Sutherland Engineering 20/20 Phono Preamplifier with Linear Power Supply

The Sutherland Engineering 20/20 was created with a vision to achieve an extremely low noise floor and precise resolution. It is derived from the best elements of the previous models, the PH3D and the Hubble. It has an elegant aesthetic of performance, value, craftsmanship and minimalism. That heritage, however, does not keep the 20/20 design from taking on its own unique character.

Everyone wants the advantages of AC power line isolation offered by battery operation. The 20/20 is for the person who wants those advantages but does not want to mess around with batteries. The 20/20 comes as close as possible to offering an equivalence of battery isolation from AC line power. It is AC powered and super quiet!

The 20/20 is literally two identical mono phono preamplifiers. Each channel is on its own circuit board, has its own shielded compartment, power indicator, its own AC power supply and its own power cord. It is the ultimate in channel separation.

The resulting sonic performance is superb, with a very natural, smooth articulate sound.

Two-Mono Construction

In the quest for the ultimate in stereo separation, the 20/20 goes beyond dual mono, offering instead what Ron Sutherland likes to call “two-mono.” Many audiophiles prefer using mono-block amplification for the benefits of eliminating crosstalk and other noise contaminants associated with shared power supplies. They also prefer the benefit of each amp having its own reservoir of power, increasing dynamic capabilities, and giving the amp a sense of ease. This is exacerbated in a phono-preamplifier environment where noise is the worst of enemies. The 20/20 may look like a conventional stereo phono stage but if you take off the cover you will discover two identical mono phono circuit boards, sharing only the same front and back panels. Power supplies, power cords , and all circuitry are separate. Even the power indicator lights are independent.

Power Supplies

The 20/20 LPS uses a custom manufactured high quality Linear Power Supply that comes in a separate chassis. This provides a quieter operating electrical environment resulting in a very low noise floor.

DC Connector Location

There are no power connections on the back panel. Instead, you will find them located at the front and under the cover. That is one of those form follows function design decisions. The front of the circuit board is where the power enters the circuit, therefore that is where the connector is located. On your car, the gas cap is very near the gas tank. It is not located at the opposite end of the car.
Putting the entry point at the front permits power supply wires (low voltage DC) to be routed well away from all the sensitive part of the circuit. Contrast that with the AC IEC power connector (high voltage AC) conventionally located on the back panel very near the preamp circuitry and all the input/output jacks.

Beautiful on the Inside

It is the internal design and execution of the phono preamplifier which is responsible for its contribution to the sound. For those clients who are knowledgeable about electronic design, note that the 20/20 has FR-4 fiberglass circuit boards (double-sided with plated thru holes), Dale/Vishay 1% metal film resistors, Wima Polypropylene capacitors for power supply application by-passing custom-wound 1% polystyrene film capacitors for equalization. The chassis is 14-gauge cold rolled steel with a baked epoxy powder coat finish. The 1/2“ thick anodized aluminium front panel features anodized artwork and the RCA connectors are gold plated & Teflon insulated. The configuration headers are also gold plated.

This intelligent architecture, attention to detail and craftsmanship results in a phono amplifier that sounds wonderful and gives you confidence that it will continue emotionally connecting you to your analogue music for many years to come.

Features

• Plentiful loading and gain options for both MM and MC cartridges
• Compact, discreet chassis is impressively well-built and solid
• Quiet, dynamic, and musical beyond its price

Videos

Sutherland 20/20 Phono Preamplifier: Two-Mono Analog

Ron Sutherland Talks About the Sutherland 20/20 Phono Preamp

Sutherland 20/20 Phonostage Review w/ Upscale Audio’s Kevin Deal

Reviews

Positive Feedback, Maurice Jeffries, 2018

As I advised with Sutherland’s demure KC VIBE phono stage a while back, if you’re itching to step up from your long-in-the-tooth, decades-old $500 phono stage and can afford to spend $2K to do so, get thee hence to a Sutherland dealer and hear what all the fuss is about. You will not, I promise, be disappointed. Well done, Mr. Sutherland. Well done!

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The Absolute Sound, Wayne Garcia, 2011

But with something like Wilco’s “Jesus Don’t Cry,” from Yankee Hotel Foxtrot [Nonesuch], the sheer beauty of the 20/20, its amazing instrumental separation, and wide-open staging are wonderful things. Then go back to Stravinsky. I’ve played this LP over dozens of different systems, and rarely do I have the thrillingly eerie feeling of stepping into a recorded space the way 20/20 delivers it. In this regard it ranks among the finest at any price point.

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Stereophile, Brian Damkroger, 2011

After two months of listening to the 20/20, and a lot of evenings spent surrounded by record jackets, my initial impression hasn’t changed: The 20/20 is another winner. It’s simple and easy to use, gorgeous to behold, beautifully built, an absolutely superb sonic performer and one of the High End’s very best values.

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Item

• Phono Preamplifier

Gain Settings

• 40, 46, 52, 58 or 64dB

Loading

• 100, 200, 425, 1k or 47k Ohms

Power Requirements

• 20 watts (10 watts per channel)

Operating Voltage

• 100 to 240 volts (universal, no adjustments)

Power Supply

• External Linear Power Supply

Dimensions

• 432mm (wide) x 305mm (deep) x 57mm (high)

Weight

• 5.0 kg

Shipping Weight

• 8.6 kg

User Reviews