Phono Preamp. With transformer or fully active

For what it's worth I heard a Zesto vs a NVO phono and the NVO was clearly the superior don't know why there's not much talk about NVO, several yrs ago it was much talked about even on these forums.

If one choses to use a loading network and likes the sonic results, that is fine. I have always found that sonically, loading is the worst thing you can do to a transformer and using anything more than the absolute minimum required is relying on a band-aid for a preventable injury.

I said I could hear a difference altering the zobel network, I did not say I liked the sound. I tend to agree with you on loading - either primary or secondary.

I am in the Jonathan Carr camp where I dont believe loading modern moving coil cartridges impacts the cartridge behaviour. Loading a cartridge impacts the following phono stage behaviour - for example poorly designed solid state phono stages with low overload margins at ultra high frequencies.

In selecting transformers for MC’s in my experience it is better to focus on getting the gain into the optimum position for the ensuing phono stage rather than worry about what load the cartridge sees.

I have still sitting in the cupboard - Altec 4629’s, 4722’s, Jensens, FR’s ( ugh ) and an Ortofon. Have previously heard many others. None of them are neutral, they all have their own idiosyncratic sound.

Even optimising the gain structure, moving coils and step up transformers are like a pot luck dinner - you never know what you are going to get until you try it. And they still have the aforementioned phase anomalies across the audio band.

I heard a Zesto vs a NVO phono and the NVO

Yes I’ve heard both. The Zesto is good value for money, the NVO ( all tube, no transformers ) is very good. My only reservation with the NVO is the use of 20+ tubes in it. If 1 goes noisy what a drama finding it. This would drive me nuts ( and I’m a tube guy ).

@dover if the 22 tubed NVO has too many tubes you should hear the 13 tubed NVO. So very close

Jensen named the parts of the Zobel Rdamp and Cdamp which clearly tells its purpose. I do not know of any phono stage inputs with those parts intentionally in place.

@intactaudio  Our preamps allow that- if we install the transformers internally (an option) then the output of the SUT is set up so the external loading strip on the preamp is loading the output of the transformer. If the transformer is external, obviously the same is true. So any Zobel or simple loading resistor can be installed with ease. I agree as well that if the aberrant behavior is a peak at 200KHz probably best leaving it alone.

An answer to the question about using a SUT vs. using a MC phono stage.
https://917bd498-4992-4ef6-bebe-3f682d04079f.filesusr.com/ugd/7869ac_7637ddd4ac28491fa20e1396de50696...