With the award-winning REF Phono 2 reigning at the top, and the wonderful new PH6 anchoring our lineup at a more affordable price point, many people have been anticipating a moderately priced replacement for the five-year-old PH7. We are please to introduce the new PH8 phono preamplifier. Outwardly, the PH8 inherits the new cosmetics of the LS27 and PH6, with silver handles and silver buttons.
Operationally, the PH8 maintains the flexibility and ease of operation of its predecessor, with loading (47K, 1K, 500, 200, 100 ohms), Stereo/Mono, Muting andPower buttons under a vacuum fluorescent display that has eight selectable brightness levels. The display can be turned off, with nine small pixels remaining dimly lit to remind one that the supplied remote control. There is one set of single-ended inputs and one set of single-ended outputs, plus a removable 15A IEC cord. The PH8 benefits from a number of circuit and parts improvements, many derived from the REF Phono 2. Rather than using the four 6922s of its predecessor, the PH8 uses two 6H30 tubes along with special low noise FETs; vacuum tube regylation now incorporates a 6550 and a 6H30, as in the REF Phono 2 and REF5.
Capacitors are all the same types as those used in the REF Phono 2, including the same coupling caps, and Teflon caps used in both the RIAA stage and bypass caps. There is also a new R-core transformer. Circuit board material is the same as in our Reference products. Specifications have not changed significantly: Gain has increased very slightly to 58dB and bandwidth has improved slightly with -3dB points below 0,3dB and above 400kHz. The PH8 is startlingly better than its predecessor in every meaningful musical way. Individual attributes include increased air, transparency, speed, focus, better micro dynamics, and tonal purity. Musically this translates into an organic rightness that is more involving, allowing the inetnt and art of the performance and performers to shine through.
For all of those music lovers who fervently want the performance of the REF Phono 2 but simply cannot stretch to that exalted level, the PH8 is the answer to their dreams. They maintain the same perspective and are cur from the same sonic cloth. If you appreciate analog then you will fall in love with PH8; at its price it elevates LP playback to a new level of performance and musical involvement that must be heard to be appreciated
