Music Hall Music Hall pa2.2 Phono, A2D, & Headphone Preamplifier
Fast, punchy and impressively versatile, the Music Hall PA2.2 gives vinyl a clean, rhythmic drive with a broad soundstage, while its 24-bit/96kHz USB output preserves records and tapes with near-original fidelity. Thom Moon also found plentiful headphone gain, making this compact all-in-one a compelling analog hub.
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Nicely Roasted
Sound Quality
86/100
Cartridge Compatibility
78/100
Build Quality
84/100
Value for Money
94/100
Pros
Delivers fast, punchy dynamics and clean reproduction of staccato detail.
Creates a broad, clearly spread soundstage and provides ample gain for headphones.
USB digitization of vinyl and line-level sources was reported as extremely close to the original recording.
Combines MM/MC phono playback, ADC functionality and headphone amplification in a compact, heavy aluminum chassis.
Cons
Lean tonal balance offers limited bass bloom compared with warmer alternatives.
Treble extension and sparkle were slightly reduced versus the reviewer's reference phono stage.
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What Reviewers Are Saying
SOUND QUALITY PERFORMANCE 86/100
The PA2.2 is described as clean, fast and punchy, with a broad stage and an engaging, mellow-yet-lean presentation. Its strongest reported qualities are rhythmic definition and left-to-right scale, while slightly reduced treble sparkle and a leaner balance keep it from sounding wholly full-bodied.
Transparency Noise Floor
76/100
The review does not directly assess background silence, hum, hiss, or noise with either MM or MC playback. Its warning about distortion when USB recording exceeds 0 dB concerns recording-level management rather than audible phono-stage noise.
Tonal Balance Musicality
87/100
Thom Moon calls the sound mellow, lean, clean, and delightful, and says the unit delivered a very fine sound. He also notes less bass bloom and slightly less high-frequency sparkle than his reference preamp, giving the presentation a somewhat leaner rather than lush character.
Dynamics
91/100
The reviewer specifically distinguishes the PA2.2 with a fast, punchy presentation. Staccato figures in Copland's "Hoe-Down" were reproduced cleanly and clearly, supporting its lively transient response.
Soundstage Imaging
89/100
The PA2.2 produced a broad soundstage with reasonable depth, placing performers clearly across the left-to-right spread. With headphones, the presentation wrapped from hard left to hard right, though one recording itself offered limited depth.
Assessments of Build Quality, Usability, and Overall Propositions.
Cartridge Compatibility
78/100
Separate MM and MC inputs support both principal cartridge types, with MC gain choices of 59 or 65 dB. Loading is fixed at 47k ohms/220 pF for MM and 100 ohms for MC, so it is less adaptable than stages offering a wider selection of resistance and capacitance settings.
Build Quality
84/100
The reviewer describes a very nice, heavy aluminum case with clean black-and-gold presentation. The review provides little further direct evidence about internal construction, shielding, grounding, or long-term durability.
Value for Money
94/100
At $449.99, the reviewer calls the PA2.2 a good little component and "a bargain to boot." Against similarly priced standalone phono stages, its inclusion of MM/MC phono inputs, USB digitizing, line input, and headphone amplification makes that favorable assessment especially compelling, although the review does not name direct rivals.
