Soundsmith MCP-2 Phono Preamp

Soundsmith MCP2 Phono Preamp

What sets the Soundsmith MCP2 Phono Preamp apart from other phono stages?

The Soundsmith MCP2 Phono Preamp is a moving coil phono stage built around continuously variable input loading and fully shielded step-up transformers. Most fixed-loading phono stages force a compromise between cartridges with different output impedances, since a single resistor value rarely suits more than one design well. The MCP2 removes that compromise by letting you dial the load anywhere between 10 Ohms and 5k Ohms, so the same preamp can match a wide range of low-output moving coil cartridges rather than just one. The shielded internal transformers cut the hum and interference that an unshielded step-up stage would otherwise pick up from nearby mains wiring or other equipment, keeping the signal path clean before it reaches the RIAA equalisation circuit.

Which cartridges is it designed to match?

The MCP2 is engineered primarily around Soundsmith's own low-output Fixed Coil cartridge line, though its moving coil input and adjustable loading extend compatibility to other low-output cartridges from outside the Soundsmith range. Because the load impedance is continuously variable rather than fixed at a handful of preset values, the MCP2 can be tuned to the specific output characteristics of whichever low-output moving coil cartridge you're running, instead of relying on a generic setting that only approximates the correct match. This makes it a practical choice for anyone building or upgrading a low-output moving coil turntable system around a single preamp.

How do you adjust the loading to suit your cartridge?

Setting the load on the Soundsmith MCP2 Phono Preamp involves turning a continuously variable control rather than selecting from a bank of dip switches or fixed jumper positions. This lets you fine-tune the loading until the high-frequency response matches your cartridge's specification, instead of stepping between the nearest preset value above or below the target impedance. A 220pF capacitive load works alongside the resistive loading, so both elements of the cartridge's electrical match can be set during the same setup process.

How is the Soundsmith MCP2 Phono Preamp powered and housed?

The Soundsmith MCP2 Phono Preamp sits inside an aluminium case and runs from an external DC power supply rather than an internal mains transformer. Keeping the power supply outside the case separates the mains-side components from the audio circuit, which is intended to stop mains-related noise from coupling into the low-level moving coil input. The external supply also keeps the case itself compact, since it doesn't need to accommodate a mains transformer alongside the audio circuitry and step-up transformers.

What gain and noise figures does it deliver?

It delivers 62dB of gain, which is enough to bring the low output of a moving coil cartridge up to line level without needing a separate step-up device ahead of the preamp. Noise performance is rated at -93dB unweighted, a figure that reflects how far the preamp's own electronic noise floor sits below the signal. That noise figure works alongside the shielded step-up transformers, since shielding deals with externally induced interference while the low noise floor reflects the preamp's own internal circuit design.

Who builds the MCP2, and where?

Soundsmith hand-builds each MCP2 Phono Preamp using audio-grade components at its factory in Peekskill, New York, where the company has operated since 1972. The company's core expertise lies in cartridge design, including its Fixed Coil and Strain Gauge models, and the MCP2 is assembled by the same team of engineers and artisans responsible for Soundsmith's cartridge range, rather than being outsourced to a separate production line.