MM and MC phono stages for turntables, tube and solid-state, with gain, inputs and extra outputs compared.
Ampapa A1 Mini 5654 Tube Phono Preamp — read reviewAmpapa's first product: a mini tube preamp at $129.99 that combines an MM phono stage, line preamp and 16-300 ohm headphone amp around JAN5654 tubes, with treble and bass knobs and dual indicator lights.
Douk Audio P7 Tube Phono Preamp with HPF — read reviewA tube phono and line preamp with PSVANE ECC83 tubes run at 180V, MM phono and RCA inputs, a subsonic high-pass filter for vinyl, and both RCA and true balanced XLR outputs.
Douk Audio T13 MM Phono Preamp with VU Meter — read reviewA phono preamp and headphone amp in one desktop box: MM turntable and line RCA inputs feed gold-plated RCA outputs and a 3.5mm jack that drives 16-300 ohm headphones, with a customizable full-color VU meter.
Douk Audio H5 Tube MM Phono Preamp with Sub Out — read reviewA tube MM phono preamp and line stage with a 20Hz rumble filter, dual RCA outputs and a subwoofer output with 180/250Hz low-pass, built around GE-4BZ6 tubes.
Douk Audio T12 Tube Phono Preamp (MM/MC) — read reviewA walnut-cased tube phono preamp for MM and MC turntables with a 120V-driven 6J5B-Q tube stage, +/-10dB bass and treble sliders, dual RCA outputs and a headphone jack.
Douk Audio T4 PLUS Tube Phono Preamp — read reviewHandles both moving-magnet and moving-coil cartridges through seven switchable input impedances, adds JAN5725 tubes and a front VU meter, and drives 32-300Ω headphones.
Douk Audio T9 6E2 Tube Preamp MM/MC Phono — read reviewA vacuum-tube preamp and MM/MC phono stage with magic-eye 6E2 level tubes, RCA and phono inputs, tone controls, and a 3.5mm headphone output.
Douk Audio T3 PRO Tube MM Phono Preamp — read reviewA $59.99 mini phono stage that adds a pair of 6A2 tubes and a four-position gain switch to MM cartridge handling, and doubles as a 3.5mm AUX tube preamp.
Nobsound T3 MM Phono Preamp for Turntables — read reviewA compact MM phono stage that lifts a turntable's signal to line level for $44.99, with a volume control, gold-plated RCA terminals and a shielded metal case.
Douk Audio T14-EQ MM/MC Phono Stage Preamp — read reviewA tiny MM/MC phono preamp with RIAA-equalized output, treble/bass controls, and a 3.5mm headphone jack, powered over USB 5V.
SMSL PH-1 Phono Preamp — read reviewAn MM phono preamplifier with a built-in 6.35mm headphone amplifier, listed at $69.99. The page's pictures give a fixed 46dB gain and 90mWx2 into 32Ω, so it suits a turntable owner who wants a phono input and a headphone jack in one box.
This guide covers the 10 phono preamps reviewed from Douk Audio's store at doukaudio.com (eight Douk Audio, one Ampapa and one Nobsound), at $44.99 to $134.99 as priced on October 23, 2026. Phono preamps sold by HiFiGO, added in October 2026, have their own reviews on this page and are not counted below. A phono preamp lifts a turntable's tiny signal and applies RIAA equalization, the standard curve that restores bass and treble on records, so your cartridge decides the first choice. MM (moving-magnet) and MC (moving-coil) are the two cartridge types: six of these list MM only (the Ampapa A1 Mini, H5, P7, T13, T3 and T3 PRO) and four also list MC (T12, T14-EQ, T4 PLUS and T9). Seven use a tube stage (A1 Mini, H5, P7, T12, T4 PLUS, T9 and T3 PRO), and six have a 3.5mm headphone jack (A1 Mini, T12, T13, T14-EQ, T4 PLUS and T9).
The Douk Audio store listings are thin on the numbers that decide fit. Gain, how much the preamp boosts the signal, is given only on the T3 PRO, as a switch for off, 39dB, 42dB or 45dB; the T3 and T3 PRO list 600mV output for a 3mV input at 1kHz. Noise figures appear for the T13 (SNR 106dB or better on RCA, 80dB or better on phono) and for the T3 and T3 PRO (SNR 98dB or better, THD 0.1%), and the T14-EQ lists RIAA accuracy within plus or minus 0.5dB. The T12 listing gives only qualitative distortion claims, and the T4 PLUS page's parameter list is cut off. For MC cartridges, the T4 PLUS offers seven input impedance settings from 1KΩ to 10Ω. The H5 and P7 add a 20Hz high-pass filter, which works only on the phono input.
Douk Audio's store applies the same terms to every one of its listings: shipping in 2-8 business days with duties, taxes and customs included in the checkout price unless noted; returns requested within 30 days of delivery and approved by Douk first, shipped back within 7 days of approval, with original shipping fees and duties not refunded; and a 24-month warranty for manufacturing defects, although an older policy page still says 1 year. One review adds that the preamp must go back in good condition with all packaging and accessories. None of the Douk reviews gives a shipping fee or says who pays the return shipping. HiFiGO, the other store on this page, ships from China, gives 7 days to report a faulty item and charges a 30% restocking fee on later returns; each HiFiGO review spells out its terms.
