SUT vs. Phono preamp

@rauliruegas @enginedr

I have not listened to any of the SUT’s that you mentioned, but I have listened to some very good vintage SUT’s, both factory assembled and DIY assembled. None was as good as the 1931Ag, and only one was close.

We all three seem to be pretty much agreed, though, that even the best of the SUT’s is not quite a match for the best high gain phono/pre. I suspect that I could not tell the difference between the 1931Ag and a phono/pre using teflon or styrene caps for RIAA - it’s only by using vacuum and air-gap caps exclusively that I can differentiate. I suspect.

@terry9  : I think that for that " differentiate " we need at least two things: room/system high resolution and to know what to look for that could tell me those differences.

Btw, the Technics came from 1981, that are more than 25 years.

R.

Agreed, and noted.

Dear @terry9  @fleschler  : All those vintage SUT's I named and own/owned along the Technics that owns @enginedr1960 came from the early 80's and by coincidence all but the Technics had same price 150K Yens in those old times.
Technics had lower price due that Technics was/is a company from the world biggest electronic builder Matushita with all kind of resources that even Denon or AT just has not and can't market its products at lower prices.

http://20cheaddatebase.web.fc2.com/needie/NDdenon/AU-1000.html

Noted those 12kg in the Denon unit weigth?

This is today Audio Technica SUT ( 5kg. that's heavy for today other SUT " standard " about. ):

https://www.audio-technica.com/cms/accessories/1211e0cd29d5d0aa/index.html

a straigth SUT with no switches, that always is the best kind design.


Regards and enjoy the MUSIC NOT DISTORTIONS,
R.

Dear @terry9  @fleschler  and friends: That Audio Technica AT-SUT|1000 new top model says a lot for every audiophile and especially in the analog side:

In this thread ( and other threads through the time. ) I supported and posted that those vintage Japanese SUT's coming from Denon, Audio Technica and Technics are really even today second to none and contrary to today very expensive SUT manufacturers as Lundahl or Ypsilon and others the first hand knowledge levels coming inside those Japanese SUT's are way superior to the knowledge levels of today top SUT builders ( of course this is only my take. )

Audio Technica, Denon  and Technics all them were/are designers and manufacturers of: cartridges, tonearms, TTs and even electronics/speakers.
Been and be cartridge designers all of them ( including Ortofon. ) knows perfectly not only how works a cartridge but its needs and that latest Audio Technica SUT is a clear example of that when it comes with input/output balanced design:

""  The transformer maintains a balanced signal from the moving-coil cartridge through to the phono preamp...""

and I don't see there silver wire transformer windings.

Anyway, that AT SUT can be a must to liosten it.

R.