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

@lalitk How about starting off with a top MM like a Nagaoka MP500 to get the turntable and phono amplification ball running? (I only use Decca cartridges on my 401 tables) You might be surprised, and it will, at least give you a reference point of what the 301/Reed sounds like without all the MC-based extras for relatively little money

I recently purchased the new SKY 20-S with XLR connectors from Bob’s Devices and very happy. I’m using this with my Modwright PH 9.0XT and ZYX Ultimate Airy X cartridge. The ModWright on its own was extremely good and I was very happy. I wanted to try a SUT and will say that it adds detail and clarity. I also felt the soundstage opens up a bit more. I recently took it out of my system and then realized how much it brought to my system. The SKY 20-S will stay permanently. 

I own two SUTs now, a Quadratic MC-1 and an Ortofon ST-80 SE.

Previously I owned a Musical Surroundings Nova III phono stage with linear PS I used with Ortofon 2M black, Benz Micro Glider SL, Ortofon Cadenza black.

With six months of warranty left, it developed a “hiss.” This was audible from 6 feet away - over my tinnitus and presbyacusis. No combination of changing wiring, interconnects, ground wires, preamp/amp/speakers made it go away. DEFINITELY in the box. Tried changing settings, cartridge, turntable… you see where this is going.

First, I was ignored - sending an email for record keeping - then I called, then an “engineer” emailed asking for a recording of the hiss. Which I did. No answer.  Weeks went by, still no answer.  The heck with it. I sold it on eBay for 60% of what I’d paid for it after buying the Quadratic SUT. Buyer had no complaints.

Can’t beat solid state - REAL “solid” state wiring and jacks - for component noise limitations.

I used the Quadratic for most of a year, it was a great match to the Benz AND the Cadenza, then i found a “fell off the truck” deal on an Ortofon Verismo and a few months later a similar deal on the Ortofon St-80 SE SUT.

Simply sublime.

 

And NO “hiss.”

Wouldn’t go back to a box of electronics for a phono stage if you gave me one… well, I’d keep the SUTs handy just in case.

Hi

I have the EMIA silver sut and the copper phono preamp, very happy with both. 

Who isnt lustining after the etsuro.. ha

Keith

 

All audio transformers have to be properly loaded. This is important so as to allow for the flattest and widest frequency response.

The correct load will vary with the source impedance (the cartridge) since transformers transform impedance (they don't isolate impedance!).

If the SUT is designed for a particular cartridge the right load is likely 47KOhms with a bit of capacitance (100pf is typical; that assumes about a meter of low capacitance tonearm cable). 

But SUTs designed as a generic such as Lundahl or Jensen (who publishes the correct loading values on their website) need a specific load which will be different for each cartridge used. If you don't have it loaded properly its a good bet you're not hearing what the SUT can really do.

I find that while you can get the noise floor down really low using SUTs, its more musical if you can run direct-in. But how that works with the preamp I'm using will not always be so with all preamps. So you'll have to try it and see. Just keep in mind that the loading thing is pretty important- its not plug and play in many cases!