Does Everyone Use 2 Phono Cables with SUT

@elliottbnewcombjr 

The 2.5ohm T1 supposedly has a turns ration of at least 30. He's running the 16ohm Madake into 52ohms. His output voltage would be 7volts into the phono.

It's a mess - total mismatch - probably the result of reading too many fairy stories passing as audio reviews.

It’s not nearly that severe a mismatch. 7V into phono stage? You mean 7mV, and probably closer to 5mV after losing losses - perfect for an MM phono stage. The loading certainly isn’t optimal, and a couple dB of signal will be lost to that, but it’s far from dooming the combination to bad sound.

@mulveling 

If you look at the cost of the components to have such a mismatch is sad.

If you put 91 in your Ferrari, it will run, but it won't perform.

@mulveling

If you look at the cost of the components to have such a mismatch is sad.

If you put 91 in your Ferrari, it will run, but it won’t perform.

I mean, it’s fair to point out the mismatch. I encourage OP to try other SUTs or MC stages (but keep the T-1 on hand if he gets a lower impedance MC). But audio is audio, not cars, and here it’s as much about personal preference and happy accidents in system matching as it is about absolute performance. I’ve run cartridges with loading ratios close to OP’s. It softens the sound a little, it cedes a couple dBs of level, but it can still sound really really good in the right mix. If OP likes it, then I trust him, and I don’t think he’s a rube for enjoying it. Clearly the BIGGER mismatch he had was with the high capacitance cables! Sometimes the sonic impact comes from areas you wouldn't immediately suspect. 

Keep the IC from SUT to phono stage short - and low capacitance if possible.