SUT - electrical theory and practical experience

I used highly regarded Cinemag transformers with my Lyra Delos cartridge perfectly matched. The sound was energetic and loud but the treble was edgy and grainy.

This is the tricky bit about SUTs. This sounds like a classic situation where the loading on the output of the SUT wasn't addressed. Depending on the cartridge's source impedance, the 47K load that was probably stock in the preamp was likely not correct. This can result in distortion and the interwinding capacitance of the transformer playing a role like a capacitor in parallel with the transformer.

So not only would the result be distorted (likely causing harshness) but it might not be flat either! I can imagine this being quite disappointing. At any rate if the loading were addressed I suspect this situation could have been rectified without replacing anything.

Dear @mulveling  : SutherlaND 20/20 mk2 IS A VERY GOOD ss PHONO STAGE DESIGN ( LIKE THE pS aUDIO sTELLAR. ) AN YES BEEN an active high gain design just outperforms I think almost any SUT.

Here a review from 2011 and read it and please read carefully its measurements including the overload numbers and this Sutherland humble price tag as the PS Audio Stellar always be a challenge for any other phono stage surrounded by a good system:

R.

MK2 is even better than the one reviewed.

@rauliruegas 

I should be sure you have that RIAA deviation already measured and maybe you can share with us and your customers.

I'm hesitant to give you a measurement which you will certainly turn into a cudgel to use on me in the future but typical units are ± a third of a dB across the audio band.

dave

Dear @mulveling : SutherlaND 20/20 mk2 IS A VERY GOOD ss PHONO STAGE DESIGN ( LIKE THE pS aUDIO sTELLAR. ) AN YES BEEN an active high gain design just outperforms I think almost any SUT.

@rauliruegas Hi Raul,

I’m sure the Sutherland is a lovely MC stage. I get that it’s an active trans-impedance amplifier, different from my JFET MC stages or SUTs. At this point of my journey, I have no interest reading published reviews of gear.

What I’m not quite sure of is your angle here. Please let me know which of the following apply (check all that apply lol):

• The JFET MC stages in the Herron VTPH-2A and my ARC Ref 3SE are not "good". If you recall, I prefer selected SUTs over both of these. (I’ve also had other JFET MC stages too, but these two are generally lauded as very good if not exceptional)
• More generally, both voltage amplifiers and SUTs are not "good". Trans-impedance is the way
• It’s actually my system and/or hearing that is not good :)