Phono Preamp. With transformer or fully active

I used a Lundahl amorphous core silver transformer and liked it very much. As Mulveling said, they are not as warm as some others - but the clarity! Then I built my own phono/pre, and built a lot of gain into it, so now run my Koetsu platinum direct.

Differences are just an added touch of clarity, added touch of warmth, and added touch of dynamics. So I use the MM input and run the volume at 3 o'clock. Still black silent as a tomb, so there's no down side. But I suspect that if I was using a FET input stage instead of aerospace bipolar (or vintage 6922's), the Lundahl would be notably better.

denon au-320 is very nice, 2 inputs, 3 ohm or 40 ohm gain/loading options, and PASS

https://www.ebay.com/itm/DENON-AU-320-step-up-transformer-mc-moving-coil-cartridges-junk-products-phono/383631324085?hash=item59523573b5:g:f6QAAOSwhtNecvwE

this one, with transformers many people respect, including Bill, has 4 different values set by switch combinations, only 1 input, no PASS for MM (it has only 1 input, so not needed).

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Moving-Coil-Phono-Step-Up-Transformer-Cinemag-3440AH-4-Ratios-1-9-1-36-MC-SUT/124263990235?hash=item1ceeb603db:g:pwAAAOSwdehfBJnw

the EAR MC4, used, 4 variations, via 4 separate sets of inputs, 3/6/12/40 ohms inputs, no PASS, only 1 input, compared to the Fidelity Research it seems poorly thought out, clumsy, were switches thought horrible things?

https://www.willhaben.at/iad/kaufen-und-verkaufen/d/ear-mc4-step-up-transformer-390620595/

a few Fidelity Research FRT-4 are out there

https://www.hifishark.com/search?q=frt-4

I read  discussions in External SUT’s being used and phono stages with built in transformers ?

I thought the OP asked for a phono stage with built-in SUTs.

As for external SUT I found this model very usefull for all cartridges. 

I'm using a jensen SUT with a tavish design Tubed phono stage (mm input). This is paired with the hana el low output mc. The hana is a good match to the jensen, hana calls for greater than 400 ohms, the jensen is at 430 ohms. 

chackster,

that one

http://www.auduo-1.com/newgoods/K-L/LUXMAN/TYPE8020_TYPE8030/TYPE8020_TYPE8030.html

offers the potential for a full line of optional transformer plug-ins, like camera lenses.

buy what you need to start, buy a different plug in later for any cartridge you buy.

labeling inputs with ohms makes no logical sense to me. I think they should give/show the x factor on the dial/transformer. that makes easier math. why not produce windings that give round numbered x factors, i.e. 6x; 10x; 14x; 20x. that's all you need to know to calculate signal strength and x factor sq is much easier to calculate.

you look for your desired load, see the x factor, see if large enough signal.

a 3 column chart: x factor/ xf sq / gain +___db