Benz LP and SUT's...

It is a 40 ohm cartridge if I remember right. Most SUTs won't work as they are 5 ohm designs. Look at the Auditorium 23 or similar. I am working from memory. Of course the Audio Note is fine as it is adjustable.

Hi Dgad,
Thanks for the response. Yes, the Benz Ebony LP has a 38 ohm internal resistance and a .28mV output. I must say that I have never understood the relationship between cartridge and SUT impedances. I'll be using the Artemis Labs Ph-1 ( http://www.artemislabs.com/PH-1-vacuum-tube-phono-preamp.html ) with the step up transformer. The phonostage allows for adjustable loading on the back of the unit. Will this allow me to use any step up transformer?

As a side note, I noticed you are using the TW Acustic phonostage. Is that a pure tube phonostage or is it using some sort of solid state, mosfet, jfet etc head amp in front of the tubes?

Thank you for your comments,
Don

Don,

I have owned many Ruby's H, 3H, 3. These cartridges are a bit of a pain. They really like about a 1000 ohm load. But will work well at 500. If you drop down to 100, forgetaboutit. Now, I have also owned my share of Step-ups and with out a doubt, Bent or any using the S&B trannies are the best. The problem you will have is finding one with a ratio of 1;10 which is 20db of gain. This will give you 470 or so ohms to start with. If you can find a 1;5 with about 15 db of gain your up well over 1000 and the sky's the limit. The more common 1;20 ratio w/ 26db or gain, you do not want. This will start you at 117 ohms way to low for a benz. I may be a little off on my numbers but there close. Now that being said, you can always re-wire them for what ever ratio you want. The Stevens and billington tx-102 copper trannies are out of this world and the silver are god speaking to you. The old mitch cotter step ups are also wonderful and they are getting better and better with age. I used the high version with a benz ruby 3 with great results.

Anyways, I'm sure there will be other recomendations just remember you need at least 500 ohms and preferably more to open the Benz up. Like the EAR MC-4 is not for you. Its good but not for you. John chapman has a new step up using a custom magnequest tranny. If he has put his step- ups back into production, I know their good. He will also get you where you need to be. One of the best guys in this business hands down.

Merry Xmas Don
Artemizlabs uses a sowter transformer and it looks from the drawing that the primary and secondary turns ratios are non adjustable on your preamp and the loading of the cartridge is done by placing a resistor across the secondary windings.I am sorry but I have not tried a sowter with my benz LP ebony.But do use it with a copper Billington TX103 and the new Lundahl 1931 I load the secondarys of both so the cartridge loading is about 500ohms I have been using about 750 for the Lundahl recently but the cartridge is not fully broken in yet.The maxxed to the max K+K phono using the 1931 sounds quite a bit better to my ear than the Tx103 and the first generation K+K phono.This is more likely due to the actual pre amp differences than the transformers.Both sound great and I am sure your Sowter will too.Both Kevin Carter at K+K and John chapman at Bent are great to talk too if you need help.

No Regrets

The TW does not use a SUT at all. It is pure tube. I think it is a FET current source but not sure. From what I understand, there are 2 impedanxes. The coil impedance & load. You need to accomodate both. I also use a Souther SUT in a different phono stage (I have 4). Mine is for a 3-5 ohm coil impedance. Adjusting the load can be done but isn't very audible. My phono stage has the load adjustable to ground. I would definitely look to change the Coil impedance to 40 ohm if you can on your phono.