Фонокорректоры — Reed Reed EQ

The Reed EQ is a phono equaliser from Reed, the Lithuanian tonearm and turntable maker led by Vidmantas Triukas. It is designed specifically for optical cartridges, above all the Reed SF developed with DS Audio. It comes with the Reed PS external power supply, and the two are sold as one product. It was launched at High End Munich 2025, and the UK price was GBP 29,500.

Key specs that matter

Output is 600 mV at 1 kHz with the Reed SF connected. Inputs are RCA, and outputs are RCA and balanced XLR. Output impedance is 47 ohms. A headphone amplifier with a 6.35 mm output drives headphones from 32 to 600 ohms. The EQ unit measures 330 x 330 x 80 mm and weighs 5.3 kg, and the Reed PS measures 340 x 330 x 110 mm and weighs 10.7 kg. Both are machined from aluminium and anodised.

Engineering and use context

An optical cartridge produces a voltage proportional to the displacement of the stylus, not its velocity as in magnetic cartridges, so it needs a different equalisation from a standard RIAA phono stage, as well as a supply for its LED. The Reed EQ provides both, applying the correct curve for an optical generator and powering the cartridge. The power supply sits in a separate chassis and uses three separate transformers for different modules, while the LED of the cartridge runs from a battery supply isolated from the rest of the system. The audio circuit uses discrete op-amps, a Class A output stage and inductors in the passive equalisation network. Front-panel controls include a mute switch, which silences the output while mounting or adjusting the cartridge, a filter switch selecting a high-pass cut-off of 30 Hz or 50 Hz, useful for suppressing low-frequency resonance depending on the tonearm, a line or headphone switch, and a mono switch for mono records. The balanced XLR output allows long cable runs to the preamplifier. The built-in headphone amplifier lets the owner listen to records directly when loudspeakers cannot be used. Reed states that the machined aluminium cases and their weight are intended to support the circuits mechanically as well as protect them.

Pairing

The Reed EQ is designed for the Reed SF optical cartridge. Through XLR it feeds the line stage of the owner's system, while the RCA output serves short connections.

Alternatives

Reed makes no other phono equaliser, and the Reed EQ is the brand's only phono stage, built solely for optical rather than magnetic cartridges.