Choosing the right SUT for my setup

@audioguy85 

SUT is a 1/10 version does not necessarily mean the cartridge will see 470 ohms. Here is an example, my Jensen mc-2rr-L has a 430 ohm impedance that the cartridge will see, while my Rothwell mcx SUT, also 1/10, presents a 100 ohm loading.

So you have $$$ tied up into 2 SUT’s rather than one. Yes, Different loadings can be done with the use of resistors. I made loading plugs which did the same. Bent SUT was set up for loading pliugs. But you STILL have an extra component and cable rather than the shortest path.

Also, load is important as it changes the character or response of cartridge

Yes, I understand that. But its NOT a positive thing for the cartridge according to Ralph @ Atmasphere. The loading stiffens the cantilever and is necessary for the preamp so it does not ring like the cheaper ones generally do @ 47K. FWIW I have been running my .LOMC at 47K for about 15 yrs. I have loading plugs to make any value I want. But I chose 47K because it sounds best

It is also better to use a SUT for a low output m/c rather than a preamp with m/c capability. The reason being most preamps rely on j-fets to boost the signal.

That may be true with some but I doubt all of them, especially tubes. I have an SS which I use the 47K loading. So i find your assertion at least questionable. But even if so, you still haven’t dealt the the addition to the signal path. I suspect whatever gains may be made using your idea are then lost with the addition of an extra component and cable.

That said, I appreciate your response. I just disagree mostly. But if you like what you are doing, great. I’d be glad to listen with you.

The individual with the Sculpture A SUT's made it known the Company is willing to wind a Transformer to a Bespoke Ratio. 

Guess it comes down to do what ever sounds good to you. I tried it both ways...sounds better with SUT in the chain. The extra cable is very low capacitance...makes no difference or detriment to sound. 

Also, I did not pull any of this from my A$$, WHAT I "assert" is fact. A good SUT will not add anything to the character of the sound. I disagree also about loading not being important. Too little or too much will effect both the high frequency response and the bass....that is why cartridge manufactures have a recommended load. 

@artemus_5 yeah, I have 2 SUT’s, same as those that have numerous amps (which I do) and speakers (own 5 pairs) and turntables (currently own 6).... different components do different things. I’m not about to unsolder resistors on a relatively new SUT...they are cheap enough just to buy the ones that will work for a specific cartridge...ie my Hana el and my eroica, both require something specific.

I also own a pro-ject Tube box ds2, whereas I can dial in Any load I want, however, it uses jfets to step up moving coils....not saying that’s bad, but generally not the best way to do it in my opinion. I would not say mc sounds bad through it, not at all...but with the SUT’S in the chain, to me they sound better.

The Tavish Design Adagio does. It right, they use Jensen transformers built into the mc section to step up the voltage. Nice, because it’s all in one neat chassis. You are aware that by using a SUT and running the cables into the moving magnet section of a tubed phono preamp uses the tubes to Full Effect?

When using the mc section of most tubed phono preamps, you are not hearing the full effect of the tubes, as confirmed by both pro ject and Tavish.

@artemus_5   It isn't a cut and dry question.  When using an active stage for MC with increased gain, one has to either design a separate preamp with added open loop gain or there will be a compromise between the two gains, that is, the gain for MM and the gain for MC.  This usually isn't an issue with selectable gains for MM, since the gain changes are usually small.   

Another issue is electronics add noise to the music signal with degrades the coherence of the music.  Granted, there isn't much we can do about that, after all, everything will get amplified sooner or later.   But the smaller the signal voltage, the more susceptible it is to noise degradation.   

I've designed preamps and some of them have had MC gain selection switches, so I am well aware of the issues here.   Granted there are good preamps out there with selectable gains for MC and MM, but for me, the SUT injects no electronic noise because it has none, which is a big advantage.   After that, it becomes which is a better design, so one cannot blanket statement and say SUT's are not as good as a preamp with selectable gains.   In many cases, the opposite is quite true.