Check power and wiring. The T13 and T14-EQ list no adapter and run from 5V over USB (the T13 needs at least 0.6A); the P7 needs DC 12V at 2A or more and its listing does not say whether an adapter is included; the T3 and T3 PRO list a 12V supply in the box. On the T9, T13 and T14-EQ the headphone jack takes priority and must be unplugged for the RCA output to play, and on the T4 PLUS and T3 PRO the AUX input outranks phono. The T9's two 6E2 tubes are matched and must be inserted per the R/L markings, and the H5 takes only the same 4BZ6 tube type.
| Review | Price | Inputs | Tubes | Outputs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ampapa A1 Mini 5654 Tube Phono Preamp | $129.99 | Phono MM and stereo RCA | JAN5654 in ceramic silver-plated pluggable sockets | Stereo RCA and 3.5mm headphone jack |
| Douk Audio P7 Tube Phono Preamp with HPF | $109.99 | MM phono plus RCA, doubling as a tube preamp for phones, TVs and CD players | PSVANE ECC83 driven at 180V, swappable | RCA and true balanced XLR, both active with shared volume and tone |
| Douk Audio T13 MM Phono Preamp with VU Meter | $99.99 | Phono MM and stereo RCA | — | Stereo RCA and 3.5mm headphone jack |
| Douk Audio H5 Tube MM Phono Preamp with Sub Out | $89.99 | MM Phono for turntables, RCA Line In for DACs, CD players and streamers | GE-4BZ6 with 180V tube drive; 4BZ6 replacements only | Dual RCA plus SUB Out with switchable 180/250Hz low-pass |
| Douk Audio T12 Tube Phono Preamp (MM/MC) | $109.99 | MM and MC turntable setups | 6J5B-Q tubes with a 120V tube stage | Dual RCA outputs switchable between two amps or speakers; 3.5mm headphone out |
| Douk Audio T4 PLUS Tube Phono Preamp | $109.99 | MM and MC cartridges | JAN5725 in pluggable sockets | Stereo RCA and 3.5mm headphone jack, active at the same time |
| Douk Audio T9 6E2 Tube Preamp MM/MC Phono | $134.99 | MM/MC phono + stereo RCA | 2× 6E2 magic-eye + 6A2 (swappable for 6K4, EF93, 6BA6, W727) | Stereo RCA + 3.5mm headphone (16–300Ω) |
| Douk Audio T3 PRO Tube MM Phono Preamp | $59.99 | MM phono and 3.5mm AUX (AUX has priority) | 2 x 6A2; sockets also take 6K4 / 6J1 / 6J4 / GE5654 / 6AK5 / 6*1n | Stereo RCA, 600mV at 3mV / 1kHz, RIAA standard |
| Nobsound T3 MM Phono Preamp for Turntables | $44.99 | MM (moving magnet) turntables only | — | Stereo RCA, 600mV at 3mV / 1kHz |
| Douk Audio T14-EQ MM/MC Phono Stage Preamp | $49.99 | MM / MC phono (switch on bottom) | — | Stereo RCA + 3.5mm headphone (16–200Ω) |
| SMSL PH-1 Phono Preamp | $69.99 | RCA input marked MM R IN L, with a ground post, per the pictures | — | 6.35mm headphone jack and an RCA output, per the pictures' panel labels |
Match your cartridge. Among the 10 Douk Audio store listings, six are MM only: the Ampapa A1 Mini, H5, P7, T13, T3 and T3 PRO. Four list MC as well: the T12, the T14-EQ (a switch on the bottom), the T4 PLUS (seven input impedance settings) and the T9 (a one-button switch). The MM-only reviews say moving-coil cartridges are not supported or that no MC setting is listed.
Seven of the ten Douk Audio store listings use a tube stage, and the listings describe its effect in the store's words. The H5's GE-4BZ6 at 180V is pitched for a smooth, warm character, and the T4 PLUS's JAN5725 as an upgrade over the 6J1 series for detail, transparency and tone. The T13, T14-EQ and T3 list no tube. Most tube sockets are pluggable, but the H5 takes only the same 4BZ6 type.
On six of the 10 Douk Audio store listings, via a 3.5mm jack: the A1 Mini (16-300 ohms, 125mW at 32 ohms), T13 (250mW at 32 ohms, 16-300 ohms), T14-EQ (16-200 ohms), T9 (16-300 ohms), T12 and T4 PLUS. On the T9, T13 and T14-EQ the headphone jack takes priority, so the RCA output is silent while headphones are plugged in. The H5, P7, T3 and T3 PRO have no headphone output.
No. None of the ten Douk Audio store listings has speaker outputs; they send a line-level signal to an amplifier or active speakers, and the T3, T3 PRO, T4 PLUS, T9 and T12 reviews say so. The H5 adds a SUB Out with a switchable 180/250Hz low-pass filter for a powered subwoofer, and the P7 adds a balanced XLR output beside RCA.
Not all. The T3 and T3 PRO list a 12V supply in the box. The T13 and T14-EQ say no adapter is included and take 5V over USB, the T13 at 0.6A or more. The P7 needs DC 12V at 2A or more, and its listing does not say whether an adapter ships. The other Douk listings do not state it, so ask the store before ordering.
Douk Audio's store allows a return request within 30 days of delivery. Douk must approve it first, the item goes back within 7 days of approval, and original shipping fees and duties aren't refunded. The warranty is 24 months from purchase for manufacturing defects, with free repair or replacement, although an older policy page still says 1 year. HiFiGO's terms differ (7 days for faulty items, a 30% restocking fee on later returns) and are in each HiFiGO review.