KECES SPhono Phono Preamp with Power Supply

The KECES SPhono is a phono preamp built in a dual-mono design that accepts two MM and two MC cartridges and is powered by a separate 48-volt power supply.

It's aimed at anyone running more than one turntable or more than one tonearm – and at anyone who doesn't want to crawl behind the rack every time they swap cartridges. You control switching, gain and loading from the front.

Why the KECES SPhono?

Because a phono stage has to do two things at once: be extremely quiet and extremely flexible. The SPhono solves that with a consistently dual-channel-separated design and an outboard power supply that keeps the sensitive amplifier section away from the transformer. Four inputs, six selectable MC loadings, six capacitance values for MM and two equalisation curves cover practically any cartridge you'll come across.

What you hear

Quiet between the grooves. The RIAA equalisation stays accurate to within 0.2 dB of the original, the subsonic filter removes record warp and tonearm resonance from the deep bass, and the balanced XLR output carries the signal cleanly to the preamp even over longer runs. If you collect pre-1955 pressings, switch to the IEC curve and hear the recording the way it was cut.

Who is the SPhono for – and who isn't it for?

Straight talk: if you run one turntable with one MM cartridge and want to stay that way, you don't need this much – a smaller stage will do the job. The SPhono is worth it if you run several cartridges in parallel, use high-quality MC pickups, or genuinely care about loading resistance. And it needs space: two housings, 8.5 kilos together.

Our verdict

A grown-up phono stage for people who take vinyl seriously and want to switch cartridges without improvising. At HD Zürisee in Wädenswil, we'll go through which loading suits your cartridge – that's the setting most of the music hangs on.

Technical data

• Type: phono preamplifier, dual-mono design, with separate power supply
• Inputs: 2× MM, 2× MC, switching on the front
• Gain MM: 40 dB / 46 dB
• Gain MC: 60 dB / 66 dB
• MC loading resistance: 56 / 100 / 220 / 470 / 1200 / 47000 ohms
• MM input capacitance: 47 / 100 / 150 / 220 / 330 / 470 pF
• Equalisation: RIAA and IEC, accuracy 0.2 dB
• Subsonic filter: switchable on the front
• Frequency response: 20 Hz – 20 kHz
• THD: MM below 0.002%, MC below 0.09%
• Signal-to-noise ratio: MM 96 dB (A-weighted), MC 82 dB (A-weighted)
• Outputs: XLR balanced, gold-plated RCA
• Power supply: external SPhono power supply, ±48 V and +15 V, 18 W
• Housing: aluminium, 4 mm wall thickness (both units)
• Dimensions per unit (W×D×H): 300 × 220 × 66 mm
• Weight: preamp 3.5 kg, power supply 5 kg

Frequently asked questions

Can I connect two turntables at the same time?

Yes, and even more: the SPhono has four inputs – two for MM and two for MC cartridges. You switch between them from the front. For two decks, or one turntable with two tonearms, that's exactly the right solution.

Which loading resistance does my MC cartridge need?

That's usually stated in your cartridge's datasheet; a common rule of thumb is ten times the internal impedance. The SPhono offers six steps from 56 to 47,000 ohms. Tell us your cartridge and we'll give you the right starting value.

What's the IEC curve good for?

Historical pressings. Records from before the RIAA standard were equalised differently; the IEC setting approximates that cut. With modern records, stick with RIAA – the difference is clearly audible, but only welcome on the right discs.

Why an external power supply?

Because the transformer is the loudest component in a phono stage, and the signals here are among the smallest in the whole system. Physically separate housings keep stray fields away from the sensitive input – with MC cartridges at 66 dB of gain, every microvolt counts.

Why buy the KECES SPhono at HD Zürisee?

Because a phono stage without the right settings is only half the job done. We match gain, loading and capacitance to your cartridge, check the grounding, and set up your listening spot completely on request. Call, write, or use WhatsApp.

Goes well with

A matching cartridge, a turntable and good phono cables.