Step Up Transformers….Are they Worth the Trouble?

I agree that the investigation can be broad, others have shared in such a broad investigation.

I don't agree the Math only is the defining information that should create a shortlist of options to investigate. The end sound and how it impresses is the one element that really matters. To discover end sound, foot work and listening is what is required. A built in MC Stage is out there to be discovered that does sound very impressive, a SUT or Head Amp' used in conjunction on the same Phon' can create a end sound that has that extra level of appeal. The added devices in the Signal Path will need to audibly assessed for what is removed or added.

My selections have added to the end sound, to my liking preference. Nothing of attraction is perceived to be diminished to the point it is a detriment to the end sound, through adding the additional Selected Cables and Selected Device.

I have experiences where the above has not occurred and devices being investigated have been rejected for the impression had on the end sound. 

The following Links will show another respected individuals experiences and assessments of their own SUT investigations. There will be more info to be assessed resulting from others who are contributing. An open mind and broad experience become a great aide on the SUT / Head Amp' subject.  

https://forum.audiogon.com/discussions/review-of-quadratic-mc-1-sut-with-comparisons-to-other-suts-2

https://forum.audiogon.com/discussions/hagerman-piccolo-zero-new-transimpedance-head-amp

 I don't agree the Math only is the defining information that should create a shortlist of options to investigate. The end sound and how it impresses is the one element that really matters.

@pindac FWIW, math is what was used to make any audio product.  There are no audio products of any merit that don't use engineering. The thing the engineer has to understand though is how the ear perceives sound rather than how the eye perceives specs on paper. I think this quote says it all:

"If it measures good and sounds bad, -- it is bad. If it sounds good and measures bad, -- you've measured the wrong thing." -Daniel von Recklinghausen

Audiophiles tend to ignore the wisdom of this statement because so often the only specs (and math) printed has/had little to do with what we actually hear. So they feel they've been lied to, so much that they have developed a cult of misunderstanding. These days we have the instrumentation and understanding (although clearly the latter aspect is not universal by any stretch) to be able to draw a direct line between what we can hear to what we can measure and vice versa.

Would you please care to elaborate on ‘phono sections’ options / brands.

@lalitk No. But I can tell you something important to look for- to ask the manufacturer about: "What loading are you using on your LOMC phono cartridge?" If they respond with anything other than '47K' its likely that it won't be plug and play with that phono section (you'll have to play with loading) and you may get more ticks and pops on that account that sound like they are on the LP surface.

lalitk, I thought the Monbrisson phono stage did not have sufficient gain for a LOMC cartridge and that it therefore required an external SUT. No? Was there perhaps an option to build in a SUT for LOMC?

@atmasphere Very Touchy,

Thank You for the reminder and prompting myself to state as a Layman. Recorded Music Replay to become an Audio Experience, is dependent on Electric being generated at a source, which is to become a sent signal and managed through a selection of designs for Amplification that is dependent on Math. Where the Math is a fundamental requirement to Amplify a Electrical Signal with the sole intent to convert the Amplified Signal to become a conversion to a different energy type being Sound.

How silly of me to let it seem like I was overlooking this area of importance  

I have plenty of 'over the dam' experiences with Sales Persons. My assessment is that in their view, they are 'always right' in their own opinions and those shared are some sought of Gospel. Lucky for them they are not written as these opinions are very short lived, or last as long as the next best of the best arrives on the shelves.

Sales Persons are able to make very interesting claims for Sale Items, at the time of seeking a Closed Won. This biased encounter is one I have been proactive in avoiding. I have removed encounters with at work Sales Persons from my Audio Experience for many many years passed.

I am quite willing to meet with Sales Persons who do/have made a living from Audio Equipment sales where a Social Activity is occurring in relation to Audio experiences. In general the individuals I meet frequently / infrequently are liked by myself and a pleasure to spend time with.  

Where Sales Persons fall very short, is where they can't sell to everybody met. Even when professing their bias and declaring designs promoted as being the best of the best. Such declarations are not enough, end sound for a large group of individuals really does mean something to them, especially when narrowed down to where it becomes important to be entertained as result of experiencing sound resulting from recorded music being replayed. 

Audio Devices no matter how well designed, how accurate the Math, when encountered and is perceived as producing an end sound that is very unattractive, for many the only want left for the experience, is to end the experience hastily. 

Sales Persons do not have the monopoly on how one perceives sound produced from Audio Devices.

I have been in agreement with Sales Persons when met, either at a place of work or socially. Where I agreed the device selected for a Demo' looked very attractive as a design, and the Control Knobs were a Bespoke design not typically seen. I'm not sure how these attributes to the product, would entertain myself for a prolonged period where the Sound Produced is the entertainment being sought.   

@pindac Could you explain the 'Very touchy' remark? I was simply pointing out fact. Did you take it differently? This is nothing to do with sales FWIW.