# Phono Stage review **URL:** \ **Category:** Features\ **Created:** [January 23, 2021, 10:25am UTC](https://arcam.discourse.group/t/phono-stage-review/245 "2021-01-23T10:25:32Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 16\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![lawl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/dbc845/32.png) [@lawl](https://arcam.discourse.group/u/lawl)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2021, 10:25am UTC](https://arcam.discourse.group/t/phono-stage-review/245/1 "2021-01-23T10:25:33Z")
I am new to vinyl and would like to know other users option of the built in MM/MC phono stage, as compared to high quality external unit. thanks ---
**Author:** ![Ken](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/cc9497/32.png) [@Ken](https://arcam.discourse.group/u/Ken)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2021, 11:22pm UTC](https://arcam.discourse.group/t/phono-stage-review/245/2 "2021-01-23T23:22:19Z")
what cartridge are you using? Moving magnet or moving coil? Output? Ken ---
**Author:** ![lawl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/dbc845/32.png) [@lawl](https://arcam.discourse.group/u/lawl)\ **Post date:** [January 24, 2021, 10:41pm UTC](https://arcam.discourse.group/t/phono-stage-review/245/3 "2021-01-24T22:41:06Z")
I have a Goldring 1042 MM, I was just wondering what other owners thought of the internal the phono stage compared to a high quality separate stage. ---
**Author:** ![Ken](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/cc9497/32.png) [@Ken](https://arcam.discourse.group/u/Ken)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2021, 12:28am UTC](https://arcam.discourse.group/t/phono-stage-review/245/4 "2021-01-25T00:28:31Z")
Its a decent phono stage. It was a bit lifeless and noisy with my Koetsu Urishi Vermillion. But my cartridge has a very low .2mv output. I bought a Teac PE 505 to match my cartridge. You should get great results with your Goldring. You can always explore a separate phono stage later, but I think your money might be better spent on vinyl. ---
**Author:** ![lawl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/dbc845/32.png) [@lawl](https://arcam.discourse.group/u/lawl)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2021, 10:39pm UTC](https://arcam.discourse.group/t/phono-stage-review/245/5 "2021-01-25T22:39:19Z")
Thanks. It’s my first turntable and amp in many years and have nothing to compare the built in phono stage with to that of an external unit. ---
**Author:** ![Ken](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/cc9497/32.png) [@Ken](https://arcam.discourse.group/u/Ken)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2021, 1:10pm UTC](https://arcam.discourse.group/t/phono-stage-review/245/6 "2021-01-26T13:10:03Z")
I think the Arcam will match well with your Goldring. The Arcam has a very nice phono stage. I am sure it is all OP Amps, but these chips have drastically improved over the years. Arcam has experience making good budget phono stages. My problem was my cartridge’s low out put was at the extreme end of what the built in phono stage is capable of. You’re in the spot where I think the Arcam was designed to excel. Start the vinyl hunt! But yes, a good external phono stage maybe 600.00 dollars or more will probably be better, but you lose an analog input and 600.00 dollars worth of new vinyl. You’re set. Ken ---
**Author:** ![Audrius](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/848f3c/32.png) [@Audrius](https://arcam.discourse.group/u/Audrius)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2021, 5:53am UTC](https://arcam.discourse.group/t/phono-stage-review/245/7 "2021-09-16T05:53:53Z")
I use Graham slee amp2 special edition phono stage. I’m not an audiophile, and I don’t feel a difference between it and Arcam’s internal. Which one is better in your opinion? ---
**Author:** ![Ken](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/cc9497/32.png) [@Ken](https://arcam.discourse.group/u/Ken)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2021, 12:00pm UTC](https://arcam.discourse.group/t/phono-stage-review/245/8 "2021-09-16T12:00:43Z")
Its all cartridge matching… the Graham is most likely a better phono stage but if you are not hearing a difference, going direct to the Arcam bypasses a set of cables and a power supply. I would use the Arcam and save the Graham for a cartridge that can reveal the resolution of the Graham, or sell it and buy vinyl. Personally, I would sell it and buy vinyl and enjoy the simplicity of using the Arcam. ---
