From the world of painting, we all know the term Impressionism: bright colors, shimmering light, and fleeting moments are typical traits of this style – in other words, it’s about the atmospheric portrayal of transitory impressions. To say this upfront: I’m quite sure Claude Monet would have taken great pleasure in this Polish phono preamp.
That wonderful hi-fi components have been coming out of Eastern Europe for years now is hardly breaking news anymore. Polish manufacturers in particular are extremely active and keep impressing us with excellent value for the money. Fezz Audio hails from the northeast of Poland and has consistently delivered very fine products. The Fezz Gratia Evo Prestige phono preamp, now in its latest MK2 iteration, features a specially developed power supply (courtesy of their in-house transformer company, Toroidy), which is the key upgrade explaining the MK2 suffix.
Vinyl enthusiasts know how crucial this aspect is when it comes to transferring the delicate signals from cartridges – and my old adage, “The sound lies hidden in the current,” is once again confirmed by this kind of refinement. In addition, this phono stage features a two-part gain section. The two visible 12AU7 (ECC82) tubes in the output stage handle amplification in MM mode; in MC mode, additional gain comes from a Burson Supreme Sound OpAmp (V5i). In that sense, the Gratia Evo Prestige MK2 is a hybrid phono stage. The various front-panel adjustments are quickly set (just remember to factor in the tonearm cable’s capacitance when using MM).
If you’re running a low-output cartridge, you don’t need to do anything – just connect the cables on the back and power up. The power switch, which you’d normally expect on the rear, is cleverly tucked away under the front right of the chassis, but can be easily flicked on with a finger. If gain still seems a bit too low with an MC cartridge, just press the +6 dB button on the back, and the analog world comes fully alive again. The subsonic filter makes sense, as it suppresses dangerous ultra-low frequencies; its use – especially with MM systems – is worth trying out. Switching between MM/MC is also done at the rear, while the stereo/mono toggle will please vinyl lovers who actually run a mono cartridge.
In short: the Fezz Gratia Evo Prestige MK2 is a phono preamp loaded with features. The two dual triodes are respectable types sourced from Asia, and they need some 100 hours of burn-in to fully open up sonically. That said, I have to point out that dual triodes are still being manufactured in Europe, and I’d be especially happy if Fezz used tubes from their neighboring countries. That wouldn’t just fit the current geopolitical climate – it would also be the logical choice: Made in Europe!
Of course, I realize that the nearly two thousand euros asked for the Fezz Gratia Evo Prestige MK2 is a lot of money for a phono preamp, but as the saying goes: everything is relative.
The strong impressions already start with unboxing: at eight kilograms, it feels substantial, and one glance across the chassis confirms that this is indeed a solidly built piece, confidently taking its place with dimensions of 35.5 cm wide, 38 cm deep, and 10 cm tall. The dual triodes can be swapped (though I wouldn’t feel the need). Just press down the glass cover slightly and slide it left or right, and you can reach into the “mirror chamber” clad in polished stainless steel (do use the provided cotton gloves when handling tubes – only when cold, of course).
And before I forget – the Gratia Evo Prestige MK2 comes in seven different finishes. Alongside classic black and silver, you can choose white, champagne, red, burgundy, or evergreen (a shade reminiscent of British Racing Green). That’s enough to send buyers into a delightful maelstorm of analysis paralysis. Even the feet haven’t been overlooked: Fezz fitted the unit with solid absorbers. Inside, the impeccably crafted case is partially lined with anti-resonance mats. And if the “Signal GND” switch next to the power inlet looks confusing – don’t worry. The engineers at Fezz accounted for varying electrical networks and quirks; an extra ground never hurts with phono signals. As always: experimenting pays off.
For my listening sessions, I began with No Deal by Melanie De Biasio. Right from the opening of “I Feel You,” the Fezz Gratia puts a smile on my face: “So this is who you are…,” I thought. With wonderful sensitivity, it delivers the stripped-down sounds and reveals the wide space of the recording. A supremely relaxed yet confident album, brought beautifully to life by the phono stage.
Finest blues follows with Ronnie Earl & The Broadcasters: Six String Blessing gives a clear hint at what’s to come tonally. The big Fezz sorts the tones with pristine clarity – I can practically hear the Hammond organ floating holographically in the soundscape. The double album Esbjörn Svensson Trio Plays Monk proves itself an exceptionally well-produced recording. “I Mean You” feels like a direct message to the test candidate – just listen to that gorgeous double bass in all its fullness! Not to mention the effortlessly played piano…
Mick Jagger’s Goddess in the Doorway shows the singer’s undiminished joy in making music – and that very energy is conveyed by the phono stage without the slightest effort. And when silence falls in the run-out groove, its other strength becomes apparent: you hear nothing. Meaning: thanks to its practically nonexistent self-noise, the Fezz Gratia Evo Prestige MK2 is an astonishingly quiet phono stage!
Accompanying Equipment
CD player: C.E.C CD-5 with Horwege modification | Turntable: Transrotor Dark Star Reference with Konstant Reference M1 PSU | Tonearm: Transrotor TR 9S | Cartridges: Audio-Technica VM760SLC, Phasemation PP-200 | Phono stage: Phasemation EA-220 with T-550 step-up transformer | Tube integrated amps: Audiomat Adagio with BTB tube set, Thivan Labs 572/811 with BTB tube set | Speakers: Klipsch Heresy III with Elixir-Loudspeakers symmetrical crossovers, Thivan Labs Eros 9 Ultra | Accessories: HMS, Phasemation, AudioQuest Robin Hood, in-akustik, and more
Phono Preamplifier Fezz Gratia Evo Prestige MK2
Concept: MM/MC phono stage with vacuum tubes | Tube complement: 2 x ECC82/12AU7 | Inputs: 2 x RCA | Outputs: 2 x RCA | OpAmp: Burson Audio Supreme V5i | Power supply: stabilized + Supreme Audio Grade transformer | MM capacitance: 0 pF, 47 pF, 100 pF, 220 pF | MC load: 1 kΩ, 470 Ω, 220 Ω, 100 Ω | THD: < 0.05% | Channel separation MM/MC: > 95 dB / > 96 dB | SNR MM/MC: > 92 dB / > 90 dB | Input impedance MM/MC: 47 kΩ / 50–1 kΩ | Power consumption: 20 W | Dimensions (W/H/D): 36/10/38 cm | Weight: 8 kg | Warranty: 2 years | Price: around €2000
Audium/Visonik
Catostraße 7b
12109 Berlin
Phone +49 30 6134740
kontakt@audium.com