SUT for Lyra Clavis Evolve 99

Using the Clearaudio Stradivari with the 40 ohms tap (10x voltage) seems perfect "on paper" as Flyfish2002 explains it but as he says it is going to be difficult to find a transformer for the Lyra. The problem is the volume pot of the preamp has to be SO LOW it is not nice with the transformers with high gain/low impedance. I would like to get close to the cartridge impedance with the SUT impedance as Lyra recommends it (below 10 ohms).

I think the rest of the explanation of the MC-4 is interesting perhaps it is the solution, if a bit too expensive. Thnak you

Alanpiga,

Another factor with SUTs is that the SUT will "step down" the impedance that the cartridge "sees" at the phono stage by a factor of the voltage gain squared.

So, for my set-up, at the 40 ohm tap, the gain is 10x the voltage (0.7mV to 7.0mV). My phono stage presents an impedance to the cartrdige of 47k ohm. With the SUT, the stepped down impedance is: 47k ohm/(10^2) = 470 ohm.

This works fine for my Stradavari, as Strats like between 250 - 500 ohms. However, if it did not, my phono stage allows me to use resistors soldered internally to adjust the impedance. The same calculation would be done on this altered impedance to determine the actual impedance the cartrdige sees:

Altered impedance with resistors/(10^2)

Likely that AirTight permits the same.

There are other SUTs out there that are more cost effective. The issue is the transformer windings, which if done less than perfectly can f****p your sound. Tim P is know to be anal retentative about his transformer windings. I paid for "insurance".

I rarely see used EAR gear on AudioGon - maybe satisfied owners??

Send me an e-mail message if you want to chat offline.

Flyfish2002, is there any reading you can recommend in order to learn the "math" and theory that you seem to know well? thank you

Out of curiosity, what happens when you use the cartridge directly into the phono without a SUT? That will net you 24dB less overall gain.

Give it a try and don't listen for absolute sonics but to get a feel for the gain and noise you have in your system.

dave