Phono Preamp. With transformer or fully active

The answer to your question, originally stated, is the difference is where the process of equalization occurs,

and it is that equalization stage where the sound varies the most.

SUT’s increase signal strength with no eq, sending the stronger signal out to be equalized elsewhere.

Lack of Hum is a major goal of a SUT, good/better/best transformers and shielding.

ortofon, PASS and 5 inputs, 3/6/12/24/48 ohms. (xf #'s??)

https://www.ebay.com/itm/ORTOFON-T-30-Step-Up-Transformer-MC-Phono-Cartridge/283859443473?hash=item4217575f11:g:UvgAAOSwYcdepVAw

a few with options not on ebay when I was looking/learning/buying

Audio Technica, PASS and 3/20/40 ohm options

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Audio-Technica-AT660T-OCC-Step-Up-Transformer-MC-Phono-Cartridge-USED-JAPAN-RARE/193587440854?hash=item2d12b5ecd6:g:SzgAAOSwk1VfFvNG

Technics PASS, 3/15/30 ohm options

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Technics-SH-305MC-Step-Up-Transformer-MC-Phono-Cartridge-USED-JAPAN-matsushita/193228873370?hash=item2cfd569e9a:g:JNgAAOSw8A1d3Tb1

ENTRE 3 front selectable inputs, PASS, 3/15/40 ohms

https://www.ebay.com/itm/ENTRE-ET-100-Step-Up-Transformer-MC-Stereo-Phono-Cartridge-USED-JAPAN-vintage/193318119654?hash=item2d02a868e6:g:o30AAOSwkAxeLZjX

Dear @frozentundra : "" Phono Preamp. With transformer or fully active.""

Both can works fine and if you ask on which is better the answer is that mainly depends of each unit quality design and excecution quality of that design.

In both designs you can use almost any LOMC cartridge ( the two first posts in the thread are wrong and with a high misunderstood levels. ).

It’s totally false that the transformer design unit can comes with a lower noise levels than an active design because this depends of the knowledge and skill levels of the phono stage designer.

The main limitation of a transformer/passive design could be the inherent frequency response bandwndth limitation that all transformers have at both frequency extremes where an active design has an advantage. The other issue is that the cartridge signal must pass through all the transformer wire length that makes a little more degradation than the active stage that between other advantages gives a more immediacy to what we listen it with a little more transparency/clarity that the transformer unit.

Now, if you don’t own a top LOMC cartridge but an average quality one then the choice is not so important but the unit quality design. For top LOMC cartridges the choice must be to go for the active unit.

Btw, external SUT is the worst choice and the alternative that degrades the more the delicated and sensible cartridge signal due that you need additional IC cables that means additional input and output connectors where the signal must pass and is degraded as is degraded at the solder joints in that cable and connectors and obviously through the cable wire. So with the external SUT you will have less purity in the MUSIC cartridge signal, more veiled signal and with a lot higher distortion levels.

Regards and enjoy the MUSIC NOT DISTORTIONS,
R.

I completely agree with Raul with one important exception: "(the first posts in the thread are wrong ...)". I think that Raul has misunderstood them.

Also consider Sowter transformers. They aren't up with the big Lundahls, but they cost a tenth as much, and if you aren't using a $5k cartridge, may be preferable. OP should know that Mulveling is a connoisseur of the highest end cartridges.