Phasemation PP-200
The Phasemation PP-200 brings vinyl to life with an expressive midrange, smooth treble and a remarkably three-dimensional soundstage. hi-fi+ found its presentation sophisticated and controlled, while SoundStage Solo praised its realism, detail and dynamics. Its boron cantilever and line-contact stylus make this a refined, low-noise MC for immersive long-form listening.
WATT RECOMMENDS
Save your favorites. Compare them anytime.
Create a free HiFi Hub account to save products to your Wishlist and compare your favorites side by side.
Deliciously Crispy
Sound Quality
92/100
Build Quality
91/100
Features Usability
89/100
Value for Money
91/100
Pros
Clear, expressive midrange gives vocals and instruments strong presence without sacrificing natural tone.
Wide, three-dimensional imaging and strong separation reveal recording ambience and complex musical layers.
Smooth, clean, non-fatiguing highs combine with capable tracking and low apparent surface noise.
Cons
Treble can sound slightly polite, and bass balance may be a little shy in some systems or recordings.
Its low 0.3mV output, 4-ohm impedance and non-threaded mounting demand careful phono-stage matching and patient setup.
WATT RECOMMENDS
Save your favorites. Compare them anytime.
Create a free HiFi Hub account to save products to your Wishlist and compare your favorites side by side.
What Reviewers Are Saying
SOUND QUALITY PERFORMANCE 92/100
The PP-200 is consistently described as refined, expressive and unusually accomplished for its asking price. Its strengths are a vivid, clear midrange, controlled dynamics, low apparent groove noise and an expansive, three-dimensional presentation, with only a slightly polite treble character and some system-dependent bass balance noted.
Overall Sound
92/100
Reviewers praise an expressive, clear midrange and a sophisticated, open sound that gets the essentials of musical communication right. Bass can range from slightly shy to impressively forceful depending on the recording and system, while the treble is clean, smooth and non-fatiguing rather than aggressively forward.
Tracking Retrieval
91/100
The line-contact stylus and boron cantilever are matched by strong listening evidence: complex leading edges remained free of masking or blur, and well-worn grooves were traced without difficulty. Reviewers also found low needle-talk and little undue emphasis of record scuffs, while noting convincing micro-detail and dynamic expression.
Soundstage Imaging
93/100
The PP-200 draws strong praise for wide imaging, convincing instrument separation and a notably three-dimensional stage. Reviewers describe hearing the recording space and live-hall atmosphere clearly, with images remaining bold and well defined without becoming overly forward.
FEATURES USABILITY PERFORMANCE 89/100
Tonearm compatibility is good for an MC design, provided the system is correctly matched and set up.
Tonearm Compatibility
89/100
With medium compliance and a recommended 1.7-2.0g tracking-force range, the PP-200 should work with most modern medium-mass tonearms. Its 0.3mV output and 4-ohm internal impedance still call for a suitable low-output MC phono stage or step-up arrangement, so it is less plug-and-play than a typical moving-magnet cartridge.
Assessments of Build Quality, Usability, and Overall Propositions.
Build Quality
91/100
The cartridge uses a machined Duralumin body, neodymium magnetic circuit and boron cantilever, and the hi-fi+ review calls the body extremely solid. Its vibration-conscious body design also appears well considered, although the reviews provide little comment on long-term durability.
Value for Money
91/100
At roughly $995-$1,795, the PP-200 occupies a serious moving-coil price bracket, but reviewers consider its performance sophisticated for the asking price. hi-fi+ explicitly calls it excellent value, while SoundStage Solo found it credible both as a mid-level upgrade and in a high-end turntable.
Reviews & Sources
Professional reviews and sources for this product's Watt'n Potatoes analysis.
Online Reviews & Mentions
YouTube Reviews
Forum Mentions
No forum mentions found yet
Specifications
- Power Generation Method
- Moving Coil Type
- Impedance
- 4 ohm
- Appropriate Stylus Force
- 1.7 to 2.0g
- Output Voltage
- 0.3mV (1kHz 50mm/s horizontal direction)
- Compliance
- 8.5μ/mN [8.5x10-6cm/dyne]
- Playing Frequency Range
- 10 Hz to 30 kHz
- Separation
- 25dB (1kHz)
- Channel Balance
- Within 1dB (1kHz)
- Cantilever
- Pure Boron Ø0.26mm
- Stylus Chip
- Diamond (line-contact / curvature 0.03×0.003mm)
- Magnet
- Neodymium
- Magnetic Circuit Material
- Pure Iron
- Base Material
- Machined Duralumin
- Body Material
- Machined Aluminum
- Weight
- 10.3g
Manufacturer's Description — Phasemation
Product Outline and Concept
To respond to the demand for a new basic model of Phasemation cartridges, we will release the PP-200, which allows you to feel the essence of our top model. The PP-200 has been refined in detail while maintaining the basic performance. The PP-200 pursues the same sound image localization, spatial reproducibility, fresh mids and highs, and a rich bass that are inherited from the upper model.
Main feature
A powerful magnetic circuit adopting neodymium magnets.
Adopted neodymium magnets for the magnetic circuit. Brought about an increase in output along with powerful sound quality.
Improved the tracking ability due to reexamining the vibration system.
Improved the vibration system which enhanced the tracking ability. Improved the tracing capability.
Diamond tips and boron cantilevers used on the upper models are inherited to this cartridge.
Inherited high sound quality materials that were proven in PP-2000 and other models such as diamond stylus tips, cantilevers made of solid boron material, and 6N oxygen-free copper wires for the generator coil.
A new generation body structure.
Adopted a newly shaped body to control unwanted vibrations and achieved a direct sound quality.
Verified Dealers
Online Dealers
All Dealers
Zoom out the map to see more dealers
Authorized dealers for Phasemation PP-200
- Resolution A/V — in-store — New York City, New York, United States (website)
- American Sound — in-store — Richmond Hill, Ontario, Canada (website)
- Ammonite Audio — online and in-store — Norwich, England, United Kingdom (website)
- Ana Mighty Sound — online and in-store — Paris, Île-de-France, France (website)
- Ars Antiqua Audio — online and in-store — Boadilla del Monte, Comunidad de Madrid, Spain (website)
- Audio Creativ — in-store — Riedenburg, Bayern, Germany (website)
- Audio Solutions - AU — online and in-store — Mascot, New South Wales, Australia (website)
- Don Better Audio — online and in-store — Shaker Heights, Ohio, United States (website)
- Exception Audio — in-store — Antibes, Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur, France (website)
- Hifi Gear - HK — in-store — Kowloon, Hong Kong (website)
and 23 more verified dealers