It doesn't look like the step-up, but I could be wrong. I'm talking about the interface between the tonearm leadout cables and the interconnnects going to the tranny or phonoamp. I believe this is usually referred to as a junction box, but I don't know why it's needed. Is it typically nothing except wired-together jacks inside a box?
That's the step up. It's a K&K Audio passive tranny. Works great. It allows the use of a low output MC cartridge like my Denon 103r with the built in phono stage (MM) of my Audio Note Soro SE Phono.
Why would you want an interrupion of signal that has no purpose? If you just needed to extend them, you could use a good set of male to female rca's. Tonearm to tranny to preamp, shortest path possible with my cartridge/tranny/preamp setup.
I *am* pretty certain about the *existence* of junction boxes, but am not disappointed to learn you do without one in your system. Maybe someone will come along to straighten me out on this, because my reaction to the concept of a junction box - unless I'm just way off base on the whole thing - is exactly the same as yours.
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