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Specifications
- MM input impedance
- 47 kohms+ 220 pF
- MC input impedance
- 100 ohms + 1 pF
- Analog line-level input impedance
- 47 kohms
- MM gain at 1kHz
- 39 dB
- MC gain at 1kHz
- 59 dB (20 dB gain selected) / 65 dB (26 dB gain selected)
- MM input sensitivity for 316 mV output
- 3.3 mV
- MC input sensitivity for 316 mV output
- 0.4 mV (20 dB gain selected) / 0.2 mV (26 dB gain selected)
- MM signal-to-noise ratio unweighted (with cartridge connected)
- 70 dB
- MC signal-to-noise ratio unweighted (with cartridge connected)
- 75 dB (20 dB gain) / 70 dB (26 dB gain)
- Analog Line-level input Signal-to-noise ratio
- 120 dB
- MM Input overload level at 20Hz/1kHz/20kHz
- 8/71/650 mV
- MC Input overload level at 20Hz/1kHz/20kHz (20 dB gain selected)
- 0.95/48/450 mV
- MC Input overload level at 20Hz/1kHz/20kHz (26 dB gain selected)
- 0.45/24/225 mV
- MM Total Harmonic Distortion + Noise (10 mV in)
- <0.01%
- MC Total Harmonic Distortion + Noise (1 mV in and 20 dB gain selected)
- <0.05%
- MC Total Harmonic Distortion + Noise (1 mV in and 26 dB gain selected)
- <0.05%
- Analog line-level input total harmonic distortion + noise
- <0.01%
- RIAA curve accuracy
- +/- 0.3 dB
- MM Crosstalk
- 65 dB
- MC Crosstalk
- 65 dB (20 dB gain) / 60 dB (26 dB gain)
- Line-level input crosstalk
- 63 dB
- Fixed line-level output impedance
- 270 ohms
- Variable line-level output impedance
- 270 ohms
- Headphone stage output impedance
- 2 ohms
- Headphone stage maximum output level
- 6.8 V
- Headphone stage total harmonic distortion + noise
- <0.02%
- USB output
- maximum 24 bit linear PCM
- USB output sampling frequency
- maximum 96 kHz
- Power Supply Rejection Ratio
- 80 dB
- Power supply
- external 24VDC with multi-region plug adaptors
- Power consumption without signal
- 2.9 W
- Dimensions (WxHx D)
- 6.3" x 2.0" x 6.7" (159 x 51 x 171 mm)
- Unit weight
- 2lbs. (900g)
- Input Connections
- 3 pairs of RCA sockets (left/right) 1 x MM, 1 x MC, 1 x Line
- Output Connections
- 2 pair of RCA sockets (left/right) 1 x variable, 1x fixed 1 x headphone output 32 - 600Ω
- A/D Converter
- Wolfson WM 8786, Tenor TE7022L 24Bit Delta Sigma
- Sampling Rates
- 8, 16, 32, 44.1, 48, 96kHz
- USB Output
- USB 2.0
Manufacturer's Description — Music Hall
Product Highlights:
- Ultra-quiet MM/MC phono amp
- High-grade headphone amp
- High-resolution 2 input pre-amp (phono and line level)
- Record vinyl or any line level source to computer
- Adjustable MC gain stage
- USB digital output
- Apple Mac and Windows compatibility
- High-performance analog to digital converter
- Superior Wolfson WM8786 ADC
- Tenor TE7022 USB receiver
- Stereo or mono capability
- Phase/invert switch for perfect audio phase
- Fixed or variable line output capability
- High-quality 1/4” headphone output
- Gold-plated RCA inputs and outputs
- Smooth high-grade Alps “blue velvet” volume control
- Energy-efficient external switch mode power supply
Dimensions and Warranty:
- Dimensions: 6.3" x 2.0" x 6.7
- Weight: 2 lbs.
- Warranty: 1 year
All About Music Hall pa2.2 Phono, A2D, & Headphone Preamplifier
The Music Hall pa2.2 phono amplifier is the ultimate tool for vinyl enthusiasts. It features an ultra-quiet MM/MC phono amp, high-grade headphone amp, analog-to-digital converter, and high-resolution 2-input pre-amplifier in one sleek package. With fixed or variable line output capability, you can record vinyl or any line level source to your computer with ease.
The pa2.2 also includes an adjustable MC gain stage, USB digital output, and Apple Mac and Windows compatibility. Its high-performance 24bit/96kHz analog-to-digital converter, superior wolfson WM8786 ADC, and tenor TE7022 24bit/96kHz USB receiver deliver unrivaled sound quality.
The phono amp also boasts a phase/invert switch for perfect audio phase, gold-plated RCA inputs and outputs, and silky smooth high-grade Alps “blue velvet” volume control. Its solid alloy construction and vibration damping feet ensure durability and stability. The pa2.2 is truly a Swiss Army knife of phono amps that delivers unparalleled versatility and performance.
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Authorized dealers for Music Hall Music Hall pa2.2 Phono, A2D, & Headphone Preamplifier
- Acoustic Sounds — online and in-store — Salina, Kansas, United States (website)
- Acoustic Technologies — online and in-store — Montréal, Québec, Canada (website)
- Ahead Stereo — in-store — Los Angeles, California, United States (website)
- Alen Audio — in-store — Extramurs, Comunidad Valenciana, Spain (website)
- All Elite Audio — online and in-store — Perry Hall, Maryland, United States (website)
- All That Audio — in-store — Anaheim, California, United States (website)
- Analogue Seduction — online and in-store — Whittlesey, England, United Kingdom (website)
- Apollo HiFi — online and in-store — Marrickville, New South Wales, Australia (website)
- Area Hifi — online and in-store — L'Eixample, Comunidad Valenciana, Spain (website)
- Aris Audio — in-store — Salt Lake City, Utah, United States (website)
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