It all makes for seamless musical access, helping to project the performance into the listening room, independent of the system. Make no mistake about it, The Magnifier might be presented as a phono-stage, but it also offers an exceptionally good line-stage – a line stage that embodies the same overall character and considerable musical attributes as the phono-stage. It’s almost like the musical window provided by the line-stage is the exact same shape as the one offered by the phono-stage – just a little larger all around. It makes balancing a system for both digital and vinyl replay considerably easier, rather than having to plump for one source over the other, even if that choice is unconscious. It’s a rare quality, and one that’s not to be underestimated.
Two inputs, one balanced, one single-ended, is enough for most systems and, if I have a complaint, it concerns the volume control and it’s one that won’t worry the majority of listeners. The adjustment of the rotary control on the front-panel around TDC is awfully fine, making it easy to swing (inadvertently) big changes in level. Ironically, that makes it considerably easier to adjust volume using the neat, two-button remote handset, with its large buttons and positive clicks. I suspect that there’s an underlying assumption here that listeners will always use the remote. I’m the exception: I never use remotes unless I absolutely have to. Having said that, The Magnifier is also an exception: it provides one of the (very) few remotes that I am happy to use. Like I said, I suspect that most listeners will have no issue with the arrangement. Just be a tad careful if you do use the rotary knob…
Three for the price of one?
In many ways, this has been one of the most interesting and challenging reviews I’ve written for a very long time. First challenge is understanding what The Magnifier actually is – and just as importantly, what it isn’t: unless of course, you want it to be! Yes, it’s a pre-amplifier: but it could also be a phono-stage – or a line-stage for that matter. Every time you think you’ve got a handle on one aspect of its performance, it turns around and surprises you with the sheer musicality of some other thing it does. It resists compartmentalisation like a box of frogs. When I first started listening to The Magnifier, I thought I knew what to expect and where I’d likely end up. I NEVER thought I’d end up where I did…
Back in the day, when vinyl was king and preamplifiers were an essential element in every system, they primarily existed to deliver a quality phono-stage and volume control. Additional sources and source switching were very definitely secondary considerations. Well, not now. Hence the separation of phono and line functionality into different boxes, or the relegation of the phono-stage to optional status, often as an alternative to an internal DAC. The Magnifier ignores the status quo and readdresses the question of source selection and system control as a blank sheet of paper.
