A phono stage is an electronic device that amplifies the weak electrical signal produced by a turntable when a vinyl record is played. This signal is too low to be processed by standard audio equipment, so the phono stage boosts it to a level suitable for a receiver or amplifier. In addition to amplification, a phono stage also applies equalization to correct the frequency response of the signal. This ensures that the music sounds balanced and true to the original recording. Phono stages can be built into receivers or amplifiers, or they can be standalone units for enhanced performance.