Reference Phono 10

About the Reference Phono 10

The Reference Phono 10 embodies Audio Research's extensive expertise in phono playback, incorporating insights from their Reference Anniversary and Reference 10 line-stage preamplifiers. It features a true dual-mono design with completely separate signal paths and power supplies for each channel, including separate high- and low-voltage transformers and vacuum-tube regulation. The unit uses twenty stages of electronic regulation and dual umbilical cords connecting the power supply to the analog stage. The audio circuits are fully discrete, pure Class-A with zero feedback, employing eight 6H30 tubes (four per channel) in the low gain section and special high-gain, low-noise FETs in the high gain section instead of a step-up transformer. The design is fully balanced and allows RCA inputs to operate in balanced mode without an inverter. It offers two sets of inputs with switchable low and high gain, seven loading options (47k, 1000, 500, 200, 100, 50 ohms, plus custom factory-set), and selectable equalization curves including RIAA, early Columbia, and Decca. The Reference Phono 10 delivers a vast, holographic soundstage with exceptional detail retrieval and dynamic expression, setting a new standard in analog music playback. It is