P1 Phono Preamplifier
Timbre. Timing. Transparency.
For listeners who prize the emotional depth and natural realism of vinyl, CH Precision offers a reference-caliber solution: the P1 Phono Peramplifier. Short of our flagship P10 Reference Phono Preamplifier, we believe there’s no more accurate or musically revealing phono stage available today. Designed to extract the finest detail, texture, and timing from analog sources, the P1 sets a new standard in phono preamplification—period. It’s never been easier to collect great records. The P1 exists to let you hear what makes those records great.
Engineered entirely in-house, the P1 preserves the fragile phono signal with remarkable precision and tonal purity. Its fully discrete, dual-mono architecture captures the subtle textures, spatial cues, and dynamic flow that make analog listening so compelling. With a modular, upgradeable design and cartridge-specific inputs, the P1 matches the flexibility of today’s best tonearms and cartridges—offering a perfect blend of versatility, performance, and long-term system synergy.
Customizable Performance, Cartridge by Cartridge
True analog performance requires more than accuracy—it demands adaptability. The P1 Phono Preamplifier is uniquely equipped to meet the diverse requirements of serious vinyl collectors and system builders alike. Its modular architecture supports up to three phono inputs, each independently configurable to match the specific demands of your cartridges and tonearms.
Two of these inputs employ current-sensing topology, designed specifically for low-output, low-impedance moving coil cartridges. They deliver outstanding signal-to-noise performance while eliminating the need to set load impedance. A third voltage-sensing input accommodates both moving magnet and moving coil designs, with gain and loading adjustable in fine increments. An intelligent setup wizard—used in conjunction with CH Control—guides users to optimal settings with confidence and precision.
The P1 can also be optionally configured to support historical EQ curves such as EMI, Columbia, Decca, and Teldec. These are implemented with ultra-precise, discrete components, giving archivists and collectors the opportunity to experience original pressings as they were intended to be heard. Whether you’re playing vintage mono or cutting-edge audiophile LPs, the P1 adapts with singular precision—making it one of the most the most configurable phono stages in high-end audio.
Silence Between the Notes
While the P1 sets an unsurpassed benchmark in phono preamplification straight from the factory, its performance can be elevated even further with the addition of the CH Precision X1 External Power Supply. By relocating the regulation stages into a dedicated chassis, the X1 isolates the P1’s sensitive audio circuitry from residual electrical noise and magnetic interference. This separation lowers the noise floor, sharpens microdynamic resolution, and enhances the stability of delicate phono signals—uncovering more texture, space, and harmonic complexity from every record.
As with all CH Precision components, the P1 follows a modular upgrade path designed to grow with your system and ambitions. Adding an X1 is a significant step, but the journey can continue: move to a dual-monaural configuration with a second P1, then complete the evolution with a second X1. The result is the ultimate four-box P1 rig—fully isolated, noise-free, and capable of extracting the very last nuance and emotional truth from your vinyl collection.
-Edit-2.jpg)
-Edit.jpg)
The Pursuit of Purity
The P1 is a fully balanced, dual-channel phono stage built on a modular foundation that allows owners to expand performance over time. Its architecture isolates left and right channels within a single chassis, ensuring exceptional channel separation and low noise from the start.
Through its modular design, the P1 can be elevated to even greater levels of refinement. Each upgrade stage enhances resolution, transparency, and spatial coherence—revealing a deeper, more dimensional soundstage and a heightened sense of air around instruments and voices. Subtle musical cues emerge with greater clarity, transients arrive with effortless precision, and harmonics unfold with natural ease. For vinyl enthusiasts seeking realism, intimacy, and nuance, the P1 offers a clear path toward the ultimate analog experience.
Document and Firmware Downloads
A resource built with the same precision and care that define our instruments, the CH Precision Downloads area provides access to the most recent manuals, firmware updates, spike installation guides, and product brochures. Each document reflects our engineering culture—meticulous in detail, exact in purpose, and designed to ensure that every component performs precisely as intended.
These materials are intended to support owners and partners in configuring, maintaining, and optimising their CH systems. Should you have any questions or require further assistance, we encourage you to contact your authorised CH Precision dealer or reach out directly through our Technical Support form. Our teams are committed to providing the same standard of excellence in service that we apply to our engineering—so that every listening experience remains true to the performance we envisioned.
International Press Honors
Unlocking Your Cartridge’s True Voice
Were it not for the flagship P10, the P1 would stand as the pinnacle of phono-stage performance. Its design reflects our conviction that true state-of-the-art analog reproduction is as much about optimization as it is about precision. No cartridge—regardless of cost or reputation—can reveal its full potential unless its electrical environment is perfectly matched. Load and gain are critical variables that shape tonal balance, dynamic range, transient speed, and ultimately, musical realism.
The P1 addresses these demands with a combination of proprietary gain stages, ultra-precise loading control, and intelligent software-driven setup tools never before applied in a phono stage. This technology ensures that every cartridge, from the rarest vintage mono to the latest low-output moving coil, operates in its ideal conditions. By elevating the phono stage from a passive conduit to an active partner in performance, the P1 unlocks levels of resolution, texture, and expressive nuance that were once thought unattainable—revealing not just the music in the groove, but the artistry and emotion behind it.
Specifications
General
-
Type: Phonostage
-
Options: EQ curves module pair to play EMI, Columbia (LP), Decca (London) and DGG (Teldec) records
-
Upgrade path:
-
External power supply (X1)
-
Addition of a 2nd P1 for dual monaural operation
-
-
Color: Silver (standard), Anthracite or Champagne (option)
-
Dimensions: 440 x 440 x 133 mm (W x D x H)
-
Weight: 20kg
-
Operating conditions: 5°C<T<35°C, 5%<humidity<85% no condensation
-
Power supply: Selectable 100V, 115V or 230V AC, 47Hz to 63Hz
-
Power consumption:<0.5W standby, 45W nominal
User interface
-
Display: 800 x 480 pixels, 24 bit RGB AMOLED
-
Control: 5-button interface, (iOS app to be released)
-
Firmware update: via USB flash drive or the Internet
Analog input
-
Type (each available on both XLR and RCA connectors):
-
2x MC current-sensing inputs,
-
1x MM/MC voltage-sensing inputs
-
-
Impedance:
-
MC: < 100mΩ, virtual ground
-
MM/MC: User selectable, 20Ω to 100kΩ
-
-
Gain (at 1kHz, on single-ended output – balanced output is 6dB more):
-
MC: +44 dB to +69 dB in 5 dB steps (10Ω internal impedance cartridge)
-
MM/MC: +35 dB to +70 dB in 5 dB steps
-
-
Equivalent input noise (20Hz-20kHz, A-weighted):
-
MC: < -135 dBu (< -138dBu with X1) / 1Ω termination
-
MM/MC: < -130 dBu (< -135 dBu with X1) / 1Ω termination
-
-
Playback EQ curve accuracy: +/- 0.1dB
Analog Output
-
Type: 1x balanced XLR, 1x single-ended RCA, 1x single-ended BNC per channel
-
Level: 8VRMS maximum (balanced), 4VRMS maximum (single-ended)
-
Total Harmonic Distortion + Noise: < 0.01%, 1kHz, output level 3VRMS, 22kHz BW