NAD PP 2e Phono Preamplifier — MM & MC Low-Noise Turntable Stage

Reviews

1. J Jared Lockhart 5/5

   Clean, low-noise performance

   Research showed low noise floor and flat response matter most, and this preamp delivers both. Running an Audio-Technica LP120 into Elac Debut speakers, the sound is clean and enjoyable.

2. D Daniel Gaisford 4/5

   Does exactly what it should

   Provides the expected gain, neutral and clear sound. Simple, effective and suitable as an entry-level phono stage. Checks all the basic boxes.

3. H HoopOfficial 5/5

   Great preamp for the money

   Well built and stable with quality connectors. Sound is excellent and faithful to my records. Not the absolute top end, but for the price point it delivers and I’d highly recommend it.

4. D Doug DeLor 5/5

   Resurrected my vinyl with impressive clarity

   Pulled a Thorens TD 146 back into service and paired it with Martin Logan speakers and solid amplification. Added an Ortofon Red cartridge and this NAD preamp delivered noise-free playback, excellent dynamics and no audible distortion. For the cost it performed far beyond expectations.

5. M Matt V 5/5

   Not cheap, but solid and versatile

   There are less expensive options, yet this handles both MC and MM cartridges reliably and sounds good in my rig. I didn’t do head-to-head tests, but it met my needs and felt robustly built.

6. S Sqweezel 4/5

   Solid sound but frustrating power control

   Works well sonically — very clean with virtually no measured noise — but the front button is a momentary press that won’t auto-power the unit. It auto-shuts with no signal, but you must press to turn it on each time. Also experienced muffled output with an MMC2 on a B&O turntable unless switched to MM; otherwise I’m pleased with its performance.

7. H Harpo 5/5

   Open-box bargain — like new and sounds great

   Bought as an open-box deal and it looked brand new. Sound is impressive and the auto-off feature is handy. Great value for a solid-sounding preamp.

8. R RacerX 5/5

   Turntable setup delivered stunning vinyl revival

   After a long hiatus from records I set up my Technics SL-1210GR with a Denon DL-103R, ran long RCAs to a Yamaha integrated amp, grounded only to the NAD, and the sound was sheer bliss. My vintage Phase Technology fronts sang with crystal-clear analog detail. First record played was a gift album and everything clicked—no noise, rich, natural tone. I’ve trusted NAD since 1985 and this unit lives up to that legacy.

9. C C. Hill 2/5

   Underwhelming for the cost

   Paid more than other preamps I’ve tried but noticed no real improvement. It worked as expected but didn’t offer anything special compared to cheaper alternatives.

10. F F. Guerra 5/5

    Good preamp at a fair value

    Recommended to me by a local vinyl shop. Very small and unobtrusive, it compared favorably to other well-known brands in my reading. Running it with a Technics and an Ortofon Red on inexpensive speakers, it sounded better than my old ION table. I’ll update once I try better monitors, but so far it feels like a solid purchase for the price.

11. T The Mad Beaver 5/5

    Simple, reliable and gets the job done

    Five stars for straightforward operation and dependable NAD build. If you want a good-quality unit for home use without obsessing over specs, this fits the bill and integrates well with other NAD gear.

12. R Randy 1/5

    Unit failed and support was unhelpful

    I couldn’t get stereo output from the unit. Tech support was email-only, slow to reply, asked repetitive questions, ignored my answers and closed the ticket without resolving the problem. Reopened the ticket and have heard nothing. Very disappointing.

13. T Thomas T. Trulis 3/5

    Well constructed but not compatible with my cartridge

    Transaction and product quality were fine, but it didn’t suit my Dynavector high-output MC. The gain wasn’t high enough to produce usable volume or dynamics, so I returned it. The unit itself was first-class, however.