not yet. but it’s on its way from Switzerland as we speak. It’s the last piece to my “Big Rig” puzzle. I knew when I purchased my Koetsu several years ago that I needed a step up (bad pun intended), but wanted to take my time and spread out the $ hurt.
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!
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Cartridge decisions are tough (for me). For my vintage system, I knew i wanted an SPU, so that was fairly easy. For big rig, I initially just bought a Hana EH from my turntable guy (for $475 I think) as a bridge. I subsequently chose Koetsu partly because of the magic and history associated with the brand. But what sealed it for me was when I learned that Sugano-San had voiced his original Koetsu designs on his own modified Garrard 401. So the cartridge picked me! |
btw, for bang for the buck mc, I don’t think I’ve seen a single review that wasn’t a rave for the Hana Umami Red. Kat Ourlian, who was at Upscale but now reps SME in London, called me when she heard I was ordering a Koetsu. As I recall, she seemed to be gently pushing me towards the Red, I think in part because my suspicion is their experience working with Koetsu was not perfect. But she’s been a huge proponent of the Red from the day it came out. One other random thought while I’m rattling on, I met the UK rep of Gold Note in an Austin record store, and he was really high on their cartridges (i know. surprise!). But since then, that’s another brand that seems to punch way above their $ weight. (Btw, I have some experience with the brand - both their DS10 dac and PH1 phono stage are in one of my systems, and they’re superb). What Gold Note and Hana have in common is that before their brands were started, they were OEM producers for other brands. So that’s why I think they tend to be lower-priced than some of the competition - they’ve cut the middle step out of the supply chain. |
@mdalton IIRC Sugano Sr. also used a Fidelity Research arm on his Garrard. Even "just" my FR64fx and 64S are stunning with Koetsu (I have 6 lol) - and I ended up liking them better with all my other brand cartridges, too (ideal mass compliance matching be damned). Modern arms end up sounding a bit "dead" to me. Your Reed should be awesome anyways (have a friend who recently got one), just saying :) Your room and system are absolutely stunning btw - and that blue Garrard is almost beyond this plane of existence |
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