Soundsmith MCP-5 Phono Preamp

The Soundsmith MCP-5 phono preamp connects low-output cartridges to a stereo system through a transimpedance, transformer-less design. It suits owners running cartridges that need a step-up stage but want to avoid the loading uncertainty of a transformer-based design. A continuously variable gain control adjusts output from 60dB to 80dB, matching the preamp to different cartridge sensitivities without swapping transformers. The transformer-less circuit removes ringing and non-linearity issues associated with step-up transformers, and it maintains a low noise floor across its gain range. Buyers choose the MCP-5 when they want adjustable gain and direct cartridge matching without selecting a fixed-ratio transformer.