iFi Audio

iFi ZEN Air Phono 2 - Phono Preamp

  • iFi ZEN Air Phono 2 phono preamplifier with MM and MC cartridge support for vinyl record playback
  • iFi ZEN Air Phono 2 phono preamplifier with MM and MC cartridge support for vinyl record playback back
  • iFi ZEN Air Phono 2 phono preamplifier with MM and MC cartridge support for vinyl record playback side view
  • iFi ZEN Air Phono 2 phono preamplifier with MM and MC cartridge support for vinyl record playback top view

ZEN AIR PHONO 2

$199.99
$199.99

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Product Overview

Experience your vinyl collection with greater clarity, accuracy, and detail with the iFi ZEN Air Phono 2. Designed to deliver a significant upgrade over built-in phono stages, this compact phono preamplifier combines precise RIAA equalisation, intelligent subsonic filtering, MM/MC cartridge compatibility, and an ultra-low noise floor for a cleaner and more engaging vinyl listening experience.

Ultra-Precise RIAA EQ

The ZEN Air Phono 2 features highly accurate RIAA playback equalisation within an impressive ±0.15dB tolerance from 20Hz to 20kHz. This precision helps ensure faithful, accurate reproduction of your records, preserving the tonal balance and musical detail intended by the original recording engineers.

Intelligent Subsonic Filter

Warped records can introduce unwanted low-frequency rumble during playback. The ZEN Air Phono 2's Intelligent Subsonic Filter is designed to remove the unwanted effects of record warp while retaining the bass frequencies you want to hear. Unlike conventional subsonic filters that can reduce bass, iFi's approach is designed to maintain the full character of your music.

Supports MM and MC Cartridges

Whether your turntable uses a Moving Magnet (MM) or Moving Coil (MC) cartridge, the ZEN Air Phono 2 provides the flexibility you need. Selectable gain modes make it easy to match the phono stage to your cartridge and adapt to different vinyl setups.

Ultra-Low Noise Floor

With an exceptionally low -151dBV Equivalent Input Noise (EIN), the ZEN Air Phono 2 is engineered to minimise unwanted background noise and reveal subtle musical details that can otherwise be masked by the noise floor of a typical phono stage.

Symmetrical Circuit Design

The ZEN Air Phono 2 uses a symmetrical channel layout to help reduce noise and crosstalk while improving channel separation and overall signal performance. The result is a clean, detailed and engaging presentation designed for vinyl enthusiasts.

Key Features

  • Ultra-Precise RIAA EQ: ±0.15dB accuracy from 20Hz to 20kHz
  • Intelligent Subsonic Filter: Removes record warp-related rumble while retaining bass
  • MM & MC Cartridge Support: Compatible with both Moving Magnet and Moving Coil cartridges
  • Ultra-Low Noise Floor: Equivalent Input Noise as low as -151dBV
  • Symmetrical Channel Layout: Designed for reduced noise and improved channel separation
  • Compact Design: Ideal for desktop and hi-fi audio systems

The iFi ZEN Air Phono 2 brings precision phono amplification and audiophile-focused design to your vinyl setup, making it an excellent choice for listeners looking to unlock more detail and accuracy from their record collection.

Specifications

Technical Specifications

  • Frequency Response: 20Hz–20kHz (±0.15dB)
  • Maximum Output Voltage: 6.5V RMS
  • SNR:

    MM: 86dB (A-weighted) re 1V
    MC: 40dB (A-weighted) re 1V
  • EIN (Equivalent Input Noise):

    MM: 6.5nV/√Hz (unweighted); -126dBV (A-weighted)
    MC: 0.6nV/√Hz (unweighted); -146dBV (A-weighted)
  • THD+N:

    MM: <-90dB / 0.005% re 1V
    MC: <-80dB / 0.036% re 1V
  • Power Consumption: <1.8W
  • Dimensions: 158 × 117 × 35mm (6.2 × 4.6 × 1.4")
  • Net Weight: 323g (0.72 lbs)
  • Limited Warranty: 12 months*; 24 months in the EU

Vinyl, Revived

The ZEN Air Phono 2 offers a drastically improved listening experience compared to the built-in phono stages of record players and amplifiers, offering an ultra-low noise floor for enhanced detail, and a precise RIAA EQ for authentic playback, as the artist and engineers intended. 

Our in-house subsonic filter corrects for record warp without removing bass or adding audio artifacts, and adjustable MM and MC gain modes remove the worry of cartridge chouses and compatibility for newcomers.

  • Full Bass. No Rumble.

    Older records can become prone to warping, which introduces
    low-frequency rumble during playback. While subsonic filters are not uncommon in phono stages, they are disliked by enthusiasts as they typically remove bass frequencies while filtering warp.

    Since 2012, we have been solving this problem with our in-house intelligent subsonic filter. We understand how records are cut and replayed, and adjust how the filter treats information from the vertical record in comparison to lateral information. Only record warp is filtered, without attenuating low bass, and without adding group delay.

    The result is an uncompromised listening experience, even on warped records, that retains the full depth of bass that was present in the original recording.

  • Everything Gained

    Turntable cartridges come in two distinct types – Moving Magnet (MM) and Moving Coil (MC). While the goal of both designs is to turn the analogue information on your records into an audio signal, the way they do this is quite different, and each required its own degree of amplification. 

    The ZEN Air Phono 2 is fully compatible with both types of cartridge. Simply switch the gain mode selector on the rear of the ZEN Air Phono 2 to the correct setting for your cartridge, and you’re ready to go. 

  • Ahead Of The Curve

    Vinyl records are cut with Inverse RIAA Equalisation, requiring accurate conversion to ensure authentic playback. This
    conversion from grooves in your recording to the analogue signal feeding your system is a critical moment in the playback process, and a lack of precision can be devastating for the quality of your listening experience. 

