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Rega Fono MC MK4 Disk Stage Phono Preamplifier

Rega Fono MC MK4 Disk Stage Phono Preamplifier

Rega Fono MC MK4 Disk Stage Phono Preamplifier

Reference:

2660

Condition:

New

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€382.50 (tax incl.)

Available for immediate shipping.

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Brand:

Rega

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Description

The Fono MC MK4 is an exceptionally high quality MC phono stage designed to maximise the potential of any low output MC cartridge. Although specifically designed to compliment the latest Rega range of moving coils you will find full adjustability for gain and loading via dip switches conveniently placed on the rear panel making the Fono MC MK4 compatible with a wide range of low output MC cartridges. Now housed in a brand new redesigned case to match the new Fono MM MK5 and Neo MK2 and Rega’s latest range of electronic components offering a modern look guaranteed to integrate in to any hi-fi system.

Product Details

The Fono MC MK4 has been designed to be effective, easy to use, and above all, to reproduce music. The Fono MC MK4 uses the Linear Systems low noise LSK389 FET in an all discrete input stage where low noise and linearity are vitally important to get the best from an MC cartridge. Because of the high input impedance of FET, the loading effects of the amplifier circuit are minuscule and do not affect the performance of the cartridge.

A MUSE operational amplifier is used in the RIAA equalization amplifier. Polypropylene capacitors have been used in the signal path and in the RIAA equalization circuits. There is selectable input loading for both resistance and capacitance along with two different gain settings located on the back panel making the Fono MC MK4 compatible with most low output MC cartridges. The new Fono MC MK4 circuit resulted from the development work carried out on the hugely successful Aria phono amplifier.

The aesthetic design of the Fono MC MK4 was as important as the quality of its electrical capabilities, so it benefits from the same new aluminium case as the Rega Neo MK2 PSU and Fono MM MK5 phono stage, giving it a design which offers a familiar feel and moreover brings it in line with its illustrious bigger brothers.

Technical Specification

The Fono disk stage is designed to amplify the signal from a moving coil cartridge to a level which can feed into a 200mV line level input on a standard hi-fi amplifier.

Specifications

Output impedance = 200Ω
Recommended minimum output load resistance = 5K
Frequency response (50KΩ output load) = 13Hz (-3dB) to 100KHz (-0.3dB)
RIAA accuracy (50KΩ output load) = Better than +/-0.2dB 100Hz to 100KHz
Power requirements = 24V AC at 150mA maximum. Only to be used with Rega PS1.

Input sensitivity (for 200mV output)

4 off = 133uV
4 on = 67uV

Input loading resistance

1 and 2 off = 400Ω
1 on = 100Ω
2 on = 150Ω
1 and 2 on = 70Ω

Input loading capacitance

3 off = 1000pF
3 on = 4300pF
Gain (at 1KHz)
4 off = 63.5dB
4 on = 69.5dB

Maximum input level (at 1KHz)

4 off = 6.7mV
4 on = 3.4mV

Load settings for adjustable MC stages

Impedance -100ohm
Capacitance - 1000pF
Gain setting - High ('On' position for Rega phono stages)

Fono MC dip switches settings below (factory set at Rega for Rega MC models)

You can read an online multilingual manual about MC-MK4, please click here.

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Product Details

Reference 2660

Specific References

EAN13: 5056186706644

Designer

The first Rega - A star is born

Roy was now working for Ford as a technical editor but spent most of his free time installing friend's hi-fi equipment and building loudspeakers to sell. He became a part time retailer and found he had to spend a ridiculous amount of time repairing new turntables before his conscience and common sense would allow him to sell them to others! Out of frustration and a strong feeling he could do better, the Planet turntable was born. Roy and a partner registered "Rega" (Tony RElph, Roy GAndy). In 1973 and for a couple of years, Roy stayed at Ford and made turntables in the evening, helped by his partners: mum (who agreed to help out for two weeks and stayed for fifteen years!) and a succession of lads. The first turntables were sold through Cosmocord in the UK and a year later under the Rega name in West Germany, Denmark and France.

Roy was now able to leave Ford; he collected a redundancy check and promptly blew it on a factory in Rochford. Soon after the partnership with Tony Relph split, Roy swapping his share of Rega. Terry Davies joined as Rega's financial administrator.

In 1975 the Planar 2 was developed and quickly took its place in the market as the finest budget turntable. In June 1977 HI-FI News and Record Review announced the Planar 3 saying "The complete unit is worth a look"! Rega's usual blaze of non-publicity.

By 1980 Rega employed thirteen staff, exported to twelve countries, had twenty UK dealers and there were those dreaded 'waiting lists', mainly by eager customers shop-hopping!

In 1980 Roy found an old mill (Park Street) in a residential area in Westcliff-on-Sea, Essex. The building had been deserted for twenty years and judging by the rot, seemed to have a millstream still running through it! Rega snapped it up for £30,000 and turned it into a compact but highly functional hi-fi factory, liberally painted bright green.

In 1983 after five years of dabbling and two years of intensive development, the RB300 and RB250 tonearms were produced. For ten years Rega had used Japanese and Danish manufactured arms on the turntables but after some searching Roy found a casting company prepared to work with him to develop an entirely new production method enabling the one-piece tube to be cast.

Rega won an international award for the RB300 casting, presented by Modern Metals 'awarded in open competition for excellence in the field of Aluminium Die Casting'. In their accompanying letter they wrote: 'we are still trying to figure out how you produce such a long cored hole so accurately'. This made up for never winning any prizes breeding budgies!

For five years, Rega sold a cartridge, the R100, made to specification in Japan. This was followed by the RB100, which was designed and developed by Rega. However, the cartridge had inevitable design limitations as it was being manufactured by an outside company.

In March 1988 the Bias and Elys cartridges went into production in house and sales exceeded 1000 in the first month, five times more than anticipated! The cartridges were a vital step on the way to a complete Rega system.

Completing the system...

In the summer of 1989 the Ela loudspeaker was introduced. Designed and developed at Rega, they were originally produced in Denmark but soon thereafter were manufactured in house.

In 1991, a period of dramatic expansion was heralded with the move into the world of electronics and the launch of two amplifiers, the Elex and the Elicit. The reason for producing these two amplifiers was simple; Rega was presented with a design it could not resist! Most importantly, the amplifiers fit into the company policy - which is to manufacture high quality, specialist hi-fi components that are reliable, consistent and sensibly priced. This development completed the Rega system.

A new factory was built in 1992 on the Temple Farm Industrial Estate in Southend-on-Sea under Roy's design and guidance to house the production of loudspeakers and amplifiers and to ensure room for further developments.

2014....

Over the past 40 years we have come a very long way. Now selling to more than 40 export markets and producing on average 2000 turntables alone every month, Rega now employ's almost 90 people in our purpose built 30,000 sq ft design and manufacturing facility in Essex, England.

Rega continues to grow and develop new products, all of which strictly follow those early Rega virtues of excellent build quality, long life and amazing value for money all backed up by a lifetime warranty against manufacture defects.

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