Benz LP and SUT's...

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.

Rudolffzigray,

Thank you so much for sharing the experiences you have had with the various Rubys. I have heard good praises in regards to the Bent Mu and trannies from the Stevens and Billington as well, but had no idea if any of those would work with the Benz LP. I will be sending John Chapman an email tonight and see what he has to say about his new step ups and the cartridge. Thanks for trying to help me understand this a little more.

Don

Hi Brianhutch,

Thank you for your response. I think I may not have been clear in regards to how I wrote my previous post...I'm using the Artemis Labs Ph-1 which only has about 50db or so of gain and no step ups. The Pl-1 is basically the same as mine but has buildt in Sowter step up transformers. Sorry for the confusion.

So I'm curious about the TX103 and the Lundahl 1931. Do you think that either of these will work with my Ph-1?
Would I be able to get the proper loading by changing the loading resistors on the back of the phonostage or does the loading happen prior to the stepup?

Thanks again,
Don

Hi Don
No problems using the ph1 loading connectors as they load across the inputs which will be your transformers secondary or output windings,and a chat with either Kevin or John is never lost time.Kevin sells a very high quality adjustable loading module and you can flip resitors in and out of the circuit in seconds its super handy,I love the unit he fitted in my new phono and plan on installing one in the older phono I assembled myself.You can decide where it sounds best in seconds.