Is a SUT needed?


I have a Dynavector DRT XV 1s going into an Aesthetix Rhea Signature. The sound is great, but I do have to increase the volume due to the low output of the cart, which can produce a high noise floor, when listening to quieter passages.  Do you think a Dynavector SUT 200 would be a good match?  Any suggestions?
handymann

Well if your phono-pre is not adequate and you want to keep your

LOMC then either an SUT or some other phono-pre with sufficient

amplification can solve your problem. ''either or'' does not allow

some third possibility (grin).

A good quality SUT is IMO the best way to amplify the low output (<1 mv) of mc cartridges with adding any noise! My first transformer was a Verion P designed by Mitchell Cotter. This was back in 1977 and my mc cartridge was the GAS Sleeping Beauty Super Elliptical. I presently own 5 SUT's - but alas not the Verion (sold!).
The gain is adjustable in eight steps, with up to 75dB of gain at the maximum setting. Nine different cartridge loadings are provided.
http://www.theabsolutesound.com/articles/tas-196-aesthetix-rhea-signature-phonostage-1/

I doubt you need of a SUT with 75db gain. My cart is .24 mv output and my phono pre (JLTi) is 62db gain which has plenty of output. Check your settings if you haven't already. 
Do you have the XV-1 XV-1s or XV-1T.  It depends on the both the internal impedance and output voltage to determine which step up or whether an active stage would be better.  If the impedance is low enough, a quality SUT will sound better than the active stage in the Rhea.