--- product_id: 315788335 title: "USB Phono Plus" brand: "art" price: "£113.89" currency: GBP in_stock: true reviews_count: 5 category: "Art" url: https://www.desertcart.co.uk/products/315788335-usb-phono-plus store_origin: GB region: United Kingdom --- # Zero-latency headphone monitoring for perfect cueing USB 2.0 adaptive & async modes for seamless digital transfer 45dB max gain for pristine vinyl clarity USB Phono Plus **Brand:** art **Price:** £113.89 **Availability:** ✅ In Stock ## Summary > 🎶 Elevate your vinyl game—digitize, monitor, and vibe like a pro! ## Quick Answers - **What is this?** USB Phono Plus by art - **How much does it cost?** £113.89 with free shipping - **Is it available?** Yes, in stock and ready to ship - **Where can I buy it?** [www.desertcart.co.uk](https://www.desertcart.co.uk/products/315788335-usb-phono-plus) ## Best For - art enthusiasts ## Why This Product - Trusted art brand quality - Free international shipping included - Worldwide delivery with tracking - 15-day hassle-free returns ## Key Features - • **Pro-Level Monitoring:** Front-panel headphone output with zero latency lets you cue and monitor your audio in real-time, eliminating guesswork during transfers. - • **Sleek, Durable Design:** All-aluminum black anodized chassis combines professional aesthetics with rugged durability for the modern audiophile’s desk. - • **Vinyl to Digital Mastery:** Effortlessly digitize your vinyl collection with a high-precision, low-noise RIAA phono preamp that preserves every rich detail. - • **Seamless USB Connectivity:** Plug-and-play USB 2.0 interface ensures hassle-free setup with Windows and Mac—no drivers needed, just pure audio magic. - • **Versatile Analog & Digital I/O:** Includes Optical TOSLINK and S/PDIF inputs/outputs for flexible integration with both vintage and modern audio gear. ## Overview The ART USB Phono Plus is a premium USB phono preamp and audio interface designed for audiophiles and professionals looking to digitize vinyl records with exceptional clarity. Featuring a low-noise RIAA preamp, zero-latency headphone monitoring, and versatile analog/digital inputs including Optical TOSLINK and S/PDIF, it offers seamless plug-and-play USB 2.0 connectivity compatible with Windows and Mac systems. Housed in a sleek aluminum case, it delivers professional-grade sound quality and durable build for effortless vinyl-to-digital transfers and high-fidelity playback. ## Description USB Phono Plus Project Series. The USB Phono Plus from ART is the ideal solution for transferring your highly prized vinyl collection to your computer or laptop, and also works great as an audio interface between og and digital sources. The built in low-noise RIAA phono pre-amp circuit features low cut filters (to remove rumble and noise) that will help achieve clean transfers. Front-mounted n control and Signal/Clip LED allows easy optimization of a wide range of og input sources. The USB Monitor/headphone provides zero latency monitoring of the input source for easy cueing. The USB Phono Plus can also act as audio playback source for any USB equipped computer or laptop. Optical TOSLINK input and output as well as an S/PDIF input make the USB Phono Plus an ideal og / digital audio to USB interface as well. Housed in an all aluminum black anodized case, the USB Phono Plus can be powered by either external power supply or directly via USB port. To ensure maximum versatility, the USB Phono Plus is fully compliant with the USB 2.0 specification and uses USB adaptive mode for playback and USB asynchronous mode for record. It will work with Windows 98SE/ME/2000/XP/Vista/7 USB audio device drivers as well as Apple OS9.1/OS-X computers with native USB support. Review: I have a collection of over 500 LP's that I love to listen to while I digitize them. The ART USB Phono Plus is the perfect tool for just that job. Previously I used a McLelland USB Preamp interface for this purpose. This kit really needed to be replaced as it was showing its age, both from a design and deterioration perspective. I am truly amazed at how much better the ART USB Phono Plus sounds compared to the McLelland or any other Pre-Amplifier I have used. The ART USB Phono Plus has a wonderfully open, rich and detailed sound (and I speak as someone who worked in HiFi sales back in the day). Setup could not have been simpler with no driver installation needed on my Windows 11 computer. It even looks good in the flesh. Highly recommended. Review: My goal: to convert vinyl records into CDs. After looking at the available USB turntables, I realized my old Technics linear tracking turntable is way better than any of them. So the solution for me was to buy a USB interface, which, it turns out, means a USB phono preamp. I did some comparison shopping before buying the ART Phono Plus 2. There