Another Aavik “280” component from the pen of Michael Børresen, this time a phono stage. To be precise, the Aavik Acoustics R-280 Phono Stage is a €10,000, one input, low output MC (no MM) with adjustable loading and 62 dB of gain.

There is some talk of Michael Børresen designing a turntable. Sign me up for the first review, please. Knowing the care and research Børresen places upon all his components, cables, accessories and loudspeakers, it’s sure to be a cracker.

In the meantime, there are only a few analog products from Børresen; the 180, 280 and 580 phono stages, a couple of phono cables and the magnificent and very expensive Ansuz Acoustics Darkz T2 Supreme Record Stabilizer. After all the digital brilliance (the 280 streamer and DAC), I was intrigued by how a phono design would be treated by Børresen.

My Use

As always, a big thanks to our friend Morten Thyrrestrup of Aavik's parent company, Audio Group Denmark (AGD), for shipping the R-280 to the island.

My search for the ultimate, or close to it, reviewer-friendly phono stage led me to one of my favourite analog manufacturers, Japan’s Phasemation. Even without an audition (I’d reviewed other Phasemation phonos), I purchased the EA-350 Phono Amplifier ($6100, about 50% of the R-280). Turns out the EA-350 is a jack-of-all-trades but happily master of them all. It has three inputs (both (3)RCA and (2) XLR), loading is set at 100 ohms (no matter as all my MCs are great at 100), Moving Coil and Moving Magnet, a low cut filter, and has a degauss switch, but most important for me, it adds two mono curves (Columbia and Decca) and a mono switch. I need two inputs (I use RCA inputs, one for my stereo LPs, Bergmann Magne Turntable with reference stereo Phasemation PP-2000 MC Phono Cartridge and one for my pre-1967 mono LPs, Pure Fidelity Harmony Turntable with reference Miyajima Labs Infinity Monaural Cartridge). The ability to switch effortlessly between the two is invaluable as a busy reviewer.

Thus, for a single-use phono stage, it would have to be very special to replace my Phasemation, especially as it already sounds so damn good.

Features and Specifications

The R-280 is a deceptively simple phono. One input, no mono accommodations, no Moving Magnet, no degauss switch, no XLR inputs, just the standard, very effective Aavik composite casing and the RIAA inner design. One addition compared to the EA-350 is adjustable loading. This is done very quickly and effectively via the Apple Remote or the front panel. It comes factory set at 100 ohms, perfect for me. As I used my reference Phasemation PP-2000 cart exclusively through the review, there was no need to futz around with the loading numbers. But for many others, there is adjustable loading. Score one for the Aavik. As for no XLR support, here is a video Michael Børresen made recently about his choice to not use XLR inputs in his components. Valuable information, hitherto unknown to me.

Inputs Floating RCA (1 set)
Max input: 5mVrms
Gain 65dB @ 1 kHz (other quotes on the website suggest 62 dB of gain).
Load-impedance adjustable from 50 ohms to 10k ohms
Frequency Response +/-0.5 dB (20-20 kHz)
Output 1 pair of RCA outputs
Distortion: <0.005% (THD at 1kHz, 0.5mV input)
Output impedance: 120 ohms
Aavik Noise Reduction: Active Tesla Coils: 72; Active Square Tesla Coils: 176; Dither circuitry: 8
Power consumption: Standby <0.5W; On <10W
Dimensions102 x 384 x 380mm
Weight 5.6kg

Once again with an Aavik box or sister Anzuz product, Børresen relies on his “advanced technologies”, specifically his incredibly effective implantation of Tesla coils and dither circuitry.

The table above gives the numbers of the specific technology in the 280 chassis. Like the streamer and DAC in the same family, they give the R-280 an incredibly low-noise floor and ultra-quiet background, perfect for phono stages that lap up this sort of electronic stroking.

Aavik says of its RIAA section: “The Aavik RIAA section is based on a discrete, floating balanced, ultra-low noise bipolar input circuit. The topology of a moving coil cartridge is a floating balanced signal generator. Aavik has kept this topology throughout the phono stage. The input circuitry allows the use of ultra-low noise bipolar transistors. By paralleling several transistor pairs, we have created an absolutely quiet input section. The phono stage has 62 dB gain, and the cartridge loading is adjustable from 50 Ohm to 5 Ohm. The *S/N ratio is 94 dB measured at 1 kHz.”

Sound

Børresen has created a silent phono stage, one where the vinyl records’ sounds emanate from a pitch-black background. It makes for enthralling listening. If your record is in good condition, you wouldn’t be blamed for thinking it’s CD playback. Except for all the tells of quality vinyl reproduction. There are details galore but always in the most beautiful, sweet soundstage.

So the Barbirolli EMI English String Music treble is ethereal and focussed—tone and accuracy. Most good phono stages can get an accurate and rich midrange, and the R-280 is no different. It is, however, in perfect musical alignment with the treble and thunderous bass. Sure, the R-280 can hammer out bass drums and timpani like other fine designs, but its performance particularly on string basses, their low Cs (with extension), while getting the weight and the whine, is very special.

The 280 can also rock out on Zeppelin, and many others, even swamp rock —Tony Joe White’s Homemade Ice Cream. The drive and energy of these genres are maintained while capturing the studio event ambiance. It demonstrated Jimmy Page’s specific recording philosophy (“distance makes depth") on the debut 1969 eponymous album at the rear of the studio and the sound’s spacing. As such, audiophiles can purchase for your needs while plain old music lovers can sit back and enjoy what great vinyl can bring to a performance.

As a comparison, I’d say the R-280’s stereo performance edged out my Phasemation by a small margin, primarily in the separation of instruments and with ultra-realistic timbre. So, the somewhat compressed soundstage from an early DG (Bohm/Berliner Philharmoniker Schubert Symphony Nos. 1 & 2) sounded a little more spacious and alive on the Aavik, a little intimidated on the EA-350. By a smidgen. But noticeable, nonetheless. These are hugely important to many audiophiles. Like me.

The R-280 also bettered my memory of the Allnic Audio H-5500 Phono Stage, albeit with a vastly different approach from Kang Su Park. It is still my view that Park’s Allnic Audio H-7000 LCR is one of the world’s great phono stages and designed with a fairly unique approach, a world apart from the Aavik. At $14,999, it’s still my favourite phono stage in the top-of-heap category, but at a premium over the R-280.

As for the R-280, and specifically as a reviewer, I must mention my gripe.

One output and no MM or mono support.

No XLRs are not a bother for me and I bow to the great man’s knowledge about XLRs in his video (linked above). But having two or more inputs as a reviewer is hugely important, and having the MM and mono support completes my reviewing life. No matter all my suggestions, Kang Su Park would not add a mono switch to his phono stages. And knowing the connoisseur Michael Børresen is, I’m sure he has very valid reasons for not adding extras.

For many, mono won’t be important and far fewer of you reading are reviewers. I took the R-280 on a tour to audiophiles’ homes, and my nephew specifically spun many monos with the R-280, his Technics ‘table and a Pure Fidelity MC Stratos Stereo Cartridge. They sounded great. So there you go. As for its intended use and with varying turntables and components, my friends were knocked out by the R-280’s performance.

Summary

As a stand-alone, one-output MC-only kind of guy, your €10,000 will get you a humdinger of a phono stage. If you are an MC cartridge-loading tinkerer, the Aavik also has you covered. I know the AGD crew revere vinyl and the superiority of its fidelity even with all their outstanding digital components. The R-280 is a superb example of the very best-sounding phono stages. If you only have one turntable, only use MC carts, and are not too fussed with mono, the R-280 will be a superb final solution. With the provisos noted, very highly recommended.