This is just my personal preference, but if I find that the sound from a good LOMC is too rich or too lean or whatever, to the point that I can’t tolerate it, my course of action would be to change either the cartridge or the phono, rather then to introduce a SUT as a bandaid for SQ. I’d use a SUT if I wanted to mate a suitable LOMC to a great MM phono stage. In other words, to increase total gain.
@lewm That’s the question for each of us - what constitutes "too far gone" in the sonic balance of a cart, and does this carry over beyond our personal perspective, or even our current downstream chain.
I’ve learned time and time again the upper line Ortofon MCs (Cadenza Bronze being the exception) are just too dry and lean for my tastes. Multiple downstreams, multiple phono stages, SUTs, tonearms etc - I just had to give it up. Then on the other side you have Koetsu: I’ve had some downstream configs where they’re just way way too damn warm and thick, echoing the common complaints of this line - and other downstreams where the result is just spectacular, untouched by any other combinations I’ve ever put together. When you "unlock" this, it’s magic. I’m glad I didn’t deny myself that joy just because they were way too damn warm in other contexts :)