are a couple of similar products. One in particular has good specs. It claims USB 2.0, whereas the Phono Plus 2 only claims USB 1.1. However, that unit made no claim to having a monitor output, whereas the Phono Plus has quite a nice monitor interface. In particular, it lets you monitor the sound coming right off the preamp. This is necessary if you want to do any manual fading when recording, because the sound coming out the computer speakers has at least a 2 second delay from what's coming off the needle. The Phono Plus has a screw connection for the phono ground. Neither of the other units mentioned having this. On my turntable, leaving the ground wire floating creates a large amount of 60Hz hum in the output. Finally, although the ART is the most expensive of the three, almost twice the cost of the second, and three times that of the third, I found absolutely no reviews of any kind of the other two, whereas the ART has been reviewed extensively, both by customers and magazines. And everyone, including me, loves it. This is a well-built unit, from a durability standpoint, definitely not a cheap piece of junk. Ergonomically, it has some down points, as well as some good ones. Plusses: . Monitor allows routing from the preamp, from the USB, or both. (The rationale for the "both" setting is that you will never be playing a record and a digital sound file at the same time, so it allows you to hear either without having to change the switch setting.) . There is a block diagram of the internal signal routing on the bottom of the unit, which could prove valuable if it is used portably. . The unit will run off USB power when hooked to a desktop computer. For portable laptop operation, plugging in the A/C power adapter (included) overrides USB power, preventing drain on laptop batteries. Minuses: . Gain control has too small a diameter to be easily moved small amounts, like you need to do in the Level Setting Wizard in Spin-It-Again. . Jacks and ports on the back are labeled either in pine green or purple. All are virtually illegible. I had to use a magnifying glass and a flashlight to see where to hook up my turntable to it. It's hard to read the Phono/Line and Rumble Filter In/Out labels. But each has a light that lights up when the button is pressed, so at least you can easily tell what state the button is in, even if you can't tell what it means. I was very surprised that in a unit this expensive, no USB cable was included. It requires the "printer" type, with a square connector on the preamp end and a flat rectangular connector on the computer end. With my computer powered on, I plugged in the USB cable from the Phono Plus. Lights on the preamp lit up! In a couple of minutes, everything was magically configured. I didn't have to do or install anything. However, as I discovered later, this process "broke" my computer speakers. No sound would come out of them any more at all, from any source! I had to go into Settings -> Control Panel -> Sounds and Audio Devices, Audio tab, and change the Default Device back to my on-board sound. Hooking up the Phono Plus had changed this so all sound was routed through the USB back to the preamp! This includes the Windows startup music, and the "beep" that occurs when you hit a wrong key. (I am using Windows XP, the most basic Home Edition.) When I was comparison shopping, I was unable to find the specs for this unit, even on the manufacturer's web site, so I thought I'd post them here. Frequency Response: 10Hz - 50kHz, +/- 0.5dB THD: .01% Typical @ 1kHz Hum and Noise: >90dB below clipping Input Impedance: 47k Ohms/100pF (phono); 270k Ohms (line) Maximum Input Level: 40mVrms @ 1kHz (phono); +19dBu (line) Maximum Gain: 45dB @1kHz (phono); +6dB (line) Analog Output Connections: RCA (preamp line output); 1/8" (monitor/headphone output) Maximum Output Level: +6dBu (1.4Vrms) Filter Type/Response: Switchable, High Pass, -3dB @ 22Hz A/D & D/A: 16 bit, 44.1kHz or 48kHz, USB selectable Digital Audio Interface: TOSLINK in and out; S/PDIF coax (RCA) in Computer Interface: USB 1.2 compliant, Windows 98SE or newer, Mac OS9.1 or newer Power Requirements: 7-12VDC or 9-12VAC @ 150mA, or USB bus powered Dimensions: 1.75"H x 4.2"W x 3.5"D (44.5mm x 107mm x 89mm) Weight: 1.35 lbs. (0.61kg) (Note: 0dBu = 0.775Vrms) Additional spec-type information: . Uses USB adaptive mode for playback and USB asynchronous mode for record. . Preamp equalization is RIAA (although no spec or version number is given). . Although I bought it to use with my turntable, it is also quite possible to digitize cassette tapes with it, using the Line inputs. It comes with Audacity software on a CD-ROM. Using the Phono Plus is extremely simple. Basically, hook up the two phono outputs and the phono ground wire. Hook up the USB cable to the computer. At this point, fire