SUT With a Manley Steelhead RC?

I had a Steelhead before they offered remote control but after the first batch. I rolled the tubes on the audio path, using NOS Tele, Siemens and old Raytheons for the 7044. I could never get it to gel in my system, especially using the MC autoformers. I ran it wide open, at that time using a Lyra Titan I (which I think was their best then) and the original Airtight PC-1 (later upgrade to a Supreme). I added a line stage- Lamm L2 Reference, then a Veloce (which is up to date as of this writing) and eventually migrated to an entirely different room, with a number of small changes. I also changed phono stages.

One of the things I found in listening was a slight electronic glaze from the Steelhead which was a constraint to more natural, flowing analog sound. I think every person has their own biases, and their choices-assuming no price constraint- are limited by what they have heard.

The Steelhead in my estimation sounded better with a line stage than using its passive volume control. Thing is really well built, quite flexible, and Eva is a saint. 

In relation to the MSL SUT, there is a particular Tonal Quality Japanese Audio Enthusiasts seemingly lean towards, which is for the Rich Tone.

The MSL SUT may? be voiced to create the perception of rich tone is increased to compensate for the Cart' user that desires for more of  Rich Tone than the Cart' is able to produce in a typical MC Input.

I like @mulveling  have quite a few SUT experiences behind us, and even though we lean towards different sides of the Rich/Lean Scale, we both know SUT's can be perceived as unbearably overblown in the Lower Frequencies, to being perceived as Lean in the Upper Frequencies.

What really matters is where the individual chooses to hit the stop button and get of the Bus on the Rich/Lean Route.

I happen to have a Bob's Devices 10x SUT sitting here gathering dust.  I am not inclined to sell it, but I would be happy to let you borrow it to try.  You would still need to buy another set of phono cables and they should be a match to the ones you already use.  Send me a note if you want me to send the SUT to you.

Whart, what’s a Veloce? I own a 59 Alfa Romeo Giulietta Spider Veloce, but it only plays music on an open country road with top down. Later today I’ll dig up my recipe for upgrading the Steelhead and post it here. Also, I own v2.0 with remote. I think it’s a bit different from the original that you owned.

@lewm- I love older Alfas- tried to buy the Duetto, 69 or earlier, in Italy to run the Targa Florio back in the day but prices there were higher than the US and there were few specimens for sale (the idea being I'd save on the cost of shipping a car both ways, and ship the car back to the States afterwards). Wound up renting an old dog for the event.

Veloce was a company that built battery powered electronics for a spell from the fertile mind of  Vytas Viesulas; it is no longer made. It combines what I would call aeronautics grade construction with old school (tube) design. This is the later version that uses the 6h30 and likes the old DR Reflector tube far better than the modern production. 

Here's what mine looks like with the hood under acrylic: