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Conrad Johnson ART Phono

Name: Conrad Johnson ART Phono
Brand: Conrad Johnson
SKU: artphono
Rating: 4.5 (5 reviews)

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Gain Switching

MC/MM Switching

ART Phono

PHONO 1:

Gain 51db, load fixed 47K5 ohms
Gain 72db , load fixed 46 ohms
(with step-up transformers)

<4>PHONO 2:

Gain 51db, load variable
147 Ohm to 47K5 Ohm
load variable 20pf to 956pf
Hum and Noise: <500uv
Phase: phase correct
Ouput Impedance: below 200 ohms

Mechanical

Dimensions: 16″D x 18.75″W x 5.44″H
Net Weight: 31 lb net

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Overall Score 91/100

Deliciously Crispy

Conrad Johnson ART Phono

The Conrad Johnson ART Phono distills the brand's classic warmth into a more detailed, rhythmically assured valve phono stage praised by Alan Sircom. Its standout quality is a whisper-quiet noise floor paired with a rich, harmonic timbre — sweet treble, liquid midrange and full, controlled bass — that delivers natural dynamics and musical engagement. The design uses dual-mono triode gain stages, separate regulated power supplies and premium Cardas RCA connectors; these choices yield low output impedance (below 200 Ohms) and robust immunity to interference. The heavy, resonance-controlled chassis and careful decoupling reduce microphony and support wide, well-scaled soundstages. Ideal for serious vinyl listeners and systems needing low-noise, high-fidelity analog front ends, the ART Phono is a compelling, high-end phonostage for those seeking refined musicality and technical discipline.

hi-fi+

"The conrad-johnson ART Phono is more than just the matching phono stage for the ART88. Like the preamplifier, it’s stunningly good and one of the best things the brand has made in years!"

Pros

Exceptionally low noise floor and transparency, allowing subtle detail and quiet backgrounds to emerge.
Rich, musical sound with sweet treble, liquid midrange and full, controlled bass that preserves dynamics.
Robust engineering and build: dual-mono topology, separate regulated power supplies, premium Cardas connectors and a heavy, resonance-resistant chassis.

Cons

No muting on the main output, requiring users to mute downstream equipment when switching or adjusting.
Some impedance/gain adjustments (input one) require internal resistor soldering and MC step-up transformers are optional at extra cost, limiting out-of-box flexibility.

Transparency

92/100

Alan Sircom describes the ART Phono as "one of the quietest phono stages I've heard," and the review repeatedly praises its low-noise presentation and accurate, natural signal path. The low output impedance (<200 Ohms) and Cardas connectors are noted for low distortion and good shielding, supporting the reviewer’s comments about a very low noise floor. No mentions of hum, hiss, or interference were found, so transparency is rated very highly while remaining conservative given a single-reviewer dataset.

Sound Quality

90/100

The review highlights preserved natural dynamic ability, excellent dynamic range and vocal articulation (e.g., rendering of Anna B. Savage), and a brisk, upbeat presentation on some material. These comments point to strong transient response and lively playback, giving the ART Phono a noticeably engaging sense of pace and punch. No significant criticisms of compression or lifelessness were reported.

Cartridge Compatibility

86/100

The review and supplied features do not specify MM/MC support, gain ranges, or adjustable loading, so a neutral baseline is applied per scoring rules. The presence of high-quality single-ended Cardas connectors and low output impedance at the main output are positives for system interfacing, but lack of explicit loading/gain detail limits the score to a measured mid-high level.

Build Quality

92/100

The ART Phono is described as "exquisitely well-made" with a heavy, rigid chassis and a sub-top plate that aids resonance control and interference resilience. The use of premium Cardas RCA hardware and robust mechanical design supports a high build-quality score consistent with Conrad Johnson’s reputation. Review text specifically calls out solid construction and effective shielding.

Value for Money

86/100

No price is provided in the review or product data (price=N/A); the reviewer praises the product's performance relative to the brand’s preamplifier but does not make explicit claims about pricing or comparative value. Following the guideline for absent price/value commentary, a neutral baseline score is used while acknowledging the reviewer’s strong praise for performance.