Audiolab
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Specs
| Type | Moving magnet and moving coil phono preamplifier with headphone amplifier |
| Cartridge support | MM and MC |
| MM capacitance | Selectable, 100 pF or 220 pF |
| MC loading | Selectable, 100 ohms or 330 ohms |
| Headphone amplifier | Dedicated current feedback design |
| Display | 33 mm OLED |
| Bluetooth | 5.3 transmitter with aptX HD, sends audio out to wireless headphones or speakers |
| USB recording | USB-C, up to 24 bit / 192 kHz to a PC or Mac |
| Power supply | Regulated, with low noise analogue circuitry |
| Chassis | Aluminium |
| Remote control | Included |
| Finishes | Black or Silver |
| Dimensions (H x W x D) | 2.2 x 8.2 x 7.1 in |
| Weight | 3.1 lbs |
| Design and engineering | United Kingdom |
Warranty
Sold as an authorized Audiolab dealer by All Elite Audio. New Audiolab PPA7 units include the full Audiolab manufacturer warranty of 3 years parts and labor for the original owner. Contact us with any setup or service questions and we will handle it with the distributor for you.
What’s in the Box
- Audiolab PPA7 phono preamplifier
- Remote control
- Power supply
- Documentation
Overview
The PPA7 is Audiolab returning to the thing that made its name. The 8000PPA, launched in the late eighties, is still the phono stage people quote when they talk about British analogue engineering on a sensible budget, and the PPA7 draws directly on it. What has changed is everything around the phono stage. This one handles moving magnet and moving coil, drives headphones properly, transmits over Bluetooth, and records your records to a computer at 24 bit and 192 kHz, out of a box that takes up about as much shelf space as a hardback book.
The phono section is the part that matters, and it is built the way Audiolab builds things: low noise analogue circuitry fed by a regulated supply, with the adjustments you actually need rather than a wall of switches. Moving magnet cartridges get a choice of 100 pF or 220 pF capacitance, and moving coils get 100 ohms or 330 ohms of loading. Between them those four settings cover the overwhelming majority of cartridges sold, including every Ortofon 2M and most of the Quintet and MC X range, and getting the loading right is the difference between a cartridge sounding tipped up or sounding correct.
The headphone output is a dedicated current feedback amplifier, not an afterthought tapped off the line stage, which makes the PPA7 a complete late night listening system on its own: turntable in, headphones out, nothing else switched on. The 33 mm OLED display shows what you have selected without lighting up the room, and a remote is in the box, which is rare at this size.
Two modern additions earn their place. The Bluetooth 5.3 transmitter with aptX HD sends the signal out to wireless headphones or a wireless speaker, so a record can follow you into the kitchen. And USB-C recording at up to 24 bit / 192 kHz lets you archive a record to a PC or Mac at genuinely high resolution, which is the reason a lot of people buy a phono stage with a USB port and then find it only records at 48 kHz. This one does not.
Key Features
- MM and MC phono stage built on Audiolab's low noise analogue circuitry and a regulated power supply
- Selectable MM capacitance, 100 pF or 220 pF, for matching moving magnet cartridges
- Selectable MC loading, 100 ohms or 330 ohms, for matching moving coil cartridges
- Dedicated current feedback headphone amplifier, not a tap off the line output
- Bluetooth 5.3 transmitter with aptX HD, for sending vinyl to wireless headphones or speakers
- USB-C recording to a PC or Mac at up to 24 bit and 192 kHz, for archiving records
- 33 mm OLED display
- Remote control included
- Aluminium chassis in black or silver
- Compact at 8.2 inches wide and 3.1 lbs, so it fits beside a turntable or on a desk
- Designed and engineered in the United Kingdom
How the PPA7 Compares
Where the PPA7 sits against the other standalone phono stage we carry at a similar price.
Audiolab PPA7 vs Parasound ZPhono XRM
The Parasound is the more adjustable pure phono stage, with continuously variable MC loading from 50 to 1050 ohms, more gain settings, balanced outputs and a subsonic filter. If the phono stage is all you want and you own an unusual cartridge, it is the more flexible tool. The PPA7 answers a different question: it has the loading settings most cartridges actually need, and then adds a real headphone amplifier, a Bluetooth transmitter and 24 bit / 192 kHz USB recording. Buy the Parasound to feed an amplifier. Buy the PPA7 if you also want to listen on headphones, send a record to wireless speakers, or archive your vinyl.
