finished in silver or black aluminium.
Pairing
The Nano Phono V2 sits between a turntable and any line input of an amplifier or receiver. The MM setting suits moving-magnet cartridges with outputs around 3 to 4 mV, such as the Clearaudio Performer V2 or Virtuoso V2, and the MC setting covers low-output types like the 0.5 mV Clearaudio Concerto V2. Clearaudio's MM-V2 cartridges specify a 100 pF load, whereas the MM input here is listed at 220 pF before the tonearm lead is added.
Alternatives
The Clearaudio Smart Phono V2 is the next step up, with MC loads from 50 ohm to 5 kOhm, three capacitance settings and a stated distortion below 0.004 %.