2. analog
  3. 190774-9095

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's avatar
lalitk OP
5,553 posts
 

@herman

No apology needed. I always enjoyed reading your posts and appreciate you for taking the high road. Unlike our friend @rauliruegas, who has shown us repeatedly that he is incapable of respecting views of other participants. I honestly don’t get why some folks get so worked up. It’s okay to disagree but disrespecting others that don’t share your views is so unnecessary. The best course of action in my book is to ignore such poster’s.

Back to my journey, I just finalized a tube phono with good MM and MC capabilities. We plan to compare the tube phono in following configurations,

1) Fuuga ➡️ Allnic H-6500 MC ➡️ Accuphase E-650

2) Fuuga ➡️ Konus Phono (transimpedance) ➡️ E-650

3) Fuuga ➡️ EMIA SUT (copper) ➡️ H-6500 MM ➡️ E-650

I am hoping to establish a good baseline from above, should be a fun day.

PS: Thank you all for your feedback and a special shoutout to @wrm57.

mulveling's avatar
mulveling
1,915 posts
 

@lalitk 

Sadly, these audiogon threads often become a demonstration of how NOT to effectively communicate. I can find myself being too wordy, repetitive, or combative at times - but then I read a thread like this, and feel like I've not been that bad lol.

herman
2,259 posts
 

Back to my journey, I just finalized a tube phono with good MM and MC capabilities. We plan to compare the tube phono in following configurations,

1) Fuuga ➡️ Allnic H-6500 MC ➡️ Accuphase E-650

2) Fuuga ➡️ Konus Phono (transimpedance) ➡️ E-650

3) Fuuga ➡️ EMIA SUT (copper) ➡️ H-6500 MM ➡️ E-650

what is the step up ratio on the EMIA SUT ? Just curious what load it will present to the cartridge without loading it. Do you have loading plugs to play around with that?

lalitk's avatar
lalitk OP
5,553 posts
 

@mulveling 

LOL! I’ve come to admire and respect members like you and many others over the years. The combined wealth of knowledge and experience between some of you is simply off the charts. This is my second attempt at analog, so I am hoping to sustain my interest until I no longer able get off my chair to change out a record every 20 minutes…lol!  

lalitk's avatar
lalitk OP
5,553 posts
 

“what is the step up ratio on the EMIA SUT ? ”
@herman 

The EMIA SUT has a step up ratio of 1:20 and designed specifically to mate with Fuuga. No additional loading plugs needed as per Dave. One other setup I forgot to mention in my last post, 

4) Fuuga ➡️ EMIA SUT (copper) ➡️ E-650 MM Phono board. 

I was told that if I chose to pursue EMIA, pure silver winding version would be the way to go. The copper version is A-Ok. 

More to discover