Turntables and Amplifiers It Works With
A phono stage only matters in context. These are the turntables and amplifiers we carry that it suits, and the cartridge loading it was designed around.
Audiolab 6000A MKII
The 6000A has a moving magnet stage of its own, so the PPA7 is the upgrade path when you move to a moving coil cartridge, or when you want the headphone amplifier and the recording output.
Audiolab 7000A
Same family, same understated look, and the PPA7 stacks neatly beside it rather than under it given its smaller footprint.
Audio-Technica AT-LP8X
A manual belt drive deck that ships with a moving magnet cartridge, which lands squarely in the PPA7's 100 pF and 220 pF capacitance settings.
Thorens TD 1500
A deck people keep for decades and re-cartridge more than once. The PPA7 covers both the MM it may arrive with and the moving coil you fit later.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Audiolab PPA7?
It is a compact phono preamplifier for moving magnet and moving coil cartridges, with a dedicated headphone amplifier, a Bluetooth transmitter and USB recording built in. Audiolab designed it in the United Kingdom, drawing on their long running 8000PPA phono stage.
Does it work with both MM and MC cartridges?
Yes. It handles moving magnet and moving coil, and you select which on the unit. That matters because a moving coil puts out a fraction of the signal a moving magnet does and needs far more gain.
What loading options does it have?
Moving magnet cartridges can be set to 100 pF or 220 pF of capacitance. Moving coils can be loaded at 100 ohms or 330 ohms. Those four settings cover the great majority of cartridges on sale.
Why does cartridge loading matter?
Loading affects the frequency response at the top end. A moving magnet that wants 100 pF and gets far more will sound dull, and a moving coil loaded wrongly can sound thin or bright. Setting it correctly is the cheapest improvement most vinyl systems can make.
Will it match my cartridge?
Tell us which cartridge you have and we will confirm. The settings cover every Ortofon 2M, most of the Quintet and MC X ranges, and the cartridges fitted to the turntables we sell. If you have something unusual we will say so rather than sell you the wrong box.
Does it have a headphone output?
Yes, and it is a dedicated current feedback headphone amplifier rather than a line output with a socket on it. With a turntable connected, the PPA7 is a complete headphone listening system on its own.
What is the Bluetooth for?
It is a transmitter, not a receiver. The PPA7 sends audio out over Bluetooth 5.3 with aptX HD, so you can play a record through wireless headphones or a wireless speaker. It does not receive Bluetooth from a phone.
Can I record my records with it?
Yes. The USB-C output records to a PC or Mac at up to 24 bit and 192 kHz. Many phono stages with a USB port cap out far lower, so if archiving your collection properly matters, this is the specification to check.
What software do I need to record?
Any audio recording application that accepts a USB audio input will work on Windows or macOS. We are happy to walk you through a setup when you collect it.
Is there a display?
Yes, a 33 mm OLED display that shows the selected input and settings. It is bright enough to read and dim enough not to light up a dark room.
Does it come with a remote?
Yes, a remote control is included, which is unusual on a phono stage this size.
How big is it?
2.2 inches high, 8.2 inches wide and 7.1 inches deep, weighing 3.1 lbs. It sits beside a turntable or on a desk rather than needing a rack shelf.
What finishes are available?
Black or silver, in an aluminium chassis, matching the rest of the current Audiolab range.
How does it compare to the old 8000PPA?
The 8000PPA is the phono stage this one is descended from, and the analogue thinking carries over. The PPA7 adds moving coil loading options, the headphone amplifier, Bluetooth transmission and high resolution USB recording, in a much smaller chassis.
Do I still need a phono input on my amplifier?
No, and that is the point. The PPA7 outputs at line level, so it connects to any spare line input, which is useful because many modern amplifiers have dropped their phono stages.
Will it improve on the phono stage built into my amplifier?
Usually, yes, especially on amplifiers where the phono stage is a small part of a crowded board. A separate stage with its own regulated supply has an easier job staying quiet, and quiet is most of what a phono stage does.
Can I use it at a desk?
Yes. Its size, the headphone amplifier and the USB output make it a natural desktop phono stage, which is how a lot of people use it.
Where is it made?
Audiolab designs and engineers its products in the United Kingdom and manufactures them in a custom built facility.
What is the warranty?
Three years parts and labor for the original owner, through Audiolab's US distributor. We open any claim for you.
Why buy from All Elite Audio?
We are an authorized Audiolab dealer, so your PPA7 carries its full manufacturer warranty and we handle service directly. We will also set the loading for your actual cartridge before you take it home, which is the part most people never get around to.
