CH Precision P 1.5 Phono Pre-amplifier

Overview

CH Precision P1.5 Phono Preamplifier

Resolution. Refinement. Revelation.
An extraordinary new chapter in the art of analog reproduction. A personal introduction from Sunil at Sunny's Audio Video.

There are certain products that become part of our customers' lives, bringing countless hours of musical enjoyment and reminding us why we fell in love with high-end audio. For me, the CH Precision P1 Phono Preamplifier is one of those very special products.

Since the P1's introduction on May 6, 2016, we have had the pleasure of selling several at Sunny's, and many of our customers continue to enjoy them immensely. But CH Precision's engineers never seem content to stand still.

Following the introduction of the two-chassis P10 in May 2023, the team explored how its advances could benefit the 1 Series. On October 23, 2026, that journey reached another milestone with the announcement of the P1.5 Phono Preamplifier and L1.5 Line Preamplifier, joining the D1.5 and A1.5 in the evolving 1.5 Series.

The P1.5 brings advances developed for the flagship P10 into an integrated, single-chassis design, with careful attention to cartridge behavior, amplification, noise control, and equalization.

Imagine a familiar recording revealing a little more texture in a voice, a more natural piano decay, or a deeper sense of space around the musicians. Great engineering should bring us closer to the music, not simply impress us with specifications.

We are awaiting our demonstration component. Call (626) 966-6259 for personal pricing, availability, and audition updates.

Cartridge Matching & Setup

Built Around the Cartridge

The P1.5 offers three inputs, giving us thoughtful tools for matching the phono stage to your analog front end.

• Two current-sensing moving-coil inputs: Designed for compatible low-impedance MC cartridges, operating at virtual ground without conventional resistive cartridge loading.
• One voltage-sensing MM/MC input: For moving-magnet cartridges, compatible moving-coil cartridges, and cartridges used with step-up transformers. More than 400 selectable loading values span 20 ohms to 70 kilohms.

Choosing a wonderful cartridge is only the beginning. Proper setup, loading, gain matching, tonearm alignment, and the relationship between every component in the analog chain make an enormous difference.

Gain and Loading Wizards

The Gain Wizard helps identify an appropriate gain setting for your cartridge and input, supporting dynamic range while reducing the risk of noise and overload. Gain is adjustable in 3 dB increments.

The Loading Wizard displays the measured frequency response of the connected cartridge and tonearm combination at different loading values. It is an opportunity to evaluate electrical behavior rather than relying entirely on generalized recommendations.

Dedicated Mono Configurations

The P1.5 accommodates stereo cartridges playing mono records, dual-coil mono cartridges, and single-coil mono cartridges, without requiring changes to the normal connections between the phono stage and line preamplifier.

Engineering & Equalization

Three-Stage Amplification Inspired by the P10

The P1.5 employs three active gain stages with passive equalization between them and fully discrete Class-A amplification. Compared with the original P1, its design addresses input noise, available headroom, gain flexibility, and equalization accuracy.

Input noise is reduced by approximately 6 dB on the current-sensing inputs and 4 dB on the voltage-sensing input compared with the P1. These are meaningful improvements when working with the tiny signals generated by a phono cartridge.

Less noise. Greater resolution. More musical information. A deeper connection to the performance.

The Beauty of Historic Recordings

Alongside standard RIAA equalization, an optional pair of equalization modules provides historical playback curves for collectors of early LPs and historic pressings.

• EMI
• Columbia LP
• Decca/London
• DGG/Teldec
• NARTB/NAB
• Capitol/AES
• Philips

Before RIAA became widely standardized, record labels employed different equalization characteristics. Selecting an appropriate curve can help restore a more faithful tonal balance. The P1.5 implements its equalization curves with an accuracy of ±0.1 dB.

X1 Power Supply & P1 Upgrade

Explore the X1 External Power Supply

The P1.5 can be partnered with the optional CH Precision X1 External Power Supply. Separating critical power-supply functions from sensitive audio circuitry helps reduce unwanted electrical and magnetic interference, an important consideration when amplifying extremely small cartridge signals.

At Sunny's, we appreciate products that allow customers to build and refine their systems thoughtfully over time.

A Commitment to Existing P1 Owners

Owners of the original P1 have an upgrade path to the P1.5. This involves substantial rebuilding, including new primary audio circuit boards, internal backplane, display, and product identity, rather than simply a software update.

The P1.5 upgrade program is currently expected to begin in March 2027, subject to manufacturer scheduling. Please contact us to discuss eligibility, scheduling, and personal upgrade pricing.

Pricing, Availability & Auditions

All CH Precision product pricing and upgrade options are discussed personally, one-on-one, by telephone or during a showroom visit.

We are eagerly anticipating our P1.5 demonstration unit. Contact us for current availability and to discuss a future audition, a new reference analog system, or an upgrade from your existing P1.

At Sunny's Audio Video, we have invested extensively in CH Precision because we believe in its engineering philosophy, long-term support, and musical capabilities. Our experience includes pairing CH Precision phono stages with Brinkmann turntables, exceptional tonearms, moving-coil cartridges, reference electronics, loudspeakers, cabling, and Harmonic Resolution Systems isolation platforms.

A wonderful analog system is never the result of one component alone. It is the relationship between the turntable, tonearm, cartridge, phono stage, amplification, loudspeakers, and listening environment, guided by an understanding of what you love to hear.

Call (626) 966-6259 or email sales@sunnyaudiovideo.com for a personal conversation.

Visit Sunny's Audio Video

Music lovers from across the USA, including Hawaii, are warmly invited to visit Sunny Components Inc. at 1370 E Cypress Street, Suite D, Covina, CA 91724. Enjoy our showroom experience, a cup of coffee, and private auditions by appointment. Please call ahead to confirm which demonstration components are available.

With easy freeway access from LA, Orange County, Pasadena, Pomona, and the Inland Empire, our Covina showroom is a welcoming place to explore your next musical chapter.

Call (626) 966-6259 or (626) 975-1353 to plan your visit.

After all, the true measure of an extraordinary phono stage is not simply how much information it retrieves from a record. It is how beautifully that information becomes music. And that is something we never get tired of experiencing.

Sunil Merchant
Sunny's Audio Video