Admirers of Hagerman Audio Labs’ Bugle series of phono preamps have plenty to trumpet about these days, as the company’s fourth-generation Bugle MC is now available for an SRP of $249. (For further context, the previous-gen Bugle3 retails for $199.)

Eagle-eyed gearheads will instantly notice how the Gain and Load controls on the 4th-gen Bugle MC phono preamp have been moved to front panel (no DIP switches). This classic design is also said to accommodate virtually all cartridges available today from MM to MI to MC.

According to the company’s official site, the above-noted mods have been made “along with a few other upgrades.” To get more clarification about just what “a few other upgrades” entailed for the Bugle MC, I asked HagAudio head honcho Jim Hagerman directly to elaborate further. Here’s what he told me. (Rear view of the Bugle MC is directly below.)

“The Bugle3 was already a highly refined phono stage, yet the MC version betters it in a number of respects,” Hagerman replied via email, then he cataloged said “better” aspects of it as follows by first reiterating the main feature upgrade. “The internal DIP switches for Gain and Loading were moved to the front panel for easier access and fine-tuning while listening.” Then Hagerman added, “The plastic box was upgraded to aluminum for improved shielding of stray fields. RF filtering was added to the front end to better combat Wi-Fi, cell phone, and other pulsed digital communications (along with regular AM and FM radio). This [design] offers up a more hassle-free installation and better noise floor. Internal passive power-supply filtering now employ larger value polypropylene decoupling capacitors. Larger rubber feet are employed.”

Additional Bugle MC specs are provided below. “Other than that,” Hagerman concluded, “sound is pretty much unchanged from the Bugle3.”

For more information about Hagerman Audio Labs, and how to get your own Bugle MC, go here.

HAGERMAN AUDIO LABS BUGLE MC PHONO PREAMP

Specs 40/52/58/64dB gain (1kHz) 47k/470/220/100 Ohm input impedance 330 ohm output impedance ±0.5dB RIAA accuracy (30Hz to 30kHz) 15Hz to 130kHz bandwidth (–3dB) 82dBA signal-to-noise (ref 5mV) Dimensions: 6 x 3 x 1.5 in (w/h/d) 120/240VAC operation Power supply included

Log in or register to post comments COMMENTS Very nice Submitted by vinyl listener on Tue, 2022-10-04 20:53 Wish more manufacturers would stop using those horrid DIP switches and move the adjustments to the front. Log in or register to post comments I agree vinyl listener Submitted by volvic on Thu, 2022-10-06 07:15 I have the Cyrus Phono Preamp with the matching PSX, and I can't tell you how many times I changed and revisited the settings on the MC input of one particular turntable. Thankfully, the Cyrus offers different settings through remote control. Can you imagine if I had to make those changes using dip switches? I cannot understand why this is offered this way on phono preamps that cost thousands. It is easy to bring those settings to the front. Log in or register to post comments What about the Archiver? Submitted by garrard701 on Wed, 2022-10-05 21:13 Jim Hagerman must be reading my mind. I was drooling over the Archiver earlier this year... and now it seems he took many of the ideas from that unit and used them to improve the Bugle. This feels like a scaled-down version of the Archiver. And if you look back at the comments on that one, the extra shielding is a welcome addition. I might just buy one of each! Log in or register to post comments Screws? Submitted by Trevor_Bartram on Thu, 2022-10-06 06:10 Those panhead screws are ugly. There is probably no good reason countersunk screws could not be employed. I look forward to a review of the sound of the Bugle? Log in or register to post comments Screws Submitted by alrau@juno.com on Wed, 2022-10-12 16:49 They should've used bugle head screws, don't you think? Log in or register to post comments The case design is decidedly retro Submitted by timorous on Sat, 2022-10-08 08:08 If Mr. Hagerman were to have the case professionally designed to look more modern and appealing (one-piece aluminum [no visible screws], modern knobs) he would be able to sell more of them at a suitably higher price, I'm sure. This current design is decidedly 1980s retro. Almost prototype. I've no doubt it sounds very nice, though. Log in or register to post comments Knocking this preamp Submitted by Tom L on Sat, 2022-10-08 16:56 ...for the appearance of the screw heads is like ripping Ray Charles for being a lousy driver. Log in or register to post comments Probably not an accurate comparison Submitted by Tom L on Sun, 2022-10-09 10:54 Actually more like ripping Lois Armstrong for being too sweaty. Log in or register to post comments "Louis" Submitted by Tom L on Sun, 2022-10-09 14:59 Not sure who Lois Armstrong is. She has some art on Etsy. Log in or register to post comments WORTH A SCHIIT-OUT Submitted by jahnghalt on Wed, 2022-10-12 17:53 This updated phono preamp is within $50 (plus shipping) of theprice for the Schiit Mani (plus SYS switcher/volume control) - worth an old-school subjective shootout. Log in or register to post comments

Wish more manufacturers would stop using those horrid DIP switches and move the adjustments to the front.

I have the Cyrus Phono Preamp with the matching PSX, and I can't tell you how many times I changed and revisited the settings on the MC input of one particular turntable. Thankfully, the Cyrus offers different settings through remote control. Can you imagine if I had to make those changes using dip switches? I cannot understand why this is offered this way on phono preamps that cost thousands. It is easy to bring those settings to the front.

Jim Hagerman must be reading my mind. I was drooling over the Archiver earlier this year... and now it seems he took many of the ideas from that unit and used them to improve the Bugle. This feels like a scaled-down version of the Archiver. And if you look back at the comments on that one, the extra shielding is a welcome addition. I might just buy one of each!

Those panhead screws are ugly. There is probably no good reason countersunk screws could not be employed. I look forward to a review of the sound of the Bugle?

They should've used bugle head screws, don't you think?

If Mr. Hagerman were to have the case professionally designed to look more modern and appealing (one-piece aluminum [no visible screws], modern knobs) he would be able to sell more of them at a suitably higher price, I'm sure.

This current design is decidedly 1980s retro. Almost prototype. I've no doubt it sounds very nice, though.

...for the appearance of the screw heads is like ripping Ray Charles for being a lousy driver.

Actually more like ripping Lois Armstrong for being too sweaty.

Not sure who Lois Armstrong is. She has some art on Etsy.

This updated phono preamp is within $50 (plus shipping) of theprice for the Schiit Mani (plus SYS switcher/volume control) - worth an old-school subjective shootout.