In this article, we review the JDS Labs Atom Phono, the first phono pre-amplifier from the brand, doubling as a tone control. A gimmicky new pre-amp priced at just $149 USD, that appears to be one of my favorite devices.?l

Disclaimer: JDS Labs sent us the Atom Phono free of charge, for the purpose of this review. In exchange, we’re going to give our honest opinion, as always.

JDS Labs

Founded in 2007 by John Seaber (hence the name JDS) JDS Labs is one of the coolest audio manufacturer I know (and same could be said for John). Renowned for their unbeatable value-for-money systems – think chi-fi prices but US manufactured – they first began with a mini headphone amp, based on Chu Moy’s open-source plans. With a few tweaks and a BassBoost mod, the first JDS Labs product was born: the CMoyBB. An headphone amp that not only gave fantastic results paired with an iPod Classic (I used mine with that purpose only) but also stood out from the crowd thanks to its “Altoids” casing – yes those were genuine mint candies box, filled with a amp and a 9V battery.

Thus, a few years later, JDS Labs took another bold step forward, siding with NwAvGuy’s who just released its own O2 headphone amplifier schematic, in direct opposition to forums and audiophiles bias, followed by the ODAC a few months later. A daring move that prove fruitful, pushing John and his team even further, allowing them to expand and invest in better tools, like CNC machines, to create a whole new range of products namely, The Element – lovely DAC/AMP by the way, check our review.

But the true killer from JDS only came a few years later : the Atom Amp. A nifty little headphone amp, designed as a shoehorned version of the EL(ement) Amp, showing benchmark performance, at a super-low price. An amp that earned Linus praise in 2019 and Yagiz recommendation in 2021, in pack with the Atom Amp+ DAC – another great addition to their pocket-sized, desktop setup.

Unsurprisingly, in 2024, the brand pushed even further and introduced the Atom Amp 2 and the Atom DAC 2, the upgraded version of JDS small killers, packing even more punch and power. A tiny-but-mighty combo that got Yagiz’ praise once more, earning the stack a recommendation from the man itself!

So when the brand asked if I was interested to try their new JDS Labs Atom Phono, a RIAA pre-amplifier doubling as an equalizer, I jumped on the opportunity – time to dig in.

Design & Build Quality

Casing

As usual with JDS Labs, the build quality is absolutely flawless, the Atom Phono retaining a design similar to its peers.

No gaps, impeccable junction, premium materials everywhere you see/touch, and a dense casing that exudes confidence once in your hand. It’s almost entirely made of CNC-milled aluminium, from the top-case, to the knobs and switch, and for just $149, you’d be hard-pressed to find another amp that feels as premium as this one. A clean, seamless square box with rounded edges, delivering the same minimalist impression as its siblings. In fact, you could easily add the Phono to your Atom stack and still maintain a smaller footprint than my SMSL DO400 on its own.

Once again, I brought out my SMSL HO100 for comparison, but this time I also included the Pro-Ject Phono Box S2 – one of the most popular options in this price range, from one of the most renowned turntable manufacturers. And, whether it was the more rugged finish, the smoother volume knob, or the sturdier chassis, I found myself preferring the JDS every time.

On the scale, the Atom Phono weighs 480g, all thanks to its thicker anodized top plate. It’s marginally thicker, wider and deeper, than the Amp or the DAC but unless you were to put them front to back, it shares (almost) the exact same dimensions with the rest: 145mm wide, 132mm deep and 35mm tall. Still, if you were compare that to the FiiO M17 and Q7 we previously reviewed, it’s almost feather-light for a desktop amp. The trick? With a separate power-supply, JDS Labs saved a lot of weight in the making, whereas brands like SMSL decided to include everything inside the case.

Still, this is an amp that should fit all and every desk with no problem, even paired with the Atom 2 DAC – check Yagiz review, even more once paired with a turntable. So far so good, so let’s check out the I/O.

Layout

The layout of the JDS Labs Atom Phono is quite simple, but that was to be expected from a phono amp.

Upfront, you have:

• 1x phono preamp enable/disable switch
• 1x gain button that allows you to switch between 30dB and 40dB
• 2x knob that allows bass/treble adjustments
• 1x EQ switch, allowing to bypass the tone adjustments

Meanwhile, in the back you get:

• 1x RCA stereo input
• 1x RCA stereo output
• 1x Ground port
• the AC supply port (yes, this amp works with an AC power supply and not a DC!)
• 1x Power on/off switch

A good I/O for an RIAA Pre-amp that should suit all basic needs and more.

Bundle

The JDS Labs Atom Phono follows the brand’s usual path, and comes with a very dire bundle – but that’s classical for JDS.

Inside, you will find :

• the Atom Phono
• a 15VAC power adapter which remains quite heavy compared to your traditional AC/DC converter
• and… that’s all!

No RCA cable, no phono cable either, which means you’ll have to buy one buy yourself. Not a big issue considering the price, but bear in mind that you’ll have to get those with your next purchase! To be fair, the Phono Box S2 also came with no additional accessories, so this was to be expected.

Last but not least, I’ve to point out that the box is made of recycled cardboard a trend that JDS has been following for more than 10 years now – I like that.

Let’s plug it now.

The article continues on Page two, after the click here.