I had a chance to insert one of these into my system for a couple of sessions, when I was setting up the Rega 3 with Sumiko Pearl.







This is an excellent all-round MM phono stage - with good tonal bandwidth & balance, 'agile' dynamics (it wouldn't be Rega if it didn't have some 'verve').

Punchy bass, 'open' sound & some depth evident (even with the Rega Planar).

General tone colour, 'timbres' were a little less rich, leaner, of course than my tube phono - and as a result, the Fono can seem 'fresher,' arguably clearer (eg. instrumental lines).

OTOH , bass was less 'rich', warm & weighty. And maybe the treble end was also a bit less extended than the no-holds-barred tube phono.

So, overall, this is impressive value IMHO. (NZ$249, UK£198, now in MKII version.)

DarkLantern blog - darklanternforowen.wordpress.com

Jan 29, 2017 17:44:26 GMT 12 Owen Y said:

I had a chance to insert one of these into my system for a couple of sessions, when I was setting up the Rega 3 with Sumiko Pearl.







This is an excellent all-round MM phono stage - with good tonal bandwidth & balance, 'agile' dynamics (it wouldn't be Rega if it didn't have some 'verve').

Punchy bass, 'open' sound & some depth evident (even with the Rega Planar).

General tone colour, 'timbres' were a little less rich, leaner, of course than my tube phono - and as a result, the Fono can seem 'fresher,' arguably clearer (eg. instrumental lines).

OTOH , bass was less 'rich', warm & weighty. And maybe the treble end was also a bit less extended than the no-holds-barred tube phono.

So, overall, this is impressive value IMHO. (NZ$249, UK£198, now in MKII version.)

As a former REGA dealer in the UK, I would say you have summarised the REGA philosophy, sound and product range.
Very cheap in New Zealand, based on the prices you have quoted. 

I am a non-recovering audioholic, and Ivor is my higher power.

Oh good.
It looks like its now $400-450 in NZ - the current model.

DarkLantern blog - darklanternforowen.wordpress.com