I've found that my MX 136 has an excellent phono section which produces a deep and wide sound stage. Low level detail ( room ambience) is clearly reproduced and the soundstage is both wide and deep. I do use the pure stereo mode and find that this preamp is sonically very neutral and very quiet. I do not route video through my MX 136 as the HDMI circuits are Version1 and do not handle audio.