12/28/2023 0 Comments Tenor board summary writerNoticeably quieter than the Kondo M7, Audio Research Reference 2 SE, as well as the Manley Steelhead all of which have a slightly louder hiss at the same volume setting. Although not as quiet as the solid state Rossner & Sohn Canofer-S or Burmester 100 Phono, the Tenor Phono 1 is perhaps the quietest tube phono stages on the market with a rated specification of -87dB. A low noise floor is most desirable as it translates into a pitch black background which enhances dynamic contrast and vividness of the sonic picture. At the maximum 70 dB of gain on the RCA input and with the volume dial at 50% on the preamp, I could detect almost no noise other than a quiet hiss – quite an accomplishment for a tube-equipped component. Each input has a user selectable gain from 55dB to 70dB in 5 dB increments, as well as seven loading choices: 100, 200, 300, 400, 500, HIGH and CUSTOM. The Tenor Phono 1 has three inputs (2 RCAs & 1 XLR) as well as three outputs (2 RCAs and 1 XLR). After all, Tenor’s official corporate slogan is “The Mark of Perfection”! Each Tenor phono stage is meticulously hand built and tested to Vanden Broeck’s strenuous performance standards which leaves no room for anything less than perfection. Vanden Broeck experimented with every imaginable design configuration and advanced the state of the art by inventing new methodologies of manufacturing and design. Prospective purchasers are receiving the benefit of the 8 years of intensive research and development following the introduction of the prototype that allowed the challenge of a single chassis hybrid phono stage, that measures better than most solid state dual chassis ones, to be perfectly executed. Research and development of the single chassis Phono 1 took over 5 years and leveraged off the Line 1/Power 1 double chassis design – both prototypes shown to global acclaim at the 2008 Munich High-End Show. At first glance, it is clear that every detail has been addressed. The solid cherry front panels with sixteen coats of piano lacquer adds an organic element to its already elegant look. The fit and finish of the custom extruded and anodized aluminum chassis is top notch. Out of the flight case you can tell immediately that the Tenor Phono 1 is no run of the mill assembly line product. The Tenor Phono 1 is packaged with a heavily padded and substantially made metal & wood flight case and, as such, the Tenor would likely survive any shipping abuse an airline could throw at them.
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