up Spin-It-Again, hit Record A Vinyl LP, put a record on the turntable, and you're converting a record into a CD! ## Features - The USB monitor/headphone does not provide latency monitoring of input source for easy cueing - Front mounted gain control and signal/clip LED allow for easy optimization of a variety of analog input sources - The USB phonoplusps can also serve as an audio playback source for any USB equipped computer or laptop - Optical Toslink input and output as well as an S/PDIF input make the USB phonoplusps an ideal analog/digital audio to USB interface - The built-in low-noise phono preamp circuit is high precision and precisely meets the riaaa standard ## Technical Specifications | Specification | Value | |---------------|-------| | ASIN | B000BBGCCI | | Additional Features | Eingebaute rauscharme RIAA Phono-Vorverstärkerschaltung mit Low Cut Filtern | | Best Sellers Rank | #6,422 in Electronics ( See Top 100 in Electronics ) #1 in Home Audio Phono Preamplifiers | | Brand | ART | | Built-In Media | ["RCA Input", "USB Port"] | | Color | Black | | Compatible Devices | Headphone, Laptop | | Connectivity Technology | USB | | Customer Reviews | 4.3 4.3 out of 5 stars (384) | | Cycles | DC Motor | | Enclosure Material | Aluminum | | Global Trade Identification Number | 00840402019527 | | Item Dimensions L x W x H | 29L x 29.7W x 11.9H centimeters | | Item Weight | 0.61 Kilograms | | Manufacturer | ART | | Maximum Rotational Speed | 45 RPM | | Mfr Part Number | USB Phono Plus PS | | Model Name | USBPhonoPlus v2 | | Model Number | USB Phono Plus PS | | Power Source | Corded Electric | | Signal-to-Noise Ratio | 60 dB | | Style Name | Modern | | UPC | 840402018216 840402019527 840402016465 | | Unit Count | 1 Count | | Voltage | 240 Volts | ## Product Details - **Brand:** ART - **Included components:** ["RCA Input", "USB Port"] - **Material:** Aluminum - **Maximum rotational speed:** 45 RPM - **Special features:** Eingebaute rauscharme RIAA Phono-Vorverstärkerschaltung mit Low Cut Filtern ## Images ![USB Phono Plus - Image 1](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/7104dKZPs9L.jpg) ## Questions & Answers **Q: Can this be used as an improved DAC over laptop's to send music to my receiver from my hard drive.** A: For this device, the direction of signal flow is from the low signal level analogue domain (vinyl/LP/phono) to the digital domain (USB/Optical). Thus, this ART unit is not a Digital-to-Analog(ue) Converter (the "DAC" sort of unit which you specify) but its "opposite" an "ADC" (Analogue-to-Digital Converter). This unit is also a phono preamplifier which boosts the low voltage signal from the moving magnet or moving coil phonograph pickup to higher "line level" in order to drive a subsequent (in the signal path) separate amplifier--or to supplement a hi-fi receiver or preamp lacking (as is often the case) a phono input. In other words, this ART is primarily a phono preamplifier--something to supply gain (amplification) to drive headphones or the just mentioned follow-on analog(ue) audio switching, processing, or amplifying units. You might think of this ART USB Phono Plus as a tidy little combination of two functions: (1) Phono Preamp/Headphone Monitoring Amplifier and (2) ADC (Analog to Digital USB or Optical). By the way, this unit is at least the equal of anything else in its price range with respect to preserving the audio signal quality. It is capable of passing the usable dynamic range of which LPs are capable without the compression mentioned by another person answering your question... and without adding distortion you are likely to be able to hear considering the masking effects of the much larger combined distortions which are inherent to the recording and playback medium that is vinyl (e.g., the "LP" phonograph record). (There are many who disagree with this last point, however.)Finally, the quality or fidelity of the music or other sound which you play "off" your computer's hard drive can be no better than the quality of the original signal encoded in digital format to your hard drive. If you have high bit-rate, high definition source material (CD quality or better) on your hard drive, the sound processor chip on your laptop's motherboard is almost certainly going to degrade that signal by contaminating it with noise and compromising its dynamic range (or degrade other aspects of the signal as well). If high quality sound output from high quality source material is your goal, then you'd do better to use a high quality "soundcard" (installed in desktop computer OR use an "outboard" soundcard (i.e., a so-called "audio interface"). ASUS makes a fine soundcard for the consumer market (http://www.amazon.com/PCI-Express-XONAR-ESSENCE-STX-90-YAA0C0-0UAN00Z/dp/B001OV789U/ref=sr_1_2?