MC phono stage without transformer?


A newbie question:

I read a lot of 'reservation' about using an external MC step up transformer to increase the gain of an MM phono stage. But as I searched around for MC phono stages, I noticed that a lot of these actually have internal step-up transformers, some of these transformers are exactly the same as what some people used to make their external step-up.

So if transformer is no good, I should really be looking for an MC phono without the tranformer? Do these exist though?
viper_z
Yeah. Equalization should ideally be within 0.1db for RIAA, but also for "Columbia", for "LP", and for all the other equalization curves used by different companies at different times in history. That's the problem. I've got British EMI pressings of Ella and Louis that sound weird with RIAA equalization but are probably great when correctly equalized. Only a few VERY expensive products offer alternative equalization curves.
Atma, Lots, if not most, of my fave jazz recordings are in mono, 33 rpm, and were made prior to the advent of stereo.
The little known company Wavestream Kinetics makes a very nice transformerless tube phonostage with plenty of gain for MC carts. I own one myself and it's very quiet indeed. I use a low output Koetsu RSP with it.
Ralph, what's your opinion on Roy Gregory's writings / reviews on "alternative" LP equalizations and the supposed criticality of adjusting this EQ to fit the label?

He might be on to something, but I wonder if this compensates for EQ differences or just "bad" mastering? Can all DGs be that poorly mastered?
Another long discussion on the viability of step up transformers and what is the conclusion? Spend big bucks on a transformer less design if you want the best sound. What a surprise! Any transformerless carrots for people who don't want to spend $3K-$10K on a phonostage and would rather spend that sort of money on records (ie 90% of audiophiles and 100% of music lovers)?