    The ZEN Air Phono 2 adopts our incredibly accurate RIAA playback curve, within a remarkable +/-0.15dB tolerance. With this incredible level of accuracy, you can rely on the ZEN Phono 2 to deliver true, accurate music playback, that authentically represents the intent of the original artists and recording engineers. 

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the iFi ZEN Air Phono 2?

The iFi ZEN Air Phono 2 is an entry-level MM/MC phono preamplifier that connects between a turntable and an amplifier to apply RIAA equalization and amplify the cartridge signal to line level. It supports both Moving Magnet and Moving Coil cartridge types, includes iFi's Intelligent Subsonic Filter, and delivers an EIN of 0.6nV/√Hz in MC mode — performance that exceeds many phono stages at significantly higher price points. The iFi ZEN Air Phono 2 is available at Trutone Electronics in Mississauga, Ontario.

What changed between the original iFi ZEN Air Phono and the ZEN Air Phono 2?

The iFi ZEN Air Phono 2 replaces the original's plastic polycarbonate casing with a new midnight-blue metal fascia chassis and introduces a symmetrical left-right channel layout that provides lower noise, higher output, and improved channel separation. Core performance specifications remain unchanged — gain settings at MM 40dB and MC 64dB, RIAA accuracy at ±0.15dB, and the Intelligent Subsonic Filter are all carried over. Dimensions and power requirements are also identical between the two versions.

Does the iFi ZEN Air Phono 2 support Moving Coil cartridges?

The iFi ZEN Air Phono 2 supports both Moving Magnet and Moving Coil cartridges, switchable via a rear-panel gain selector. MM mode applies 40dB of gain for cartridges with outputs of 2mV or higher; MC mode applies 64dB for cartridges below 2mV. MC support at this price point is uncommon, making the ZEN Air Phono 2 a practical choice for listeners who may want to move to an MC cartridge without replacing their phono stage.

What does the Intelligent Subsonic Filter on the iFi ZEN Air Phono 2 do?

The iFi ZEN Air Phono 2 includes iFi's Intelligent Subsonic Filter, which removes low-frequency rumble from warped records without attenuating bass frequencies or introducing group delay. Conventional rumble filters broadly cut everything below a set frequency, removing warp but also bass and punch; iFi's approach distinguishes between the vertical modulation of warp artifacts and the lateral modulation of actual music signal, removing only the interference. In listening tests of the original ZEN Air Phono, engaging the filter on flat records produced no audible change in bass or tonal character.

How does the iFi ZEN Air Phono 2 compare to the iFi ZEN Phono 3?

The iFi ZEN Phono 3 is a meaningfully upgraded model over the ZEN Air Phono 2, with four switchable gain settings spanning 36 to 72dB, a brushed aluminium chassis, an internal balanced circuit with a 4.4mm Pentaconn balanced output, and component-level improvements from iFi's AMR Audio sister brand. The ZEN Air Phono 2 offers two gain settings only and RCA-only outputs, making it the right choice for listeners with standard MM or medium-to-high-output MC cartridges. The ZEN Phono 3 suits listeners with very-low-output MC cartridges, those wanting a balanced output, or those building a higher-specification analog front end. Both are available at Trutone Electronics in Mississauga, Ontario.

Is the iFi ZEN Air Phono 2 a meaningful upgrade over a built-in phono stage?

The iFi ZEN Air Phono 2 offers a consistently audible improvement over the built-in phono stages found in most budget turntables and mid-priced receivers. Built-in stages typically produce higher noise floors, less accurate RIAA equalization, and more coloration; the ZEN Air Phono 2's EIN of 0.6nV/√Hz and RIAA accuracy within ±0.15dB bring performance that rivals phono stages at two to three times its price. Users and reviewers consistently found the external iFi stage revealed more ambient detail, tighter bass, and cleaner vocals compared to built-in phono stages.

Does the iFi ZEN Air Phono 2 include a power adapter?

The iFi ZEN Air Phono 2 is powered by a standard 5V USB-A connection and ships with a USB to DC cable, but does not include a wall charger. Any standard phone charger with a USB-A port at 5V/1A or higher is compatible. Some users found that powering it from a USB power bank produced slightly lower background noise than a standard wall adapter, as a well-filtered power bank eliminates mains-borne electrical noise from the power supply.

What is the RIAA equalization accuracy of the iFi ZEN Air Phono 2 and why does it matter?

The iFi ZEN Air Phono 2 applies RIAA playback equalization within ±0.15dB from 20Hz to 20kHz, which is extremely precise for a phono stage at any price point. Inaccurate RIAA implementation produces records that sound tonally imbalanced with too much or too little bass or treble. Independent measurement of the original ZEN Air Phono by Audio Science Review confirmed the RIAA curve was implemented accurately, placing it on their recommended list specifically for this attribute.

Can the iFi ZEN Air Phono 2 be used with any turntable?

The iFi ZEN Air Phono 2 is compatible with virtually any turntable that has standard RCA audio outputs and a ground terminal. Turntables with a built-in phono stage can bypass it by switching it off or connecting via the line-level output rather than the phono output. MM cartridges with outputs of 2mV or higher use the MM gain setting; MC cartridges below 2mV use the MC setting.

How does the symmetrical channel layout in the iFi ZEN Air Phono 2 benefit sound quality?

The iFi ZEN Air Phono 2 uses a symmetrical left-right channel circuit layout where components for each stereo channel are mirrored across the PCB, reducing crosstalk, minimizing noise coupling, and improving channel separation measured at greater than 75dB at 1kHz. iFi describes this approach as providing similar benefits to a fully balanced circuit without requiring balanced connectors. The practical result is a wider, more precisely separated stereo image and a lower noise floor.