Michell Audio, a name well known in the turntable world, is stepping into the electronics space with the Apollo Phono Stage and its companion Muse Power Supply. Designed for serious vinyl listeners, this two-box setup aims to deliver cleaner sound by reducing unwanted noise and providing stable power to a turntable’s delicate signal.
Set to launch in March 2025 at £3,500 ($4,500 USD estimated), the Apollo/Muse duo is meant for those who want to fine-tune their analog setup without compromise.
So, what exactly does it do, and why does it need two separate boxes? Let’s break it down.
At its core, the Apollo is a phono preamplifier, a crucial component for any turntable setup. Since turntable cartridges output an extremely low-level signal, a phono stage is needed to boost it to a usable level before it reaches an amplifier or speakers. The Apollo is compatible with both moving magnet (MM) and moving coil (MC) cartridges, even handling low-output MC cartridges that require a significant boost.
What makes the Apollo stand out is its customizable loading and gain settings. These allow listeners to fine-tune the unit to their specific cartridge, ensuring the best match between components. The adjustments are made via DIP switches on the underside of the unit, hidden behind a magnetic cover for a clean look.
Another key feature is the passive RIAA equalization circuit, which corrects the natural imbalances in vinyl playback to ensure accurate frequency response. This is a pure analog approach, avoiding digital processing in an effort to preserve the original sound as much as possible.
Michell has taken a two-box approach to this phono stage by separating the power supply from the signal-processing components. The idea is simple: keep noise away from the delicate audio signal.
The Muse Power Supply is built to deliver exceptionally clean power to the Apollo. It houses a low-noise toroidal transformer, which helps minimize electrical interference, and uses advanced capacitance multipliers and voltage regulators to ensure the signal is as pure as possible. Since power fluctuations and noise can degrade audio quality, keeping these elements separate from the phono stage is a way to improve overall performance.
Both the Apollo and Muse units are machined from solid aluminum in the UK, using a clam-shell enclosure design that helps with shielding against interference. Essentially, this acts as a Faraday cage, preventing electrical noise from affecting the delicate phono signal.
The units are linked by a custom high-quality cable, made with silver-plated OFC (oxygen-free copper) conductors, FEP insulation, and AL-foil Mylar shielding. This cable is designed to maintain a clean signal while also rejecting external noise.
“For over 50 years, we’ve been at the forefront of vinyl playback innovation, designing industry-leading turntables, cartridges, and electronics... With Apollo and Muse we have something very special that will satisfy the most demanding and discerning of audiophiles,” says Michell's managing director Jonathan Nye.
With its high-end components, adjustable settings, and noise-reducing design, the Apollo Phono Stage is aimed at serious vinyl enthusiasts who want maximum control over their setup. Whether you’re running a high-end moving coil cartridge or just want to get the most out of a moving magnet setup, the Apollo is designed to be flexible.
That flexibility, however, comes at a cost. At £3,500 ($4,500 estimated), the Apollo/Muse combo is clearly positioned as a premium phono stage option. It’s competing with other high-end phono stages in this price bracket, and for those invested in Michell’s turntable ecosystem, it could be an attractive addition.
Michell Audio plans to release the Apollo Phono Stage and Muse Power Supply in March 2025 through its usual retailers.
