2. analog
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Do I Need A SUT

I recently moved from a PS Audio BHK Reference pre amp to an LTA ZTOL pre amp.  I found the LTA pre amp to be more detailed slightly warmer and it just sounded better in my system.  I also noticed a big difference in the output volumes between my digital rig and my analog rig. At the same volume level, my turntable volume is now much lower than my streamer volume, as opposed to the way it was before.

Analog gear - Technics SL-1200G turntable w/ Ortofon Quintet Black cartridge and PS Audio Stellar phono pre.  Digital gear: Innous Zenith MK2, Matrix DDC, and PS Audio DirectStream DAC MK2.  Power amp: PS Audio BHK250.  Speakers: Tannoy DC8-Ti.

Before, I used all Transparent Super XLR balanced interconnects, except for the turntable RCA cable into the phono pre.  Now, the only balanced cable is from my DAC to the ZTOL, which has only one XLR input.  I replaced my Transparent XLR interconnects with Transparent super RCA interconnects.

Do I need a SUT to get a higher level of sound at a lower volume setting?  My budget is $1,500.  I know nothing about SUTs other than what I've read. I'm considering the Ortofon ST-7.  Recommendations welcomed.

128x128oldschool1948
lewm
12,876 posts
 

There is no particular reason to worry that the attenuators need to be set differently for analog vs digital, unless you’re prone to forget to turn down the volume before switching from analog to digital and fear speaker damage. Otherwise I personally set up analog gain for max SQ regardless of high level inputs.

audioman58's avatar
audioman58
4,095 posts
 

Did you buy the better LTA pre with the Lundahl transformer option ? 
well worth the  $$ and in your unit you have a 3 way dip switch for gain 

You should be running all the same xlr throughout  for best synergy .

mashif
232 posts
 

@audioman58 

The LTA preamp has the Lundahl transformer on input to convert it to SE. You can only use XLR there. The rest are all RCA. Changing the overall gain won't change the difference in level between his phono pre and his DAC. 

 

 

oldschool1948's avatar
oldschool1948 OP
497 posts
 

@lewm Sometimes, I like to A/B listen to the same album streamed from Qobuz or Tidal and played on my TT. Having the volume of each close helps with that. The LTA remembers volume settings for each input, so I don't worry when I switch from the streamer to the TT, to the R2R.

@audioman58 I have the Level Two version:

  • Preamp output cap upgrade: The headphone and the preamp outputs have been separated, and different types of output caps, optimized for each output, are installed. The preamp cap is upgraded to a premium Clarity CMR.

  • Power supply cap upgrade: The power supply caps and power storage caps on the audio board are changed to Mundorf Mlytic AG capacitors. The total amount of storage is increased by 22,000uF.

I'm quite happy with the SQ improvements the RCA cable and TT setting changes had on my system. 

The Kimber cable improvement was unexpected. Voices and instruments sound more natural, there's more separation and definition between them, and the sound is a bit warmer with no loss of detail.

My TT has always sounded great to me. It has always sounded slightly warmer and more full bodied than my streamer.  

These improvements cost me $0, and just a little experimentation and time.  Thanks to everyone for your insight and help.  

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