FIDELITY RESEARCH STEP-UP TRANSFORMERS

Hi @rauliruegas  - emailed u last night.

Like i said the 103 is a good workaday cartridge - it's very well made for the price. In addition they have good consistency - anyway the thread is about step-ups

I've never tried a step-up and thought I'd try one whilst being able to also do arm multiple mounts - 'killing 2 birds with one stone' so to speak.

I recall once saying to someone that my Shelter 501 with a Nordost cable was far superior to my Tansfiguration with a TCI cable. Thankfully both my phono stages are active (though one can switch to MM).

It's tempting and very costly this hi-fi habit with as many opinions as there are components.

I am taking your tip and seeking out a Denon AU 340.

@bukanova @chakster and @nandric 

I am not going to get a single input step up transformer. I have what one will call a 'bijou' room so multi inputs are the 'way to go' for me. 

In my 'nearfield' set up I am being drawn more and more to a warmer tonal palette than ever before. I make no apologies for it and do not want to be a 'slave to neutrality' - that said a thick syrupy sound - yuck:) 

I am not going to get a single input step up transformer. I have what one will call a 'bijou' room so multi inputs are the 'way to go' for me.

For this reason i have line preamp with 4 inputs, so i can connect different phono stages for my 4 tonearms (two turntables).

The SUT i have mentioned has one base with insert for 3 different silver toroidal transformers designed for ALL type of MC cartridges (8030 for 1.5 - 3.5 Ohm // 8025 for 3 - 40 Ohm // 8020 for 20 - 40 Ohm ). This is SUT if the most versatile. 

In my 'nearfield' set up I am being drawn more and more to a warmer tonal palette than ever before. I make no apologies for it and do not want to be a 'slave to neutrality' - that said a thick syrupy sound - yuck:)

Even if your phono stage is neutral who said that your amp is neutral, especially tube amp ? This is where you can get your warm tone. 

SUT is oldschool technology, learn as much as you can about "Current-Injection" PHONO stages for low impedance cartridges, this is the most direct and live sound ever. This is ideal for low impedance MC cartridge.  

I love the total lack of agreement on this forum at times :)

Both the FR64/FR7/SUT and the lightweight MM/modern MC Active stage may always be at loggerheads - my only way to resolve is to hear it.

@chakster the one you mentioned does allow different transformers, but isn't it a case of plugging and unplugging? I don't like to do that as most my tonearm cables have WBT connectors - not only that you should plug and unplug continuously.

It's better to plug/unplug not RCA connectors on the SUT side, but DIN connector on your tonearm when you want to switch from one to another. You just re-direct a cable (DIN) from one tonearm to another if needed. For this reason i designed custom made rack with open bottom for easy access to the tonearms. SUT swap on Luxman base is easy as changing tubes in the amp.  I also have WBT RCA on some cables. 

But this is not what i'm trying to say. 

Current-Injection phono stage for FR-7fz is the best solution, better than SUT 

Dear @lohanimal  : The stand alone Luxman unit came from the integrated phonolinepreamp Luxman C 5000A design.

I owned that unit and I know that those transformers ar not really top devices. Are small transformers with a limited frequency response band.

You can't go wrong with Audio Technica, Entré or Denon and its characteristics are rigth on what you are looking for and with very high quality level performances not like Luxman or even FR.

Btw, I still own the 103 because any one in analog has to owns it but it's not up to the today task standards of quality. Of course that for its price you can't ask for more.
Remember that that cartridge was designed in exclsive for radio stations and not for audiophiles. Yes, its cartridge motor function very well and that's why several last years buyers took it and with some modifications they sale to us as the 8th " world´s wonder " for big big dollars when they invested only a few coins on it: big bu$$ine$$ coming from  ignorant buyers

R..