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1422964422&sr=1-2&keywords=asus+sound+card+xonar) but be sure to read the review comments to get the installation right from the get-go on Windows machines. If you are an audiophile, you can find computer soundcards costing almost 10 times what the ASUS does... but not sounding appreciably better. As far as the external audio interfaces go, there are many excellent, quite affordable (from $100-$500... or more, of course) devices aimed at musicians and recordists for use in their semi-pro (or pro) home studios. These days, in a given price range, the digital signal processing chips used in these devices are either the same or very close cousins of one another (sourcing from just a few chip makers). You can see that in how close the specs are between brands and models in a given range. Thus, the differences in price often have more to do with features and flexibility (e.g., numbers and types of inputs and outputs), build quality and best engineering practices, and, of course, "brand reputation"--than the fundamental parameters. **Q: is this the ART USB 2.0 Phono Plus Project Series (which is the current model)??** A: Mine is Project series and manual clearly says it is BOTH USB 1.1 and 2. However, no A/C power came with it (one reviewer said his did). Mine also came with USB cable (one reviewer said his didn't). Mine does have a volume on the Monitor Output, so (according to one reviewer) that makes it the v2 (new) version. Order mine late May, 2014. **Q: Recently SoundSaver Express app started to hang with the (Not Responding) window pop up. Removed/reinstalled and same thing happened. Any advice?** A: I wasn't able to install Soundsaver on my iMac, plus there is no support available anywhere. Get Audacity, it's free and works just fine. **Q: Will this accommodate moving coil or moving magnet phone inputs?** A: No. Typically, a moving coil cartridge puts out a much lower level signal (albeit a more accurate one), and usually requires a preamp with some switching capability between a standard level and the MMC level. This unit does not have that feature ## Customer Reviews ### ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Review *by T***R on 24 October 2024* I have a collection of over 500 LP's that I love to listen to while I digitize them. The ART USB Phono Plus is the perfect tool for just that job. Previously I used a McLelland USB Preamp interface for this purpose. This kit really needed to be replaced as it was showing its age, both from a design and deterioration perspective. I am truly amazed at how much better the ART USB Phono Plus sounds compared to the McLelland or any other Pre-Amplifier I have used. The ART USB Phono Plus has a wonderfully open, rich and detailed sound (and I speak as someone who worked in HiFi sales back in the day). Setup could not have been simpler with no driver installation needed on my Windows 11 computer. It even looks good in the flesh. Highly recommended. ### ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Review *by R***4 on 21 July 2008* My goal: to convert vinyl records into CDs. After looking at the available USB turntables, I realized my old Technics linear tracking turntable is way better than any of them. So the solution for me was to buy a USB interface, which, it turns out, means a USB phono preamp. I did some comparison shopping before buying the ART Phono Plus 2. There are a couple of similar products. One in particular has good specs. It claims USB 2.0, whereas the Phono Plus 2 only claims USB 1.1. However, that unit made no claim to having a monitor output, whereas the Phono Plus has quite a nice monitor interface. In particular, it lets you monitor the sound coming right off the preamp. This is necessary if you want to do any manual fading when recording, because the sound coming out the computer speakers has at least a 2 second delay from what's coming off the needle. The Phono Plus has a screw connection for the phono ground. Neither of the other units mentioned having this. On my turntable, leaving the ground wire floating creates a large amount of 60Hz hum in the output. Finally, although the ART is the most expensive of the three, almost twice the cost of the second, and three times that of the third, I found absolutely no reviews of any kind of the other two, whereas the ART has been reviewed extensively, both by customers and magazines. And everyone, including me, loves it. This is a well-built unit, from a durability standpoint, definitely not a cheap piece of junk. Ergonomically, it has some down points, as well as some good ones. Plusses: . Monitor allows routing from the preamp, from the USB, or both. (The rationale for the "both" setting is that you will never be playing a record and a digital sound file at the same time, so it allows you to hear either without having to