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Step Up Transformer Question

Ok, so bear with me as this is new terrain for me. I was quite happy with how things were sounding and then I accidentally bumped the stylus of my Cadenza Black and snapped the cantilever clean off. I did some research and ultimately decided to have Steve at VAS at fix my cartridge but it was going to take a few weeks and there was going to be no way to play the Christmas vinyl that my wife loves so much. She told me to buy another cartridge so we could have Christmas records. I was stunned. I found a great deal on a Winfeld Ti on this site and pulled the trigger. I've got it on my table and it sounds amazing. 

After speaking with Steve though, I'm going to trade in my Cadenza and have him build me a wood body cartridge to have something different. It will also be 0.2mv output. I think I've got the 2nd arm situation sorted (gonna buy a Wand and a pod to mount it on) which leaves the phono pre. I love my Rogers PA-2 and it is switchable between MC and MM with 2 different inputs in the back. Finally got the SUT part. I've been looking and trying to figure things out. I spoke with Roger and he said the transformer built into the PA-2 is 1:10 and with that I can achieve 70 or so dB of gain. I did a lot of reading and looking and while I'm sure a 4k+ SUT is amazing that's just not where I'm at with all the other expenses at the moment. I saw the Bellari MT502 was a stereophole recommended component for many years and Amazon had one on sale for like $349 or something. Figured can't hurt to try it, it's Amazon so I can always return it. I plugged it in with some admittedly questionable interconnects I had lying around and when I put the phono stage k there was a bit more hum than I'm used to but I said let's have a listen. Holy shit. This little thing blew my mind. Better impact, tighter bass, more space around instruments so better staging, improved transients. This puts me in an interesting place. 

This is an extremely inexpensive piece and it has changed my system quite a bit. I think the little extra gain I get even at 1:12 brings the cartridge to life. My question is where do I go from here? Bob's makes the sky 30 which is switchable from 1:15 to 1:30 which I like because I can play with the gain tubes in my preamp and potentially go to a quieter 12au7 than the 12ax7 that's currently in there. Will that be a real improvement? Less hum? Had also considered ordering a Rothwell from jolly old England but can't find much on them. Thoughts? I'd like to keep this sub 1k or so for now. Maybe I'll save up for a big boy SUT later. 

rmdmoore
rdk777's avatar
rdk777
572 posts
 

There are folks on here making blatant statements about diminishing returns of an SUT.  Being an owner of some of the finer SUT's (EMIA Ag, Cotter Mk2L, Tango Silver), I can tell you definitely that not all SUT's are equal.  The statements being made are of those that have systems that do not have the ability to differentiate a silver SUT vs copper or are basing it on their hunch. Don't underestimate the qualities of a higher end SUT, unless you have tried it and your system can handle it.

 

elliottbnewcombjr
5,349 posts
 

I would check the specs of your phono Stage’s Sensitivity.

My McIntosh mx110z for instance, the MM Phono Input’s sensitivity is 3mv.

Signal Strength:

My cartridge’s output is 0.3mv. I use xFactor 18.27, thus signal strength to Phono MM input is 5.4mv. A bit of loss, guessing: perhaps 5.2mv, at least 5.0

Your cartridge 0.2mv x10 is only 2mv out to MM Phono input. I think too low, and perhaps the source of hum. A bit of loss, you might be getting only 1.8mv.

To find out, you could borrow a friend's SUT or Phono Stage with a higher xFactor, or order one from a source like amazon, with 30 day returns, try, keep or return.

Even if you don’t prefer it’s sound, it will tell you something about you existing x10’s involvement in the hum.

..................................

I prefer a stronger signal than mx110z’s 3mv minimum, keeps preamps volume centered, and closer to my MM cartridge’s 5mv output.

Switching arms/cartridges, the volume is not that different. I change volume remotely via my Integrated Amp’s Volume, thus preamp’s volume never moves, except when I often swish it full left/full right a few times, to keep the internal contacts fresh, it’s a Vintage control. I also use contact cleaner on all the controls once per year to prevent noise.

elliottbnewcombjr
5,349 posts
 

Another Chart I had found: Cartridge Specs and Recommended Impedance Load. (you need to increase your monitor's zoom to read these).

terry9
2,333 posts
 

There seems to be a lot of markup in some SUT's. Why not buy bare transformers and put them in a box yourself? More control, more satisfaction, less money.

Sowter makes good ones. Lundahl makes several grades from good to great. I've used both. The Lundahl 1931Ag is quite unforgiving. Why not email Lundahl and ask? They are very nice people, and helpful too. So with Sowter.

Good luck!

dogberry
647 posts
 

And it might not matter if we carefully calculate the effective loading on the cartridge:

 

At the end of it all, if it sounds pleasing to you, it is good and you might as well be happy.

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