Darlington Labs MM-5 Moving Magnet Phono Preamp

Despite being a small, young company, Darlington Labs offers a fully evolved ecosystem of moving-magnet phono preamplifiers and moving-coil step-up amps. The MM-5 MM phono preamp and SU-5 MC step-up, both starting at $199 (all prices in USD unless otherwise noted), represent the ground floor, though you could add options that bring the price of the top-of-the-line MP-7 up to $729—more on those options in a bit. The $299 MM-6, the company’s first product, is the mid-tier option, and the SU-6 (also starting at $299), fills the mid-tier step-up amp slot. Darlington Labs’ products are arranged this way to maximize their value. Customers can purchase only what they need without spending extra for unnecessary features, and they can mix and match products as they see fit when they’re upgrading their vinyl rigs. All Darlington Labs products are made by hand in the US, and all share a common design philosophy of simple, JFET-based circuitry.

Great sounding Phono Preamp. Hand-built USA quality, from an engineering team with 50+ years experience. By focusing exclusively on the Moving-Magnet gain mode (+40dB) with high-end Audiophile design technology, we are able to deliver a level of performance unheard-of in this price class. If you later upgrade your cartridge to a Low-Output Moving Coil type, simply add our SU-5 Active Step-Up stage.

Zero Feedback, Single-Ended Class A Gain stages - use NO Op Amps or Integrated Circuits - even in the power supply 

High Headroom Passive RIAA equalization - 6dB more headroom in the upper midrange without a noise penaltyPure Film and Foil Polypropylene Capacitors in EQ network and in most critical locations 

Maximum Inherent-Linearity design - Buffers the gain stages for low distortion and provides low output impedance

Sophisticated Discrete Power Supply Regulation - for excellent dynamics and bass

High-Voltage J-FETs - NOS (New-Old-Stock), hand-matched with hand-tuned operating points provide clean gain

Hand-soldered, assembled and calibrated by experienced US craftsmen using high quality parts, USA-based design

Through-hole construction with conservatively rated audiophile quality components for reliable, long life service

Designed for the long term.

Excellent little phono pre in as-new condition complete with all the as-new accompaniments: $179.00 + Tax and Shipping when warranted