change the switch setting.) . There is a block diagram of the internal signal routing on the bottom of the unit, which could prove valuable if it is used portably. . The unit will run off USB power when hooked to a desktop computer. For portable laptop operation, plugging in the A/C power adapter (included) overrides USB power, preventing drain on laptop batteries. Minuses: . Gain control has too small a diameter to be easily moved small amounts, like you need to do in the Level Setting Wizard in Spin-It-Again. . Jacks and ports on the back are labeled either in pine green or purple. All are virtually illegible. I had to use a magnifying glass and a flashlight to see where to hook up my turntable to it. It's hard to read the Phono/Line and Rumble Filter In/Out labels. But each has a light that lights up when the button is pressed, so at least you can easily tell what state the button is in, even if you can't tell what it means. I was very surprised that in a unit this expensive, no USB cable was included. It requires the "printer" type, with a square connector on the preamp end and a flat rectangular connector on the computer end. With my computer powered on, I plugged in the USB cable from the Phono Plus. Lights on the preamp lit up! In a couple of minutes, everything was magically configured. I didn't have to do or install anything. However, as I discovered later, this process "broke" my computer speakers. No sound would come out of them any more at all, from any source! I had to go into Settings -> Control Panel -> Sounds and Audio Devices, Audio tab, and change the Default Device back to my on-board sound. Hooking up the Phono Plus had changed this so all sound was routed through the USB back to the preamp! This includes the Windows startup music, and the "beep" that occurs when you hit a wrong key. (I am using Windows XP, the most basic Home Edition.) When I was comparison shopping, I was unable to find the specs for this unit, even on the manufacturer's web site, so I thought I'd post them here. Frequency Response: 10Hz - 50kHz, +/- 0.5dB THD: .01% Typical @ 1kHz Hum and Noise: >90dB below clipping Input Impedance: 47k Ohms/100pF (phono); 270k Ohms (line) Maximum Input Level: 40mVrms @ 1kHz (phono); +19dBu (line) Maximum Gain: 45dB @1kHz (phono); +6dB (line) Analog Output Connections: RCA (preamp line output); 1/8" (monitor/headphone output) Maximum Output Level: +6dBu (1.4Vrms) Filter Type/Response: Switchable, High Pass, -3dB @ 22Hz A/D & D/A: 16 bit, 44.1kHz or 48kHz, USB selectable Digital Audio Interface: TOSLINK in and out; S/PDIF coax (RCA) in Computer Interface: USB 1.2 compliant, Windows 98SE or newer, Mac OS9.1 or newer Power Requirements: 7-12VDC or 9-12VAC @ 150mA, or USB bus powered Dimensions: 1.75"H x 4.2"W x 3.5"D (44.5mm x 107mm x 89mm) Weight: 1.35 lbs. (0.61kg) (Note: 0dBu = 0.775Vrms) Additional spec-type information: . Uses USB adaptive mode for playback and USB asynchronous mode for record. . Preamp equalization is RIAA (although no spec or version number is given). . Although I bought it to use with my turntable, it is also quite possible to digitize cassette tapes with it, using the Line inputs. It comes with Audacity software on a CD-ROM. Using the Phono Plus is extremely simple. Basically, hook up the two phono outputs and the phono ground wire. Hook up the USB cable to the computer. At this point, fire up Spin-It-Again, hit Record A Vinyl LP, put a record on the turntable, and you're converting a record into a CD! ### ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Review *by C***N on 10 June 2020* Je souhaitais numériser mes vinyles. Franchement, associé au logiciel audacity, ce système est vraiment facile à utiliser et de très bonne qualité acoustique. Il faut appliquer le filtre RIAA disponible dans ce joli système dans le boîtier alu. Je recommande ## Frequently Bought Together - ART USB Phono Plus - Vinyl Buddy Ultimate 5-Piece Vinyl Record Cleaning Kit | with Real Hardwood Brushes – Includes: Record Cleaner, Pro Velvet Brush, Microfiber Brush & Stylus Cleaner – Clean, Protect & Restore Your LPs --- ## Why Shop on Desertcart? - 🛒 **Trusted by 1.3+ Million Shoppers** — Serving international shoppers since 2016 - 🌍 **Shop Globally** — Access 737+ million products across 21 categories - 💰 **No Hidden Fees** — All customs, duties, and taxes included in the price - 🔄 **15-Day Free Returns** — Hassle-free returns (30 days for PRO members) - 🔒 **Secure Payments** — Trusted payment options with buyer protection - ⭐ **TrustPilot Rated 4.5/5** — Based on 8,000+ happy customer reviews **Shop now:** [https://www.desertcart.co.uk/products/315788335-usb-phono-plus](https://www.desertcart.co.uk/products/315788335-usb-phono-plus) --- *Product available on Desertcart United Kingdom* *Store origin: GB* *Last updated: 2026-05-18*