More on the theme of 'affordable' hi-fi phono stages....
PARASOUND have quite a range:

PARASOUND Z Phono:
PARASOUND's most affordable phono preamp - US$199.

- MM (46dB) or MC (61dB, High Output MCs) switchable Gain
- MM-47 k ohm & MC-100 ohm cartridge inputs
- AC polarity reverse switch 'helps eliminate hum in many systems'
- 2 year parts, 2 years labour warranty (USA & Canada only)

The PARASOUND 'Z Custom' series are 'half-rack' sized "ultra compact components that deliver true high-end performance where space is tight".





PARASOUND Zphono with USB (US$239 - $250, discontinued model, but still seems to be available):
A "high-quality MM/MC preamp with an A-D converter and USB output for digital transfer... You can defeat its RIAA EQ if you prefer software-based EQ....rumble filter and stereo/mono select..."

Other features:
- 2 line inputs
- Headphone output for monitoring while recording


PARASOUND Z Phono XRM (US$595):
The newest model, offers dual inputs for 2 turntables, balanced & unbalanced outputs, variable MC input impedance & overall better performance.

- Rumble filter select (front panel)
- Stereo/Mono select (front panel)
- MM/MC inputs (front panel switched)
- MM Gain options 40 or 50 dB unbalanced (46/56 dB balanced output)
- MC Gain options 50 or 60 dB unbalanced (56/66 dB balanced output)
- Variable MC impedance 50-1050 ohms
- Balanced XLR outputs & inputs
- In-built 'high-capacity, low noise, linear power supply'
- 'Ultra high-speed, low-noise opamps & audiophile grade resistors & capacitors'
- 'Ultra-low distortion'


See Michael Fremer (Analog Planet) review (27 Mar '20)
See DAGOGO comparative review.



Further up the range are the John Curl-designed phono stages:

PARASOUND JC 3 Jnr Phono (US$1495) see Michael Fremer (Analog Planet) review in this thread.

PARASOUND JC 3+ Phono (US$2995)

DarkLantern blog - darklanternforowen.wordpress.com

There seems to be a theme going on here (with the Parasound & the iFi ZEN Phono, for example) - Balanced output allows +6dB of Gain compared to the usual RCA single-ended output.

The Parasound Z Phono has both Balanced XLR inputs & outputs. Seems ideal for a 'balanced' source like a phono cartridge. All you need is a 5-pin XLR plug on your tonearm phono IC (+/- for ea channel, plus separate Gnd). Balanced technically offers better noise rejection (never a bad thing with phono).

Question is.... will Balanced input + unBalanced out (to your preamp or integrated amp) provide the 6dB additional Gain?
Or, only when using both Balanced in & out?
EE techs may wish to advise.

DarkLantern blog - darklanternforowen.wordpress.com

Balanced in to balanced out = normal gain.
Balanced in to SE out = -6db.
SE in to SE out = normal gain.
SE in to balanced out = +6db.
But it also depends on the specific circuit, some have fake balanced outputs where the negative phase is actually ground, in which case the gain is the gain above minus 6db. So for SE in to fake balanced out the gain is normal.

AMR-iFi R&D

Thanks colinf - From the Parasound ZRM documentation, I had the (mistaken?) impression That Bal. in to Bal. out would give +6dB Gain, vs SE in to SE out.

" Balanced XLR connections are 6dB louder because the balanced circuit carries twice the voltage. Music will sound noticeably louder than with unbalanced connections. "

DarkLantern blog - darklanternforowen.wordpress.com

These things can become confusing pretty quickly! One needs to know the specifics of the circuit and what it’s connected to to be able to work out the gain in a given situation.

AMR-iFi R&D