**Author:** ![Audrius](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/848f3c/32.png) [@Audrius](https://arcam.discourse.group/u/Audrius)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2021, 2:27pm UTC](https://arcam.discourse.group/t/phono-stage-review/245/9 "2021-09-16T14:27:34Z")
Thank you Ken for, will see. ---
**Author:** ![howardsherwood](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/aca169/32.png) [@howardsherwood](https://arcam.discourse.group/u/howardsherwood)\ **Post date:** [April 24, 2023, 2:20pm UTC](https://arcam.discourse.group/t/phono-stage-review/245/10 "2023-04-24T14:20:56Z")
The on-board phono stage struggles to compete with a dedicated MC phono amplifier: I run a Heed Questar + dedicated power supply fed by a Hana SL low-output MC cartridge mounted onto a Linn Stock LVII/LP12. Whilst acceptable, the SA30’s MC input is nowhere near the resolution and quality of the Heed. It would be great if the SA30 also had a line level phono input to avoid having to use another of its analogue line-in input sockets. ---
**Author:** ![madfiddler](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a8b319/32.png) [@madfiddler](https://arcam.discourse.group/u/madfiddler)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2023, 10:47pm UTC](https://arcam.discourse.group/t/phono-stage-review/245/11 "2023-05-10T22:47:55Z")
Agree, a simple “bypass phono preamp” option on that input would be a great addition imho ---
**Author:** ![Ken](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/cc9497/32.png) [@Ken](https://arcam.discourse.group/u/Ken)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2023, 3:24pm UTC](https://arcam.discourse.group/t/phono-stage-review/245/12 "2023-05-11T15:24:04Z")
Be nice to be able to rename the inputs as well… ---
**Author:** ![madfiddler](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a8b319/32.png) [@madfiddler](https://arcam.discourse.group/u/madfiddler)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2023, 6:12pm UTC](https://arcam.discourse.group/t/phono-stage-review/245/13 "2023-05-11T18:12:24Z")
Agree, but you would not be able to change them on the remote ---
**Author:** ![WelshMike](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/90db22/32.png) [@WelshMike](https://arcam.discourse.group/u/WelshMike)\ **Post date:** [May 15, 2023, 7:28am UTC](https://arcam.discourse.group/t/phono-stage-review/245/14 "2023-05-15T07:28:22Z")
Are we ever likely to get another update for the SA30. It seems like forever since we had one. Little changes like this might be nice. No real complaints about the current version though. I bought a new TT (Roksan Artesa) and been using the MM phono input and amazed how good it sounds ---
**Author:** ![madfiddler](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a8b319/32.png) [@madfiddler](https://arcam.discourse.group/u/madfiddler)\ **Post date:** [May 15, 2023, 6:28pm UTC](https://arcam.discourse.group/t/phono-stage-review/245/15 "2023-05-15T18:28:44Z")
I’m kind of cynical…… i think no. they’ve made their money on the product now, it works, so what’s in it for them? They’ll leave it be unless it starts to cause bad press and user reviews again, instead turning their focus to the next big thing to make more sales. What they probably can’t measure they won’t worry about. That is, does existing customer experience of the SA30 lose them future sales? Personally I think it does, even though I’ve been happy with my SA30 for quite some time, but that’s a subjective opinion. like most on this forum I’d probably think twice about going Arcam again. ---
**Author:** ![WelshMike](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/90db22/32.png) [@WelshMike](https://arcam.discourse.group/u/WelshMike)\ **Post date:** [May 22, 2023, 10:32am UTC](https://arcam.discourse.group/t/phono-stage-review/245/16 "2023-05-22T10:32:52Z")
I do understand that, but they don’t yet have a shiny new thing to replace the SA30 and there is a lot of potential market to pick up if they improve the software experience I am happy with the Arcam experience overall, but I think there are many areas they could improve on, so it is a shame they have not put more effort in