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Step Up Transformers….Are they Worth the Trouble?

Some of you may aware of my Garrard 301 project, it’s now very close to completion. The plinth finally shipped from Hungry after 3 months of long wait.

Given my last experience with Hana Umami Red, I would like to take things to the next level. Which brings me to mating low output cart with a SUT. Every review I’ve read so far suggests when the SUT-MC match is right, the end result is heavenly. The bass is right, the midrange is clear, and most importantly, the highs are relaxed and extended—not rolled off.

I am not saying you can’t get great sound without a SUT but it appears with a properly matched SUT, sound can be quite magical.

Thought this would be the right time to get input from experienced users here since I am still contemplating my cartridge and outboard phonostage options.

My preference would be to go with a tube phono…I kinda miss tinkering with tubes :-)

My system, Garrard 301 (fully refurbished), Reed 3P tonearm, Accuphase E-650 with built-in AD50 analog board ➡️ Tannoy Canterbury’s.

Cart and phono under consideration through my dealer,

Fuuga - Output : 0.35 mVrms | Impedance : 2.5 Ω (1kHz)

Phonostage - Tron Convergence and Konus Audio Phono Series 1000

The cart - MC combination, I am lusting after is Etsuro Urushi Bordeaux MC with their Etsuro Transformer.
https://www.etsurojapan.com/product/bordeaux

The other transformer is EMIA, cooper or silver version.

Your input is appreciated!

128x128lalitk
audioguy85's avatar
audioguy85
2,018 posts
 

Check out the SUT’s from Jensen, Made In USA. I love mine with the Denon dl103. Not sure what the price is nowadays, but I paid I believe $599 a few years ago. I also own a Rothwell headamp, but have not employed it yet.

terry9
2,309 posts
 

Note that if you buy bare transformers as opposed to a complete box, you save most of the money you would otherwise spend for equivalent quality. Just saying'.

pindac's avatar
pindac
2,734 posts
 

The SUT's I own/use are bought as Tranx only from the Brands Hashimoto and Cinemag, which have been assembled into a Chassis using Solid Copper Chassis Mount RCA Connectors.

From recent experiences had, I feel compelled to strongly suggest the Chassis Mount RCA Connectors are a Low Eddy Design.

The Box/Chassis is down to the individual to design as a Bespoke fit for purpose  or purchase a Model of the shelf.  Leaving one with the Oldest of decisions to make, are the Tranx's to be seen Mounted on the Chassis or Out of Sight contained within the Chassis, these types of choices can be deal breakers indecision. 

theflattire
149 posts
 

@sgordoxyz 

Just to clarify: the 1660 are output transformers in the X upgrade.

The 9226 are the SUTs (you can see them in the back near the MC inputs), which are the same as in the PH150.  The 9226 were chosen for the low gain.

I use Hashimoto HM-7s with my Modwright, but after the X/T upgrades there's no huge difference between the HM-7 and the stock MC input. I prefer the higher gain (setting the PH9.0 to -6db), and I already had the Hashimotos.

OP, I would consider an SUT if my phono stage was using active gain on the MC side.

lalitk's avatar
lalitk OP
5,357 posts
 

@theflattire

I will check out the Modwright phono. The only phono on hand is my AD-50, which is a input board in my Accuphase Integrated, This phono board mated beautifully with Hana Umami Red cart on SME V arm and surprisingly bettered the EAT E-Glo S tube phono with external power supply at $5K retail.

https://www.accuphase.com/cat/ad-50_e.pdf

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